shoehorn's brooding grounds

i'm pretty big on action movies so live free or die hard was a bit of a must-see. especially because i'm a huge fan of the first two. not so much the third though, it was a little weak, even with samuel l. jackson costarring. but enough about the movie. what's interesting to me is the resurgence of 80s and early 90s action stars and action franchises when most people had already expected a changing of the guard, so to speak. a few years back, it was generally expected that guys like vin diesel and the rock would take over roles that would otherwise be played by a younger stallone, schwarzenegger or willis. yet, today, these old-timers are making comebacks with a vengeance! rocky balboa was a quality movie and it was rewarded at the box office. live free or die hard had all the elements of the quintessential action movie and boy did bruce deliver. it'd come as a shock to me if the upcoming rambo movie isn't as successful.

so what makes these movies successful other than the special effects and action sequences? i mean, those two aspects are important but scenes that are just as impressive can be found in a lot of movies that are less successful. perhaps it's the enormous nostalgic fanbase? folks that have grown up watching and loving these action franchises who are just die-hard fans? i think that's part of it. i think another advantage that the old guys have is something i like to call rooting-for-the-underdog syndrome that afflicts the fans. i could be completely off base but i think a lot of fans wish to see stallone and willis overcome the odds and go out on a positive light. of course, all of these things would mean nothing without a decent script and storyline. maybe action movies of today have strayed too far from the original formula that made the careers of stallone, willis and schwarzenegger that a return to is exactly what the doctor ordered.