Connect with us

Uncategorized

10 Best Friendships In Action Movies

Characterization and character development are usually the least of an action movie’s concerns. The focus is usually on explosions and car chases and quippy one-liners. But the action genre is home to some of cinema’s most beloved characters, from John McClane to John Connor, and their friendships with supporting players like Al Powell and the T-800 make for some of cinema’s most endearing dynamics.

From Maverick and Goose in Top Gun to Indiana Jones and Short Round in Temple of Doom to Dom and Brian in The Fast and the Furious, there are some beautiful friendships to be found in action movies.

Johnny Utah & Bodhi (Point Break)

Johnny Utah talking to Bodhi on the beach in Point Break

On paper, the premise of Point Break sounds like it shouldn’t work. The concept of an undercover FBI agent ignoring his duties because he finds the perp too charming to turn him in is ridiculous.

But it works beautifully because the on-screen dynamic developed by Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze is strong enough to convince audiences of that premise. Swayze really is that charismatic and his unbreakable bond with Reeves really is palpable.

Indy & Short Round (Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom)

Indiana Jones and Short Round looking concerned in The Temple of Doom

Dr. Jones was joined by two travel companions in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. While his romantic interest Willie Scott was just a one-note damsel in distress, his orphaned 11-year-old sidekick Short Round has become a beloved icon.

Making Indy a father figure in his second adventure made him a more sympathetic and well-rounded character. Ke Huy Quan nailed all the one-liners and made a great comedic foil for the deadpan Harrison Ford.

Jack Walsh & The Duke (Midnight Run)

Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin in the desert in Midnight Run

With its tale of a mismatched duo gradually becoming close friends over the course of a tumultuous road trip, Midnight Run is essentially Planes, Trains & Automobiles with guns. Robert De Niro stars as Jack Walsh, a grizzled bounty hunter, while Charles Grodin plays mafia accountant Jonathan “The Duke” Mardukas, his latest bounty.

Jack initially has no patience for the Duke and can’t wait to turn him in. But by the end of the movie, he’s willing to put his life on the line to protect the Duke from the mobsters on his tail.

John Connor & The T-800 (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

John Connor and the T-800 on a motorcycle in Terminator 2 Judgment Day

The first Terminator movie is a gritty, ultraviolent mix of neo-noir and slasher. The second movie, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, is just as violent and action-packed, but it’s a lot sweeter than its predecessor. The sequel develops into a sort of boy-and-his-dog story as a T-800 is sent back in time to protect a young John Connor and he teaches the Terminator to be human.

At the end of the movie, against John’s wishes, the Terminator allows himself to be smelted to prevent the rise of Skynet. But he assures his young ward, “I know now why you cry,” and gives a final thumbs-up as he’s submerged in molten steel.

John McClane & Al Powell (Die Hard)

John McClane talking to Al Powell in Die Hard

For most of Die Hard, John McClane is a lone wolf. He takes on Hans Gruber and his merry band of European terrorists singlehandedly while Agents Johnson and Johnson completely mismanage the hostage crisis. The majority of the LAPD cops down on the ground work against McClane, not with him.

But there’s one crucial exception, Sergeant Al Powell, who acts as a middleman between McClane and the cops. Bruce Willis and Reginald VelJohnson shared such great chemistry as fellow lawmen that Powell was brought back in the sequel, despite being unnecessary to the plot.

Léon & Mathilda (Léon: The Professional)

Leon and Mathilda with guns in Leon The Professional

Natalie Portman made her unforgettable movie debut in Léon: The Professional as the orphaned 12-year-old protégé of the titular hitman. Jean Reno stars as Léon, the lonesome contract killer who becomes a reluctant father figure when his young neighbor’s entire family is massacred by a crooked DEA agent.

What makes this movie so special is that it’s a cross between a blood-soaked assassin thriller like John Wick and a heartwarming father-daughter bonding story like Paper Moon.

Maverick & Goose (Top Gun)

Goose and Maverick in a classroom in Top Gun

Much like its recently released hit sequel, Tony Scott’s thrilling military actioner Top Gun strikes the perfect balance between airborne spectacle and emotional character beats. The heartwarming friendship shared by Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell and his junior-grade wingman Nick “Goose” Bradshaw brings a dramatic resonance to the action.

The interplay between Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards is just as much fun as any of the high-octane dogfight sequences. Goose’s untimely passing is one of the saddest death scenes in the history of action cinema.

Han Solo & Chewbacca (Star Wars)

Han Solo and Chewbacca in Mos Eisley Cantina in Star Wars

There are a bunch of fan-favorite friendships in the Star Wars universe, from C-3PO and R2-D2 to Luke Skywalker and Ben Kenobi, but by far the most adorable pairing is Han Solo and his Wookiee companion Chewbacca. The captain and co-captain of the Millennium Falcon always have each other’s backs.

According to ComicBook.com, George Lucas based Chewbacca on his dog – an Alaskan malamute named Indiana – who, like Chewie to Lucas’ Han, would ride shotgun with him whenever he went for a drive.

Dom Toretto & Brian O’Conner (The Fast And The Furious)

Dom and Brian in a car in The Fast and the Furious

The central dynamic in The Fast and the Furious – an undercover FBI agent and the criminal with whom he becomes such good friends that he doesn’t want to turn him in – is cribbed from Point Break. But Vin Diesel and Paul Walker’s on-screen chemistry is strong enough to make it work on its own terms.

Dom Toretto and Brian O’Conner’s friendship became the heart of the franchise. After Walker’s tragic passing while shooting Furious 7, Brian was given the perfect send-off with his final race with Dom set to Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again.”

Martin Riggs & Roger Murtaugh (Lethal Weapon)

Riggs and Murtaugh with guns in Lethal Weapon

The “buddy cop” genre predates the Lethal Weapon franchise, but Lethal Weapon is the movie that solidified all the tropes, launched a lucrative franchise, and got every studio in Hollywood to try to replicate its success. Some of that success can be attributed to Shane Black’s perfectly crafted script, but most of it is down to the central dynamic.

Mel Gibson and Danny Glover shared such incredible chemistry in the roles of Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh that their on-screen pairing sustained for three sequels. At first, Riggs and Murtaugh are the ultimate odd couple. But by the end of the first movie, they’re the best of friends.
NEXT: 10 Best Action Movie Sidekicks

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Uncategorized

Fast & Furious 11 Needs Hobbs Vs. Dom (To End The Rock & Vin Diesel’s Feud)

Summary

Fast and Furious 11 needs to feature an epic fight between The Rock and Vin Diesel to resolve the real-life feud and bring closure to their characters’ relationship. The clash between Dom and Hobbs in Fast Five was a game-changer, and revisiting that epic confrontation in Fast 11 would elevate the action and add nostalgia. A showdown between Dom and Hobbs in Fast 11 could serve as a decisive moment of reconciliation, reaffirming the underlying themes of family and unity in the franchise.

Now that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has returned to the Fast Saga, Fast and Furious 11 needs to include an epic fight between Johnson and Vin Diesel. In the high-octane world of the Fast and Furious franchise, the thrill of fast cars and heart-stopping action has always been amplified by the magnetic on-screen chemistry between its stars. However, a real-life feud between The Rock and Vin Diesel has been brewing since 2016. Director Louis Leterrier achieved the impossible by bringing The Rock back into the fold. Now, he must find a way to reunite Luke Hobbs and Dominic Toretto on-screen.

Ever since Fate of the Furious, the void left by The Rock’s absence has grown more conspicuous. The actor’s feud with Vin Diesel has cast a shadow over the franchise, making it increasingly difficult for the writers and directors to craft a cohesive narrative. As Fast Saga fans await the next installment, all eyes are on Leterrier to weave a compelling story that not only showcases jaw-dropping action but also offers a chance for Hobbs and Dom to partake in an epic showdown.

Hobbs & Dom Fighting In Fast & Furious 11 Would Bring Their Arc Full Circle
Vin Diesel's Dom confronts Dwayne Johnson's Hobbs in Fast Five

Fast X and Fast and Furious 11 act as sequels to Fast Five in many ways, so it makes perfect sense for the upcoming installment to build on the fight scene between Dom and Hobbs from Fast Five. The clash between the two powerhouse characters left an indelible mark on fans. Revisiting that epic confrontation could elevate the adrenaline-fueled action and add a layer of nostalgia to Fast and Furious 11. Now that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has had a change of heart and returned to the Fast Saga, the anticipation for a rematch between his and Vin Diesel’s characters has reached a fever pitch.

Dom and Hobbs’ showdown in Fast Five was a game-changer for the franchise, propelling it to new heights with its intensity and raw energy. Given the unresolved tension between the two stars in real life, a meticulously crafted fight scene in Fast 11 has the potential to invigorate the climax of the series and provide a cathartic experience for the actors and fans alike. As Fast 11 may be the final chapter in the Fast and Furious universe, all eyes are on this anticipated clash. Hopefully, a brotherly fight will be the defining moment that brings harmony back to the Fast Saga family.

The Rock & Vin Diesel Can Put Their Feud To Rest On Screen
Hobbs holding on to Dom in Fast and Furious 5

Vin Diesel and The Rock’s personal history adds a layer of complexity to any potential fight between their characters in Fast and Furious 11. Given their real-life feud, it’s unlikely either actor would be portrayed as the clear winner or loser. Moreover, from a storytelling perspective, it would be counterproductive to have Dom excessively harm or kill Hobbs or vice versa. However, as the series approaches its potential end, a showdown between Dom and Hobbs could serve as a decisive moment of reconciliation. After all, throughout the Fast and Furious films, audiences have witnessed a recurring pattern of men engaging in physical conflicts before eventually forming unbreakable bonds.

For instance, Fast and Furious sees Dom and Brian’s tumultuous relationship evolve into a deep brotherly connection after a series of knock-down, drag-out fights. This same sort of understanding between Dom and Hobbs would reaffirm the underlying themes of reconciliation and family that have contributed to the franchise’s enduring popularity. By embracing the notion that they are, in a sense, brothers, Dom and Hobbs could mend their on-screen relationship and deliver a broader message of unity. This would ultimately give fans a satisfying conclusion to their relationship in Fast and Furious 11.

Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Vin Diesel Posts Paul Walker Tribute On 10th Anniversary Of His Death

Summary

Vin Diesel shares a touching tribute to Paul Walker 10 years after the actor’s tragic death on November 30, 2013. Diesel expresses that “more smiles manage to break through the tears” as years pass because he knows his bond with Walker will be stronger than ever when they eventually reunite. Walker’s character, Brian O’Connor, remains alive in the world of Fast and Furious, and Diesel has previously teased that the franchise won’t end without a proper farewell to Brian and Walker.

Fast and Furious star Vin Diesel takes to social media to share a touching tribute to Paul Walker, 10 years after the actor’s death. First released in 2001, the debut installment in the long-running Fast and Furious franchise introduces Diesel as Dominic Toretto and Walker as Brian O’Connor. Both characters would return for a number of sequels, but Walker tragically passed away on November 30, 2013, during the production of Furious 7.

Now, on the 10th anniversary of Walker’s passing, Diesel has shared a touching tribute post on Instagram to honor his late Fast and Furious costar. Check out the actor’s emotional post below:

Accompanying an image of Walker with one of his daughters, Diesel reminisces about an important lesson learned from the late actor and how his legacy still lives on today. Diesel’s full caption is included below:

I was listening to a song this morning…‘That Lucky Old Sun’… thought of you, racing around Heaven all day. Hahaha…
The family of the Mourning, feels like it has grown since a decade ago… feel’s like that experience of losing someone is far too common today. Leaving more and more of us in search for meaning, trying to make sense of this complex existence…
Oh, I have finally understood what you use to do with the phone, “phone Fasting”… you had the insight to turn off your phone for long stretches of time. I started this year to do just that. You used to say, Vin and I can go years without talking, and our brotherhood will always be stronger than we left it, the ones who truly love you will always be there.
Amen to that.
This is one of my favorite images ever taken… You knew how proud I was when my daughter, the Alpha Angel, your niece would play the piano… well last night she was playing Moonlight Sonata… it took me back to the night before she was born. Me and you were working late… you were telling me that the best moment in life would be witnessing my child being born. That priceless smile you had when I told you the next day that I had cut the umbilical cord…
The next song she started playing on the piano is by an artist you would have loved, named Billie Eilish, ‘What was I made for’… when she started to play, the other angels all came and joined her at the piano and they started singing… wow…emotions… angels, I know you were listening.
After ten years… I know these days of beautiful remembrance will be filled with tears. But as time rolls on, with each year that passes… more smiles manage to break through the tears. Cause I know, when I see you again… our brotherhood will be stronger than we left it.
Miss you.

Will Brian Be Seen Again In Fast & Furious?
Furious 7 Reveals How Paul Walker’s Character Can Return
CGI Paul Walker in Furious 7.

Walker’s death in November 2013 came with a great deal of sadness, but it also created problems for the Furious 7 production, which was about halfway done. It was ultimately decided that Walker’s remaining scenes would be completed with a digital recreation of the actor, with his two brothers, Cody and Caleb Walker, serving as body doubles. Although Walker may have passed away, Brian remains alive and well within the world of the films, though he has not been seen in the flesh since Furious 7’s emotional ending.

The closet audiences have come to seeing Brian again (outside of the flashbacks featured in Fast X) is at the end of F9: The Fast Saga, when the character’s iconic Nissan Skyline pulls up at Dom’s house. This summer’s Fast X supposedly sets up the conclusion of the franchise in an 11th and potentially 12th installment (in addition to the announced Dwayne Johnson Luke Hobbs spinoff movie), and it’s very likely that the final movie will see Brian return in some capacity.

Diesel has also essentially teased as much, telling Total Film (via GamesRadar) earlier this year: “I couldn’t imagine this saga ending without truly saying goodbye to Brian O’Conner.” It’s unclear if this will mean a substantial digital recreation of the actor for extended portions of the film or a quick cameo at the very end, but it seems like audiences haven’t seen the last of Brian just yet. Even in death, Walker remains a key pillar of Fast and Furious, and it’s fitting that the final film will feature another heartfelt goodbye to further honor the late actor.

Source: Vin Diesel/ Instagram

Fast and Furious 11 temp poster

Continue Reading

Uncategorized

All 4 Fast & Furious Heroes Who Stayed Dead (& Which One Is Most Likely To Return)

Summary

Fast & Furious franchise is known for bringing back dead characters, but there are a few heroes who have remained dead. Jack Toretto, Dom’s father, died in a racing accident and his death should not be undone in the franchise. Jesse, a member of Dom’s crew, was killed in a drive-by shooting, while Vince was killed during an ambush. Elena, Dom’s love interest, was killed by the villain Cipher.

The Fast & Furious franchise has brought many characters back from the dead, but a handful of its heroes have remained killed off after their demise. The Fast Saga has taken its characters on a wild ride from street racing to the most outlandish adventures possible. The running theme of the Fast & Furious franchise has long been family, with Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) building quite a large family indeed over the course of the Fast Saga’s run.

On top of its embrace of ridiculous, superhuman feats as a staple of its action scenes, the Fast & Furious movies are also well known for bringing back seemingly dead characters for more missions. The returns of Sung Kang’s Han in F9 and Gal Gadot’s Gisele Yashar in Fast X would be especially noteworthy in emphasizing the notion that no Fast & Furious death is irreversible. However, that is not entirely true, as there have been a few Fast & Furious heroes who have died and never come back.

RELATED: 10 Fast & Furious Characters Who Must Return In New Hobbs Spinoff

4 Jack Toretto
An image of Jack Toretto driving a car in F9

Jack Toretto (J.D. Pardo) is the father of Dom, Mia (Jordana Brewster), and Jakob Toretto (John Cena), and is first seen in a flashback to 1989 in F9. Jack is a highly skilled race car driver who instilled that talent in his children, with Dom and Jakob being part of his racing pit crew. However, Jack’s racing career took a tragic turn when his car malfunctioned and crashed, killing him. Dom later beat his father’s racing opponent, Kenny Linder (Jim Parrack), almost to death with a wrench, believing him responsible for his father’s demise.

This tragedy also led to Dom and Jakob falling out, with Dom later coming to believe that Jakob set up their father’s death since he was the last one to work on his car. However, Jack was intentionally attempting to throw the race in order to get his family out of debt. He had asked Jakob to help tinker with his car so that it would fail, with Jack’s death being unintentional on both their parts. While his return has been theorized by fans, of all the characters killed off in Fast & Furious, Jack Toretto’s death should never be retconned.

3 Jesse
Jesse in The Fast and the Furious pic

One of the early members of Dom’s family in the original The Fast and the Furious, Jesse (Chad Lindberg) was the brains of Dom’s crew in his enterprise of stealing DVD players. Jesse went on the run after losing a street race to Dom’s rival, Johnny Tran (Rick Yune), having bet his MK3 Volkswagen Jetta in the race. Jesse was later killed outside of Dom’s house when Johnny Tran and his associate Lance Nguyen (Reggie Lee) arrived and performed a drive-by shooting. Dom and Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) then chased down Johnny Tran and Lance Nguyen to avenge their fallen friend.

2 Vince
fast and furious 5 vince

Vince (Matt Schulze) was another member of Dom’s crew in The Fast & the Furious, and he was badly injured during a truck heist in that first movie. After his recovery, Vince fled to Rio de Janeiro where he later reunited with Dom and family in Fast Five. Despite Vince having settled down with a wife and a baby son, he agreed to join Dom’s daring heist of Rio’s most feared crime boss Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida). Unfortunately, Vince was killed during an ambush by Reyes’s team. After successfully pulling off the heist, Dom left Vince’s intended share of the money with his wife and son.

1 Elena
Elena Neves walks with her gun drawn by a car

Elena Neves (Elsa Pataky) worked alongside Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) in apprehending Dom and his crew in Fast Five. She and Dom gradually developed feelings for each other, however, and departed for Spain with Dom at the end of the movie. After Dom learned that his wife Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez) was still alive despite her apparent death in Fast & Furious, Dom and Elena had an amicable split, only for it to later be revealed that Elena is the mother of Dom’s son in The Fate of the Furious.

RELATED: How (& Where) To Watch The Fast & Furious Movies In Order By Release Date & Chronologically

After Elena was killed by the villainous Cipher (Charlize Theron), Dom and Letty raised the boy together, with the two naming him Brian after Brian O’Conner. Meanwhile, Dom later met Elena’s sister Isabel (Daniela Melchior), who joined Dom’s crew in Fast X. While Elena remains deceased as of Fast X, the arrival of her sister Isabel and Fast & Furious’s habit of not truly killing off characters makes her the most likely thought-to-be-dead hero to potentially return as the franchise speeds towards its finale.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2023 Fffighters