The 90’s were the best time to be in if you were an action movie fan. There were so many good old movies that helped the action genre blossom beyond belief. There are still some action scenes from the era that require a special mention because they were just THAT great.
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace – Duel Of The Fates
Alright the prequel trilogy was not as everybody expected them to be. George Lucas wanted to show the world the origin story of Anakin Skywalker and how he becomes Darth Vader. He took the worst possible way to do so. There are still things to look forward to in the prequel trilogy movies. The battle of the fates – Darth Maul vs. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn is something all Star wars fans loved. The action sequence came with John Williams’ amazing musical score, that only heightened the tension and give us the ‘Star wars’ feel.
The Mask of Zorro – Zorro’s Return
The Mask Of Zorro was the last of its kind. It was classic Hollywood action at its finest. There were no special effects used in the action scenes. Antonio Banderas was perfect to play the role of the titular vigilante superhero. When Banderas put on the mask for the first time, the fight scene that followed was pure and unadulterated fun.
Hard Boiled – Hospital Showdown
It was the year 1992. A seemingly unknown film director came up with a movie on the cops vs. gangster genre. That movie was Hard Boiled and the director was none other than the legendary John Woo. Woo went on to direct cult classic masterpieces like Face/Off and Mission Impossible 2.But it was Hard Boiled that put him on everybody’s radar. The movie is full of genius action scenes. But the one we would like to mention is the final hospital showdown scene. It was a one-shot scene with no cuts in between. John Woo’s Hard Boiled’s action choreography inspired John Wick more years later.
Blade – Night Club Massacre
Call us what you will but we believe 1998’s Blade was a movie that was way ahead of its time. Sure it was not as well received as the X-Men movies or the Sam Raimi trilogy, but it had its moments. Blade’s crown jewel was its gritty and bloody action sequences. Wesley Snipes was an Angel of Death with a Samurai Katana. The opening scene of the movie involves the Daywalker entering a Vampire infested night club. What follows next is nothing short of a massacre. It’s a bloodbath and we enjoy each and every second of it.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day – Terminator Showdown
If Terminator was incredible, then the sequel was just downright breathtaking. Terminator 2:Judgment Day was known to be the first movie to use CGI in an action sequence. The scene we want to bring to your notice is probably the first ever time we see two terminators trading fists in a serious high stakes fight. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 is slow but durable. The T-1000is nimble and fast. Each terminator has its strengths and weaknesses. The use of CGI in what we could only label as the (second) greatest action choreography of the decade only adds fuel to the fire. Cameron’s status as a film-making visionary was cemented forever after this fight sequence.
The Matrix – Bullet Time
The Matrix may have been the most influential science-fiction action movie to have been ever made. It gave us a world that is strikingly eerie and uncannily relatable. Are we in a simulation? Or is it truly reality we are breathing into? If the former is the case, then are there loopholes we can manipulate this simulation? Neo and Agent Smith both have the power to do so in the final Bullet Time fight sequence at the end of The Matrix. The movie’s action scenes were so profound it ended up influencing literally every sci-fi action movie for years to come.
