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The Raid (1954)
See it – I’m always a sucker for a good Civil War movie. If you are anything like me, you’re always on the lookout for another film with a fresh depiction of that fascinating, yet tragic period in U.S. history. I like this one because it tells the story from the Confederate perspective. Van Heflin, Lee Marvin, and Richard Boone star in this exciting and relatively unknown film about a band of Rebs who escape from a Northern prison camp and plan a raid on a Yankee town from Canada. Of course this movie is very "old-fashioned," but I guess that’s why I like it. 3 action rating
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The Rare Breed
This is a popular Jimmy Stewart western, but unfortunately it is more of a comedy than an action movie. It’s basically “McKlintock” with Stewart instead of Wayne. There are more fistfights than gunfights, and you’ll only want to watch this one if you’re watching it with women folk. 1 action rating.
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Red
3.5 action rating
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The Red Badge of Courage (1951)
See it – Audie Murphy stars in one of, if not the best, Civil War movies ever made. The story of a youth who has to cope with the fear of battle. It has three, full-scale, incredibly realistic battle scenes that put the viewer right in the soldier’s shoes. The final charge with the American flag is one of the most iconic scenes in the history of war movies. 3.5 action rating
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The Red Baron (2008)
This is “Flyboys” with German accents. I didn’t think it was possible, but the acting isn’t any better either. If you’re expecting a special effects popcorn flick, think again. This is primarily a love story with a few sprinklings of aerial battles that are short, and nothing special. Multiple times we are led to expect a huge combat scene, only to have the scene cut to the next day. I was teased into thinking this would be similar to “The Blue Max.” It is nowhere close, and while it was historically accurate, it is mainly just a long, drawn-out B-movie. 2 action rating.
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Red Dawn (2012)
Male bonding during World War 3.
3 action rating |
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Red Sun
One thing’s for sure, this is the only movie where you get to see a Samurai fight a Comanche. Charles Bronson plays an outlaw who robs a train. Among the passengers on the train is the ambassador of Japan and his samurai bodyguard, played by The Seven Samurai’s Toshiro Mifune. When Bronson is double-crossed by one of the men in his gang, he teams up with the samurai to chase down the villain and get his revenge. If you think this sounds like a Jackie Chan/Owen Wilson movie, you’re right on. Shanghai Noon was definitely a parody of this film. This is a very enjoyable, action-packed, unique western, but it definitely has some R-rated content. At the end of the day, it’s hard to find a better Charles Bronson western. 4 action rating.
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Red Tails
3 action rating
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Repo Men
Chances are, you’ve probably never seen a live surgery or execution. Good news! You’ll get to see both at the same time in this raw and gruesome, yet very original film. Starring some great actors in Jude Law and Forest Whitaker, this futuristic film contains one of the most disturbing scenes I’ve ever seen. Needless to say, this one’s not for everyone, and the crazy ending killed this one for me. 3 action rating
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Resident Evil Extinction
It's rare to find a sequel that puts an original to shame. So you can
imagine that it would be almost impossible to find a fourth installment that is better than the first. Well the search is over. Not only does "Extinction" beat out the other Resident Evil's in scale of action, it edges them in overall quality as well...not that it matters. If you're watching a zombie movie based on a video game, you probably don't care how deep the plot is. In this installment, Alice continues her search for the mythical, virus-free "Arcadia." While flying her plane over a desolate, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, she decides to land on the roof of a maximum security prison to come to the aid of some survivors. It's hard enough to escape from prison, but how do you pull it off when the prison is surrounded by a zombie army? Loading your shotgun shells with metal coins is a good first step. "Extinction" would fit nicely in a list of the Top 20 zombie movies of all. It would also not be out of place on a list of the top 3 video game adaptations of all time. 4 action rating |
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Resident Evil: Retribution
3.5 action rating
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Return of Sabata
This unbearably campy 70’s spaghetti western is painful to watch. It is the worst movie in the “Sabata” trilogy by a landslide. “Adios, Sabata” and “Sabata” are far superior. 2 action rating.
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The Revenant
3 out of 5 action rating.
Riddick
3 out of 5 action rating
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Ride a Crooked Trail
See it – If you don’t set your expectations too high, this is a pretty enjoyable western. Starring Audie Murphy and Walter Matthau, it is a predictable, light-hearted caper about an outlaw posing as a martial so that he can rob the town’s bank. It’s not very action-packed, but it’s one of Audie Murphy’s best, and it’s certainly worth a watch. 2.5 action rating.
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The Ride Back
A run of the mill western that doesn’t stand out. A lawman sets out to arrest an outlaw and bring him back to town to receive a fair trial. Anthony Quinn stars as the wanted man who may have been falsely accused. Finding the outlaw is the easy part, but the tricky part is the ride back. The stubborn lawman is determined to bring him in, but when they are attacked by Indians, they are forced to work together. An unimpressive, predictable B-movie. 2 action rating
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Rio Bravo
See it – The best of John Wayne’s “Rio” movies. Unfortunately, it is too long, and if you’d like to watch a shorter, better version just watch “El Dorado.” This western feels like a cowboy soap opera at certain points. The only time they even go outside the jail is to take a quick patrol and then its back to talking. Another complaint is the decision to stick 2 popular musicians in a western and expect us to take it seriously. I have a feeling Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson were chosen just for their duet we get to hear them sing. So why watch it? Well it’s one of the most beloved and popular John Wayne westerns all time. It’s charming, funny, and the prisoner exchange at the end is one of the most explosive (literally) showdowns in the western genre. 4 action rating
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Rio Conchos
See it – This unheralded western classic is filled to the brim with rousing action. It has probably gone under the radar because it lacks a big name actor. But Richard Boone, Jim Brown, and Stuart Whitman are great in this old-fashioned, cowboys-on-a-mission movie in the same vein as “The Professionals.” The mission in this one is to prevent Confederate desperadoes from selling repeating rifles to the Apaches. It’s a little weird to see classic film villain Richard Boone as a good guy, but he carries the movie pretty well. The musical score is really good, and most of the movie has that “chase western” feel to it. But when things slow down at the end, you will only have enough time to take a deep breath before one of the best movie endings in the western genre. 3.5 action rating
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Rio Grande
See it – This is the last of the John Ford-directed, John Wayne-starring cavalry trilogy consisting of “Fort Apache,” “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,” and “Rio Grande.” It is often referred to as a trilogy because they were made over three consecutive years (1948-1950), and because they have overlapping characters and actors. I think it is safe to say that this is the most action-packed of the trilogy. John Wayne plays “Kirby York” the same character he played in “Fort Apache.” Ben Johnson plays the horse-riding trooper “Tyree”, the same character he played in “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon." Harry Carey Jr. is in both “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” and “Rio Grande,” but he plays different characters. And Victor McLaglen plays the irish sergeant “Quincannon,” whom he also plays in “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.” Strangely enough, McLaglen is also in Fort Apache, but he plays a “Sgt. Mulcahy.” And of course, John Wayne is in “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,” but his character’s name is “Nathan Brittles.” And for the record, neither Ben Johnson nor Harry Carey Jr. appears in “Fort Apache.” Confused yet? Me too. 3 action rating.
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Rio Lobo
An exciting opening scene where Johnny Rebs hijack a Yankee train is the highlight of this entire movie. The rest isn’t anything special. After the Civil War ends, John Wayne goes after two men who were traitors to the Union. 2.5 action rating
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The River of No Return
See it – This is an absolutely magnificent western that for some reason has been largely overlooked. Perhaps one reason is that it co-stars Marilyn Monroe, and western buffs assume that it will be a love story rather than an action movie. In reality, it is a great, old-fashioned western starring Robert Mitchum, complete with a captivating story and gripping action scenes. But it is also very heart-warming, in the same class as another beloved western, “Shane.” The story is about a farmer and his young boy, who after being robbed of their horses and guns, must abandon their farm when they are attacked by Indians. The only way to escape is on a raft down the “river of no return.” The story is brilliant, and jam packed with Indian fights and dangerous river adventures. This is a can’t-miss western that I highly recommend. The ending will make you cheer. 3 action rating.
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The Road (2009)
1 action rating
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Robin Hood (2010)
See it - This epic movie follows the standard model of an opening action sequence, a bunch of smaller-scale skirmishes in the middle, and a long and climactic battle at the end. The opening battle is an intense castle siege, which would rival that of “Lord of the Rings” if not for its short duration. The “meat” of the story is full of quick, “ho-hum” battles. But the grand finale is worth the wait. The final battle is a unique beach assault, which is basically a medieval version of D-Day. It’s not on Normandy but there are plenty of Normans. This Robin Hood origin story is completely different than any version you have seen. It focuses less on his archery skills and portrays him as simply a common soldier. I don’t want to give too much away…but regardless of how you feel about the unique storyline, you have to admit that Russell Crowe is a better Robin Hood than Kevin Costner. 3.5 action rating
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Robocop (2014)
3 out of 5 action rating
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Rocky Mountain (1950)
See it - 3 action rating
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Rooster Cogburn
See it – The sequel to “True Grit” and a pretty rip snortin good western. Some people even like it better than “True Grit,” but let’s just say that together they are the epitome of John Wayne at his best. There is danger and excitement around every bend, including a river raft chase finale complete with gatling gun and nitro that you don’t want to miss. 3 action rating.
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Run All Night
3.5 out of 5 action rating
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Run of the Arrow
“When you get to the arrow, start running!” The run of the arrow is a torture game the Sioux played to give their prisoners a “running chance.” Unfortunately, action buffs won’t give this movie much of a chance. Rod Steiger plays an ex-Confederate who hates the U.S. and decides to become a Sioux. If you think this film sounds like “Dances with Wolves,” you’re right on the money. And like “Dances with Wolves,” this western is slow and could have used a few more fight scenes. The “run of the arrow” scene is exciting, but it is the climax, and climaxes aren’t supposed to come at the beginning of a movie. The biggest problem area is the sloppy quality of the scenes. The voices are dubbed poorly, the scenes are cut horribly, and the movie just flows badly, almost like parts are missing. Still, there are a few bright spots. A young, and super in-shape, Charles Bronson plays a pretty decent Indian chief. And if you can wait for it, the ending is very fitting. 2.5 action rating.
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Run Silent, Run Deep
See it – One of the best submarine movies ever made. Definitely action-packed, and not just by submarine movie standards. There are more than three major ocean battles, and the plot is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Plus, this is Clark Gable’s only legit war movie, and with Burt Lancaster co-starring, this is a must-see. 3 action rating.
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