O.T.: Over-rated Action Sequences

[ulthar]

Anything in either of the Fast and Furious movies.  No matter how bad you say they are, they are STILL over-rated.

[BoyScoutKevin]

Thank-you for all the responses.

Some of the films with over-rated action sequences, some I agree with, some I don't,  brought up at the other board, include . . .

The French Connection
The Lord of the Rings: the Two Towers
The Matrix
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Star Wars: a New Hope

As I said before, thank-you for all the responses.

[daveblackeye15]

Boy Scout Kevin: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Star Wars: a New Hope

blasphemy!

&

Double blasphemy!

[dean]

On an interesting side note to the 'Matrix Trilogy' and it's over-used action scenes, I was watching Reloaded the other day with one of the commentary tracks on.  Commentary track one has a couple of philosophers [or that type at least] who are outlining how 'good' the film is in terms of a philosophical message etc.  The other track is from a couple of film studies types who basically outline the bad and the good moments [with a focus on the bad].

I listened to the latter, and it was pretty interesting.  They pretty much shredded the big freeway chase scene for instance, since they said it has no point: we know that they are all going to get away and intact so why bother wasting all that money on something that has no narrative purpose?

So all in all if you want a lesson in pointless action scenes watch the matrix trilogy with that commentary track, it's quite interesting.

[Jim H]

"They pretty much shredded the big freeway chase scene for instance, since they said it has no point: we know that they are all going to get away and intact so why bother wasting all that money on something that has no narrative purpose?"

It was entertaining.  As far as I'm concerned, it's perfectly OK for movies to be driven by action sequences rather than plot - it is just that in most cases in Hollywood films, the action sequences aren't good enough to carry the film.  Reloaded has some decent action, but it wasn't enough IMO.

[dean]

There's nothing wrong with a good action sequence, and I also really enjoyed the freeway chase scene up to a point [it dragged on too long for my liking] and the love the Matrix movies in general [why else would I have them on DVD?]

But I do see the point being made by those commentators that if you're going to drive your movie via action, which is great since I love action films, at least make that action have some sort of point.  The freeway chase scene could have done with a trim perhaps, but as it stands is a fun scene.  It just doesn't do anything for the rest of the film really.

[LilCerberus]

odinn7 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 2xSlick Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Speaking of the Interceptor, what kind of turbo
> > did that thing have? Seemed like it had ram air
> > mounted on the front and some kind of spare
> engine
> > in the back. What was that thing made out of?
>
>
> Super Charger...it is up for debate as to whether
> or not it was a real one. Supposedly it was a
> non-functioning piece just added to make the car
> look better. I had read years ago in Car Craft
> magazine the the super charger was made in Perth
> Amboy NJ for the movie by some specialty shop. I
> don't know either way but it was tres cool.


A pretty thorough history of the black interceptor, as well as tips on how to build one of your own can be found at http://madmaxmovies.com