Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of Bullet Train, we’re counting down our favorite movies with weapons in the title! Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!
It might be cliché to say a true story is so incredible, you wouldn’t be able to believe it if it was the basis for an original script. World War II certainly is littered with such stories, and Hacksaw Ridge is another great example. The film tells of the real-life heroics of army medic Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), a conscientious objector who was the first man to win the Medal of Honor without firing a shot — his anti-weapons stance makes this a particularly ironic inclusion on this list all about weapon titles. The titular Hacksaw Ridge describes the specific location he’s stationed at for the Battle of Okinawa. It’s quite the showcase for Garfield, who’s spectacular as our protagonist. His main performance is supported by quite a few quality performances, particularly Vince Vaughn as Doss’s drill sergeant. Director Mel Gibson’s style works well with the story Hacksaw Ridge is trying to get across. The visceral way he shoots the action gives the heroics of Doss feel even more epic. With the performances and technical aspects working in tandem, a truly remarkable story is done proper justice — often easier said than done. (Jake Bourgeois)
One of several wuxia films released after the unexpected success of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 2004’s House of Flying Daggers unquestionably deserves to be viewed on its own terms. Though it may not deliver the action-filled epic suggested by the title, the film’s major action set pieces put every modern American blockbuster to shame. Zhang Ziyi stars as our protagonist in a confident and emotionally affecting performance that effectively anchors the film. In between the moments of action and spectacle, Zhang’s character finds herself caught in the middle of an unlikely romance that acts as the film’s driving force. Though not quite as successful as films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or Yimou Zhang’s previous film Hero, House of Flying Daggers soars with its gorgeous cinematography, passionate musical score, and magical flying daggers. What more could you want? (Foster Harlfinger)
Sometimes comedic performances can come from one of the most surprising of places. In Arsenic and Old Lace, it comes from the absurdity that Mortimer Brewster finds himself in when he finds out his beloved aunts are serial killers. Carey Grant’s performance is practically irreplaceable as he is sent reeling thanks to the sudden discovery of a body in the window seat, with those around him acting either as if nothing is wrong, or being left in the dark. On top of all this is a series of twists and turns done so well you’re left wondering how the story could possibly resolve itself, something a lot of more modern films seem more willing to give away far too early. So pull up a chair, hold the wine, and give this movie a much needed watch or rewatch. (Joseph Davis)
Many people, myself included, met the announcement of a sequel to Top Gun with skepticism and eye rolls. Many aspects of the original feel outdated, and it seemed impossible to match the energy that has endeared the film to such a large audience. But then everything seemed to come together. Joseph Kosinksi, a criminally underrated filmmaker, signed on to direct the project. We began to see young talents like Miles Teller, Lewis Pullman, Monica Barbaro, and others stepping up to the plate. That, coupled with Tom Cruise’s unmatched energy and passion, sets this film up for an unforgettable success story. The action scenes achieve an unbelievable scope, while still being impressively intuitive for the audience. The cast is electric and lovable. And Cruise continues to prove that he is truly determined to give the audience the best possible experience. Overall, Top Gun: Maverick proves that it is possible to create a legacy sequel that maintains the charm of its predecessor, while still feeling new. (Jack Grimme)
Rope is my favorite Alfred Hitchcock film. That is probably a hot take, but I just think this film is brilliant storytelling. Loosely based on the infamous Leopold and Loeb case, Rope follows the story of two upper-class college philosophy students who kill a classmate simply because they feel superior and that it is their right. They then invite the victim’s fiancé, father, aunt, and close friend over for a dinner party with the body hidden in a chest that they serve food from. The 80-minute film is a simulated one-shot, and begins with the killing and unfolds to a complex, thematically rich, and brilliantly crafted psychological thriller. If you haven’t seen it, Rope should be the next movie on your watchlist! (Aaron Schweitzer)
Director Denis Villeneuve had the arduous task of producing a sequel to one of the most beloved cult science fiction films, Blade Runner. 35 years after the original, Villeneuve transported us back to the noir-drenched dystopian L.A. landscape with his film Blade Runner 2049. 2049 shows future L.A. in an even further destitute state due to lack of resources and the further degradation of the environment. Replicants are still intensely discriminated against, and some of them are employed to “retire” their own kind. This is where Officer K (Ryan Gosling) enters the picture, living a rather unfulfilling life where he must hunt down and kill his own kind in order to fit into society. His only solace is having an A.I. companion that gives him some type of normalcy during his daily routine. The sequences between K and Joi (Ana de Armas) are some of the most sweet, charming, and romantic scenes throughout the film. Their interactions seem truly genuine, or as much as they can be seen by society due to them being synthetic. Blade Runner 2049 is excellent in all respects, but its two primaries are what binds the film together and gives it humanity in the most unlikely places. (Joe Vargas)
One of the best movies to come out of 2019 was Rian Johnson’s Knives Out. This mystery surrounds the death of Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) who is found dead by his nurse Marta (Ana de Armas), and police label it as just a suicide. Then out of the blue someone hires Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) to investigate because the Thrombey family believes it was murder. I have to stop there to avoid spoiling this film. It contains one stacked cast, and they each have a motive, from wealth, to the family publishing business; everyone is pointing the finger at each other. Craig absolutely shines in this role; his Sherlock-type character makes the mystery extremely clever. Honestly every single actor in this movie is on the top of their game, and that is largely thanks to Johnson’s incredible work here. This is one movie I am glad is getting more sequels, as I was captivated from the get-go. (Austen Terry)
There’s no weapon sharper or more damaging than the tongue of ruthless jazz instructor Terence Fletcher, played with frustrating brutality in Whiplash by the typically lovable J.K. Simmons. Miles Teller’s Andrew Neiman is also a weapon unto himself, battling an inferiority complex and an insatiable determination as a young drummer at the prolific Shaffer Conservatory. Terence is desperate for a student to push to the brink, and Andrew is eager for the validation. Do they bring out the best in each other, or are they doomed to bring about mutually assured destruction? There are no wrong answers, only wrong tempos. The audition where Terence asks repeatedly, “Were you rushing or were you dragging?” features delightful lines like, “Why do you suppose I just hurled a chair at your head, Neiman?” That’s about as much quoting of Terence as is possible here, since Simmons lets loose with nonstop bigoted and homophobic insults on his way to a well-deserved Best Supporting Actor victory. The audition’s intensity sets the tempo for the movie, and the brilliantly lengthy musical climax is an epic closing scene. Teller turns in an equally compelling performance, especially considering Whiplash presents Andrew as a character likely on the autism spectrum, without going out of the way to spell it out. Since the idea that “there are no two words in the English language more harmful than ‘good job;” resonates throughout, I’ll simply nod to Damien Chazelle for proving to be brilliant at both writing and directing. (Jason Mack)
What filmmaker would be bold enough to make a dark comedy about the most deadly and devastating weapon in the history of humankind? Stanley Kubrick, of course! Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Loving the Bomb is still one of the most intelligent, poignant, and timely dark comedies ever created. The iconic imagery is embedded in our minds (Slim Pickens riding the nuke in, Dr. Strangelove screaming, “Mein Fuhrer, I can walk!”). The performances are next level. You have to praise the legendary Peter Sellers for his trio of performances from a stiff, upper-lipped British military man, a timid and awkward President, and a mad Nazis scientist whose hand has a mind of its own. But the others, like George C. Scott and Sterling Hayden, thrive and soar as well. Sure, the film is hilarious as it lampoons all things political, geopolitical issues, and the Cold War. Under the surface, though, there is so much to be said about human nature, and Kubrick had his finger always on the pulse of our deepest and darkest desires. You cannot make something like this anymore because there will never be another Kubrick. (Shane Conto)
The Shawshank Redemption is one of those movies that forever changed how I viewed the possibility of what film can be for people. It’s not just a movie, but an experience. I was blown away the first time I saw it. The characters are nothing short of amazing, with Red (Morgan Freeman) and Andy (Tim Robbins) portraying two people’s friendship that everyone should strive to have at some point in their life (in prison or otherwise; I won’t judge). I quote this on a fairly consistent basis and regularly cite it as something that made me fall in love with film. It’s one of the best (if not the very best) Stephen King adaptations, and one of the best short story-to-screen adaptations of all time. There’s a wide range of emotions to be had during watching The Shawshank Redemption. Emotions from feeling angry for Andy’s wrongful imprisonment and his treatment at the hands of the guards and other inmates, to feeling sad for Brooks’ (James Hatlen) storyline (I challenge anyone to not get emotional watching that montage of his release. If you don’t get emotional watching that, YOU ARE A ROBOT), to feeling happiness for that ending. The Shawshank Redemption is a must watch for anyone who loves film or just loves a great story. (Mike Hilty)
The Naked Gun
I have been thinking long and hard about this, and the only valid criticism of such a great parody as The Naked Gun undoubtedly is — it’s not Airplane! It is unfair to compare it to the “golden standard of parody films”, but that is honestly the only flaw I could find with it. Based on the Police Squad! (TV show from 1982 that only had six episodes), this film helped to solidify Leslie Nielsen (who had a career revival due to the success of these films) as the star he was. It’s always been fascinating that Leslie had been acting since 1950 (!), and was mostly known as a serious, dramatic actor, before agreeing to do Airplane!, Police Squad!,and then everything else from the legendary “ZAZ” trio (Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker). These led to a second and very different career to what he was used to. I must have seen The Naked Gun at least 10 times by now, but it never fails to make me laugh. It’s because of the massive amount of talent behind the camera, but honestly… Leslie dominated this genre, and his stoic approach to these parodies is what made them (at least these ones) so successful and everlasting. It has been a while, so this BEC prompted me to give this trilogy a rewatch, and you should too. “Jane, since I’ve met you, I’ve noticed things that I never knew were there before… birds singing, dew glistening on a newly formed leaf, stoplights.” (Luke Burian)
American Sniper
The true story of Navy SEAL and legendary sharpshooter Chris Kyle (based on his own autobiography), this Clint Eastwood directed war film was an R-rated, money-making behemoth which tore up the barren January box office upon its release. American Sniper was more than just a commercial success, though. Bradley Cooper was lauded (and Oscar-nominated) for his transformative portrayal of Kyle, who finds himself more at home on the frontlines in Iraq than back with his family. Though Cooper and Eastwood took many of the headlines, the technical aspects of the film really shine. The Oscar-winning sound editing makes the action really pop, and it really knows how to play with tension. Jason Hall, who adapted the book and would go on to write 2017’s Thank You for Your Service, tells Kyle’s story in a way that brings it effectively to the big screen. It’s a great look at a complicated man worth exploring — fake baby and all. (Jake Bourgeois)
Saw
There’s no denying just how impactful the Saw franchise was after the release of the first film from both Leigh Whannell (co-writer) and James Wan (director and co-writer). It came out of the gate from these two minds and was unique and exciting for a lot of fans of the horror genre. The story follows two men (Cary Elwes and Whannell) who wake up by themselves in an abandoned old bathroom, chained to the wall. They must explore their surroundings to unravel the mystery of how the both of them ended up here. They also have a limited amount of time to escape, otherwise they will be bound to this room forever and it will soon become their tomb. What makes Saw so entertaining is how you’re able to put yourself in the situation of the characters and think about what you’d do in this scenario, along with wondering if these two characters will have what it takes to free themselves. I also can’t talk about Saw and not mention how iconic the theme music “Hello Zep” is — it dials the suspense from 10 to 11 immediately. (Alex Henderson)
Blade
A half-vampire vampire hunter who has all of a vampire’s strengths, yet none of their weaknesses — except for the vampiric thirst for human blood — Blade is a dark, well-made comic book adaptation that came at a time in the late ‘90s when superhero movies didn’t have a great reputation. Blade’s one-man crusade to end the existence of every vampire foolish enough to cross his path stems from the death of his pregnant mother, whose labor was terrifyingly induced by the trauma of being bitten by the fanged undead, the catalyst by which her son, the daywalker Blade is created. This film works so well because its main stars, Wesley Snipes as Blade, and Stephen Dorff as Deacon Frost, treat their characters with a deadly seriousness. A standout spectacle early in the film takes place at a night club, which sees blood piped through the sprinkler system, sending the vampires in attendance into a hemoglobin fueled frenzy. Blade crashes the party with his weapon of choice, a sword edged in silver, and vampires are disintegrated left and right with the visceral precision of CGI dusting that still looks fantastic today. The blood-soaked plot involving ancient vampire lore and the subjugation of the human race had every opportunity to be laughable, but Blade is excitingly macabre vampire horror. Despite Frost’s declaration that, “These people are our food, not our allies,” the stoic Blade will stop at nothing to ensure the survival of the human race and the extinction of the vampire’s netherworld. (Jonathan Fedee)
The Sword in the Stone
My family has a family movie night every Friday. It used to be family pizza movie night until Pizza Hut ruined it forever. My oldest daughter has gone through a good amount of the Disney animated movie vault. We first went through all the princess movies, and then expanded out to the other movies. One of her favorites is The Sword in the Stone,and honestly, it’s one of mine too. Merlin (Karl Swenson) and a young, pre-king Arthur (Rickie Sorenson) are such great characters that Disney showcases with adding Archimedes the Owl (Junius Matthews), my daughter’s favorite character, as a great sidekick to Merlin. This bucks the tradition of having a full on musical, while also showcasing no love story, but a bromance for the ages instead. If anything, the wizards’ duel between Merlin and Madam Mim (Martha Wentworth) makes this a must-watch that shows the creativity and stylistic differences between the two wizards. This is, dare I say, underrated in Disney’s bench of iconic animated movies. (Mike Hilty)
2 Guns
What do you get when you combine Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg, the Mexican cartel, a formulaic plot, and over-the-top violence? 2 Guns. The film follows DEA agent Bobby (Washington) and U.S. Navy intelligence officer Stig (Wahlberg) being disavowed after an infiltration goes haywire. They have to go on the run, trying to stay out of jail or a grave. The unlikely pairing of Washington and Wahlberg was eminent. I wasn’t doubting Washington because it’s Denzel Washington, but when you add Wahlberg into the mix, it wasn’t what I was expecting. These two actors with different acting styles mesh well in this buddy cop action flick. The way they bounce off one another is as if they know each other. Also, knowing Washington and Wahlberg improvised many of the best lines in the film, the comedic timing hits. Think of them as the new Tango and Cash without being Tango & Cash. I may not care so much for the ingeminate story, but the two leading men actually made me care. (Chantal Ashford)
The Three Musketeers
The 1993 Disney classic The Three Musketeers is a treasure that I don’t think is appreciated today as much as it should be. It came out when I was eight, and I fell in love with it! I remember it playing on the Disney channel constantly and re-watching it whenever I could. The movie is just so much fun — it harkens back to a time when adventure movies weren’t overwhelming with CGI and special effects. My favorite parts are the sword fights; they are full of excitement and decent choreography for the day. I also really enjoy the camaraderie amongst the Musketeers. If you told me today that Charlie Sheen, Oliver Platt, and Kiefer Sutherland were going to star in a movie together and have amazing chemistry I would have said you were crazy, yet somehow it works. This movie reminds me in so many ways of Pirates of the Caribbean on a smaller scale. It has an epic score, there are chases, betrayal, clever word play, and a villain who seems unstoppable. There are a few dated elements and a pre-Batman Chris O’Donnell, but they are easily overlooked when in comparison to the presentation overall. If you are feeling nostalgic for old adventure movies and want one that you may have missed, I think The Three Musketeers would be the perfect choice! (Nick Ferro)
Gunks Akimbo
I was immediately hooked on seeing Guns Akimbo after seeing an image of star Daniel Radcliffe, which consisted of him wearing a bathrobe with tiger claw house shoes… oh yeah, and he has two handguns attached to his hands. When I say attached, I mean screwed into his hands, attached. When Miles (Radcliffe) wakes up one morning with these guns bolted to his hands, he is forced to partake in a city-wide fight to the death-style game in order to save his ex-girlfriend Nova (Natasha Liu Bordizzo). This film is one of the most bonkers movies I have ever seen, and had me and my best friend Chris enjoying it throughout the whole ride. The roles Radcliffe has taken since Harry Potter ended have amazed me, and he still impresses me with his choices. Writer-director Jason Howden delivers an interesting story with an interesting premise and Chris and I still talk about it. This film flew incredibly under the radar, and a lot of people missed it. It’s one that needs to be seen to be believed. (Austen Terry)
Also See: Annie Get Your Gun, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, So I Married an Axe Murderer, The Guns of Navarone, Broken Arrow