Latest news with #actionmovies
CBC
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Jerry Bruckheimer was terrified that Brad Pitt would crash his car while shooting F1
For the better part of four decades, Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer has been a kind of blockbuster travel agent for audiences around the globe. "We're in the transportation business," he tells Q guest host Talia Schlanger in an interview. "We transport you into another world." Bruckheimer has taken movie-goers on a spaceship to an asteroid in Armageddon, into the back of a cop car with Will Smith in Bad Boys, and into the cockpit of a fighter jet in Top Gun. His latest movie, F1, brings you to the racetrack for a front row seat at one of the world's biggest sporting events. WATCH | Official trailer for F1: The new high-octane blockbuster stars Brad Pitt as an aging Formula One driver who attempts to make a comeback 30 years after his promising career is derailed by an accident. As a veteran producer, Bruckheimer had to draw on everything he knows about making action movies to pull off the film's high-risk stunts, while also maintaining authenticity and keeping his actors safe. When Pitt signed on to the movie, he insisted on driving himself without the use of green screens. "When you see Brad in the car, he's in the car," Bruckheimer says. "[The actors] are in the car going 180 miles an hour, breaking down to 50. The G-force is in the corners; you hit five Gs when you go in those corners at 50 miles an hour. And the downforce is unbelievable." These are rocket ships that they're driving at these enormous speeds. - Jerry Bruckheimer While shooting the film's life-threatening scenes, Bruckheimer was constantly worried about Pitt's safety. He says his happiest day on set was when the A-list star stepped out of the car for the final time in Abu Dhabi. "That was his unhappiest day because it was over," Bruckheimer says. "He just loved it. Even though he took a beating physically…. You don't understand, these are rocket ships that they're driving at these enormous speeds." But despite all of the impressive action shots, Bruckheimer says it's "the emotional story" that really hooks you in. "You don't have to be a racing fan or know anything about F1 to really enjoy this movie because once we get you in the theatre, we're going to surround you with a great story, great visuals and great sound," he tells Schlanger. "You're going to have a great experience for over two hours. And I promise you, you'll feel better when you walk out than when you walked in."
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Must-See Movies By Genre, Decade And Language
People in Times Square pass a cinema marquee featuring the film 'The Terminator' in 1984 New York ... More City, What makes a great movie? Iconic actors? Great directors? Or is it something harder to define? The best movies come from all different film genres, countries and decades. It can be challenging to know where to find the greatest movies. Thankfully, this article breaks down movies by genre, industry and date so you can start checking films off your list of 'movies everyone should see". The best films connect with their audience whether you are looking for a 1970s Hollywood comedy or a 2000s Korean neo-noir movie. No matter what you are looking for, this list has you covered. Top Movie Genres There are hundreds of film genres. However, some of the most popular are action, comedy and drama. Each genre comes with a sub-genres. For example, even in comedy there is slapstick, satire, rom-com and many more. Genre helps us understand and categorize films, but some of the best movies break the mold and combine multiple genres. Get ready for stunts and explosions with the best action movies of all time. There isn't a great definition for what makes a movie an action movie. However, most prominently feature action scenes and set pieces, including fight choreography, chase sequences, and shootouts. While action movies have existed since the silent era, the modern genre arose in the 1960s and 1970s, with the most modern version of the genre fully establishing itself in the 1980s. From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Keanu Reeves, action stars have become icons of the genre. Notable on our list entries include: The best animated movies range from traditionally drawn Disney princesses to stop-motion animation to CGI Pixar movies. However, all of them bring the viewer into new and exciting worlds. The genre of animation is, in many ways, as old as film itself. The first animated films were made during the silent period, and the first feature-length animated film, El Apóstol, was released in 1917. Over 100 years later, animation still delights adults and children alike. Notable entries on our list include: Anime movies are a sub-genre of animated films, specifically ones that come from Japan. There are many kinds of anime, but generally they tend to be less specifically for kids than their American counterparts. Many of the best anime films come from studios like Studio Ghibli, Madhouse, Toei Animation and CoMix Wave Films. Studio Ghibli and its co-founder, Hayao Miyazaki, have especially found success abroad. Notable entries on our list include: The best comedy films ensure big laughs. While the comedy genre often overlaps with other genres like adventure, romance or even drama, pure comedies often center on parody, farce or slapstick. From directors like Adam McKay and Mel Brooks to actors like Robin Williams, Maya Rudolph and beyond, funny people make great movies. Comedy has become a favorite genre for many because who couldn't use a laugh? Notable entries on our list include: Cult classic is a hard genre to define. It is more of a feeling. It's going to a midnight movie. It is loving a box office flop. The best cult films are defined by their audience's love and devotion, even if cult films definitionally do poorly with critics and/or the box office during their first runs. Cult films can come from all genres, but sci-fi, comedy and horror are usually overrepresented. From Ed Wood to John Waters to Elvira, notable entries on our list include: Drama films are usually seen as the most prestigious genre. They often dominate at award shows like the Oscars and festivals like Cannes. Dramas tell serious and emotional stories; the best ones tell them with great acting, beautiful cinematography and solid scripts. While drama is an expansive category that can overlap with many other genres, they all tell important and impactful stories. Notable entries on our list include: The best disaster movies can be about volcanoes, tornadoes or earthquakes. However, all disaster movies prominently feature hopeful survivors as they traverse the impossible. Many think these types of films are low quality or 'kind of dumb,' but there is so much to love about disaster movies. Some of these films are goofy, like Sharknado, while others are Oscar winners like Titanic. All of them feature impressive effects, sets and stakes. Notable entries on our list include: Documentary films capture real life. This unscripted genre is all about telling authentic stories about remarkable and interesting real people or groups. Many of the first films would be considered documentaries, and the genre has only grown since the inception of cinema. While documentaries seek to capture real life, their narratives are shaped by directors like Barbara Kopple, Werner Herzog and Michael Moore. Notable entries on our list include: The best family movies aren't just for children; they are for parents and beyond. Family films are just that, films made to be watched by the whole family. This usually means they carry G or PG ratings and feature positive themes. They are often feel-good films that are cozy and light. Coming-of-age stories are also very popular in this genre. While studios like Disney have become synonymous with family films, these movies come from many different markets and studios. Notable entries on our list include: Fantasy movies share a lot of similarities with sci-fi films. However, instead of focusing on space and technology, they bring the viewer into imagined worlds or the past, where power comes from magic. These films also prominently feature fantastic themes and elements such as magic, beasts or dark forces. Directors like Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, Jim Henson, George Lucas and Guillermo Del Toro have become icons of this genre with amazing effects and nostalgic stories. Notable entries on our list include: Dark, suspenseful and twisting detective and crime stories are at the heart of the Film Noir genre. French critic Nino Frank coined the term 'film noir' in the mid-1940s; however, the industry didn't adopt the term until later. Film noir saw its peak in the 1940s and 1950s, but the related genre of Neo-noir started to emerge in the 1970s. With actors like Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Robert Mitchum and Gene Tierney noir films pack a punch when it comes to acting. Add beautiful black and white cinematography influenced with German Expressionism and Film Noir is a stylish and slick genre. Notable entries on our list include: There are many different kinds of horror movies. The genre includes slasher movies, Monster movies, body horror and supernatural horrors. Even in the categories of monster movies, there are vampire films, zombie movies, alien flicks and more. In such a varied genre, one important factor connects horror movies: they have to be scary. Whether it is through ambiance, jump scares or gore, the best horror films make your skin crawl. From Wes Craven to Alfred Hitchcock, notable films in the genre include: Martial arts films are all about combat. In this sub-genre of action film, martial artists and actors perform amazing stunts and fight choreography to electrify the audience. This genre showcases fighting techniques such as Kung Fu, Karate and Muay Thai. The martial arts genre also sometimes includes samurai movies as a subcategory. While many think of Hong Kong when they think of martial arts films, these films not only come from all over Asia, but also from all over the world. Martial arts films are often made by their stars, who usually both act and do stunts. Performers Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Tony Jaa, Sammo Hung, Bruce Lee, Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh have made this genre what it is. Notable entries on our list include: Movie musicals capture the excitement, pageantry and artistry of Broadway and the West End. While many movie musicals are based on plays, some of the best are wholly original. From Technicolor classics by Judy Garland and Vincente Minelli to darker adaptations from Bob Fosse, musicals can take all shapes (as long as the songs are great). Musicals are all about the performances, from singing to acting to dancing. Notable entries on our list include: Mystery movies let the audience be the detective. Filled with twists and turns, these films keep the audience guessing until the final moments. Many of the first mystery films were based on books by authors like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and movies are still adapted from mystery novels by Agatha Christie and Gillian Flynn. Most mystery films revolve around a crime that needs to be solved and often feature PIs, detectives or family members of the victim who are on the hunt to put the puzzle pieces together. Notable entries on our list include: Romantic movies will make you feel the love. While romance films are sometimes considered 'just chick flicks,' the genre includes beautiful and profound meditations on love, loss and what it means to be human. Romantic movies often overlap with the drama genre as well as the comedy genre in the form of rom-coms. However, other romances overlap with more unique genres, such as time travel movies and Shakespeare adaptations. And, yes, this genre also includes most Hallmark movies. Notable entries on our list of romance films include: Sci-fi movies transport audiences to outer space or into the future. Whereas fantasy movies create new worlds through magic, science fiction films do it through technology. Distant galaxies, the latest technology, aliens and robots are all mainstays of this space age genre. With behemoth franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek, this genre has been a favorite of many (even if some used to call them geeks). While it might seem like a new genre, Sci-Fi films have existed since at least the 1910s. Notable entries on our list include: The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat: the best sports movies capture this feeling perfectly. Sports films are simply films about sports. Many great films follow athletes from sports like football, baseball, soccer and hockey. However, they are not alone from the Olympics to boxing to skiing, if it's a sport, there is probably a movie about it. Arguably, most racing and driving movies even fall into this category. Many sports movies are based on true stories and feel deeply inspirational. Notable entries on our list include: Superhero movies have dominated the box office over the last 15 years. The second highest-grossing film ever is currently Avengers: Endgame, and it doesn't stop there. However, this wasn't always true. It took superhero films many years to be seen as hits, and they still aren't always considered cinema. Films about heroes like Batman, Spider-Man, the X-Men and even Thor have turned into mega blockbusters (even if there might be some recent superhero fatigue). From the DCEU to Marvel, notable entries on our list include: War is hell, but war movies can help audiences understand sacrifices and history. Generally, war films are based on true stories or at least on real wars. War movies usually follow soldiers and fighters in historical battles and situations. This genre is often gritty, upsetting and bloody. However, for fans, it is also emotionally resonant. Some directors behind famous war movies, such as Clint Eastwood, William Wyler and John Ford, even served in the military themselves. Notable entries on our list include: Western movies aren't as big of a genre as they used to be. Westerns have existed since the silent era and are sometimes still made today; however, the genre peaked between 1945 and 1965. Westerns usually tell stories from the 1840s to 1890s and are always set in the the Western United States. Notably, not all Westerns are American movies. The Spaghetti Western is an important sub-genre led by Italian directors like Sergio Leone. Notable Westerns on our list include: Top Foreign (Language) Films, By Country Foreign films can feel just that, foreign, but as Bong Joon Ho once said, 'Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.' There are huge film industries in countries like Japan, India and China. Not all foreign films are in languages that aren't English. However, the vast majority are, so, English speakers, get ready to overcome the subtitle barrier. Chinese cinema isn't just films from Mainland China. Usually, it is used as a catch-all term for films made in Chinese languages. The large majority of these films are made in Hong Kong, Mainland China or Taiwan. Notable entries on our list include: French cinema is internationally known for its artistic contributions and chic aesthetic. France has a historic film industry that has produced some of the greatest directors of all time, like Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut and Agnès Varda. French film is somewhat synonymous with the French New Wave Movement; however, there is so much more to love about French cinema. Notable entries on our list include: Hindi movies, also often colloquially called Bollywood Cinema, are films from India, specifically those released in Hindi. These films are frequently produced in Mumbai (formerly Bombay, thus the Bollywood portmanteau). India is easily one of the biggest film industries in the world, and Hindi films are a large part of the industry (India also produces many Telugu and Tamil films, among others). From actors like Shah Rukh Khan to Amitabh Bachchan, notable entries on our list include: Irish films are often not 'foreign language films.' While some notable films are in the Irish language, due to colonization by the British, the majority of films made in Ireland are in English. Irish films can be hard to categorize. Some are made in England and Northern Ireland. Many films are international co-productions. However, Irish films generally tell Irish stories. Many are based on history or show Irish culture. Irish films are often elevated by excellent acting from stars like Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Cillian Murphy. Notable entries on our list include: Italian films drip style. From sexy 1960s films by Federico Fellini to the neorealist works of Roberto Rossellini, Italian cinema is a paradise for film fans. Italy has contributed several film movements and styles to film history, including horrifying Giallo films and continent-spanning Spaghetti Westerns. While earlier Italian films often used actors with little to no experience in the neorealist period, iconic actors like Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni come from the Italian cinema. Notable entries on our list include: The Japanese film industry is one of the oldest in the world. Japan has become known for Godzilla movies, samurai films and anime, but there is also so much more in the history of Japanese cinema. Japan's industry has boasted notable directors like Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki and the legendary Akira Kurosawa. Notable entries on our list include: Usually, Korean cinema refers primarily to movies produced in South Korea (and not films produced in North Korea). South Korean films have risen to prominence in recent years, but Korean Cinema has been growing since after the end of Japanese occupation in the 1950s. Directors like Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho and Lee Chang-dong have put Korean Cinema on the map with beautiful and affecting films. Notable entries on our list include: Top Movies Across The Decades Film started as a scientific pursuit. Inventors sought to make pictures move. In the late 1800s, filmmakers began capturing scenes both real and imagined, and by the early 1900s, film had become an art form. However, science is never far from cinema. Over the decades, inventors have added sound, color, CGI and more to create complicated and impressive films. The best films both feel timeless and still reflect the historical moment in which they were made. Silent films started to be made in the late 1800s; however, many early films don't really feel like 'movies.' The first 'feature-length' film, The Story of the Kelly Gang, was released in 1906, ushering in a more recognizable era of cinema. The silent era rose to a fever pitch by the 1910s, and by the late 1920s, sound began to threaten a thriving industry. Many think sound films actually set the quality of cinema back. Silent directors like Cecil B. DeMille and F.W. Murnau and actors like Charlie Chaplin and Lillian Gish made far more technically advanced films than their sound counterparts. Sound also limited the reach of international films in new ways. While silent films can be hard to access, they are well worth the effort even for modern audiences. Notable entries on our list include: The best 1960's movies capture the feeling of the era. By the 1960s, the movie industry was booming; not only in Hollywood but internationally. Films from this era were influenced by everything from changing politics to advances in film, such as color. Some of the most notable directors made iconic films in the 1960s, including Satyajit Ray, Federico Fellini, Akira Kurosawa, Jean-Luc Godard, Sidney Lumet and Stanley Kubrick. Notable entries on our list include: The 1970s are a crucial decade in the history of filmmaking. Directors like Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Dario Argento, Chantal Akerman and Jean Rollin brought art and grit to theaters. It's the decade that introduced audiences to blockbusters and shark movies. The 70s also saw epic editions to the genre of organized crime films and film soundtracks. Notable entries on our list include: Radical! The 1980s were, in many ways, a time of excess and the movies made in the decade reflect that. Wacky comedies, John Hughes' Teen movies, horror films, there is something larger than life about '80s movies. Between Steven Spielberg, top Black films and the Brat Pack, the best '80s movies often feel like nostalgic fun. However, others tell meaningful stories. Notable entries on our list include: 1990s movies aren't radically different from the movies made today, but there is something deeply nostalgic about many films of the 1990s, especially for millennials. Yes, the effects are better now, but the 1990s delivered some fantastic films that still feel current 30 years later. Notable entries on our list include: Popular Film Series Once they make one good film, they tend to remake it again and again. However, that isn't always a bad thing, especially when the film is part of an amazing series. While movie sequels and even trilogies can be original, many of them are based on other media such as books or video games. From LOTR Movies and the Hunger Games to King Kong and Pirates Of The Caribbean, to even Twilight Movies and Harry Potter, audiences love a great film series. More Must-Watch Movie Types There are so many different kinds of movies. Whether you are looking for winter watches or spring movies, we have you covered. We even have lists of animal and dog lovers. What have we missed? Bottom Line These movies could last almost a lifetime. However, we publish new lists all the time, so make sure to keep up with us!
Geek Tyrant
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Keanu Reeves Reportedly Has One Big Condition to Return For JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 5 — GeekTyrant
Keanu Reeves may be ready to suit up as John Wick one more time, but only on one condition, the action has to match what his 60-year-old body can actually handle. According to In Touch, Reeves is being 'perfectly honest' with the creative team behind John Wick: Chapter 5 as development slowly moves forward. A source told the outlet, 'The script is being written and Keanu is being perfectly honest about what he's willing and not willing to do stunt-wise. There's no faking this. He's being totally honest about what he can and can't do, and he had put his body through hell for these movies.' Reeves has never been one to shy away from the punishing stunts and physically demanding sequences that define the franchise, but after four films and years of wear and tear, he's drawing some boundaries. It's not about stepping back from action entirely, but about being smart about what's possible now. If John Wick: Chapter 5 is going to happen, the wild set pieces that fans love need to be tailored to fit what Reeves is actually capable of at this point in his career. Lionsgate officially announced the film back in April at CinemaCon, with franchise director Chad Stahelski once again at the helm. But even with that announcement, the movie isn't a sure thing just yet. Stahelski has admitted that developing the next chapter is tricky, saying, 'cracking the story is a bit of a conundrum.' After all, John Wick did seemingly die at the end of Chapter 4. Still, Lionsgate is eager to make it happen. Stahelski even joked that the studio 'would very much will [John Wick 5] into existence' if they could. But for Reeves to come back, the team has to find a version of the movie that both works narratively and respects the limits Reeves is setting. The franchise has always centered on Reeves doing the real stunts, which added a level of authenticity that helped elevate John Wick above the usual action fare. But, maybe it's time to evolve the formula. He's already mentioned his knees may not survive another gauntlet of stair falls. That doesn't mean the next John Wick film has to go soft. If anything, reimagining the action to suit an older, wearier Wick could give the movie something fresh and interesting. What does an aging assassin's last stand look like when it's not just bullets and broken bones, but strategy, restraint, and experience? If the team can crack a story that respects what the franchise has built and what Reeves is ready to give, it could be something special. But if they can't? Maybe it's okay to let the Baba Yaga finally rest.
Geek Tyrant
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Keanu Reeves Reportedly Has One Big Condition to Return For JOHN WICK
Keanu Reeves may be ready to suit up as John Wick one more time, but only on one condition, the action has to match what his 60-year-old body can actually handle. According to In Touch, Reeves is being 'perfectly honest' with the creative team behind John Wick: Chapter 5 as development slowly moves forward. A source told the outlet, 'The script is being written and Keanu is being perfectly honest about what he's willing and not willing to do stunt-wise. There's no faking this. He's being totally honest about what he can and can't do, and he had put his body through hell for these movies.' Reeves has never been one to shy away from the punishing stunts and physically demanding sequences that define the franchise, but after four films and years of wear and tear, he's drawing some boundaries. It's not about stepping back from action entirely, but about being smart about what's possible now. If John Wick: Chapter 5 is going to happen, the wild set pieces that fans love need to be tailored to fit what Reeves is actually capable of at this point in his career. Lionsgate officially announced the film back in April at CinemaCon, with franchise director Chad Stahelski once again at the helm. But even with that announcement, the movie isn't a sure thing just yet. Stahelski has admitted that developing the next chapter is tricky, saying, 'cracking the story is a bit of a conundrum.' After all, John Wick did seemingly die at the end of Chapter 4 . Still, Lionsgate is eager to make it happen. Stahelski even joked that the studio 'would very much will [John Wick 5] into existence' if they could. But for Reeves to come back, the team has to find a version of the movie that both works narratively and respects the limits Reeves is setting. The franchise has always centered on Reeves doing the real stunts, which added a level of authenticity that helped elevate John Wick above the usual action fare. But, maybe it's time to evolve the formula. He's already mentioned his knees may not survive another gauntlet of stair falls. That doesn't mean the next John Wick film has to go soft. If anything, reimagining the action to suit an older, wearier Wick could give the movie something fresh and interesting. What does an aging assassin's last stand look like when it's not just bullets and broken bones, but strategy, restraint, and experience? If the team can crack a story that respects what the franchise has built and what Reeves is ready to give, it could be something special. But if they can't? Maybe it's okay to let the Baba Yaga finally rest.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
12 Fathers Day Movies About Dads Saving Daughters
Happy Father's Day! In honor of dads, here are 12 movies about dads rescuing daughters in distress. Dads saving daughters is maybe the most enduring trope in action movies, and it's easy to see why: There's no more primal motivation than protecting your children. But these movies are also fascinating for the way they get into generational differences, societal criticism, and middle-aged men's anxieties about a changing world that may seem to be leaving them behind. They're all wish-fulfillment fantasies, on some level. Here are 12 action movies about dads saving daughters. There's a lot going on in Lone Wolf McQuade, in which Chuck Norris plays an ex-military Texas Ranger who now lives in isolation with a wolf. But he soon runs up against a criminal gang led by the evil Wilkes (David Carradine). There's lots of conflict beforehand, but things really pick up when Wilkes kidnaps McQuade's daughter Sally (Dana Kimmell) and takes her to Mexico. This leads to a martial arts fight between McQuaid and Wilkes that was kind of a huge deal in 1983 — Chuck Norris versus the star of Kung Fu??? Wilkes almost wins, while wearing a very preppie sweater, no less. But then he very stupidly strikes Sally, inadvertently unleashing McQuade's dads-saving-daughters powers. Kind of an amped-up, more streamlined, much funnier Lone Wolf McQuade, Commando was another of the first films to realize that a simple retired military dad with a tough abducted daughter make for a perfect setup for a manly-man action movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger rattles off a series of deadly one-liners as John Matrix, the best-named movie hero ever. Young Alyssa Milano is terrific as Jenny Matrix, and Rae Dawn Chong is also great as one of the all-time great can-do-anything action movie sidekicks. At just 90 minutes, Commando is one of the best-plotted, fastest-moving films in the daughters in distress genre. So why not do it again? Schwarzenegger teamed up with Jamie Lee Curtis for this James Cameron epic that is mostly about the deception-filled marriage of Harry and Helen Trasker (Schwarzenegger and Curtis), but culminates, of course, in the abduction of their daughter, Dana (Eliza Dushku.) It has one of the most spectacular final face-offs in the history of dads-saving-daughters movies, involving Dana, a skyscraper, a jet and a helicopter. Speaking of planes: Air Force One stars Harrison Ford as regular-guy president James Marshall, president whose plane is hijacked by terrorists, led by Ivan Korshunov (Gary Oldman). That's bad enough, but then Ivan holds a gun to the First Daughter's head, triggering those dad saving daughters powers we told you about earlier, and fights back, uttering the most famous line in the film, "Get of my plane." We wish the special effects were a little better at the end of the plane, but we're mostly just on board for President Ford. The fourth Die Hard film raises the stakes from the previous three by having the estranged daughter of John McClane (Bruce Willis) get abducted by cyberterrorists. She's Lucy Gennero-McClane (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), and if you've seen a Die Hard movie you know that a woman not embracing McClane's surname as her own is shorthand for him feeling inadequate as a man. But things work out OK. The next Die Hard movie paired up John McClane with his son, but that's another gallery for another day. To die hard. The gold standard of dads saving daughters movies, Taken stars Liam Neeson as Brian Mills, a dad who has to rely on his "very particular set of skills" to save his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) from being auctioned off by absolutely horrible people to other absolutely horrible people. Taken, more than any other film on this list, plays out like a very effective divorced dad fantasy: When his ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) marries someone who is ostensibly a better provider, Brian proves his worth by doing what the new husband can't. Mills is always civil to Lenore's new husband Stuart (Xander Berkeley), but by Taken 2, the marriage is collapsing — and we can only assume the new husband turned into a jerk because he couldn't handle the assault on his manhood of being totally shown up by his wife's ex. The best thing about Taken is how well it establishes the emotional dynamic between the family before plunging into some thrilling action sequences, played out over a tight 90 minutes. Bryan is the best of all dads saving daughters, so good he inspired two sequels. Taken 2 ups the ante: This time mom and dad get taken, and Kim has to help them, using some incredibly cool techniques involving triangulation and grenades. But, this being a dads saving daughters movie, Kim eventually needs rescuing, courtesy of her pop. Still, this might be our favorite Taken movie because of the cool twists on the dads saving daughters genre and the inventiveness of the script and action scenes. There's not as much taking in this Taken, but it nonetheless fulfills some angry divorced dad fantasies: mom's new husband Stuart (played in this one by Dougray Scott, replacing Xander Berkeley) turns out to be an absolutely horrible person, and only Brian Mills can stop him. This one breaks new ground in the dads saving daughters genre, because Brian has to save not only Kim but her unborn baby. One thing we love about this film is that it spawned the one-liner, Taken 3 makes Taken 2 look like Taken. When his daughter (Ilah Davis) disappears into the adult film industry, Ohio prude Jake VanDorn (George C. Scott) must infiltrate the unseemly business and even impersonate a sleaze himself in order to find out what extremely upsetting stuff his daughter has gotten into. He works alongside industry insider Niki (Season Hubley, great) and becomes something of a father figure to her, too. Written and directed by the great Paul Schrader, the film is a fascinating look at how the industry worked around the time of its release, even though Jake's transformation isn't totally convincing. He also gets in a fight with a much younger, more street-savvy young man at the end, and that doesn't totally make sense, but this is still an oft-imitated touchstone in the dads saving daughters in distress genre. It also benefitted from one of the most ruthless ad campaigns in movie history: An ad that just shared Jake's exclamation upon seeing his daughter on-screen: "Oh my God, that's my daughter." Another classic dads saving daughters in distress setup: Macho L.A. helicopter pilot Ray Gaines (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) is estranged from his wife Emma (Carla Gugino) because he's too cool, or something. But then an earthquake traps their daughter Blake (Alexandra Daddario) with mom's new boyfriend, Daniel. Because this is a dads saving daughters movie, mom's new boyfriend is of course not up to the task of protecting Blake, because that's dad's job. Would you believe that by the end of the movie, Ray and Emma are reconsidering their future? You might expect Stillwater to be a lot like Taken: Matt Damon, Jason Bourne himself, lets loose in France trying to save his wrongfully convicted daughter? Sign us up. But it turns out to be something more complex, and interesting than the typical dads saving daughters routine. Damon's Oklahoma roughneck Bill Baker starts out deeply suspicious of the French, and assumes his daughter (Abigail Breslin) has been railroaded into a cell. But he has to solve the problem with his brains and empathy, not brawn. Some dad-on-the-warpath movies are really just excuses for a middle-aged "regular guy" to fight a world that's gotten too permissive for his tastes. But Stillwater isn't. This is another of those (sighs, rolls eyes) thoughtful movies that asks dads to consider the ethical and moral ramifications (barf) of rushing to judgment instead of just beating people up. Hugh Jackman plays Keller Dover, a man who goes on the warpath when his daughter is kidnapped. (Terrence Howard plays another dad who goes down the path reluctantly.) When their daughters are kidnapped, they kidnap a suspect — played by Paul Dano — and go medieval on him. As you've probably intuited, Prisoners is filled with twists. Mel Gibson plays John Link, an ex-con and recovering alcoholic who is now a tattoo artist. When his estranged daughter Lydia (future The Boys star Erin Moriarty) gets in trouble with her ex-boyfriend's criminal gang, John learns that she's become addicted to drugs and tries to help her recover. Lydia ends up abducted, and her dad is able to save the missing link — which is also the name of his business: Missing Link tattoo. But father and daughter are also able to recover the missing link in their relationship. It works on so many levels. Something we like about this movie is the dad using his wisdom to help his daughter in her recovery from addiction. Sometimes loving and supportive dads are even more helpful than dads saving daughters by beating people up. We're betting you might also like this list of the 15 Most Beautiful Movie Cars. Main image: Commando. Warner Bros. 20th Century Fox. Related Headlines 12 Sleazy '70s Movies That Don't Care About Your Respect Ari Aster and John Waters on the Art of Not Compromising 12 Shameful Movies That Glamorize the Devil
