It's my understanding that Knock Off also started off as a meta commentary on the genre. HK legend Tsui Hark didn't know what to make of the script so he threw the kitchen sink at it instead. Hence, there is insane stuff like a POV shot of a sneaker falling apart. And that rickshaw race is epic. Apparently Van Damme…

100% accurate. The original script was indeed a parody of Die Hard-like thrillers. It was overhauled into a straightforward thriller but they retained some of the ridiculous parody elements. With that being said, it has aged very well.

Was so happy to see him in leading roles in the 90s. He was one of the 80s great supporting actors and deserved the mainstream recognition he received in films like Twister, Titanic, Tombstone, Apollo 13, etc. He could be charming, menacing, hilarious and devious all in the same film. His supporting work in Aliens,…

Also constantly pulling on an inhaler for some reason. It must have been Cage's choice to make that character an asthmatic.

I would argue that Cox played the role as it was actually written in the Harris novels while Hopkins chewed scenery vaudeville style. Cox was the superior Lechter. Manhunter is the superior film.

King of NY = masterpiece

Was recently on a flight with her and she is easily a commanding 6'1 or 6'2.

Manhunter, Thief and Collateral. You're welcome.

Congo is unreal. A talking gorilla, albino killer gorillas, diamond powered satellites, Bruce Campbell?! Needs to be seen to be believed.

Mulcahy is a supremely influential director as he basically created the MTV aesthetic: style over narrative, flashy edits, only beautiful people exist, bombastic soundtrack. His feature film career never flourished, but his early MTV work (with Duran Duran, Elton John,etc) and it's subsequent influence on Hollywood…

Going out on a limb here to say Outland is my favorite Connery film and performance.

Ratner made the atrocious Red Dragon in 2002. Mann made the amazing Manhunter in 1986, which is still the best Harris adaptation, Lambs Oscar wins be damned.

What about Maximum Risk from Fall 96? It's Top 5 peak Van Damme.

100% agree. The Rock endures because of its cast (especially Connery), not because of its direction. The script also got a major overhaul by a series of talented script doctors, including Tarantino. The biggest action set piece comes at the end of the first act! Before they even get to The Rock! Bay knows how to…

If you want to see Mann's first run at Heat, check out the amazing Thief from 1981. Complete with extended dinner scene as well! Career best performance from James Caan as well as many of the same ideas that were later revisited for Heat. An amazing film that does not get enough recognition when Mann's career is…

The golden area of action films slows to a crawl in the mid 90s and all but peters out in the early 2000s. Re-visit Sudden Death as it has aged much better than any Die Hard rip off has any right to. And DHWAV never gets old. It's jus as rewatchable as the first one.

So happy to see Sudden Death get some love. Had it been released in the Fall rather than at Christmas, I think it would have been a decent hit and stabilized Van Damme's career after the dumpster fire that was Street Fighter.

1995 belongs to Die Hard with a Vengance as it is one of the last gasps of old school action filmmaking courtesy of one of the greatest, Mr. John McTiernan. McTiernan is the anti-Bay; his films are paced and shot beautifully. For this reason, DHWAV should get the nod over Bad Boys. It was also the highest grossing…

The final fight against portly William Forsythe in Out For Justice is all you need to see to recognize that Seagal's ego was out of control.

Agreed. I hope it gets its due when 1996 rolls around. Kurt Russell needs more recognition as one of the most underrated American actors of the past 30-40 years. He has always brought his A game, even when the film around him is simply adequate (Dark Blue, Backdraft, etc.)