3 action films that aren't Die Hard

I love Die Hard. In fact, I’m one of those people who call it one of the best Christmas films of all time. The issue is that I am banned – as we all should be – from watching the film until at least the start of December. Until then, it looks like we need some other action films to fill the void:

13 Assassins (2010)

For the uninitiated, Japanese film-maker Takashi Miike is a lunatic. Debuting in 1991, Miike-san has now directed almost 100 films. But he doesn’t direct crap: Audition and Ichi the Killer are just two classics attributable to him. Also unmatched in his disturbing and gruesome content, in Miike’s 13 Assassins alone we see disembodiment, torture, seppuku, and child murder, to say nothing of the hordes of soldiers murdered by our main samurai cast. For plot, simply imagine Seven Samurai meets The Magnificent Seven.

Starship Troopers (1997)

I don’t think there has ever been a film as misunderstood as Starship Troopers. It’s almost funny watching people praise the film for what it isn’t. Behind this seemingly meat-headed war flick is parody and commentary on the level of classics like Dr Strangelove. In this universe the humans are the fascist invaders – they’re basically wearing Nazi uniforms for God’s sake. The action set pieces are solid, but go into this movie looking for the right things and you’ll uncover a hidden depth.

The Raid (2011)

Oh God, is The Raid good. I mean really good. Best-action-film-of-all-time good. In all honesty I don’t need a complex argument to explain why. The film features Iko Uwais, a real-life Indonesian Pencak Silat champion taking on countless drugged up gang members as he and his SWAT team ascend a tower block to reach a drug lord. The fighting is flawlessly choreographed and brutal, with every scene here surpassing what would be the main set piece other action films. Watch this, then watch The Raid 2, then go eat a steak to expel all that testosterone.