Book excerpt: From the string of stylish and iconic James Bond adventures to the fast-paced, dark works of Tsui Hark, John Woo, Robert Rodriguez, and Christopher Nolan, 101 Action Movies You Must See Before You Die examines the rise of the action film in all its forms. It explores what makes an audience endure the thrills and spills of these tense roller-coaster rides on the big screen: Is it an appetite for violence, or a desire to see the bad guys get the justice they deserve? Action movies made actors such as Bruce Willis into household names for their death defying onscreen escapades. From Sean Connery's Bond to Sylvester Stallone's Rambo, these larger-than-life heroes have kept us on the edge of our cinema seats. Arnie told us he'd be back, and brought new life to the phrase 'hasta la vista.' Harrison Ford made archeologists cool, while Angelina Jolie brought a video game to life. And the battles are ongoing - our appetite for derring-do remains unabated as we watch the Dark Knight battle with evil villains straight out of our nightmares. With insight from critics, film historians and academics, 101 Action Movies You Must See Before You Die brings knowledge, insight, and passion to a world where tough men sip martinis, wear tights and capes, and sometimes even turn green - but can still get the girl, save the world, and crush cyborgs, psychopaths, jokers, and aliens along the way. So hold on to your seats for the crazily impossible mission ahead.