5 Of The Very Best Action Movie Soundtracks

1.The A-Team (1983)

As far as action soundtracks go, this could be the bet that ever came out of a television show.  The A-Team came in 1983 and lasted until 1987.

This soundtrack avoided the 1980s temptation to shoe horn shitty synthetic beats in there that were all the rage and went full old school.  I also have to say that it wasn’t just the opening theme that was great for The A-Team.  It seemed that they really scored every episode individually and with distinct care.  There was no cheaping out.

2.Mission: Impossible (1996)

Way back in the 1990s, almost 20 years ago now actually, they got things right when they rebooted Mission: Impossible.  It seems that back then reboots were a more considered option.

Mission: Impossible (1996)

But what they really got right was the soundtrack.  That theme alone helped the trailers that got this movie off the ground no end.  Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen really rejigged that score in the best way possible.

A fifth movie is coming in Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation and I’d really like it if they put some retro hints of this old classic back in there, more than they have in the recent movies.

3.Indiana Jones

There is just no way you could create a list like this and omit the theme of Indiana Jones.  It’s classy yet catchy and exciting.  It always means good fun and action are ahead.

But a lot of that is down to Steven Spielberg’s masterful direction.  Would we really have remembered this so much if it was covering a shaking camera CGI mess for some Michael Bay movie?  Stuntmen, clear action, old school sets… it really does take you back.

The only good thing about that horrendous fourth movie was the nostalgic kick of the theme.

4.GoldenEye (1995)

GoldenEye in my estimation had the best soundtrack for any Bond movie.  It was a slick modern take on the franchise and came in when things needed a reboot, sort of, License to Kill was a good predecessor.

GoldenEye (1995)

There is just something cool about GoldenEye’s soundtrack.  We may not be able to put our finger on that percussive and badass allure, but it’s there alright.  However I do think the side was let down by Tina Turner’s pedestrian and forgettable into song.  License to Kill was by far the best entrance song for a Bond movie.

We need another GoldenEye style reboot.  Bond, in an effort to shake off its cheesy invisible car cartoonish era, has become too dull.

5.Collateral (2004)

Any fighters out there looking for inspiration for some entrance music?  It won’t often get cooler than the above.

As far as Michael Mann movies go, Collateral is a weaker entry, but its soundtrack is a cut above.  The compilation alone is probably the best that has accompanied a Michael Mann film, an awesome selection by him.

A great look for Tom Cruise in that movie as well, it’s a pity he didn’t return to it and bad guy/anti-hero roles more often in general.

(Source: manlymovie)