PROJECT A (1983), PROJECT A, PART II (1987, HONG KONG), MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR (1981, AUSTRALIA), THE KILLER (1989, HONG KONG), DIE HARD (1988)

The 1001 Movie Guide does have some action movies in its arsenal. Here are some takeaways from some of those films...

Project A

Ten takeaways from Project A I and II

1. It's really impossible not to be impressed with the whirling dervish know as Jackie Chan.

2. I'm not sure how Jackie Chan lived through all those bizarre stunts.

3. I really missed Fat Boy in Project A II

4. The plot sort of made sense, but don't ask me to recount it.

5. Okay, it involved pirates and policeman and I think they were looking for the Holy Grail or something.

6. The tower clock stunt was pretty cool.

7. Chan falling through the awning was so good they showed it twice!

8. Watched these two movies back to back. Memory fading as to what happened in what movie.

9. If the action scenes of this movie had taken place in the real world, the characters would be dead many times over.

10. Only Project A Part II is in the 1001 book. Not sure why it is considered superior.

Project A Part II

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior

Ten Takeaways from Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior

1. I can't believe I've never seen The Road Warrior before! (And thanks to my wife for putting it on my 1001 supplementary list).

2.  Interesting that the original Mad Max made the 1001 list, but The Road Warrior didn't-though many consider the latter film as superior.

3. It made me appreciate Mad Max: Fury Road more in that it was more of an update than a remake.

4. I did appreciate the stunts more in The Road Warrior than in Fury Road, though some in the latter film were admittedly spectactular.

5. The Road Warrior gets a star taken off because the dog dies.

6. If the action scenes of this movie had taken place in the real world, the characters would be dead many times over.

7. The Road Warrior (the movie) gets credit for inspiring the nickname for one of the scariest tag teams in wrestling history.  The character of Lord Humongous also inspired several wrestling incarnations with that name and image. What is it about this movie that was such an inspiration to professional wrestling? I don't think there ever was a professional wrestler that took on the character of the gyro captain that I know of.

8. And I also appreciate that it was original Mad Max/Road Warrior director George Miller that brought Mad Max:Fury Road back to the screen all those years later.

9. And budget isn't everything when it comes to making an action movie if you are creative and have some real fearless stuntmen.

10. "I thought Mel Gibson was so sexy and hot. Too bad he turned out to be such a wacko in real life!" (Last entry courtesy of my wife.)

The Killer

Ten takeaways from John Woo's The Killer

 1. John Woo knows how to direct action sequences.
2. He is definitely a fan of Western crime films past.
3. Chow Yun-Fat is a solid leading man...
4. . ..though probably more so in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
5. The plot of the two adversaries gaining mutual respect as the film progresses is interesting.
6. If the action scenes of this movie had taken place in the real world, the characters would be dead many times over.
7. The additional plot of the killer helping out the girl he blinded works pretty well.
8. Might be fun to watch this movie and just do a dead body count. It would keep you busy, anyway.
9. The Killer is at least more plausible than Face-Off.
10. The Killer made be want to see Die Hard.

Die Hard

Ten takeaways from  Die Hard

1. There's only one Die Hard
2. Actually there's several, but only one original classic Die Hard.
3. Die Hard established action cinema for a generation of films to come.
4. Die Hard ruined cinema in general for a generation to come.
5. Lots of little plot devices that make the film tick. Should we credit the screenplay or the original book?
6. If the action scenes of this movie had taken place in the real world, the characters would be dead many times over.
7. Few villains have ever been better than Alan Rickman.
8. Some action films are so far-fetched they lose me, but Die Hard didn't.
9. I think after viewing all these high octane films, I'm about ready for a little My Dinner With Andre action!
10. If you haven't seen the very funny You Tube clip where Bruce Willis fights Stephen Colbert and says, "Yippee Kay Yee, William Faulkner!," I recommend it.