10 Must-See Action Films from 2005

      Grab your weapon and your ride, and let's venture back to 2005 for these 10 must-see action films...

      The early 2000s were a peculiar era for cinema. It felt like there was a scarcity of remarkable blockbusters and a slew of mediocre sequels. Perhaps not so different from the present day, but we also witnessed a variety of stylistic trends that were popular at the time and have eventually faded into obscurity. The market was flooded with The Matrix imitations, wire-fu, Bourne stylings, and the action films inspired by Tony Scott.

      The action scene of 2005 occupied an area between the decline of traditional action heroes from the previous two decades and the brief resurgence of stars like Stallone. It was also a time before the MCU made its grand entrance, yet comic book adaptations from that year would certainly make their mark as one director transformed the genre with an approach that is still echoed today.

      So, from the silver screen to the small screen, here are 10 Essential Action Movies from 2005.

      A Bittersweet Life

      To the Western audiences under 30: believe it or not, Korean cinema existed before "Parasite." In fact, prior to that film opening Western audiences' eyes and rekindling interest in their cinema, a 2003 film made waves. Park Chan-wook's "Oldboy" significantly contributed to a spike in fascination with the extreme, strange, action-infused, or horror-laden treasures from Korea. Among those groundbreaking directors was Kim Jee-woon, who had already gained some international recognition with "A Tale of Two Sisters."

      In 2005, "A Bittersweet Life" marked his entry into the action genre with a brutally violent, stylish, and electrifying revenge story. Lee Byung-hun, now known for his role in "Squid Game," also made a significant impact in the US and Europe, showcasing his captivating stoicism. The film features jaw-dropping action sequences that will leave viewers in awe.

      Serenity

      It might be surprising, but there was a time when Joss Whedon was celebrated as the next big thing. He was behind "Buffy" and the cult classic "Firefly," which was unfortunately cut short. That beloved show was briefly revived with a standalone/sequel, "Serenity." To be honest, I never watched "Firefly," but "Serenity" was fantastic (and stands well on its own). Released after three underwhelming "Star Wars" prequels, it offered a sense of fun and entertainment that many "Star Wars" fans felt was missing. It felt like the "Star Wars" my generation craved.

      The characters are engaging and entertaining from the start, led by Nathan Fillion's brilliant portrayal of Mal Reynolds. The cast includes Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, Adam Baldwin, and a menacing Chiwetel Ejiofor. The standout is Summer Glau, who delivers an impressive performance and still leaves me wondering why she didn't achieve greater fame. Sadly, "Serenity" became one of those cult favorites that many mainstream viewers overlooked. It's a shame, as it's exceedingly entertaining and was made on a fraction of the budget compared to George Lucas' gloomy prequels.

      Batman Begins

      We had experienced a dark and quirkily gothic vision of Batman through Tim Burton's unique style and the infamous "Batnips" from Joel Schumacher. Christopher Nolan, who had established himself with gripping mystery thrillers, made the leap to comic book films, raising some eyebrows.

      He adopted a gritty and intense take on the Batman mythos, echoing some of the darker iterations in comics. Remarkably, he spent nearly an hour detailing Bruce Wayne’s transformation into the caped crusader. This extensive backstory was both a blessing and a curse, as many later comic book adaptations took far too long to get to the action. For Nolan’s initial venture into blockbuster filmmaking, it worked superbly. Christian Bale portrayed a compelling Bruce Wayne, and arguably, the film's first half exceeds the latter part, which reluctantly incorporated the theatrics we witnessed in Raimi's "Spider-Man" and Singer's "X-Men." Nolan’s stylistic choices have influenced numerous films since, including Matt Reeves’ recent "The Batman," which couldn't entirely escape the shadow of Nolan’s gritty approach.

      The Mechanik

      During this period of straight-to-DVD action films, quality was often hit-or-miss. Budgets had significantly dropped over the decade, as DVD sales were lucrative, but not to the same extent as the peak VHS era. Spending 10-15 million on a film and reaping substantial profits was no longer feasible; you were now looking at around 5 million. The less said about the ultra-low budgets in the streaming age, the better.

      Nonetheless, in 2005, Dolph Lundgren made an impressive return in his second directorial effort. "The