Excellent adventure
Some movies define a generation, others define a genre of cinema. This week, it's
the 10 best action adventure films of all time. We couldn't squeeze Plan B from Outer Space in no matter how hard we tried.
Dr Jones in Raiders, about to get the boulder rolling
10 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
"Ding dong - the witch is dead!"
The Wicked Witch, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion are icons of fantasy, adventure and spectacular Technicolor, and 70 years on, still hold a special space in our collective childhoods - even though the film was initially considered a commercial flop. Spawning songs like ‘Over the Rainbow' for which Judy Garland will forever be identified, Wizard of Oz was scary, exciting and exhilarating, a ruby-shoed Dorothy and Toto in an unknown world following the yellow brick road in search of the Emerald City and the Wizard of Oz. A dazzling film.
9 Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
"The girl is pretty and I am always sentimental. But for Jason, there are other adventures."
In the 1960s there was no such thing as computer generated special effects so it fell to SPFX genius Ray Harryhausen to bring to life with stop motion animation the cast of Don Chaffey's now-legendary Jason and the Argonauts. Greek mythology has often proved excellent fodder for the screen - particularly when armies of skeletons join the fighting. Clever, prescient and still fun for all ages.
8 The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Lady Marian "Why, you speak treason!" Robin Hood "Fluently."
Filmed in glorious Technicolor at a then-astonishing cost of $2 million and ignited by cockahoop cocksman Errol Flynn, the much loved legend of Robin of Loxley carried a swashbuckling plot, a gorgeous Maid Marion (Olivia de Havilland) and a cast of Hollywood legends (Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains etc). This vibrant, exciting for kids and adults and everyone wishing they were the other epic still holds high cinematic currency. The arrow splitting scene was recently recreated on TV show Mythbusters. Verdict: It probably can't be done.... except by Errol!
7 Back to the Future (1985)
"Jesus, George, it was a wonder I was even born."
Director Roger Zemeckis' apprenticeship under Steven Spielberg paid serious dividends for all involved in this ultra-fun film (the first of three) that toys with notions of time travel, fantasy and the old ‘what if' scenario. It took Michael J Fox from TV sitcom star to megastar in 1985, prompted a wave of interest in DeLorean cars and it has something for everyone, kids and adults alike - including the sort of pop culture references that have since become currency for modern American cinema. It also features Crispin Glover in his most coherent role
yet as Marty McFly's hapless father, George.
6 The Princess Bride (1987)
"Inconceivable!"
A sick boy being read to by his grandfather forms the story of one of those rare perfect book-to-film adaptations (probably because screenwriter William Goldman was adapting his own novel). It's a rollicking adventure about the redeeming powers of love and friendship, but most importantly it's as quotable as it is memorable, from the Rodents Of Unusual Size to the travails of being "mostly dead". And it features This is Spinal Tap's Christopher "Nigel Tufnel" Guest as the villain.
5 Star Wars (1977)
"The Force will be with you, always."
Technically it's A New Hope, but let's not get geeky: it'll always be Star Wars to us. The story of a plucky band of rebels defeating the evil Galactic Empire was one of the most successful films of all time (although director George Lucas was so convinced it was a flop, he refused to show at the premiere). It was, of course, followed by two equally-awesome sequels that both drew upon classic mythology while creating a whole new one. Okay, the franchise has grossed $4.3 billion, but we'd rather forget those so-called "prequels" ever happened, though.
4 Lord of the Rings (2001)
"My preciousssssssss..."
Ignore the cries of the purists: Peter Jackson did amazingly well distilling JRR Tolkien's massive fantasy classic into so digestible and dynamic a heap of celluloid. While the films had no shortage of highlights (thanks to the judicious use of New Zealand scenery which brought to life Tolkien's Olde England version of Middle Earth) the rendering of Gollum - performed by Andy Serkis and created by the digital team at Weta - was without doubt the most stunning achievement... if you don't include the 17 Oscars from 30 nominations and the fact the trilogy stands as the 14th, 7th and 2nd highest grossing films of all time.
3 Pirates of the Caribbean (2003)
"Arrrrr, bring me that horizon!"
A long overdue resurrection of the high seas adventure genre, Pirates was, for a time, a Spielberg vehicle to star Bill Murray, Steve Martin or Robin Williams. Luckily, Johnny Depp got shanghaied instead, basing his gay blade Captain Jack Sparrow on Keith Richards crossed with Pepe Le Pew. Hammy to the hilt, the film pays due homage to silent master Buster Keaton and cutthroat classics like The Crimson Pirate via big stunts, sword duels and a supernatural skeleton crew.
2 King Kong (1933)
"Scream for your life, Anne! Scream!"
The original and best. While this Kong lacked the slick digital wizardry of Peter Jackson's 2005 remake, it has heart, charm and a rip roaring story executed by jaunty 18 inch models. Rereleased four times between 1933 and 1955 with restored scenes (Kong disrobing Fay Wray's ‘Anne' for one, not to mention an excellent scene with carnivorous giant spiders), the film grossed $90,000 on it's first opening weekend back at the height of the Great Depression - a world record at the time. Kong's cry was the roar of a lion and tiger joined, then run backward.
1 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
"It's not the years, honey - it's the mileage"
Mesmerised by those classic movie serials of the 40s and 50s that kept the baby boomer generation returning to the flicks every Saturday, Steven Spielberg found himself 30 years later building a sandcastle in Maui with George Lucas and hatching Raiders... as "James Bond without the hardware". Stuffed to the gills with rolling boulders, snake pits and a droll yet debonair wisecracking dude in a dusty fedora named after Lucas's dog, Indiana, the film grossed $400 million worldwide, won four Oscars and may just be the greatest adventure film ever made. The two immediate sequels are almost as good (even if Temple of Doom's heart-ripping scene was too creepy for kids.)
Honourable mentions go to...
Big Trouble in Little China, Tarzan, Finding Nemo, Romancing the Stone, Crocodile Dundee, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Journey to the Centre of the Earth & The "Hey you guys!" Goonies.
What's your favourite adventure film? Email us at film@timeoutsydney.com.au