5. The Matrix
When the Wachowski's released The Matrix in 1998, none of us knew what hit us. It was like being kicked in the face; the directors chose to combine Asian action influences, melding so-called "Wire Fu" with the heroic bloodshed of John Woo's classic films, on top of a philosophical narrative delivered by way of their own very unique sci-fi aesthetic. The result was a monstrous success that resulted in two successful sequels, even if they never quite reached the same level of mind-melting ambition as the original. Though the thought-provoking narrative and scintillating action was a breath of fresh air to most Western audiences, the Wachowski's most daring move was their application of visual effects. From the moment early on that Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) is assailed by some guards inside The Matrix and starts to kick ass, we know we're in for a treat. In order to shock us with Trinity's opening crane kick, the Wachowski's developed a pioneering photography system to capture the entire perspective of an actor's performance at any given moment, transforming the images into a smooth curve. Inarguably the film's most iconic moment is when an Agent fires at Neo (Keanu Reeves), who manages to dodge the bullet, brought to life by the directors with a fully panoramic, slow-motion view. Minds were blown the world over, and action cinema has never been the same.