When we review the eleven titles that make up John McTiernan’s professional career, we realize once again the large number of classics that are agglutinated there. Most, of course, framed in action and adventure films, genres that the filmmaker has shown he can handle with a real iron fist, always starting from a much more classic style than it might seem.
Claim John McTiernan, one of the kings of action, by revising his filmography
eleven ‘rollerball’
Without being anything to write home about, Norman Jewison’s original mid-1970s ‘Rollerball’ looks the same as ‘The Godfather’ compared to this disastrous remake directed by John McTiernan’s worst possible version. Nor does an impossible-to-save cast help him too much, with a hideous Chris Klein up front, but that’s it the director also doesn’t seem too interested in providing some courage, interest, energy or anything in the least like fun or showmanshipd in what is by far his worst film.
10 ‘nomads’
In addition to its debut, ‘Nomads’ is the only film in John McTiernan’s filmography in which, in addition to directing, he is in charge of the script alone. A situation that has not repeated itself since and which, given the fruitless results of this presentation of the film, is almost worth celebrating. Crowned, for the worse, by an epilogue that resolutely embraces the absurd, in ‘Nomads’ neither intrigue, nor terror, nor characters, nor shock effects work, therefore being a very weak proposal for which it is difficult to find really favorable points. Except for the aforementioned “Rollerball”, John McTiernan only made better things from this disappointing first step.
9 ‘BASIC’
When you finish watching ‘Basic’, the latest film directed by John McTiernan, the feeling is similar to that of having witnessed an infinite and slightly dizzying magic trick. There are so many twists, so constant and so twisted that not even those who love plot surprises end up compensating us. Especially if you also leave the worst of your cards for last, solving everything in a rather clumsy and complicated way. Then there remains the recognizable heartbeat of the director, especially in the formidable prologue, the always delivered, albeit brief, interpretation of Samuel L. Jackson, a convincing John Travolta and a wonderful Connie Nielsen, by far the best of the film.
Base in eCartelera
8 “The warrior no. 13”
Full of conflicts during filming, with unbearable tensions between John McTiernan and Michael Crichton, author of the novel he fits into, in the protagonist, ‘The 13th Warrior’ is one of those works where you can perfectly see the great movie that could have been and they weren’t. It is palpable in its disastrous editing, in its chaotic narrative and in its final acceleration, the worst of the film, that we are faced with a film in which disputes, egos and internal struggles have ended up winning well above the story that was I wanted to count. A missed opportunity that, however, has managed not to bore at any time and also to offer cinematic moments of real weight..
7 “The last days of Eden”
Have all the credentials, an adequate budget, an exceptional cast, a good story and a John McTiernan fresh from the magnificent “The Hunt for Red October”, “The Last Days of Eden” Did not pass the fair pass. Except for the ever grateful presence of the unforgettable Sean Connery and Jerry Goldsmith score, one of the best of the 90s, there was nothing particularly memorable about a film that is easily seen, enjoyed sparingly and forgotten. easily. correct. And this is all.
6 “The Thomas Crown Secret”
Elegant in its staging, inspired by the preparation of the intrigue, entertaining from start to finish and with a couple with explosive chemistry, “The Thomas Crown Secret” surpassed its predecessor, “The Thomas Crown Affair”, keeping almost its characteristics intact. Cinema for adults told in a classic way, slowly but surely and, above all, with a Renato Russo absolutely full from start to finish. Just for his work and his magnetic presence on the screen it is worth savoring (and celebrating) what he is, without a doubt, another of the great works of John McTiernan’s career.
Thomas Crown’s secret on eCartelera
5 “Crystal Jungle III: Revenge”
If two talents of the stature of Samuel L. Jackson and Jeremy Irons are added to a practically perfect cinematic formula, it is normal for excellence to appear almost immediately. So, after the understandable feeling of reiteration and underlining of the wonderful ‘The Jungle 2: Red Alert’, this third installment raised the bar for that sequel and built a top-notch action and comedy show. A goal that corresponds, beyond a Bruce Willis camouflaged with his McClane, to John McTiernan, director who returned to the saga showing a contagious enthusiasm, a momentum capable of destroying everything and a delivery that was completely impossible not to adhere to.
Thanks to him, and a Jackson capable of stealing every scene with the ease of a giant, ‘Crystal Jungle III: Revenge’ seemed the perfect and very entertaining closure to a saga that, however, would return more than a decade later with good news. under the arm. In any case, If it had been a point of arrival for McClane, we would be facing an impeccable farewell.
Jungle of Glass III: Revenge in eCartelera
4 “The last great hero”
Just a year after the slight collapse that was the proper ‘The Last Days of Eden’, John McTiernan is back in a big (big) way with ‘The Last Great Hero’, an authentic film festival starring an Arnold Schwarzenegger in state of grace. Slaughtered without any sense after his premiere, here we are a successful model from every possible point of view, a true rollercoaster of action, fun, hilarious references and memorable characters. A great little cult jewel.
The last great hero of eCartelera
3 ‘Predator’
“A group of mercenaries is hired by the CIA to rescue some pilots who have been captured by guerrillas in the Central American jungle. The mission is a success, but on the return journey they realize that something mysterious and invisible is giving them trouble. one by one That something turns out to be an alien hunter who keeps the skulls of his victims as trophies.
‘Predator’, the classic directed by an inspired John McTiernan in the late 1980s, went straight from its synopsis. little joke, We’re talking raw testosterone exploding in lapidary phrases, loud action, and an overwhelming final climax.. All as predictable as it is effective, as unlikely as it is solvent, as ridiculous as it is fun. A complete success.
Predator in eCartelera
Two “The Hunt for Red October”
With “The Hunt for Red October” we achieved two things. The first, that of Alec Baldwin not really born to play Jack Ryan, one of the most characteristic and charismatic characters to emerge from the mind of Tom Clancy. The second, that Sean Connery needs a few minutes to snatch the role from anyone.
Although, well, the latter idea was already pretty clear in 1990, when this hilarious film adaptation of the aforementioned Clancy novel was released, wonderfully directed by a John McTiernan who was at the height of his career. One of those one hundred percent Hollywood movies that, when they go well, become irresistible popcorn shops, amusement parks where spectacular scenes follow one another, a balanced intrigue and a group of impeccable performers. Impossible to say no.
The hunt for the Red October on eCartelera
1 “Crystal Jungle”
When a film with a ‘simple’ idea like the fight of a policeman against a group of terrorists inside a skyscraper is capable of becoming almost immediately an absolute classic of action cinemaFew other things can be added. It is one of those cases that happens very occasionally, and even less frequently in this genre, where all the elements fit together perfectly, where all the scenes are fun and spectacular, vibrant and frenetic, in the one in which its characters know each other. who are here to stay and where the hands of the clock literally fly.
“Jungla de cristal” took us to the unforgettable Nakatomi Plaza so that we all dreamed of being John McClane, of turning Bruce Willis into a Hollywood superstar, of offering another Alan Rickman acting lesson and reinventing cinema. action from the same vertigo of an explosion always embraced by laughter. Without fear, let’s say it out loud once again: ‘Jungla de cristal’ is one of the undisputed masterpieces of the 80s. It is the best film of John McTiernan’s career.
Glass jungle in eCartelera
For this reason, and although his latest works are light years away from his great works, McTiernan’s cinema resonates today with the echo of what seems simple and is not. It is increasingly difficult to find proposals where the showmanship is so well measured, the characters have such strong charisma and the frantic pace is so admirably blended with the story. Three omnipresent elements in the best films of our protagonist.
Commercial cinema and popcorn, fast-paced and entertaining, non-stop fun and full of scenes to remember. This is how the vast majority of films signed by one of those directors who are increasingly missing on billboards shine, revealing over time a species in serious danger of extinction. I wish we had a new John McTiernan movie in theaters every Friday.
Source: E Cartelera
