Left-wing action movies

[palotin]

The modern action film, full of constant, if not senseless, destruction, seems particularly suited to right-wing messages: if the Southeast Asians Rambo mows down aren't presented as the negative side of some Manichean struggle you might start to be uncomfortable with what's on the screen and even think about the justice of it all. I love watching slaughter, but most of the available titles are too repugnant for me to watch. Any recommendation on films that will give me my carnage fix but not leave me feeling dirty?

[x359594]

The Dirty Dozen (1967). Great Robert Aldrich WWII movie about a commando team of condemned US soldiers sent on a suicide mission to destroy a Nazi officer's stronghold. The inspiration for Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds but better.

[praxis1966]

I'm surprised that the first post in this thread didn't contain the films V for Vendetta, The Matrix Trilogy, and Der Baader-Meinhof Komplex.

[x359594]

...V for Vendetta, The Matrix Trilogy, and Der Baader-Meinhof Komplex.


I guess I took a narrow definition of action movies. The first two you mention are science fiction heavy on action, and Der Baader-Meinhof Komplex is a strait forward dramatic narrative with a lot of violence realistically portrayed.

Since comrade palotin cited Rambo as an example I was thinking of movies that take place in the "real" world with improbable mayhem.

Yes, Madam with Michelle Yeoh as a PRC cop busting a capitalist organized crime gang qualifies as a left wing action movie. In fact, most of the Hong Kong action movies of the 80s are free of obnoxious reactionary blather that you see in Rambo and Chuck Norris movies.

[manic expression]

The Bourne Identity and the rest of the series has leftist (or at least anti-imperialist) undertones. Legend of Drunken Master is very anti-colonialist and pro-worker.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Total Recall.

Arnie has to take down an evil corporation involved in the ruthless plunder of Mars' mineral resources, set against the backdrop of an insurgency by the mutants.

[Pretty Flaco]

Kill Bill was totally about Black Mamba's struggle for worker's rights.

[Nachie]

B13 <--- I think I'm gonna go watch this again now

Paul Verhoeven films in general (Robocop, Total Recall)

[GPDP]

Shooter. Definitely Shooter.

If you haven't watched it, it's about a disillusioned ex-Marine sniper hired by members of the government to supposedly prevent the murder of the U.S. President, only for his expertise to be used to assassinate an important foreign diplomat instead, and for him to be framed and accused of the assassination by those who hired him.

It deals a lot with corruption, vested interests, and power, and how those themes are not an aberration, but the norm at the highest levels of power in Washington. There is one particular scene near the end of the movie when one of the most powerful and corrupt senators in Congress, in a candid moment, basically spells out that divisions such as Sunni and Shi'a, as well as Democrats and Republicans, are false, when what really matters is the division between the "haves" and "have-nots," that this is how the world actually works, and that the protagonist better get used to it. For a big-budget Hollywood film, it's a pretty radical message.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Shooter. Definitely Shooter.

If you haven't watched it, it's about a disillusioned ex-Marine sniper hired by members of the government to supposedly prevent the murder of the U.S. President, only for his expertise to be used to assassinate an important foreign diplomat instead, and for him to be framed and accused of the assassination by those who hired him.

It deals a lot with corruption, vested interests, and power, and how those themes are not an aberration, but the norm at the highest levels of power in Washington. There is one particular scene near the end of the movie when one of the most powerful and corrupt senators in Congress, in a candid moment, basically spells out that divisions such as Sunni and Shi'a, as well as Democrats and Republicans, are false, when what really matters is the division between the "haves" and "have-nots," that this is how the world actually works, and that the protagonist better get used to it. For a big-budget Hollywood film, it's a pretty radical message.

That was a funny movie. My favorite part was when Mark Wahlberg and his sidekick took out, like, 50 special ops soldiers who were flown in to kill him.

I think that it could easily be viewed as a generally conspiratorialist movie, though, and not necessarily "left wing".

[praxis1966]

I guess I took a narrow definition of action movies. The first two you mention are science fiction heavy on action, and Der Baader-Meinhof Komplex is a strait forward dramatic narrative with a lot of violence realistically portrayed.

Yeah, but they still had some dope action sequences involved. Perhaps I was playing it a little fast and loose with the definition of the action genre. If you're talking strict action genre with no crossover, I dunno then; I gotta go with the OP in his complaint that it's largely dominated by pro-Western capitalist themes.

[MarxSchmarx]

I have never seen it, and have no real intention of seeing it, but on deadly ground with Steven Segal is supposed to be fairly anti corporate. There was also one I saw a long time ago that he did on toxic waste dumping in the Appalachians but I can't remember it's name right now.

[praxis1966]

I have never seen it, and have no real intention of seeing it, but on deadly ground with Steven Segal is supposed to be fairly anti corporate. There was also one I saw a long time ago that he did on toxic waste dumping in the Appalachians but I can't remember it's name right now.

On Deadly Ground. And it was terrible... Even though I was high at the time.

[ComradeOm]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Highlander II. Its as if Marx had written a screenplay

[GPDP]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Highlander II. Its as if Marx had written a screenplay

Perhaps, but why, oh why, would you ever recommend it to anyone, unless you plan on riffing the fuck out of it?

[ComradeOm]

Perhaps, but why, oh why, would you ever recommend it to anyone, unless you plan on riffing the fuck out of it?You mean aside from perfectly encapsulating Marx's comment about 'first as tragedy, then as farce'? I'm also very sceptical as to the very notion of a "left-wing action movie"

[RadioRaheem84]

They Live! By John Carpenter

A bit NWO-ish, but it labeled the villain./aliens as "free enterprisers".

Paul Verhoven seconded, everything from Total Recall to BlackBook to even Starship Troopers. That was such a satire of the fascist elements in military action movies, its not even funny. Seriously. Not Funny.

[praxis1966]

They Live! By John Carpenter

A bit NWO-ish, but it labeled the villain./aliens as "free enterprisers".

Paul Verhoven seconded, everything from Total Recall to BlackBook to even Starship Troopers. That was such a satire of the fascist elements in military action movies, its not even funny. Seriously. Not Funny.

Dunno about They Live!. x359594 wasn't letting me get away with crossover flicks, so I don't think that one counts since it's mostly sci-fi/horror than straight up and down action.

[Bubbles]

Can dialectics break bricks? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069970/

[Apoi_Viitor]

Can dialectics break bricks?

Is there a site on the internet that hosts the entire video to download or to view?

And, I'll also add Fight Club to the list.

[Bubbles]

Is there a site on the internet that hosts the entire video to download or to view?

And, I'll also add Fight Club to the list.
http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/3469033/Can_dialectics_break_bricks_
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YDPTUJ0V
http://www.ubu.com/film/vienet_dialectics.html

[Rusty Shackleford]

White Sun of the Desert, a soviet "eastern"(as opposed to a russian western) its funny dramatic and kick ass. i mean the main character lights a cigarette with a lit stick of explosives that was thrown at him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_pmbG3wNQ4

and They Fought for the Motherland

I dont think this one is really an action flick, its more of a war drama. set in the opening weeks of the nazi invasion of the SU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjBPF_lYJf0

And lastly(unless you want me to recommend more soviet war films) Zvezda
A special forces unit goes behind enemy lines and acts all sneaky and occasionally kicks a nazis ass, personally. WWII
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk7N1j4Jf1E&feature=related

i just realized these dont really fit at all with the want for senseless destruction goal of this thread. ill leave em here though because i personally think they are damn good movies.

[Dimentio]

The modern action film, full of constant, if not senseless, destruction, seems particularly suited to right-wing messages: if the Southeast Asians Rambo mows down aren't presented as the negative side of some Manichean struggle you might start to be uncomfortable with what's on the screen and even think about the justice of it all. I love watching slaughter, but most of the available titles are too repugnant for me to watch. Any recommendation on films that will give me my carnage fix but not leave me feeling dirty?

The Billy Jack movies.

[Kayser_Soso]

Fight Club isn't leftist, it's phony leftism known as anti-consumerism.

A left-wing film many people might not have noticed is Die Hard II. The bad guys are ex-US special forces who had been involved in supporting an anti-Communist dictator. From their rhetoric it is clear that they are anti-Communists. And John McClane, ordinary working detective, kicks their asses.

Probably the best example is The Wind that Shakes the Barley, which makes up for Ken Loach's shitastic Land and Freedom.

Some day I'd like to make a film about Marx and Engels' bar-fighting days.

[Pretty Flaco]

Fight Club isn't leftist, it's phony leftism known as anti-consumerism.

A left-wing film many people might not have noticed is Die Hard II. The bad guys are ex-US special forces who had been involved in supporting an anti-Communist dictator. From their rhetoric it is clear that they are anti-Communists. And John McClane, ordinary working detective, kicks their asses.

Probably the best example is The Wind that Shakes the Barley, which makes up for Ken Loach's shitastic Land and Freedom.

Some day I'd like to make a film about Marx and Engels' bar-fighting days.

Whoa whoa whoa, hold up there! Marx and Engels used to get in bar fights? :huh:

[Kayser_Soso]

Whoa whoa whoa, hold up there! Marx and Engels used to get in bar fights? :huh:

Yup, here's one famous example:

"Tottenham Court Road has a lot of associations with Marx, many to do with its close proximity to his Dean street home , the British Museum and a lot of pubs.
On one occasion Marx and two friends attempted pub crawl drinking at least one drink at each pub. There were more pubs in the road then, but it is still a challenge worth attempting. Marx and his friends were Germans and got into a fight with drinkers in one of the pubs of Germany’s superiority over England. The Germans ran away, but a little further up the road amused themselves by throwing cobbles at street lights. The evening ended with a pursuit by the police, who Marx despite being a big man managed to make a swift exit."

[danyboy27]

john Q was a great movie, los angeles 2013.

[Tavarisch_Mike]

Children of Men, Avatar.

[#FF0000]

The Wind that Shakes The Barley owns.

Also, anything that you could call "cyberpunk" tends to have at least some anti-capitalist themes.

[Kayser_Soso]

Children of Men, Avatar.

I have to disagree with Avatar- it's primitivism, unoriginal, predictable, and patronizing. Fun to watch though.

[x359594]

...anything that you could call "cyberpunk" tends to have at least some anti-capitalist themes.

But we're drifting from the original stated genre, namely action movies of the Rambo variety, and there's nothing science fictional about them.

Somebody mentioned Die Hard II, I think that fits the bill better than any sci-fi movie. After all, the science-fiction genre is far more left-friendly than the action movie genre, which is why so many people resort to mentioning science-fiction movies.

I think the intent of the original question was to come up with left equivalents of Rambo, revenge melodramas with guns, explosions, chases set in the "real" world.

[Pretty Flaco]

I just watched The Wind that Shakes the Barley, and although it is a really good movie, the action and violence isn't even close to being of the rambo variety.

[Rusty Shackleford]

I'm surprised no one mentioned the latest and shockingly-leftist installment of the James Bond franchise, Quantum of Solace. Daniel Craig's James Bond literally faces off against CIA/MI6 agents and a major NGO corporation that plan to topple the democratically-elected Bolivian socialist government (strongly hinted to be Evo Morales) and install a right-wing dictator in the vein of Pinochet. It's incredible!
REALLY!? well now i gotta see it.

[¿Que?]

Not exactly leftist, but definitely an inversion on the whole US military hero vs. brown people motif, a movie I'd recommend would be Valley of the Wolves Iraq.

[Apoi_Viitor]

Fight Club isn't leftist, it's phony leftism known as anti-consumerism.

I've never understood the radical left's anti-anti-consumerism stand. Why is it that many people here don't consider anti-consumerism as leftist? I'm going to make the assumption that, the argument is, that by rejecting consumer/mass-produced products you aren't radically changing the system of capitalism - but that's not to say it isn't beneficial to refuse to buy heaps of plastic crap and expensive, trendy clothes.

[Kayser_Soso]

I've never understood the radical left's anti-anti-consumerism stand. Why is it that many people here don't consider anti-consumerism as leftist? I'm going to make the assumption that, the argument is, that by rejecting consumer/mass-produced products you aren't radically changing the system of capitalism - but that's not to say it isn't beneficial to refuse to buy heaps of plastic crap and expensive, trendy clothes.


When you buy "non-trendy" clothes, you are just creating a market which some capitalist will exploit. This is why anti-consumerism and movements based on this idea get "co-opted."

It begins with a mistaken assumption: Capitalism needs conformity. Or an alternative phrasing: The system needs conformity to survive. The truth is the opposite- capitalism, and therefore the system, thrives on consumers attempting to distinguish themselves, not people trying to "keep up with the Joneses."

[Apoi_Viitor]

When you buy "non-trendy" clothes, you are just creating a market which some capitalist will exploit. This is why anti-consumerism and movements based on this idea get "co-opted."

It begins with a mistaken assumption: Capitalism needs conformity. Or an alternative phrasing: The system needs conformity to survive. The truth is the opposite- capitalism, and therefore the system, thrives on consumers attempting to distinguish themselves, not people trying to "keep up with the Joneses."

Thank you, that was very informative.

I have another question - I'm sorry for kind of hijacking this thread - but, what about "ethical consumerism". Consumers who purchase commodities which are used, made by locally/independently, adhere to "fair trade", are environmentally sustainable, etc. Even if I buy a shirt made by Gap or some other large company that was made from recyclables, isn't that better than buying a shirt that isn't? Likewise, what about if I rejected dining in major food chains, and instead, only ate at locally owned restaurants?

Also, I'll add Battle of Algiers (I forget if it was mentioned already) to the list.

[Kayser_Soso]

Thank you, that was very informative.

I have another question - I'm sorry for kind of hijacking this thread - but, what about "ethical consumerism". Consumers who purchase commodities which are used, made by locally/independently, adhere to "fair trade", are environmentally sustainable, etc. Even if I buy a shirt made by Gap or some other large company that was made from recyclables, isn't that better than buying a shirt that isn't? Likewise, what about if I rejected dining in major food chains, and instead, only ate at locally owned restaurants?

Also, I'll add Battle of Algiers (I forget if it was mentioned already) to the list.


I have a source for a more thorough examination of that, but in terms of fighting capitalism it does little but put more money in the hands of those capitalist who want to sell those goods(and they will often do so at a higher price).

The problem with locally-produced/"sustainable" products is that if everyone were to do it, a lot of land and forest would have to be cleared, far more factories built, and so on. Maybe on a community level this kind of thing would work and work well, but on a global scale it would require more roads, more land clearing, and more energy. As bad as fast food is, if we imagine there is one fast food company in a large country, it can produce the food in one place designated for that purpose, and ship it to restaurants around the country, which take up less space and use less resources.

[Apoi_Viitor]

I have a source for a more thorough examination of that, but in terms of fighting capitalism it does little but put more money in the hands of those capitalist who want to sell those goods(and they will often do so at a higher price).


Out of curiousity, what is the source you are referring to?

[Kayser_Soso]

Out of curiousity, what is the source you are referring to?

The Rebel Sell, or known by it's US title, A Nation of Rebels.

[Invader Zim]

The Wind That Shakes the Barley, the only problem is that it's a crap film.

[ComradeOm]

The Wind That Shakes the Barley, the only problem is that it's a crap film.Wouldn't agree with that at all. Sure, it sags a bit in the middle but otherwise its a good work. Probably my favourite Loach film... Looking for Eric runs it close

[Invader Zim]

Wouldn't agree with that at all. Sure, it sags a bit in the middle but otherwise its a good work. Probably my favourite Loach film... Looking for Eric runs it close


Watch Kes or Land and Freedom, both of which have elements missing from The wind that... such as character development. Little things like that, which made them good films and The Wind that... rubbish.

Hell the film is really fucking boring too, and given its historical content, and the fact that half the characters spend the entire film shooting or beating other characters, or shouting and torturing them, that is a rather an achievement. The only redeaming features of the film is that the two lead actors were able to salvage something from the piss-poor script and utterly two-dimensional characters they had been given, and that Loach made a visually stunning film. But even so, it was and is a shit fil; and the people who raved about it really need to see Loach's earlier, and vastly superior, work.

[RadioRaheem84]

Action is relative. For one, The Wind that Shakes the Barley is the best film I have ever seen that has the right amount of politics and action that compliment each other and doesn't think the audience is too dense to understand.

That movie does own, hands down. If you haven't seen it, I suggest any comrade go find it on youtube and have a gander.

[Invader Zim]

Action is relative. For one, The Wind that Shakes the Barley is the best film I have ever seen that has the right amount of politics and action that compliment each other and doesn't think the audience is too dense to understand.

That movie does own, hands down. If you haven't seen it, I suggest any comrade go find it on youtube and have a gander.

Not only have I seen it, but I made the error of buying it froma bargin bin. I'm never going to see that £3 again, or get those 2 hours + of my life back.

As i said, you need to watch Loach's other work.

[RadioRaheem84]

Not only have I seen it, but I made the error of buying it froma bargin bin. I'm never going to see that £3 again, or get those 2 hours + of my life back.

As i said, you need to watch Loach's other work.


Why the hate for Barley, comrade?

[fa2991]

Clearly the most left-wing action film ever made is "Bad Boys II," especially in the end sequence where Will Smith destroys miles of Cuban homes while driving away from Castro's blood thirsty drug dealers. :rolleyes:

[RadioRaheem84]

Clearly the most left-wing action film ever made is "Bad Boys II," especially in the end sequence where Will Smith destroys miles of Cuban homes while driving away from Castro's blood thirsty drug dealers. :rolleyes:

Wait, what? Castro, drug trafficking? Is that movie seriously trying to say that Cuba is involved in trafficking? :lol:

[fa2991]

Wait, what? Castro, drug trafficking? Is that movie seriously trying to say that Cuba is involved in trafficking? :lol:

Yeah, it's quite a riot. Fast forward to 10:33 -

wCxIK4QqA30

After this initial planning, Will Smith & Martin Lawrence illegally fly into Cuba, where they are mobbed by prostitutes, battle the military (which is totally in the service of the drug dealers :rolleyes:), and lay waste to countless shacks and innocent bystanders:

3RaxGEQhEyg

[Invader Zim]

Why the hate for Barley, comrade?

I don't hate it, it just isn't any good.

[ComradeOm]

Watch Kes or Land and Freedom...I have. Barley was better

[Invader Zim]

I have. Barley was better

Well, we are all entitled to our opinion, but you're still wrong.

:tongue_smilie:

[hardlinecommunist]

The Running Man with Arnold Schwarzengger from 1987 is a good Rambo like Leftwing Action Movie

[HEAD ICE]

Someone said Die Hard II but I would say that Die Hard itself is subtle in its leftist themes. It breaks from the typical action movie mold in replacing the beefed up sunglasses wearing cigar smoking macho hardman action hero with a regular, average working man (yeah, I know he was a cop, but still) whose goal isn't to "save the day" but trying to survive. And lets not forget the symbol of bourgeois decadence, Ellis, who in his disconected reality gets himself owned by Hans Gruber.

Speaking of which, the villains are not Brown People With Baclava's™, they are rich Europeans doing a heist. Never once is the story written in a way that makes us care that the Nakatomi is being stolen from, rather 100% of the tension comes from John McClane trying to save himself and his wife.

Also, the LAPD are depicted to be bumbling idiots.

[Angry Young Man]

For a film to be called political, it needs a certain level of concentration, intelligent plot, focus on character, etc. which doesn't run smoothly with the sedative dumb show endemic to action films. Obviously there are exceptions to the rule, but I'm talking of a type that was made between 1985-89 and is on channel 5 every single night at about 10 o'clock.

Also the inflated masculinity of them reinforces gender roles, so you may as well ask for leftist chick-flicks

[Meridian]

I liked the Bourne movies. They are maybe my favorite action movies, together with the first Matrix.

I wouldn't exactly call them radical, but they seem not to be based on complete idiocy like most action movies are.

Some times it is funny to look at Schwarzenegger movies, though, because he seem to kind of ridicule the whole exaggerated macho image from time to time.

[An archist]

B13 <--- I think I'm gonna go watch this again now

Paul Verhoeven films in general (Robocop, Total Recall)

Damn, I wanted to say B13 and Robocop.
I never saw Robocop as a kid, justy saw it a few months ago, it's like a leftwing propaganda movie by hollywood's standards, just too bad the splatterpunks are basically mercenaries, otherwise it would have been an awesome movie;)

[Os Cangaceiros]

Someone said Die Hard II but I would say that Die Hard itself is subtle in its leftist themes. It breaks from the typical action movie mold in replacing the beefed up sunglasses wearing cigar smoking macho hardman action hero with a regular, average working man (yeah, I know he was a cop, but still) whose goal isn't to "save the day" but trying to survive. And lets not forget the symbol of bourgeois decadence, Ellis, who in his disconected reality gets himself owned by Hans Gruber.

Speaking of which, the villains are not Brown People With Baclava's™, they are rich Europeans doing a heist. Never once is the story written in a way that makes us care that the Nakatomi is being stolen from, rather 100% of the tension comes from John McClane trying to save himself and his wife.

Also, the LAPD are depicted to be bumbling idiots.

LOL I've always argued that Die Hard is one of the most anti-cop action films ever. My favorite part is when the FBI morons fly in on their helicopter..."Just like fuckin' Saigon!" :lol:

[Barry Lyndon]

Probably the best example is The Wind that Shakes the Barley, which makes up for Ken Loach's shitastic Land and Freedom.

As a Stalinist its predictable you would bash Land and Freedom. The truth hurts, I know.

[Tavarisch_Mike]

The Che-films, F.I.S.T. its not purely a action movie but they bash some scabbs, which is never wrong.

[Pirate Utopian]

The Spook Who Sat By The Door is sorta like a black power version of James Bond only it's not boring and has more action.

It's on google video.