What makes a good action film? Yes, that’s right action. But good acting, coupled with a realistic and authentic plot make an action movie great. My favorite action movies are not just gritty, plotless action manageries and the best action movies of 2009 did not disappoint. A lot of the top action movies of 2009 were reinvented plots. While we did miss out on the cameos from Arnold and Shatner the movies sufficed without them fairly well.
And here’s the list of the top action movies of 2009…
10) ‘Ninja Assassin’- Forget about ‘Speed Racer. The Wachowski Brothers have brought the action back to their repertoire. While the plot seems forced at times just to get to the action scenes, the action does more than make up for it.
9) ‘Public Enemies’- How could you go wrong with a movie staring Christian Bale and Johnny Depp? Depp fills the role of John Dillinger beautifully and while the plot may drag at times, there is much more to this movie other than the occasional Tommy gun fight.
8) ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra’- A rehashed plot with some new invention to it. Those who loved the G.I. Joe cartoons may feel a bit alienated but this movie brings a cool, new feel to the nearly dead franchise for a new generation to enjoy.
7) ‘Where the Wild Things Are’- I do not remember my favorite childhood book being so creepy and dark, but aparently Spike Jonze and I remember it differently. This was the most anticipated movie of the year for me.
6) ‘Fight’- I did not think much of this movie before I saw it. I thought it was going to be a gritty action movie about making a living as a street fighter. Not that it wasn’t but there was a good story along with some highly decent acting.
5) ‘Terminator: Salvation’- When I think of the ‘Terminator’ series I think of over-top-action and horrible acting. This new venture for the series changed that for me. An almost epic plot that is the most action packed film in the series. But where was the cameo?
4) ‘Star Trek’- This is how to reinvent a series. Director JJ Abrams totes a great new cast and pays homage to the Trekkies of the 20th Century. The action starts right from the beginning and does not grind to a halt until the end.
3) ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’- Take all the good points from the first movie and couple it with more action and less of Optimus Prime talking and you get ‘Revenge of the Fallen. Arguably the best special effects of the year.
2) ‘Inglorious Basterds’- Hilarious, odd and action packed, ‘Inglorious Basterds’ is another formulaic Tarantino flick. Tarantino doesn’t ever let convention stop him Even with a semi-historical plot, Tarantino found a way to defy convention and history all together.
1) ”District 9′- A new world is unveiled before your eyes. ‘District 9’ has that quality that makes the movie world, the alien slums, believable and you never think twice about it. I was absolutely enthralled. A great plot with beautiful special effects. ‘District 9’ isn’t just my favorite action film of 2009 it is one of the best movies of 2009 overall, if not the best.
