12. The Birth of the Action Movie Hero and the Action Blockbuster
Arnie didnt need superpowers, Stallone didnt need a capeBruce Willis didnt even need shoes! Relegated to now being enjoyed either through sneering suggestions of homoeroticism or irony-tinged spectacles, in the 80s and 90s, action movies were no laughing matter, they were badass. Ignore the winking Expendables doing nothing more than boosting their pension fund, the real action has been and gone (sorry Stath, you were born in the wrong decade, mate). This wasnt a generation of superheroes, metrosexuals didnt exist, bad guys (sometimes even camels) got punched, shot or blown up, no messing around with plans to unite all the worlds superheroes or brood about your dead parents, just straight up killing bad guys. Well thats how it started anyway, then John Woos influence started kicking in and things got a little less punchy and a little more shooty, but killing bad guys all the same. Many of these were 18 certificates, but again due to VHS, spread amongst friends and classrooms like wildfire. Remember the scene in Son of Rambow when the kid sees First Blood for the first time? Thats how exciting it really was. The 80s were testosterone-heavy. Not only were Seagal, Van Damme et al, ripping hired goons throats out left, right and centre, but the high-octane summer blockbuster was busy being perfected by Jerry Bruckheimer, Don Simpson and Tony Scott. Top Gun was first released in 1986 and for better or worse the summer cinema schedule would never be the same again. Maybe this is partly to blame for the way summer blockbusters are now, but back then it was still new, still fresh but most importantly, still exciting.