‘Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse’: Feel the thrill of these recent action flicks
The long-awaited film version of the Tom Clancy novel, Without Remorse, has finally been released. Starring the oh so handsome Michael B Jordan as John Kelly, the action-thriller follows a Navy SEAL (Jordan) who goes on a path of revenge after his pregnant wife & unit members are killed by a Russian hitman. The movie has been languishing in development since 1993 when the Tom Clancy novel first came out.
Now, however, Without Remorse has been unleashed onto the world. While the critics don’t seem to love it so much, it’s still a solid action thriller to enjoy. Tom Clancy did make a career out of writing them after all. So what are some other action thrills like Without Remorse that you can sink your teeth into? Well here are a couple of our favorite recommendations.
Unstoppable (2010)
This pulse-pounding movie has some glorious action set pieces mixed in with deliciously tense thrills with a sprinkle of great stylization. The last film directed by the late Tony Scott, Unstoppable probably doesn’t have the high of Man on Fire. But it’s still a great note to go out on. In fact, it’s a simple premise: two men (Chris Pine, Denzel Washington) having to stop an out-of-control train.
The high-speed train is described as “a missile the size of the Chrysler building” and, well, the tension sticks around throughout the runtime of the film. There’s a lot of great build-up until you’re on the edge of your seat. Pine & Washington play off of each other brilliantly. Add in some other great performances from Rosario Dawson & Kevin Corrigan plus some awesome stylistic choices? It’s a great yet underrated watch.
The Old Guard (2020)
The Old Guard is based on the Image Comics movie of the same name. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film follows a group of immortal mercenaries led by Andromache of Scythia or Andy (Charlize Theron). The group is hunted down for their unique healing and regenerative abilities by a former CIA operative by the name Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and a pharma exec Merrick (Harry Melling).
The Old Guard shows some excellent action work from the cast, who also feel like fully realized characters. Let’s be real as well, the romance between lovers Joe (Marwan Kenzari) and Nicky (Luca Marinelli) had the Internet swooning over Immortal Husbands for almost a year. Now the only question is: when are we gonna get that sequel, Netflix? We need that sequel.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
If you’re looking for a superhero movie that combines action & thriller elements like Without Remorse, then you’re looking for this MCU masterpiece. (Seriously, the best MCU movies of all time are tied between Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, and this one. Don’t @ us.) Based on conspiracy action thrillers like Three Days of Condor, we follow Steve (Chris Evans) as he unravels a global conspiracy centered on SHIELD.
With one of the biggest bombshells in MCU history, the introduction of future Cap Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) to the franchise, and some truly tense and personal action set pieces (that fight scene with the Winter Soldier reveal!), Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a movie that continually holds up. Now, we wish some of the other MCU films could get on this level!
The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017)
You want moments of levity in between the twist & turns? Then your prayers can be answered with 2017’s The Hitman’s Bodyguard. Starring Samuel L Jackson & Ryan Reynolds, the film follows a disgraced bodyguard (Reynolds) who is given a chance to redeem himself by protecting a convicted hitman (Jackson) on the way to testify at the International Criminal Court.
Things, naturally, go off the rails. But since it’s Reynolds & Jackson, who are both hilarious, you’re going to get a lot of laughs out of it. Seriously, we’ve cried laughing during this movie, but the action & the twisty plot can keep you on the edge of your seat just as easily as well. A sequel is set for release later this year, so we recommend watching this before checking out The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.
