Christmas 2007: Hottest new action DVDs – Part 7

The new millennium has produced some great action movies that will define this generation of action stars. Btu, let’s be honest, it has also produced some movies that are destined for the action movie discount bin. It’s unfortunate because we are at the cutting edge of special effects where virtual actors can turn in as mesmerizing a performance as our finest actors. And martial arts wire work can produce some of the most beautiful fight choreography imaginable. Here’s my list of favorite action movies from 2007, followed by a list of films that shouldn’t be on anyone’s list.

Casino Royale is the best of a fantastic series. Daniel Craig is as good an actor as Roger Moore, capable of equal if not better humor. He’s also almost as tough as Sean Connery, although that is hard to imagine. This James Bond is a kid just getting his double-0 chops, but he is determined and passionate. But what about the action? The urban chase scenes which exhibit the artistic grace of the best urban gymnastics is first-rate. The gun play is cool. There’re plenty of pretty girls and knock-out fight scenes. This is a sure-fire answer to the lethargy of some of the later James Bond films.

Transformers is a fun movie. Its CGI effects are seamless and the film is fast-paced and vigorous. It does suffer a bit from its cartoonish origins in a plot that is just plain silly, and characters that never really survive long outside of the Saturday morning cartoon crowd. But the directors take this into account and focus on the parts that we all will enjoy most. Leave the fakey sci-fi out. Leave out the annoying professional wrestler banter. Instead, the film wallows in incredible fight scenes filmed using tight shots, close ups and pull-aways that are usually reserved for live-action films.

Pirates of the Carribbean: At World’s End is the last of a fun action trilogy. Ignore the plot, please. But the action, the CGI and the acting makes this a fun movie. If you judge it in comparison to the other films in the franchise, it falls to third place, but if you watch it for sheer enjoyment, it stands against the best 2007 has to offer. The sword fights are poorly choreographed this time, and the CGI are sometimes so stunning that they leave the viewer a bit bewildered. The less said about plot, the better. So what makes this film so good? Sheer fun. The climactic battle scene is a ballet of swashbucklery that I can guarantee you have never seen before.

Blood