Underrated Action Movies - Rental Reviews

Overview

The video is a group “rental reviews” style discussion where people debate underrated action movies—spotlighting standout stunts, fight choreography, and arguing why certain films don’t get the credit they deserve (or whether they’re actually “underrated” at all).

Main Picks & What Makes Them Stand Out

Jackie Chan — Dragon Forever (the “three dragons” era)

The core argument is that people rarely include Dragon Forever in their top Jackie Chan lists, but the final fight sequence is so packed with details that it feels almost unbelievable.

• What makes the finale stand out
  • Slow-motion, no-cut impact falls
  • Glass crashes
  • High falls into things
  • Flashy camera angles, including overhead views when characters leap
• Tone shift
  • It starts with quirky slapstick comedy, then abruptly hits “BAM” into extremely legit, brutal action.
• Villain connection
  • The villain is Benny “the Jet” (kickboxing powerhouse), and hosts compare his skill level to past Jackie opponents—claiming this movie especially nails choreography against him.
• Other Jackie recommendations
  • The conversation also points viewers toward the Drunken Master films, praising the comedic/action blend in Jackie’s early work and name-checking Project A and Who Am I.

Luc Besson-style international action — Wasabi (French/Japanese)

Presented as a lesser-known favorite, Wasabi is discussed as an action comedy featuring a French cop (Jean Reno) who’s forced to go to Japan after using brutal methods.

• Plot highlights discussed
  • His tactics cause chaos, including punching the mayor’s son after a raid
  • A Cold War twist involving his Japanese past and the fact he finds a daughter he didn’t know about
  • Yakuza conflict plus “surreal” set pieces
  • Scenes with him playing DDR/shooting-game style moments where he’s actually shooting real people
  • A department store sequence where the daughter tries on clothes while the situation escalates into full combat
• Language note
  • Viewers are encouraged to watch it in French, since the dub is said to be bad.

Keanu Reeves — Speed (and the debate: is it underrated?)

One person argues Speed is underrated because people tend to default to The Matrix or John Wick instead. The group recaps the film’s tension-building mechanics:

• Why it feels tense
  • The elevator bomb setup
  • The 50 mph rule
  • The famous bus stress/action escalation

But another speaker pushes back: it may not be underrated at all—claiming it’s widely recognized and memorable, and only seems lesser in 90s action lists because people forget it when naming other classics.

• Technical nitpick
  • The subway sequence “doesn’t feel convincingly fast,” with criticisms of miniature/rear projection effects compared to earlier set pieces (like the bus/airplane crash that still looks great).

Speed Sequels: Jokes + Set-Piece Comparisons

The conversation pivots strongly into comparison mode: Speed 2 versus Speed 1.

• What gets criticized
  • Speed 2 is accused of doing too much “Speed”
  • One person summarizes the vibe as action that feels overstuffed—“did too much speed.”
• Set pieces that get praise
  • An ice cream man theft that kicks off a motorcycle chase
  • Ship/boat disaster moments, including flooding/explosions and huge staged structures (“you can’t stop it” energy)
• Pop-culture and cast bits
  • References and jokes include an Aquaman shirt, name-drops like Willem Dafoe, and mentions of other actors/roles
• Visual/CGI verdict
  • The group argues some CGI and visuals hold up better than expected for the time—while still mocking certain absurd moments.

Other Comedy Beats / Punchlines

• Famous one-liners and “setups”
  • In Speed, Sandra Bullock’s character gets flustered after knocking over what she thinks is a baby carriage—but it’s actually groceries.
  • Keanu delivers a blunt line: “Okay.” The group cites it as a best-line moment.
• Style of humor
  • One joke mentions ending with a Rodney Dangerfield-style bit (a Caddyshack reference), emphasizing the show’s playful tone.

Overall Tone

The highlights center on:

• Awe at stunt choreography (Dragon Forever)
• International weirdness + stylish action (Wasabi)
• Hot debate and nostalgia around whether Speed/Speed 2 deserves the “underrated” label—paired with frequent, audience-friendly franchise jokes.

Personalities / Speakers Mentioned

• Jackie Chan (discussed)
• Keanu Reeves (discussed)
• Sandra Bullock (discussed)
• Jeff Daniels (mentioned)
• Dennis Hopper (mentioned as a villain context—likely referencing Speed)
• Jean Reno (Wasabi, discussed)
• Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao (mentioned as the “other two dragons”)
• Willem Dafoe (mentioned in the Speed 2 discussion)

Other referenced culture

Will Smith, Bruce Willis, Aquaman, Twin Peaks, The Matrix, John Wick, Titanic, The Simpsons, Rodney Dangerfield, Caddyshack, and UB40.