Michael Bay - greatest action director in the world today?

[drdr47]

What do you think, and why?

[OmarB]

Things like greatest, best, worst are all subjective when it comes to the arts. Some like Ed Hopper, some like Jackson Pollack. It's what you like that matters, these measuring one artist against another only leads to arguments. Considering you can't measure the arts in terms of other things like say the fastest runner, or the strongest weightlifter.

[drdr47]

Things like greatest, best, worst are all subjective when it comes to the arts. Some like Ed Hopper, some like Jackson Pollack. It's what you like that matters, these measuring one artist against another only leads to arguments. Considering you can't measure the arts in terms of other things like say the fastest runner, or the strongest weightlifter.

I know that, *BUT* what i asked was what do *YOU* think *PERSONALLY*.

[OmarB]

I'm a member here so I like his work.

[Simon]

um, of course he's the greatest action director in the world today. who else is there?
at least big action.
there might me smaller gritty action directors. but when it comes to big hollywood action, there just even isn't any other who actually knows good action. so... it's easy, he's the greatest, because there isn't anyone else.
i used to love action stuff but then got bored with it actually.. because action today is just so... well, boring (see terminator 4, any rattner, crank and so on to name the last few). bay's action is the only action which, well, just isn't boring.
(tony scott does action very well, but still not on that large scale)

[kevski]

He is hands downs the best BIG action director. He manages to keep it exciting throughout. I must echo Simon's comment that action films today are boring. Only Jon Favreau seems to have the potential

Thinking about it, even when Bay did smaller action films he was still one of the best. Look at Bad Boys and The Rock. Bad Boys is my favourite action film. Proof Michael Bay can make something incredibly exciting without having to fill every frame with mayhem... man I wish he do another $20 million action without CGI.

[HarryCanyon]

Well duh, not even Roland Emmerich could compare.

[razgriz21]

I like other action directors (John McTiernan, John Woo, Antoine Fuqua, Ringo Lam, Sylvester Stallone);
however, if you want large scale, in your face, leave you gasping for air, 200+mph type action, Michael Bay is the man to pull it off.

[Trigger Mike]

Come December 18th this year, I think a lot of people will be reminded just who the action king really is.

Bay is a hell of a shooter.

[darthrage]

i agree

only Michael Bay can stage action sequences like the ones we have seen and he is the only one who continues to outdo himself each time.

[DarkObiWan]

Yes, I think also that Michael Bay is currently the best action director. Action, car-stunts and shootouts with 360 degree shots are his best works.
The 360 shootout in bad Boys 2 is really cool.

[analytical cinema]

I think if you remove "action" ...he would be amazing. He has an eye that even Spielberg recognizes as... amazing!

[halofan1]

No, not even close. I agree with Mike that we're forgetting a fellow named James Cameron who's given some of the biggest and best films ever. Bay can be a great entertainer, don't get me wrong, but he's not the number one guy for action.

[Trigger Mike]

He might be the best action shooter that's ever lived.

[halofan1]

He might be the best action shooter that's ever lived.

He's up there as far as "SHOOTER" goes.

[nelson]

No, not even close. I agree with Mike that we're forgetting a fellow named James Cameron who's given some of the biggest and best films ever. Bay can be a great entertainer, don't get me wrong, but he's not the number one guy for action.

Considering Cameron hasn't directed any action movie since 1994, I would say he is.

[halofan1]

Considering Cameron hasn't directed any action movie since 1994, I would say he is.

Over Mann and Woo? Not likely.

[nelson]

Over Mann and Woo? Not likely.

No one is hiring these guys to direct action movie nowadays. Mann is more drama centric and Woo hasn't made a mainstream action movie since...

[OmarB]

Actually, as much as I love Bay, I prefer Mann.

[halofan1]

No one is hiring these guys to direct action movie nowadays. Mann is more drama centric and Woo hasn't made a mainstream action movie since...

...Paycheck. Could have sworn both have films coming out that have action in them. But still, they are considered action directors.

[nelson]

...Paycheck. Could have sworn both have films coming out that have action in them. But still, they are considered action directors.

There is a difference between an action movie and a drama with action elements. While I like Mann's movies, drama occupies more than 75% of the screen time. I doubt Last of the Mohicans Ali, and The Insider are considered action films. Miami Vice maybe.

I think the French are making a comeback in regards to action cinema. Luc Besson and company are pretty good.

[halofan1]

There is a difference between an action movie and a drama with action elements. While I like Mann's movies, drama occupies more than 75% of the screen time. I doubt Last of the Mohicans Ali, and The Insider are considered action films. Miami Vice maybe.

I think the French are making a comeback in regards to action cinema. Luc Besson and company are pretty good.

Taken was pretty damn awesome.

[mcclure]

BAY IS THE BEST HANDS DOWN!! NO COMPARISON! ACTION, ACTION, ACTION ALL THE WAY!! WHAT HE HAS DINE FOR THE TRANSFORMERS FRANCHISE IS UNBELIEVABLE THE MAN IS AWESOME!!!!!!!![AND THE BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR GOES TO "TRANSFORMERS" ARGHHHH AND THE CROWD GOES WILD WHOOOOOOOOO!!]

[halofan1]

Another one I'm throwing out there, Kathryn Bigelow.