There are so many action movies that have cemented themselves in cinema history over the years, and while many of these films have been able to do this through their stories, others have done it with just a handful of iconic scenes or memorable quotes. Today, we will break down some iconic action movie moments over the last few decades and those that have stood the test of time. Heed this warning, we will be talking about iconic films and quotes, so plenty of spoilers ahead!
Casino Royale (2006) - Poker Scene
Casino Royale remains one of the highest-rated Bond flicks, and while the poker scene has some farfetched elements, it is one of the most intense casino scenes in action film history. To the casual audience, some of the poker flaws in the scene might not be as apparent, eclipsed by the aura and feel of the scene. However, from the viewpoint of a casual cinema viewer, it has everything. Many film analysts believe that Casino Royale is Craig’s best performance as Bond by quite some distance, and scenes like this capture why.
It can be challenging for directors to capture the casino feel in a film. Plenty of examples of films haven’t done this right, and this extends to casino gaming, not just poker, but blackjack and roulette, too. While online casinos might have taken some glamour and business away from land-based providers over the years, with more people playing live roulette via their smartphones and tablets, there’s still a market for films to explore.
In the poker scene in Casino Royale, 007 faces off against the film's main antagonist, with the prize pool swelling to over $100 million. It's not a bad jackpot and a bit higher than the prize pools most of us will encounter when we sit down for a game or two!
Darth Vader’s Iconic Line
“I am Your Father” in The Empire Strikes Back must undeniably be one of the most iconic action movie moments ever. A lot of people believe this scene is the most iconic moment in cinema history (it’s definitely one of the most quoted), and who would we be to disagree with this statement?
Star Wars remains an enormously successful franchise and one of the most profitable in history. Disney’s investment and success with The Mandalorian show how much demand there is, even 45 years after this iconic moment.
Jaws
The popularity of Jaws' most iconic scene received a new lease of life over the last few years when the line “You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat” and the still from that moment became a popular internet meme. Has any film really captured suspense quite like Jaws did? It was a revelation and remains one of the greatest movies of its era, with the most memorable sound clip. Some might argue the film is more of a horror than an action movie, similar to how some of the other creature feature movies have felt in recent years, especially with the very grounded and harrowing Godzilla Minus One (which even won an award for its visual effects). Yet Jaws is a film that hasn’t had a recent remake or reboot, making it an icon in movie history.
Gladiator
Although no stone was left unturned in creating the visual spectacle of the sequel, many believe Gladiator 2 does not live up to the strength of the first, and we’re inclined to agree, (although it wasn’t as bad as some initially thought it would be). We’ll go out on a limb and say that people won’t be quoting some of the most iconic scenes from 25 years ago, just like they do with the first film.
Gladiator has a couple of scenes that could constitute the most iconic moment. However, our pick is the final battle scene involving Maximus in the Colosseum, with one of Hans Zimmer’s greatest soundtracks playing over it. It just doesn’t get much more iconic than this.
Final Thoughts
Although we have selected a combination of scenes and quotes, it shows that great action cinema doesn’t just focus on the visual effects of a scene. While they can go a long way in showcasing the quality of a film and a director, the strength of the dialogue, story, music, and acting is even more important in some cases.
Many of the great films we explored branched across genres. Because action is such a popular theme in film, it’s often fused with other genres or ideas to create something that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
We know that elements of nostalgia and personal preference play a major part in lists like this. But even from an objective standpoint, it’s unthinkable to exclude Star Wars, Gladiator, or James Bond from this list—these are the elite bracket of action movies, and they only come along once in a generation (or once in a century).
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