August sees the return of our favourite action stars with the highly anticipated release of The Expendables 2 the high octane action packed blockbuster. To celebrate the release of The Expendables 2, we’re taking a look back at the top 10 action films that have had us glued to our seats.
Batman (1989)
Tim Burton directs the first of the Batman series introducing us Batman (Michael Keaton) who starts his battle on crime against his first major enemy, the Joker (Jack Nicholson), whilst trying to keep his real identity as millionaire Bruce Wayne a secret.
The Matrix Trilogy (1999 – 2003)
Made up of The Matrix, The Matric Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, the trilogy follows the story of Neo (Keanu Reeves), Morpheus and Trinity in their discovery and rebellion against their reality being simulated by sentient machines to subdue the human population. It reaches its climax in The Matrix Revolutions when they battle to save the last real-world city, Zion, against the machines that have enslaved the human race.
300 (2007)
Its opening was the 24th largest in box office history and in this dramatic retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae, based on the graphic novel by Sin City creator Frank Miller, King Xerxes of Persia builds an army of hundreds of thousands, to invade and conquer the tiny divided nation of Greece in 481 B.C. However, when the advancing Persian forces enter the perilous mountain pass of Thermopylae, they meet Spartan King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and his royal guard of soldiers numbering just 300!
I am Legend (2007)
Years after a biological war kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into vampire-like mutants, Will Smith plays sole surviving human, virologist Robert Neville, who is immune to a man-made virus that was originally created to cure cancer. The film follows his valiant struggle to create a cure whilst defending himself against the mutants left ruling New York City.
Body of Lies (2008)
Directed by Riley Scott, Body of Lies sees Leonardo DiCaprio yet again take the lead in this adaptation of the best-selling post-9/11 espionage thriller alongside Academy Award winner Russell Crowe. DiCaprio portrays an idealistic CIA agent Roger Ferris who when stationed in Jordan following being wounded in Iraq, dedicates his life to stopping any further attacks by Al Qaeda. Whilst there he uncovers a lead on a major terrorist leader suspected to in Jordan, but as he tries to capitalise on the intelligence he has uncovered, Ferris gets caught in the crosshairs and the plot he started develops into an ending he could never have predicted.
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Guy Richie provides a double Academy Award nominated film in his all-new take on the classic master detective Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr), the character originally created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Along with his trusted ally Dr. Watson (Jude Law), Holmes uses his unrivalled powers of observation, his deductive skills and the blunt force of his fist to catch the criminals.
Inception (2010)
Winner of four Academy Awards and one the highest grossing films of all time, grossing over $800 million dollars worldwide and written, directed and produced by Christopher Nolan, this mind bending film follows a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion. Leonardo DiCaprio portrays a highly skilled thief, Cobb, who is given a final chance at redemption which involves executing his toughest job to date: Inception.
Clash of the Titans (2010)
Sam Worthington stars as Perseus, the mortal son of Zeus (Liam Neeson), in the ultimate battle for power that pits men against kings and kings against gods. In this retelling of the classic myth, we see Perseus enter the underworld to face demons and beast to stop them from conquering the Earth and the heavens. However, in order to do this he has to first accept his abilities as a god, defy his fate and make his destiny.
The Expendables 2 (2012)
The all-star cast are back on the 16th of August as The Expendables are reunited again by Mr Church (Bruce Willis) for what they believe to be an easy pay check. However, when one of their own is brutally murdered on the job, revenge sends them deep into enemy territory and they call in two new members to face an unexpected threat.
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The Expendables 2 will be released in UK&Ireland August 16th.
