Action Movie SUBGENRES

This is a huge, ongoing project that I live to work on :D  If a movie that you think should be in a category is not there,
it's probably because I haven't gotten around to re-watching it to be sure. Same thing, if you see any glaringly wrong placements
of films in categories, please email me:  gynell@gmail.com. For a list of movies, see my Hit List.

GRRRL POWER 

WOMEN KICK ASS!  We got this. We don't need your help.  The main reason you are watching most of these movies is because it's a girl, however, you are watching. Starting with Ripley in Alien, which isn't technically "Action", and which proved a woman can take charge and prevail, women wanted more. Sadly we didn't also get more muscular Vasquez-type heroes like we hoped, but maybe, someday, the role of women in Action Movies will change from being only skinny male-ideal females, to being physically strong and 'big' women with real muscles!  Looking 'attractive' for men is not the end all/be all. Strength is sexy.

Alien (22 June 1979)
"Unfortunately, by, uh, breaking quarantine, you risk everybody's life. " 
Ellen Ripley, Lt. First Class
Only one crew member, one woman, was instantly aware of the danger. Sigourney Weaver as "Ellen Ripley". She stands in contrast not only to her fellow male crew members but to the only other female crew member who is 'typical'. Ripley's cooler head does not prevail however, and when their ship, "Nostromo", transporting a group of miners (in hypersleep) back home is waylaid to investigate a distress beacon on the Planet LV-426, they are awoken and required to land and investigate. They find a derelict spaceship with 'eggs' inside. One of them becomes 'infected', but Ripley is the only one who sees it this way. The Captain sees only a 'thing' on the crewman's face and wants to bring him in and take it off. If only it were that simple. Despite Ripley's attempts to quarantine them first, the ship's Science Officer overrides her and admits them. This is the fatal mistake, and Ripley is the only survivor.

This movie is a defining moment for Women in Action Movies because it sets up Ripley's character for Aliens. Arguably one of the Top Five (if not the top) classic Action Movies. The fact that a woman could command the lead in such a movie opens the door for all possibilities for Women in Action Films.  Read my review . . .

Blue Steel (16 Mar 1990)
"Ever since I was kid . . . yeah, I wanted to shoot people." 
Detective  Megan Turner

I'm not a fan of movies with rape scenes, but this movie was special because it was one of the first big female leads in a position of (clothed) power.  All women loved the beginning when she's in uniform for the first time and strutting, and she passes two other women on the street who turn and look and they (and women in the audience) share a moment of appreciation for us finally having the opportunities to do 'a man's job'. It was something to see the journey of the character and how she 'wins' in the end through acquired power and personal strength, in spite of all the condescending treatment she gets. Her final walk in uniform is as different from the first as a woman is before and after she is raped. 
________________

[This was the third full-length movie for Writer (with Eric Red) and Director Kathryn Bigelow (The Loveless, and Near Dark). Near Dark was great. From Wikipedia:  "This is a stunningly innovative and brutally bloody vampire film which never once uses the word 'vampire.'" -Gafke.  At the time it came out, everyone was joking:  "Don't say the 'V' word".]

Point of No Return (19 Mar 1992)
"Nina in position." 
Maggie Hayward aka Claudia Anne Doran aka Nina
Take no shit. Maggie is a force to be reckoned with. Although this movie is a remake of Luc Bessons' Nikita, it stands on its own. Bridget Fonda is intense and her performance commands every scene from beginning to end and that says a lot because it's a great supporting cast. At first I thought she'd be too delicate and feminine to carry this off but that's what makes it so devastating. Lethality knows no stereotypes here. In spite of how dangerous they make Nina, she's still Maggie inside. A compelling performance and I guarantee a favorite film for many women.  An appearance by Harvey Keitel lends an element of danger and unreality to her plight that is downright scary.

Charlie's Angels
(3 Nov 2000)
"And that's kicking your ass." 
Dylan Sanders
This movie was inevitable because of the TV Show and CGI.  It's beyond ridiculous. Entertaining, but not believable for a second. If we can get past men's idea of what is attractive, maybe we can get somewhere, but until we do, all the pretty girl Action Movies will just be some version of Charlie's Angels—Nobody's buying it. Still, lots of fun.  (If you Google it, it's all 'pretty' shots in various costumes, almost no Action pictures.)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (22 Dec 2000)
"Come and get it if you can." 
Jen Yu
This movie blew everyone's minds. So visually stunning. The women were incredible! It gave me hope on the heels of Charlie's Angels that there were women who could really move, really fight. Even though there was wire work, that should not take away from the performances. As incredibly as Michelle Yeoh is, Ziyi Zhang stole the show. A real "how did they do that" experience and so beautiful cinematically (Ang Lee!).  All that and Chow Yung-Fat too.

Ultraviolet (3 Mar 2006)
"Is that all you got?" 
Violet Song Jat Shariff
Another look for Milla Jovovich, who is great in the physicality of her roles. Even though she is waifish, she sells it with intensity and commitment. For a while, it seemed she and Michelle Rodriguez were all we had. Where are all the big girls?! 

Chocolate (6 Feb 2008)
"My Mom's money!" 
Zen
Another excellent and creative Sahamongkolfilm International Action Movie. It's a like watching Jackie Chan if he were a teenage girl and without all the comic facial expressions. Jeeja Yanin is great in this role.  The villains are comical. I'm not sure if they are female or male because they have drag-queen level outfits, hair, and makeup.  The close-quarters fight in this movie is underneath a grate. Imagine fighting while crouching.

Raging Phoenix (12 Aug 2009)
"Quote" 
Character
blurb

Lucy (25 July 2014)
"I'm not in the mood." 
Lucy
Check out the article "Lucy wields the POWER of the PUR$E" in my Action Movie magazine:  PAYBACK, page 15.  Scarlett Johansson is great in this movie (as she seems to be in everything) but it's very cerebral/dialog driven. What's more important is that she seems to be breaking that misconception that people won't go see an Action Movie with a woman in the lead. I mean, come on, women are more than 50% of the population. Guess they're not counting them.  There's so much we can do in the future. Looking back, I would pick this movie as the moment they threw the women-can't-drive-action-movies excuse out the window. And speaking of driving:

Mad Max: Fury Road (15 May 2015)
"Drive!" 
Imperator Furiosa
Big Surprise: Max takes a Back Seat  in this "Mad Max" Movie. Incredible stunt work and creativity made this movie the Best Picture of 2015. Too bad the Academy doesn't play fair with Action Movies. I was also surprised that in this male-dominated society, a woman could be a war-rig driver, and she has one hand to boot.  The times that Max lets her take control or treats her like an equal, even a superior, take this movie to a level beyond. Charlize Theron's performance could not be better. When she's driving, she's in charge. When she's not driving, she's in charge.

Star Wars: Episode VII -
The Force Awakens (18 Dec 2015)
"Follow me!" 
Rey
It's hard to convey how great it felt seeing a woman take Han Solo's chair in the Millennium Falcon at the end of this movie. What a huge step forward for women in Action Movies. To helm this film, Rey's character not only dominated, but captivated. Audiences were accepting of this unexpected turn, and we look forward to more!  Another woman in the literal driver's seat of an Action Movie.  Much love for Daisy Ridley and John Boyega who were fun to watch and had great chemistry. What a rush to close out 2015! We'll follow Rey into the future of Action Movie . . .