Just to be clear here, by Action I mean non war movies. This is to give the viewer a clear idea of what they can expect. So, While there might be occasional references to war or even while the movie may involve a context of war it is not a War movie per se.
Everest
This is a true story about events that happened in 1996 on Mt. Everest. It tells the story about how experienced mountaineers found themselves no match for the brutality that weather could unleash at the highest point on earth.
This is a story about 2 groups who begin their ascent to the Summit of Everest and who get stuck when a Storm hits leading to the leaders of the groups making heroic attempts to get their team members down safely but due to the impossible conditions find themselves trapped. The team members slowly succumb and only a few make it out alive.
This is an impressive piece of cinematography and it manages to convey the desperateness of the situation facing the mountaineers. This movie features notables like Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin and Keira Knightley. It was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
13 Hours
In 2012 following the downfall of Libyan dictator Muammar Gadaffi’s regime. Violent turf wars among rival militias make Libya a very dangerous place. The US maintains its diplomatic outpost in Ben ghazi with Ambassador Chris stevens at the helm.
The diplomatic outpost is attacked on Sep 11th by militants from Ansar al-Sharia and is overrun with the Ambassador being killed, Private military contractors consisting of a mix of former Navy Seals, Marines and a Ranger who staff a covert CIA base nearby rush to their aid only to be beaten back to their compound, they are now the target of the militants and are in danger of being overrun themselves when they are finally reinforced by a team from another contractor base in Tripoli.
This is a highly engrossing and extraordinarily gritty movie which portrays action scenes in a down to earth and realistic manner. The fact that this is based off true life events helps the viewer to appreciate the extraordinary heroism displayed by its’ main characters. It’s also a bit of a testament to the misadventures of US overturning regimes in the Middle East under the guise of bringing Democracy to the peoples of the middle east.
The Sisters Brothers
This western although traversing some familiar territory as far as storyline is concerned is an engrossing and intriguing movie.
This movie features a pair of brothers who are professional assassins on the trail of a person who is wanted by their former business partner. They make their way eventually into California and find their targeted person at a gold mining camp where further adventures and danger await them.
This is a suspenseful movie and has you always wondering what comes next, the acting is impressive with great chemistry among the lead actors Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly while the direction is almost perfect. Production and Cinematography are magnificent. The Director won the Award for Best Director at the Venice Film Festival. Overall, this a hugely satisfying watch.
Forsaken
This western is a movie about redemption. A son returns home after many years of drifting around as a gun slinger post the civil war in which he participated. Information about his misdeeds have reached home and is anathema to his father the town preacher.
Kiefer Sutherland plays the wayward son ‘John Henry Clayton’ and his actual father Donald Sutherland plays his father ‘Samuel Clayton’ and preacher in the movie. The town is beset with a Land grabber assisted by his goons and a professional gun slinger from out of town but known to John. John must also navigate his relationship with his former lover who has now remarried and whose husband is suspicious of John’s motives.
This is an old-fashioned western with a solid storyline and with good editing and good sound, production and costume design. Kiefer Sutherland’s acting is fairly good. In all it’s a fairly good piece of work.