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The dynamic bonds between fathers and sons in the movies, especially in action pictures, are usually very heartfelt and complex. Many films involve fathers who live conflicting careers of crime and violence, causing them to have strained relationships with their children. There are also sons who are stressed about living up to the reputation of their dads and exceeding their own individual expectations.
There are also sons and dads who love each other very much, but are broken up due to personal losses, depression, betrayal, lies, and/or secrets that make certain relationships become untrustworthy. Here are the best action films about fathers and sons.
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
The final Star Wars film from the original trilogy wasn’t considered as memorable as its predecessors (A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back), but over time, it has been recognized as a great, emotional conclusion to a classic saga. While Han Solo and Leia return and fight alongside the Ewoks (which were negatively received by many spectators) to battle the stormtroopers of the Galactic Empire, the centerpiece of the film revolves around Luke Skywalker confronting Darth Vader (who he learns is his father from the previous film) and the evil Emperor (Darth Sidious).
The final battle between Luke and his father is intense since Vader tries to force his son to join the dark side, but Luke (who has become a more experienced Jedi Knight thanks to the teachings of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda) does not give in and even believes that there is still good in his father. Luke manages to defeat Vader in one of the most dramatic lightsaber duels in the franchise, but when Skywalker is being electrified by Sidious, Vader kills his Sith master (proving to Luke that in the end he chooses the love of his son over the Emperor).
A History of Violence
In the first of several collaborations between director David Cronenberg and actor Viggo Mortensen, A History of Violence is about a man named Tom Stall, a regular guy who owns a diner and has a wife and two kids. Tom gets a lot of attention after shooting down two criminals who attempt to harass and/or kill customers at his diner. While Tom is hailed as a hometown hero, mobsters show up one day at his diner and claim that he is actually Joey Cusack (a gangster from Philadelphia). Joey’s world is turned upside down as the mobsters harass him and his family in order to take him back to his brother in Philly.
Joey appears to just be a simple man, but he is a tough fighter and an expert marksman whenever he needs to defend himself and protect others. Despite lying about his past and true identity, he is a loving husband to his wife and a caring father to his children, including his son Jack. Joey’s toughness inspires Jack to stand up to his bullies in school (even though that gets him in trouble). Jack also saves his dad by shooting a mobster who nearly kills Joey, showing that Jack cares about his father and uses violence as a defensive act (even though it’s gruesome).
Road to Perdition
Skyfall director Sam Mendes’ second feature stars Tom Hanks as Michael Sullivan, a mob enforcer who works for an Irish mob boss named John Rooney (a memorable final live-action performance from Paul Newman). Rooney loves Michael like a son, which disappoints Rooney’s biological son, the snobbish and self-centered Connor (Daniel Craig pre-James Bond). Connor ends up killing Michael’s wife and youngest child, forcing Mike to go on the run from the mob with his eldest son, Michael Sullivan Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin in his acting debut who currently plays the Man of Steel in Superman & Lois).
The film essentially becomes a road trip in which Michael and his son steal money from Al Capone and other mob associates during the Great Depression in order for the Chicago Outfit to give up Connor, so Michael can kill him and seek retribution for the murder of his family. The relationship between Mike and his son also grows after years of disconnection, especially when Mike teaches his boy to be a getaway driver, or when they have meaningful conversations about family, money, school, etc. The father-son bond between Michael and Rooney is also impactful because, even though they are forced to become enemies thanks to Connor’s actions, they still have a level of love and respect for each other.
The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola’s classic crime drama (considered by many as one of the greatest films of all time) contains a quintessential father-son relationship between Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) and Michael Corleone (Al Pacino). Don Vito is a well-respected crime boss who loves his family and treats everyone (including his enemies) with class and firmness. On the other hand, Michael was a soldier who initially had no interest in dealing with his father’s business, but when his dad is nearly killed after getting shot several times by rival mob families, Mike takes over his dad’s role with stern ruthlessness.
Michael’s transformation from soldier to crime boss is partly due to the love he has for his father and his family, but he also becomes controlling over everyone and everything, breaking away from his quiet, nice guy persona. One major difference between Vito and Mike is that Vito wanted peace and no acts of violence and vengeance towards his rivals, while Mike ends up giving orders to have his enemies killed (especially those responsible for murdering his brother Sonny). Vito never wanted this life of crime for Michael, but despite his cold-blooded emergence, Mike became the son willing to carry the mantle and place the Corleone family on top.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Raiders of the Lost Ark has always been ranked as the best Indiana Jones film, but the third feature in the franchise may arguably be better due to plenty of entertaining elements. There’s great action and chase sequences (Indy battling several Nazis), an engaging plot (the quest for the Holy Grail), and charismatic supporting players (Indy’s friends Sallah and Marcus Brody, along with femme fatale Dr. Elsa Schneider and the sneaky villain Walter Donovan). However, the absorbing partnership between Indy (Harrison Ford) and his father Henry Jones Sr. (Sean Connery) is the driving force of the movie.
Indy has had some great partners in his films (Marion Ravenwood, Willie Scott, Short Round), but the bond he shares with his dad is special because of their natural chemistry and some funny, argumentative banters. Henry and Indy always respected each other as archeologists, but they didn’t have a loving bond as father and son when Indy was growing up. However, on their journey for the Holy Grail, Henry learns how to engage in combat like his son, while Indy appreciates his dad’s quirky sense of humor. There are also a few emotional life-and-death situations that make Indy and Henry care more about their relationship than the journey itself.
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