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Pacific Rim
3.5 out of 5 action rating
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Pandorum
2.5 action rating
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The Passage (1979)
There’s a reason you probably haven’t heard of this WWII resistance movie. Starring an aging Anthony Quinn and James Mason, this movie is very “odd” in only the way a 70’s movie can be. The plot would make you assume that it’s a good, old-fashioned secret mission WWII movie about a shepherd who is hired to help a family escape from the Nazis across the Pyrenees. And it is, but with a twist. They are being hunted by a twisted Nazi pervert. Every scene he is in seems like its straight out of “Clockwork Orange.” Gratuitous sex, creepy characters, and violent torture abound. 2 action rating.
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Passage to Marseille
See it – This is more of an adventure movie, but it takes place during WWII, so we’ll call it a war movie. The story is told in a flashback, and flashbacks within the flashback. Humphrey Bogart stars as a patriotic French convict who escapes from his island prison and journeys thousands of miles to help his country fight in the war. Adventures take place over land, air, and sea. The scene where Bogart is furiously firing his machine gun from the ship deck railing at attacking German aircraft is one the most iconic moments in early Hollywood history. I love watching WWII movies that were made while the actual war was still going on. This inspirational classic is heroic and tragic, yet full of hope. 2.5 action rating.
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Paths of Glory
1.5 action rating
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Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
This is a filthy, shameless western with more sex scenes than gunfights. James Coburn stars as Pat Garrett, and isn’t half bad as a cowboy. But director Sam Peckinpah butchered this classic story by trying to push the envelope with nudity and violence every chance he gets. The only reason, and I mean the only reason, I would see this subpar western is to see Bob Dylan as Billy the Kid’s knife-wielding side kick. Dylan isn’t a good actor by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s just such a strange choice for a role that it’s worth a look. Dylan also does all the music in the movie. Consensus: Dylan should stick with what he does best. The music is great, albeit a little out of place for a western. 3 action rating.
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Play Dirty
See it - If you claim to have seen every great WWII movie, but haven’t seen this one, you just told a lie. After watching this intelligent, darkly witty, heart-wrenching movie about a secret mission in the African desert, you’re going to wonder why it took you so long to find this gem. It’s basically an R-rated "Dirty Half-dozen" starring Michael Caine. “Brilliant!” 3 action rating
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Pompeii
4 out of 5 action rating
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Pork Chop Hill
See it – The best movie ever made about the Korean War. The entire movie is basically one big battle. Gregory Peck is ordered to take and hold an insignificant hill at the heroic expense of many of his men’s lives. 3.5 action rating
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Posse
This is just as much a political movie as it is a western. Kirk Douglas plays a martial who is catching outlaws to help gain votes as he runs for Senator. He plays a similar character to the one he played in “The Way West.” There are a few clever story angles that separate this from a run-of-the-mill western. Unfortunately, there is not enough entertainment and action for this to be considered a classic. And the ending is a bit absurd. 2.5 action rating.
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Predators (2010)
With nonstop action and suspense, this is better than the AVP’s, and of course better than the second Predator movie. This installment plays off the “man is the most dangerous prey” adage. Alien Predators abduct "human predators" from earth (Drug lord, Mercenary, FBI’s Most Wanted, Russian Spetsnaz, RUF, Yakuza, etc.) and set them loose on a giant game preserve planet. The only mystery is why Adrien Brody was chosen as the lead. I’m sorry, but just because you speak in a slightly deeper voice than usual, doesn’t make you a bad ass. 4 action rating
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The Pride and the Passion
See it - This big sweeping epic has gotten a bum rap over the years. Most people want to focus on the improper casting of Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra. But its time to look past that. This is a pretty good movie. I like it because it is one of the few major motion pictures that was made about the Napoleonic Wars. At the heart of this movie, it’s a drama. But it’s hard to find a drama with this much action. It’s the story of Spanish soldiers who transport a huge cannon halfway across the country to lay siege to a castle held by the French. Along the way they attack a French camp, blow up a bridge, and we even get to watch a knife fight in a field of windmills. All of this leads up to the final crescendo at the enemy castle. This film is old school, but its time we brought this larger than life war movie into a new light. 3.5 action rating
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Priest
3 action rating
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Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
See it – This is the very best movie adaption of a video game to date. But it’s not in very good company, so is that really saying much? The story has been very “Disney-fied.” The actors were poorly chosen, and they are obviously not Persian (look, I don’t care if they’re white, but at least put make-up on ‘em). There is also that fun, comedic, “Pirates of the Carribean” type atmosphere that is present in all Disney movies. That being said, this is not a live-action “Aladdin.” This is an exciting, sometimes spectacular adventure movie with plenty of desert battles, rooftop chases, daring escapes, and non-stop Arabian action. 4 action rating
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The Professionals
Awesome movie, awesome cast, awesome action. Has not lost any of its luster over the years. The story of a group of cowboys, each with a unique skill, who are hired to rescue a kidnapped woman. Cast includes Burt Lancaster and Lee Marvin. Buy it tonight. 5 action rating
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Prometheus
2 action rating
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The Proud Ones
See it – “Pride can kill a man faster than a bullet.” One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite westerns. Robert Ryan and Jeffrey Hunter star in this classic western about a marshal with failing vision who trains his deputy to be his successor. Very good story with great acting and great screenplay. This would truly be a quality movie in any genre. And yes, it has its share of good gunfights and showdowns with an ending that will make you smile. 3.5 action rating
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PT 109
See it – This war classic is the true story of John F. Kennedy’s adventures as a PT captain during WWII. It’s a bit slow in the beginning as Kennedy, played by Cliff Robertson, puts together his first crew and fixes up the broken down PT109. But before long, the pace quickens, and the action in this one never lets up. The crew goes out on mission after mission, stopping only to refuel before going out again. PT stands for “patrol torpedo.” The small vessels were useful in attacking larger surface ships because of their speed and maneuverability. The ironically sad part about this movie is that JFK’s assassination actually took place the same year this movie came out in theaters. But the film, which focuses mainly on JFK’s heroism in keeping his men alive, is a fitting tribute. 3 action rating.
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Public Enemies
See it - “When my Johnny finds out you slapped around his girl, you know what happens to you, fat boy!” What’s better than Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, gangsters, and tommy guns? Nothing, that’s what. This fierce, gritty movie about John Dillinger is a must-see. 3.5 action rating.
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The Purple Plain
Although this is technically a war movie, it is mainly a survival movie. Gregory Peck stars as a pilot, haunted by his past, whose plane crash lands in Japanese territory during WWII. Accompanied by two other survivors, they set out on a journey through the Burmese jungle. There are two main problems with this adventure story. First, the plane crash doesn’t even happen till halfway through the movie. Second, there is no action to speak of, and we don’t even see the enemy. The plane isn’t even shot down. It just crashes. Lame. This is at best a TV quality movie. 1 action rating.
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Pursued
Skip it – This western is really film noir in disguise. You know - silhouetted figures, star-crossed lovers, and a femme fatale. It oftentimes doesn’t even feel like a western. So no good old-fashioned showdowns, Indian battles, or stagecoach hold-ups. Some might call it a welcomed departure from the usual. I call it a crappy action movie. 1.5 action rating.
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