Best Action Films of the Decade, So Far

All week long I will be running a guest segment with a bunch of my friends offering their picks for the best films of the decade, so far (released in 2010 or later). By giving you a bunch of different tastes in film, perhaps you'll find something new to enjoy. First up is Chris Bandoian, a fellow member of the Philadelphia Film Society. Here's what Chris had to say about the Best Action Movies since 2010:

When taking a look back at the last few years of cinema, I came to realize that Hollywood no longer makes action movies the way that I grew up knowing them. It seems that the conventional action film doesn't really exist anymore. In recent years, I've found that the closest thing I hope to the unforgettable action movies of my childhood are the new-wave brand of super hero movies. You’ll notice that the list is dominated by this type of film. You’ll also notice that the list contains no true sci-fi movies. Simply put, there haven’t been many genuinely good sci-fi movies in the last few years. If this were 2005, you know Serenity would be up here. But it’s not.  So…yeah. 

#1 - Inception (2010)

In my opinion, there is no question that Inception would be number one on any list. It’s a beast of a movie. Original, thought provoking, excellent cast, and truly beautifully shot and conceived. What more do I have to say?

#2 - Django Unchained (2012)

Django Unchained was a great movie reminiscent of the 60’s spaghetti westerns, but with Tarantino flair. The movie was engaging and unexpectedly funny. Christop Waltz and Jamie Foxx were so good that when it came time to award the best supporting actor; people weren't sure who was supporting whom. In the film business, that’s a good problem to have.

#3 - The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

For reasons I’m not going to get into here, The Dark Knight Rises was by far my least favorite and weakest of the trilogy. That’s not to say that it was bad by any measure. The Dark Knight and Batman Begins were just really, really good movies (but not released in this decade).

#4 - The Avengers (2012)

The Avengers was another excellent graphic novel/super hero movie. From the cast, to the dialogue, to the effects, it was one of 2012’s most enjoyable movies to watch.  Even taking into account the awkward Hawkeye (Renner) and Black Widow (Johansson) character arc, it still leaves you excited for what’s to come.

#5 - Kick-Ass (2010)

Kick-Ass was a movie that people wanted to hate, stating that it was too gory and essentially a cautionary tale about contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Get a life. It was original, perfectly cast, fun, and full of action.  Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) stole the show.  Hopefully Kick-Ass 2 (out in August) will do the first offering justice. 

Honorable Mention Selections: 
The Raid: Redemption  
Looper 
Skyfall  
Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
Hanna  
The Expendables and The Expendables 2  
The Man from Nowhere