The last three decades of action cinema may not have quite lived up to the giddy heights of the 80s, but we've also seen some real game changers coming out in recent years. You know the kind of films that really shape the genre & leave an indelible mark. Here are a few of the standout ones
Mad Max: Fury Road
You can't possibly discuss action cinema over the last twenty to thirty years without even touching on what loads of people will tell you is still the greatest action film of the last three decades - let alone of all time. The reboot of Mad Max was a clear break from the past, taking the series forward leaps and bounds with some simply mind-boggling choreography & a true epic feel that we just don't see very often in movies. The effect was so profound that for many it's where the 'before' & 'after' got separated & people started talking about a "Mad Max: Fury Road" era.
The Dark Knight
Okay, it's a superhero flick, but bear in mind that Christopher Nolan's 2008 blockbuster "The Dark Knight" was a superhero film that can also be looked at as a full on action masterpiece that even managed to snag the attention of the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio. Nolan himself brought his own special touch to the film, blending an awesome soundtrack with some simply jaw-dropping action sequences, pretty heart-stopping choreography & of course some characters that really stick in the mind. & there you have the perfect example of how superhero movies can also be total action blockbusters - keeping viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
Matrix
We've mentioned this one loads of times, but this time we really couldn't just gloss over it. The impact of the very first Matrix back in 1999 was just immense. The Wachowskis' film gave us some of the wildest & most visually stunning action sequences ever committed to celluloid - ones that basically shot their way into the minds of film fans & will go on to influence so many future action films as the Matrix series itself.