Sport -- 5 days ago
Words: Violet
To mark last week’s release of the second instalment of the Hunger Games franchise, Catching Fire, we decided to celebrate our absolute best action films of the year so far. Monsters fighting Robots, superheroes battling super villains and pirates vs Tom Hanks; 2013 had it all and to a much higher quality than of years gone past.
Chris Hemsworth and Idris Elba both appear twice in our list making them our Action (Gentle)Men of the Year. And with films such as The Gunman, Cyber and The Avengers: Age of Ultron in the pipeline for these two mighty actors, something tells us we will be seeing a lot more macho stand offs and excessive muscle flexing next year as well.
Pacific Rim
This sci-fi monster flick from director Guillermo del Toro might look like a multi-million dollar blockbuster about America saving the world but the narrative and characterisation make it so much more than that. They have managed to tailor this film to appeal to a global audience, incorporating a central focus on humanity and international relations.
Thor: The Dark World
The sequel to the film that make Chris Hemsworth a bonafide Hollywood star, Thor: The Dark World follows Thor as he reunites with reluctant ally Loki (Hiddlestone) to fight against the biggest enemy they have ever faced. The film features an all-star cast including scene stealing Tom Hiddlestone, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba and Kat Dennings. ,
Star Trek into Darkness
In this sci-fi sequel, director JJ Abrams continues his skillful showcase of Star Trek films that keep the essence of the world renowned franchise while also appealing to the masses. Breathtaking cinematic action sequences, clever storytelling and explosive new characters (baddie Benedict Cumberbatch and goodie Alice Eve) combine to make this film a must see.
Man of Steel
Next in the spotlight is Man of Steel and, for such a highly anticipated film, it didn’t disappoint. The third highest grossing movie of the year so far (and the first in our list), this action/adventure sees chief scientist of Krypton Kor-El send his son Kal-El into space when General Zod tries to take over Krypton. Landing on Earth, the extraordinary baby is raised by human parents but, when Kor-El travels to Earth in search of Kal-El, it is finally time for him to reveal himself to the world.
Rush
An exciting and dramatic true tale of two very different race car drivers’ journeys to F1 victory. British driver James Hunt, a talented, charismatic party playboy versus sharp, meticulous and methodical Niki Lauda. A beautiful rivalry perfectly captured by acclaimed director Ron Howard (Arrested Development, A Beautiful Mind, Frost/Nixon).
Captain Phillips
Based on real events back in 2009 where the MV Maersk Alabama was highjacked by Somali pirates and Captain Richard Phillips and his crew were taken hostage. Tense, powerful and intelligent with stand out performances from both Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi.
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