Top Best Action Movies for Your Family Movie Nights

One of the nicest things about the Christmas season or any other holiday is being able to spend time with family and friends. Our lives get so busy with work and activities, we seem to spend more time rushing about and going our separate ways. It's wonderful to have special events that celebrate spending time together.

It can be tricky finding just the right activities to involve everyone. Crafts and games are wonderful ways to spend time with each other, especially with the younger children, but not everyone enjoys crafting. There are also some wonderful board games and activity-based games like Cranium, but what about a movie evening after the little ones are snug a-bed?

One of the best gifts is taking time as a family to enjoy a ripping good yarn - an action-adventure movie.

Whatever the time of year, sometimes we just need some down-time - to kick back with a giant bowl of popcorn and enjoy a great movie. Some of my favorite movies - some new releases this year - are due out on BluRay/DVD.

One of my favorite movies this year was the action-adventure Cowboys & Aliens, starring two all-time great, blockbuster action heroes, Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig. When I first saw the trailer, I was immediately engaged and incredulous, turning to a friend and quipping, "What are they going to call this one? Cowboys and Aliens?" The next thing I heard was the announcer's voice declaiming exactly that title. I knew I had to see that movie. Of course, given the chance, I would probably watch Daniel Craig read a phone book.

It is 1873, and a cowboy (Daniel Craig) wakes up in the desert with a strange metal cuff on his wrist. He has no memory of who he is or how he got there, but with the unwilling assistance of some scalp-hunters, he makes his way to the nearest town, only to find out he is a wanted man. After a disagreement with the son of a local wealthy rancher, he and the rancher's son end up in jail.

The rancher (Harrison Ford) arrives, demanding the sheriff hand over his son and the cowboy. Suddenly, the town is attacked by flying machines that scoop up a number of townspeople including Dolarhyde’s son.

A mysterious woman (Olivia Wilde) claims Jake (Craig) knows where the townsfolk have been taken, even though he says he doesn’t remember. The trio sets out on a rescue mission, to be joined later by a gang of outlaws and a group of Apache warriors in a showdown with the aliens.

Cowboys and Aliens has the all elements of a classic western - the heroic-but-dangerous loner, the quest, coming-of-age, redemption - along with the standard sci-fi scary aliens, and really cool technology.

The stellar ensemble cast includes Sam Rockwell as Doc; Paul Dano as Dolarhyde's trouble-making son; Clancy Brown as Meacham, Absolution's preacher; Keith Carradine as Sheriff John Taggart; Adam Beach as Nat Colorado, Dolarhyde's right-hand man; Abigail Spencer; Ana de la Reguera; Walton Goggins; Julio César Cedillo; David O'Hara, and Raoul Trujillo.

Great family fun for the holidays. Not suitable for younger children.

Former C.IA. operative, Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) is retired, bored and lonely. The only joy in Frank's life is his monthly call to case worker Sarah (Mary-Louis Parker) about his missing pension check - a check he has received and destroyed so he can talk to Sarah. This man is truly lonely!

Sarah is as bored and lonely as Frank. Only her conversations with Frank and her beloved spy novels relieve the monotony of her existence.

Without warning, something from Frank's past surfaces, but not to haunt him - to assassinate him. For some reason, Frank has been declared R.E.D. - Retired Extremely Dangerous.

Forced to seek help from his old colleagues, and an old enemy, Frank re-assembles his own team of impossible mission specialists to unravel the mystery and ultimately save the day.

The stellar ensemble cast features Helen Mirren, John Malkovitch, Morgan Freeman, Richard Dreyfus, Brian Cox, Julian MacMahon, and Karl Urban.

This movie is part comedy, part action-adventure, part cheeky satire of spy movies, and a top-notch, ripping good yarn, with enough ploy twists and thrills to keep you on the edge of your seat.

This movie will appeal more to the over-thirties set than teenagers. Not suitable for young children.

Starring Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, Neal McDonough, Derek Luke, and Stanley Tucci.

This movie could have been high camp, like the 1960s Batman television series, but the charm and charisma of the lead actors lift it into the realms of an engaging action-adventure film.

It takes strong, believable performances, good direction by Joe Johnston, and high production values to pull this off well, and this movie certainly delivers non-stop thrills and action.

Hugo Weaver makes a marvelous bad-guy. His obvious relish in doing evil is totally enjoyable.

Teens will love the young characters, and older family members will get a kick out of remembering the Captain America comic books. Not suitable for young children.

Starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Kevin Bacon, this movie, based on the characters of the X-Men Comics, details the first meeting and early partnership of Professor Charles Xavier and Eric Lensherr (Magneto).

McAvoy brings great charm and likability to the character of young Charles Xavier. Fassbender's brooding and emotionally crippled Lensherr eventually gives in to his dark side, but not without a struggle.

The special effects in this movie are amazing, but never detract from the story - no mean feat when the believability of the super heroes powers depends on those effects.

The cast of this film have been nominated for numerous awards including best actor, best superhero., and one intriguing award which was won by Hugh Jackman for Best Cameo Appearance. Though brief, Jackman's cameo is definitely memorable.

Teens and adults alike will enjoy the non-stop action. Not suitable for young children.

Though not the all of these are the newest kids on the block, these action flicks are well worth viewing:

• Russell Crowe's Robin Hood - a classic by any standard, with Kate Blanchett, and Matthew Macfadyen, and featuring the dulcet tones of Great Big Sea's Alan Doyle in a sterling turn as Alan a'Dayle.
• I Am Number Four - aimed more at the teen/young adult crowd, this film has plenty of charm and action for viewers of almost any age.
• Iron Man 1 & 2 - Robert Downey Jr. brings a slightly manic irreverence to his portrayal of Tony Stark., with Jeff Bridges and Mickey Rourke both turning in fine performances as villains (Bridges in 1, and Rourke in 2). Gwyneth Paltrow shines as Stark's long-suffering but feisty assistant.
• Even though Sherlock Holmes mysteries are not usually thought of as Action-adventure movies, The two films starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law have certainly launched Holmes and Watson into the realm of action heroes. With #2 in theaters in 2012, this is certainly one to add to your Blu-Ray wish list.

Pass the popcorn, please!

© Text by Elle Fredine, All rights reserved

Title photo and popcorn divider by author