(DML Top 20 Lists - Action Spy Films ranked)

Honorable Mention

Thunderball (1965), Director: Terence Young, rated PG

Look Out! Here Comes The Biggest Bond Of All!

Starring: Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi, Luciana Paluzzi, Rik Van Nutter, Guy Doleman, Molly Peters, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"My dear girl, don't flatter yourself. What I did this evening was for King and country. You don't think it gave me any pleasure, do you?" - James Bond, to Fiona

Why watch this? The only real James Bond takes on SPECTRE once again.

Plot Summary: James Bond is dispatched to the Bahamas to recover two stolen nuclear warheads hijacked by the criminal organization SPECTRE. He must stop SPECTRE, led by the ruthless Emilio Largo, from using the bombs to extort the Western powers for a massive ransom. Bond teams up with CIA agent Felix Leiter and Largo's mistress, Domino, to uncover the plot and prevent a nuclear catastrophe.

Dad's Preview: I think part of my kinship with this film is that my sister had the soundtrack on vinyl. The album cover was so freaking cool, with black and orange-clad scuba divers battling each other with spear guns, all under water with retro mini-submarines. Connery is cool as a cucumber as the world's greatest super spy. Here, he squares off against the evil Largo. The undersea scenes are action-packed, and must have been really hard to film!

Eon Productions; United Artists

Top 20 Action Spy Films #20 Top

From Russia with Love (1963), Director: Terence Young, rated PG

The world's masters of murder pull out all the stops to destroy Agent 007!

Starring: Sean Connery, Pedro Armendariz, Lotte Lenya, Robert Shaw, Bernard Lee, Daniela Bianchi, Eunice Gayson, Lois Maxwell

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"There's a saying in England: Where there's smoke, there's fire." – James Bond

Why watch this? Off to Istanbul, where Bond will face dangerous SPECTRE agents.

Plot Summary: James Bond is dispatched to Istanbul to retrieve a Lektor decoding device from a Soviet cipher clerk, Tatiana Romanova, who claims to be defecting and has fallen in love with him. This tempting offer, however, is a carefully orchestrated trap devised by the criminal organization SPECTRE, seeking revenge for Bond's previous actions.

Dad's Preview: This Bond entry, which is an immediate sequel to Dr. No (1962), focuses more on 007's spy skills. There is a complex plot revolving around SPECTRE's attempt to trap Bond for killing Dr. No. The lure is a cryptography code-breaking device. Though a trap is suspected, Bond is sent in anyway, because, well, he's James Bond. He will encounter the beautiful Tatiana, and two of the best Bond baddies ever: The murderous snake Rosa Klebb, and the quiet, tough Donald Grant, portrayed perfectly by the stern Robert Shaw. This film does not strictly follow the Bond-formula we'd grow used to, and that makes it all the more interesting.

Eon Productions; United Artists

Top 20 Action Spy Films #19 Top

The Eiger Sanction (1975), Director: Clint Eastwood, rated R for language, violence

EASTWOOD is the man... Eiger is the location... and the sanction - is a license to kill!

Starring: Clint Eastwood, George Kennedy, Vonetta McGee, Jack Cassidy, Heidi Brühl, Thayer David, Reiner Schone, Michael Grimm

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Tell me, Mr. Bowman, in your opinion do these men climb to prove their manhood, or is it more a matter of compensating for inferiority feelings?" - Female Journalist

Why watch this? It's Clint at his best in some of the most scenic action sequences ever filmed.

Plot Summary: English professor Jonathan Hemlock was a mountain-climbing government assassin in a former life. When the "C2" blackmails him into performing another sanction (assassination), he has no choice but to agree. This time the target is one of three men on a climbing team whose goal is the Eiger, a massive rock face in the Swiss Alps. To prepare, the aging Hemlock enlists his old buddy, Ben Bowman, who puts him through the ringer. The rest of this adventure is a mountain climb wrought with danger and suspense.

Dad's Preview: What sets this standard espionage film apart is the incredible mountain and rock-scaling sequences. Eastwood (also the director) performed almost all the stunts himself. The climbs, in both Monument Valley and Switzerland, are breathtaking. There is a nice twist at the end. I also liked the performance by Vonetta Mcee, as a strong, capable black woman portraying Clint's love-interest. There are some slightly-cringy moments, but they're pretty standard for the time period. That said, it is still enjoyable from a pure spy-action flick standpoint.

The Malpaso Co.; Universal Pictures

Top 20 Action Spy Films #18 Top

The Man With the Golden Gun (1975), Director: Guy Hamilton, rated PG

He never misses his target, and now his target is 007.

Starring: Roger Moore, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Maud Adams, Hervé Villechaize, Clifton James, Richard Loo, Soon-Tek Oh, Marc Lawrence, Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell, Marne Maitland, Desmond Llewelyn

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"A duel between titans. My golden gun against your Walther PPK. Each of us with a 50-50 chance." – Scaramanga

Why watch this? James Bond must face an assassin even more deadly than himself.

Plot Summary: This film, as most featuring everybody's favorite international spy, spins around, but eventually makes its way to the meat of the story, a mano y mano showdown between two men: one a famous British agent, the other accustomed to killing his targets. There are plot points about finding an energy-generating device called a Solex Agitator, and bikini-clad Britt Ekland trots around, as perhaps the dingiest of all Bond girls ever. However, it is the finale, on the bad guy's gorgeous, high-cliff island lair, that begs the question: can Bond best the world's deadliest assassin?

Dad's Preview: Critics were (and still are) meh on this Bond entry. Many wanted more gadgets and bigger everything. I personally liked the decision to slim things down. Its economy focuses on Bond's ability to survive on his skills alone, not a series of exploding cufflinks. Christopher Lee, a superb actor and oddly enough, a relative of Bond author Ian Fleming, gives this film its lift, as he portrays the cold-blooded killer, Scaramanga. And who can forget, Nick Nack, my favorite pint-sized henchman - always devious and properly dressed. So, this is my entry as Most Underrated James Bond Film. Do give this flick a shake and a stir.

Eon Productions, United Artists

Top 20 Action Spy Films #17 Top

Mission: Impossible (1996), Director: Brian De Palma, rated PG-13

Only the Mission Matters.

Starring: Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Béart, Henry Czerny, Jean Reno, Ving Rhames, Vanessa Redgrave, Kristin Scott, Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė, Emilio Estevez, Rolf Saxon

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"My team. My team is DEAD. They knew we were coming, man. They knew we were coming and the disk is gone." – Ethan Hunt

Why watch this? Sx.

Plot Summary: Following a disastrous mission where his entire team is killed, IMF agent Ethan Hunt is framed as the mole and accused of selling government secrets. Now a fugitive, he must assemble a new, untrustworthy team of disavowed agents to break into the CIA and retrieve a confidential list that could clear his name. In a deadly game of cat and mouse, Hunt races to expose the real double agent and uncover the truth behind his betrayal.

Dad's Preview: The old 60s-70s TV series of the same name was a lot of fun. It featured espionage, spies, disguises, and betrayals, all wrapped in intelligence. Here Tom Cruise and company begin, what I think, was targeted as franchise all along. This actioner is packed with spectacular stunts, explosions, a spider web of plot lines and lots of complicated dialog. What it somewhat lacks is the simple charm of the origin series, you know, the cute little moments, a nod, a wink - it was subtly heady. This simply blows it up and move quickly onward. That's not to say this film is not exciting or thrilling, because it is. It's like a rollercoaster, where you buckle in and enjoy the ride for what it is.

Paramount Pictures, Cruise/Wagner
Productions; Paramount Pictures

Top 20 Action Spy Films #16 Top

True Lies (1994), Director: James Cameron, Rated R for language, violence

When he said I do, he never said what he did.

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton, Tia Carrere, Art Malik, Eliza Dushku, Grant Heslov, Charlton Heston

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"I married Rambo!" – Helen Tasker

Why watch this? This summer popcorn flick has the perfect blend of comedy, character and outrageous action.

Plot Summary: Harry Tasker lives a double life as a family man who hides his secret career as a counterterrorism agent from his wife, Helen. Harry's suspicions about Helen's fidelity emerge during a mission to stop a terrorist organization from obtaining nuclear weapons. These two seemingly unrelated storylines eventually intertwine, thrusting both Harry's personal and professional lives into chaos as he fights to save the world and his marriage.

Dad's Preview: This action comedy from James Cameron is really fun to watch. The stunts are incredible and the acting is superb. Arnold comes across as a suave international spy. Tom Arnold hits as his assistant and the film's comic relief. However, it is the amazing Jamie Lee Curtis who is the heart of the film. She portrays a neglected housewife desperate for a little adventure to give her life some meaning. Well, she gets her wish. I was a little disappointed that the film's villains were blood-thirsty Arabs. I feel that we don't need more of that in our lives.

Lightstorm Entertainment;
20th Century Fox

Top 20 Action Spy Films #15 Top

Skyfall (2012), Director: Sam Mendes, rated PG-13

The past becomes the present.

Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe, Ben Wishaw, Albert Finney, Rory Kinnear

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Some men are coming to kill us. We're going to kill them first." – James Bond, when asked about his plan

Why watch this? Bond achieves greatness in this third sequel.

Plot Summary: After a botched mission leaves James Bond presumed dead, a devastating cyber-attack against MI6 forces him to return to service to confront a mysterious enemy targeting M. Bond tracks the threat to Raoul Silva, a rogue former agent seeking personal revenge against M for abandoning him in the past. To protect her, Bond takes M to his ancestral home in Scotland, where they prepare for a final, desperate stand against Silva's forces.

Dad's Preview: There is a lot packed into this movie. The Plot Summary above barely scratches the surface. But that is what also makes this third film in the Craig series stand so tall. James does quite a job hopping the globe considering that he's relieved of duty at the start of the film. But that is vintage James Bond in a nutshell, "Thanks for firing me, now I have work to do." Q is finally brought onto the team and he's a delight, portrayed by Ben Wishaw). Naomie Harris also inhabits a familiar role, but I won't spoil it. This is one of the best Bond films ever - it's right up there with Casino Royale (2006). It also won the Oscar for Best Song, "Skyfall", by Adele.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Columbia Pics, Eon
Productions, B23; Sony Pictures Releasing

Top 20 Action Spy Films #14 Top

Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Director: Guy Hamilton, rated PG

BOND IS BACK - Sean Connery is BOND

Starring: Sean Connery, Jill St. John, Charles Gray, Lana Woods, Jimmy Dean, Bruce Cabot, Bruce Glover, Putter Smith, Norman Burton, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn, Lois Maxwell

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Well, hardest substance found in nature, they cut glass, suggests marriage, I suppose it replaced the dog as the girl's best friend. That's about it." - James Bond when asked by M about diamonds

Why watch this? There's just no substitute for the original.

Plot Summary: James Bond is assigned to investigate a major diamond smuggling ring, leading him to adopt a false identity and follow the trail from Amsterdam to Las Vegas. While navigating the dangerous underworld, Bond uncovers a plot by his arch-nemesis, Ernst Blofeld, who is using the stolen diamonds to construct a space-based laser weapon. Working with Tiffany Case, Bond must race against time to stop Blofeld's evil plan.

Dad's Preview: There is something about this Bond film that always warms my heart. In many ways it's a return to simplicity, yet it has an off-the-wall quality, as well. Connery, by now in his career, voiced publicly that he was tired of the spy. However, he plays Bond here with an wry coolness, often making himself the butt of his famous one-liners. This was appropriate for an older man, confident in himself. In opposition to many fans and critics, I enjoyed the villainous duo if Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd - their dry psychosis cracks me up. This was Connery's last portrayal of 007 until his nostalgic one-and-done in Never Say Never Again (1983).

Harry Saltzman, Albert Broccoli, Eon Prod.;
United Artists

Top 20 Action Spy Films #13a Top

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), Director: Jay Roach, rated PG-13 for crude humor, language

If he were any cooler, he'd still be frozen, baby!

Starring: Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Robert Wagner, Seth Green, Mindy Sterling, Michael York, Fabiana Udenio, Will Ferrell, Mimi Rogers

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You know, I have one simple request, and that is to have sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads!" – Dr. Evil

Why watch this? All great comedy bits need an introduction. This one blows the lid off.

Plot Summary: A hip British secret agent from the 1960s is cryogenically frozen and thawed out in the 1990s to combat his arch-nemesis, Dr. Evil, who has also been frozen and resurrected. Austin must adapt to the vastly different world of the 90s while trying to stop Dr. Evil's latest plan for global domination.

Dad's Preview: As silly as it is absurd, this film is a deep dive into the mind of the talented Mike Myers. I remember thinking "what a dumb concept". Boy, was I wrong. You can't help but fall in love with this James Bond spy spoof. Myers' comedic genius shines through as he portrays the out-dated British Secret Agent, and also his greatest foe, the chrome-domed mastermind Dr. Evil. Elizabeth Hurley also shines as his sexy assistant. If you don't find this humor funny, I can't help you.

New Line Productions, Eric's Boy, KC Medien,
Moving Pictures; New Line Cinema

Top 20 Action Spy Films #13b Top

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), Director: Jay Roach, rated PG-13 for crude humor, language

First, he fought for the Crown. Now he's fighting for the Family Jewels.

Starring: Mike Myers, Heather Graham, Michael York, Robert Wagner, Rob Lowe, Mindy Sterling, Seth Green, Verne Troyer, Gia Carides, Will Ferrell

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"If you've got a time machine, why don't you just go back in time and kill Austin Powers when he's on the crapper or something?" – Scott Evil

Why watch this? AP2 is more of the same, and by "more" I mean, bloody wonderful more!

Plot Summary: Once again Austin Powers must square off against his nemesis, Dr. Evil. Only this time, His Baldness has been, that's right, cloned, in the form of the 2 ft. 6 in. Mini-Me - a little person with a big temper. Austin Powers has mysteriously lost his "mojo", so he travels back to 1969 and enlists blonde-bombshell CIA Agent Felicity Shagwell. Together they take on Dr. Evil and his most notorious henchman, the nasty Fat Bastard!

Dad's Preview: If you liked Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), this raunchy, hilarious romp will keep the adventure going. This is a confident comedian, Mike Myers, at the peak of his creative mastery. Part of why these films are so funny is that Powers can be sexist, and he gets a pass because he literally is from a time when that was somewhat excepted. He gets most of the laughs at his own expense, being either AP or his evil counterpart, Dr. Evil... and I can laugh at that all day long.

Eric's Boy, Team Todd, Moving Pictures;
New Line Cinema

Top 20 Action Spy Films #13c Top

Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), Director: Jay Roach, rated PG-13 for crude humor, language

Dr. Evil on the loose. A sexy new cohort. Mini-Me at your side. Oh, Baby, Yeah!

Starring: Mike Myers, Beyoncé Knowles, Michael York, Michael Caine, Seth Green, Verne Troyer, Mindy Sterling, Fred Savage

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"There are two things in the world I can't stand: people who are intolerant of other people's cultures... and the Dutch." – Nigel Powers

Why watch this? Powers' third and final outing puts forth a hilarious, well-oiled comedy.

Plot Summary: Groovy spy Austin Powers learns that his famous spy father, Nigel Powers, has been kidnapped by a Dutch villain named Goldmember, who has an obsession with gold. Austin travels back in time to the year 1975 to stop Goldmember and rescue his father, where he encounters FBI Agent, Foxxy Cleopatra, who joins him on his mission. Together, they must foil Goldmember and Dr. Evil's plot, which involves a tractor beam designed to pull a molten meteor of gold to Earth, threatening global devastation.

Dad's Preview: In this outing, Myers takes on four roles: Powers, Dr. Evil, Goldmember, and, back again, the blubber-filled Scottish mass known as Fat Bastard. It's a fitting end to the film series with lots of laughs. The scene on the submarine where Powers and Mini-Me are forced to take a Navy physical is one of the funniest comedy bits I can remember.

Gratitude International, Team Todd, Moving
Pictures; New Line Cinema

Top 20 Action Spy Films #12 Top

The 39 Steps (1935), Director: Alfred Hitchcock, rated Approved

A heart-racing spy story...

Starring: Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll, Lucie Mannheim, Godfrey Tearle, Peggy Ashcroft, John Laurie, Helen Haye, Frank Cellier, Wylie Watson, Gus McNaughton, Jerry Verno, Peggy Simpson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"There are 20 million women in this island and I've got to be chained to you." – Richard Hannay, to Pamela

Why watch this? This is one of Hitch's best early British suspense films.

Plot Summary: A Canadian civilian in 1930s London is wrongly accused of murdering a counter-espionage agent who was killed in his apartment while trying to expose a spy ring. He flees to Scotland to escape the police, becoming entangled with a reluctant woman while trying to uncover the meaning behind the mysterious "39 Steps". Ultimately, he must use his wits to expose the spy organization and clear his name before they steal top-secret British military secrets.

Dad's Preview: Like several Hitchcock thrillers (such as North By Northwest (1959)), this film features a regular man wrongfully caught up in nefarious dealings, in this case, the theft of a British military secret. Our unwilling hero, Richard, is handsomely portrayed by Robert Donat. He has a great characteristic in that he can be completely serious, yet also provide comedic relief. These are both present in this film. Sure, he's on the run for his life, but he still has the wits to take over a political meeting without any idea of what to say. It's a funny scene and a nice break from all the frantic chase action. This film is often sited as ground-zero for today's escapist entertainment. It was also lauded, by famed noir director and star Orson Welles, as a "masterpiece."

Legendary Pics, Virtual Studios, Atmosphere Pics;
Warner Bros.

Top 20 Action Spy Films #11 Top

Argo (2012), Director: Ben Affleck, rated R for language

The movie was fake. The mission was real.

Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Tate Donovan, Victor Garber, Kyle Chandler

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Shoot him. He's an American spy ... Look, they're going to try to break you, OK, by trying to get you agitated. You have to know your resume back to front." – Tony Mendez

Why watch this? A great movie about an interesting, and very tense, true story.

Plot Summary: This film chronicles the creative way that several US government employees were smuggled out of Iran after the fall of the Shah, back in 1979. The US team assigned to the rescue concoct the idea of filming a science fiction movie in Iran as their cover.

Dad's Preview: "It's so crazy it just might work!" The courage it must have taken to pull off such ballsy plan! Director/Star Ben Affleck proves once again that he's a very good director in this well-paced political thriller. It could have been silly, yet the result is a taut, believable film. John Goodman and Alan Arkin are also exceptional in key supporting roles.

GK Films, Smokehouse Pics; Warner Bros. Pics

Top 20 Action Spy Films #10 Top

The Lady Vanishes (1938), Director: Alfred Hitchcock, rated Approved

Comedy! Chills! Chuckles! in a Mystery Express!

Starring: Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, Paul Lukas, May Whitty, Cecil Parker, Linden Travers, Naunton Wayne, Basil Radford, Mary Clare, Emile Boreo

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Did you notice the nun in there with the patient?... Nuns don't wear high heels." – Iris Henderson

Why watch this? If you are game for an engaging mystery, this Hitchcock classic is a great start.

Plot Summary: While traveling on a train through continental Europe, a young English woman, Iris Henderson, befriends an elderly governess, Miss Froy. When Iris wakes from a nap, Miss Froy has inexplicably vanished, and all the other passengers deny ever having seen her. Convinced that something sinister is at play and refusing to believe she is delusional, Iris teams up with a young musicologist, Gilbert Redman, to uncover the truth behind the disappearance.

Dad's Preview: Early in his career, when he was making British films, Alfred Hitchcock became a real master of the mystery thriller. This is one of his best efforts. There is a successful blend of suspense and comedy, which makes the film very appealing. This classic is often regarded as one of Britain's greatest films of all time. It also caught Hollywood's attention, resulting in Hitch's move to America, and, as they say, the rest is history.

Gainsborough Pictures; Gaumont-British
Picture Corp., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Top 20 Action Spy Films #9a Top

The Bourne Identity (2002), Director: Doug Liman, rated PG-13 for violence, language

He was the perfect weapon until he became the target.

Starring: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen, Brian Cox, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Julia Stiles, Gabriel Mann

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You're US government property! You're a malfunctioning thirty million dollar weapon!" - Conklin to Jason Bourne

Why watch these? If you films about dark clandestine operations, this is for you.

Plot Summary: A man with amnesia is rescued at sea and discovers he has extraordinary skills but no memory of who he is. As he attempts to unravel his past, he finds himself pursued by dangerous individuals seeking to eliminate him. He must stay ahead of his pursuers while uncovering the truth about his identity and the organization behind his predicament.

Dad's Preview: The first film adaptation of author Robert Ludlum's Bourne trilogy, kicks things off with a bang. It follows the story of Jason Bourne, a man who has no memory of his past. The fun is how he unravels the mystery. As people try to kill him, he demonstrates unique survival skills. Who is this highly-trained individual? By sheer luck, he find an ally in Marie Kreutz. The action sequences successfully create a manic mood that keeps the tension tight. It also leaves us wanting more after the end credits roll.

Kennedy/Marshal, Hypnotic Prod., Kalima Prod,
Stillking Films; Universal Pictures

Top 20 Action Spy Films #9b Top

The Bourne Supremacy (2004), Director: Paul Greengrass, rated PG-13 for violence, language

They should have left him alone.

Starring: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Paddy Considine, Joan Allen, Brian Cox, Franka Potente, Karl Urban, Gabriel Mann

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"It's not a mistake. They don't make mistakes. They don't do random. There's always an objective. Always a target." - Nicky Parsons

Why watch these? The second Bourne film does not disappoint.

Plot Summary: Years after the events of The Bourne Identity (2002), Jason Bourne is living in hiding. A CIA operation goes wrong, and evidence points to Bourne, forcing him to resurface and evade both government agencies and assassins. Seeking answers about his past and who is trying to frame him, Bourne embarks on a high-stakes journey across international locations.

Dad's Preview: As Jason Bourne starts to remember more, CIA agent Pamela Landy begins to take more interest in the case. Meanwhile the Russians assign their own assassins to take out Bourne. Jason skips around the globe searching for clues and learns about an organization called Treadstone. There is always a lot going on and complexities compound, giving the audience plot-lines that require resolution in the third and final film. It is action-packed movie fare at its best!

Kennedy/Marshal, Ludium Ent.,
Motion Picture THETA; Universal Pictures

Top 20 Action Spy Films #9c Top

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), Director: Paul Greengrass, rated PG-13 for violence, language

This Summer Jason Bourne Comes Home

Starring: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Paddy Considine, Edgar Ramirez, Albert Finney, Joan Allen

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"This is Jason Bourne. You are nine hours behind the toughest target you have ever tracked. Now I want everyone to sit down, strap in, and turn on all you've got... That would mean now!" - Pamela Landy

Why watch these? This trilogy's conclusion is very satisfying.

Plot Summary: Jason Bourne, an amnesiac former CIA operative, is once again hunted by those who created him. Driven by a desire to uncover the truth about his past and the clandestine operations that shaped him, he travels across the globe, encountering new threats and old faces. Bourne races against time, dodging the relentless pursuit of the CIA and a new generation of trained assassins, in his desperate attempt to finally piece together his true identity.

Dad's Preview: I was very impressed with Matt Damon's portrayal of Jason Bourne throughout the three-film series. The rest of the cast was top notch, too. These are as good as any Bond film, and that is saying something.

Kennedy/Marshal, Ludium Entertainment;
Universal Pictures

Top 20 Action Spy Films #8 Top

Zero Dark Thirty (2012), Director: Bryan Singer, rated PG-13

For ten years one woman never stopped searching for the most wanted man in history

Starring: Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Jennifer Ehle, Mark Strong, Kyle Chandler, James Gandolfini, Harold Perrineau, Mark Duplass, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt, Callan Mulvey

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I'm going to smoke everyone involved in this op and then I'm going to kill bin Laden." - Maya

Why watch this? My one post-viewing thought was, "Any country on this planet would be a fool to mess with our military".

Plot Summary: This CIA and military film focuses on Maya, a CIA operative responsible for finding, through any means, the whereabouts of Al Qaeda's leader, Osama Bin Laden. She's a direct, determined and no bullshit lady. Finally, in 2011, her team's efforts identify a compound in Pakistan where it is very likely Bin Laden lives. A U.S. Navy SEAL team, at night, is sent in to kill or capture Bin Laden.

Dad's Preview: There is a very strong cast, but nobody can hold a candle to Chastain. She commands the screen as a leader, but we also see her vulnerable side. This is a powerful education on the capabilities of the U.S. defense machine. It's quite badass, and scary, when it needs to be.

First Light; Annapurna Pic; Columbia
Pics through Sony Releasing Pictures

Top 20 Action Spy Films #7 Top

Where Eagles Dare (1968), Director: Brian G. Hutton, Rated M (Mature)

They dare to climb a terrifying new peak in suspense... all the way up to hell!

Starring: Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Mary Ure, Patrick Wymark, Michael Hordern, Donald Houston, Peter Barkworth, Robert Beatty

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Look, Major, either you start playing it straight or you can deal me out of this mess." – Lt. Morris Schaffer

Why watch this? The '60 produced some wonderful WWII espionage films. This is one of the finest.

Plot Summary: This thrilling World War II adventure follows a team of Allied commandos led by Major John Smith. Their mission is to rescue an American Brigadier General from a seemingly impenetrable German fortress high in the Bavarian Alps. However, the rescue operation uncovers a much deeper espionage plot.

Dad's Preview: A dangerous mission is required to rescue a captured American general. The team must nab him before he can be interrogated by the Nazis. He's being held in a mountain stronghold, the Schloss Alder, high in the German Alps, accessible only by cable car. Leading the group is American Army Ranger Schaffer and British Major Smith. The scenery is breath-taking, and the plot, with several ingenious twists, makes for a very watchable WWII action flick.

Winkast Film Productions;
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Top 20 Action Spy Films #6 Top

Casino Royale (2006), Director: Martin Campbell, rated PG-13

The new Bond. Living for Love. Dying for Thrills.

Starring: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright, Giancarlo Giannini, Caterina Murino, Simon Abkarian, Isaach De Bankolé, Jesper Christensen, Ivana Millicevic, Tobias Menzies

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Do I look like I give a damn?" - James Bond, when asked if he wants his martini shaken or stirred.

Why watch this? Out with the old and in with a completely new Bond.

Plot Summary: As newly-promoted Double-0 agent James Bond on his first mission, 007 must travel to a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro to defeat Le Chiffre, a banker who finances global terrorism. Bond is partnered with treasury agent Vesper Lynd, and together they navigate the dangerous game of cards and the subsequent fallout. The mission forces Bond to confront personal stakes he has never encountered before, ultimately shaping the iconic agent we know.

Dad's Preview: A re-thinking of James Bond on film, with it's suave, gadget-filled silliness, was long overdue. This film bulldozes everything and wants you to know it. This is a gritty, action-packed rendition of 007... Bond gets bloody. He's an agile, capable assassin operating without mercy. He's also flawed by the very characteristic that makes him good at his job - his arrogance. There was initial trepidation about the compact, fair Daniel Craig, however he nails Bond better than the previous actors, with his powerful, cold, sardonic brutality. This makes him refreshingly interesting. True to form, there are femme fatales, quirky villains, and double-crosses galore, yet it manages to feel new. It was deservedly a huge success, and I must whole-heartedly agree.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Columbia Pics,
Eon Prod.; Sony Pictures Releasing

Top 20 Action Spy Films #5 Top

Dr. No (1962), Director: Terence Young, rated PG

NOW meet the most extraordinary gentleman spy in all fiction!...JAMES BOND, Agent 007!

Starring: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman, Jack Lord, Anthony Dawson, Zena Marshall, John Kitzmiller, Eunice Gayson, Bernard Lee

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"World domination. The same old dream. Our asylums are full of people who think they're Naploeon. Or God." - James Bond

Why watch this? Connery is a Man-of-Action, just like my best friend, DQ

Plot Summary: James Bond investigates the disappearance of a fellow agent in Jamaica. His investigation leads him to the mysterious Dr. No and his heavily guarded island base. Bond, alongside allies including the beautiful Honey Ryder, must uncover and thwart Dr. No's sinister plans involving the disruption of the American space program.

Dad's Preview: This is the first Bond film to star Sean Connery. It is easily the most realistic Bond because it's so lean. The super spy survives on his intelligence and deft skills, not so much on the fancy gadgetry (which grew more elaborate with each new Bond movie). Connery is cool as a cucumber, and so suave. Sir Sean is my favorite Bond, hands down.

Eon Productions; United Artists

Top 20 Action Spy Films #4 Top

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), Director: Martin Ritt, rated PG

The Book the World Could Not Lay Down is Now a Motion Picture

Starring: Richard Burton, Claire Bloom, Oskar Werner, Georege Voskovec, Rupert Davies, Cyril Cusack, Peter van Eyck, Michael Hordern

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"What the hell do you think spies are? Moral philosophers measuring everything they do against the word of God or Karl Marx? They're not! They're just a bunch of seedy, squalid bastards like me: little men, drunkards, hen-pecked husbands, civil servants playing cowboys and Indians to brighten their rotten little lives." - Alec Leamas

Why watch this? There is always something smoldering deep within Richard Burton.

Plot Summary: Disillusioned British agent Alec Leamas is tasked with posing as a defector to East Germany. His mission involves spreading false information about a high-ranking East German intelligence officer, making him appear to be a double agent. As Leamas becomes embroiled in a web of plots and counterplots, the lines between friend and foe become increasingly blurred.

Dad's Preview: This tense, intelligent spy film, set during the Cold War, hooked me immediately. It takes a lot of focus to follow the plot. You'll miss things, but perhaps that is the point. This is all about being undercover, and infiltration. Secrecy is essential to double agents. There is a realness to this film, too. It's not flashy like James Bond, which makes if feel more authentic. Burton was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar, and it was richly deserved.

Salem Films Limited; Paramount Pictures

Top 20 Action Spy Films #3 Top

North By Northwest (1959), Directors: Alfred Hitchcock, rated Approved

The Master of Suspense presents a 2000-mile chase across America!

Starring: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis, Martin Landau, Leo G. Carroll, Edward Platt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I've got a job, a secretary, a mother, two ex-wives and several bartenders that depend upon me, and I don't intend to disappoint them all by getting myself slightly killed." - Roger Thornhill

Why watch this? Cary Grant is superb as a mistaken man forced to survive a nasty situation.

Plot Summary: Manhattan advertising executive Roger Thornhill is mistakenly identified as a government agent named George Kaplan by foreign spies. He is thrust into a dangerous world of intrigue, pursued across the country by the spies and the police who believe him to be a murderer. As he tries to unravel the mystery and clear his name, he encounters a beautiful, enigmatic woman whose allegiances are unclear.

Dad's Preview: I keep coming back to this Hitchcock classic. In the ultimate case of mistaken identity, Roger Thornhill, an ordinary advertising executive, finds himself pursued by murderous henchmen, dodging a crop-dusting bi-plane attack, and scaling the heights of Mt. Rushmore! It's tense and tightly written, with superb dialogue. This film works because of Cary Grant, who, at the time, was at the top of his game in Hollywood.

Alfred Hitchcock; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Top 20 Action Spy Films #2 Top

Goldfinger (1964), Director: Guy Hamilton, rated PG

James Bond 007 Back In Action!

Starring: Sean Connery, Honor Blackman, Gert Fröbe, Shirley Eaton, Tania Mallet, Harold Sakata, Bernard Lee, Martin Benson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"This is gold, Mr. Bond. All my life I've been in love with its color, its brilliance, its divine heaviness." – Auric Goldfinger

Why watch this? Connery remains my favorite Bond, and this is my favorite Bond film.

Plot Summary: British secret agent James Bond is tasked with investigating the wealthy gold magnate Auric Goldfinger, who is suspected of smuggling gold internationally. Bond's investigation uncovers a grand plot, codenamed "Operation Grand Slam," which threatens to cripple the global economy. To stop Goldfinger's scheme, Bond must navigate treacherous encounters with lethal henchman Oddjob and the cunning Pussy Galore, all while unraveling the true nature of Goldfinger's plan targeting the United States gold reserves at Fort Knox.

Dad's Preview: Sean Connery portrayed super-spy James Bond in many classic films. Here he must outwit the genius Goldfinger. The portly villain's plot is to seize the world's gold supply and contaminate it with atomic fallout. Only Bond... James Bond... can stop him! But first, Bond must overcome the ruthless henchman, Odd Job, who wields a deadly top hat with a razor-sharp brim! It feels corny just keying that last sentence, but the film still works for me! There are even some lasers and slow-moving killing devices!

Eon Productions; United Artists

Top 20 Action Spy Films #1 Top

Ronin (1998), Director: John Frankenheimer; rated R for language, violence

Anyone is an enemy for a price.

Starring: Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone, Stellan Skarsgård, Sean Bean, Jonathan Pryce

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Of course I'm afraid! You think I'm reluctant because I'm happy?" - Sam

Why watch this? This may be Frankenheimer's best film. It's smart, well-paced and full of intrigue.

Plot Summary: A group of international mercenaries are hired to steal a mysterious briefcase from heavily armed convoys and then navigate shifting loyalties to deliver it to its rightful owners. The team, comprising ex-military and intelligence operatives from various backgrounds, must work together, despite not entirely trusting each other, to complete the mission.

Dad's Preview: This is a superb action film from the master himself, John Frankenheimer. It features a group of secretive people with special skills, assembled to steal a mysterious case "from men intent on keeping it". The fewer questions the better. De Niro and Reno join a stellar cast as the story, wrought with deception and double-crosses, unfolds. De Niro is one tough hombre. Is it all about the contents of the case, or could it be something much larger?

United Artists, FGM Entertainment;
MGM Dist. Co.