Chris Hemsworth has become an integral part of the MCU with his role as Thor Odinson and has been embraced gleefully by the audience. But the God of Thunder playing the role of a mercenary and performing exceptional stunts in “Extraction” (2020) shocked the audience into awe. With the audience waiting impatiently for an upcoming sequel, they can now breathe easy with the release of the trailer for “Extraction 2”. The trailer does not reveal much, but one thing Sam Hargrave promises is raising the bar for top-notch action. “Extraction 2” has been given a release date of June 16, 2023, and in the meantime, you can watch these 5 movies to quench your thirst for action.
Safe (2012)
When we are talking about action, it would be a shame not to mention the name of Jason Statham. “Safe” (2012), directed by Boaz Yakin, revolves around Luke Wright (Jason Statham) and Mei (Catherine Chan) and their survival from a myriad of enemies. Luke Wright was once an NYPD special agent, but now he works merely as a cage fighter. His life gets ruined by the Russian mob, where his family is killed because he did not take a fall in a match. Thinking to end his life, he spots a 12-year-old girl who is on the run from the Russians. Later, it is revealed that Mei is a mathematical genius who keeps books for the Chinese Mafia and has slipped away from them with a special numerical code. The hand-to-hand combat and the blazing guns that Luke Wright uses to save the girl from the Russian, Chinese, and dirty cops of New York are truly mind-boggling. But amidst this carnage and violence, there are also heart-touching moments where Luke Wright converses with Mei, making us remember a certain few scenes from “Leon: The Professional.”
The Equalizer (2014)
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, “The Equalizer” (2014) comes with a blend of charismatic acting and a punch of action. The plot begins with a man of mysterious origin by the name of Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) who now leads a quiet life and has put his violent past behind him. But when a teenage girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) who works for the Russians is mistreated by the violent mobster, the beast of Robert McCall from the past resurfaces and becomes an avenging angel. The role of the cold-hearted Russian mobster played by Marton Csokas is truly noteworthy. It has a sequel “The Equalizer 2” (2018), and an upcoming one in 2023, “The Equalizer 3”.
The Raid (2011)
If you have a leaning toward martial arts, then “The Raid” (2011) is a must-watch. Director and writer Gareth Evans, along with star Iko Uwais, are able to create a mouse-and-cat-like action-packed crime thriller. The plot happens in a single day and revolves around the taking down of a crime lord by the name of Tama (Ray Sahetapy). The notorious gangster has locked himself in a 15-story building, with each floor swarming with killers and thieves. Things become complicated when the team that was supposed to take down Tama gets their cover blown. For Rama (Iko Uwais), a rookie member of that team, along with his colleagues, it becomes a story of survival. The grim setup of the building in Jakarta, the usage of several weapons, hand-to-hand combat, and the twists at every corner make this an engaging and violent film.
Taken (2008)
The quote “I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you” still remains one of the fiercest threats from a father whose daughter has been abducted. Directed by Pierre Morel, the story in “Taken” (2008) begins with a former CIA operative, Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson), who is trying to get close to his 17-year-old daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) and for that has taken early retirement. The story takes an unexpected turn when Kim and Amanda (Katie Cassidy) get kidnapped just after landing in Paris for their vacation. Using his contacts and skills, Bryan learns that he has four days to save his daughter before she is sold into the world of sex trafficking. The unstoppable father creates chaos with his wrath in the criminal world and ultimately saves his daughter. Genres like crime, action, and thriller are perfectly blended, and it also has sequels, “Taken 2” (2012) and “Taken 3” (2014).
The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017)
A great light-hearted action comedy, “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” (2017) comprises boat escapades, mad car chases, and numerous rounds of bullet shootouts. The world’s top protection agent, Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds), who has fallen from grace, is called in to protect and take his worst enemy and top assassin, Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson), from London to The Hague to testify against the crimes of a ruthless dictator, Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman). The subtle mix of comedy and action is perfectly done by director Patrick Hughes, and the supporting roles played by actors Elodie Yung and Salma Hayek are the cherry on top. The film also has a sequel by the name of “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard,” which came out in 2021.
Wrapping Up
Similar to “Extraction 2,” all 5 movies mentioned in this list promise thrilling action and also revolve around saving someone from the clutches of their enemy. All of them are easily available on streaming websites; watch them before the release of “Extraction 2” to get into that action-packed zone.