'Mission: Impossible - Fallout' and 'The Equalizer 2': Action at its finest

The action genre is in good hands.

Denzel Washington and Tom Cruise, both of whom probably should be in the twilight of their action careers, are showing no signs of slowing down. The latest installments of the 'Mission: Impossible' and 'The Equalizer' franchises prove that.

'Mission: Impossible - Fallout' is, in my opinion, the best movie in the 22-year-old series. Cruise still runs around and throws punches like it's 1996. Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell is up to his old tricks again, disarming bombs and whatever else. It just seems like this franchise ages like fine wine; it keeps getting better.

The special effects and action sequences in this film are as good as they've ever been. I won't give anything away, but I will say that the trailer doesn't do this movie justice (and the trailer was damn good).

You've got Ethan Hunt climbing up a rope to get on a helicopter in mid-air. Henry Cavill's August Walker is a brutish hitman that nobody wants to cross paths with. Of course, car chases ensue. It's a whirlwind of unbelievable action sequences, and it's amazing to see on the big screen.

In the trailer, you see a helicopter rolling quickly towards Ethan Hunt. Seeing it actually happen in the movie is absolutely thrilling. The chase between Hunt's crew and their adversaries feels like you're in one of the cars. The bathroom fight that you see in the preview is so good, you can literally feel the punches being thrown while you're sitting there watching it.

In 'Fallout', Ethan Hunt and his IMF team have to recover plutonium that slipped through their fingers after Hunt had to make a tough choice. Now, they'll have to get their plutonium back by facing off against old enemies (Solomon Lane) while also teaming up with some familiar faces (Ilsa Faust).

'Fallout' was released on Friday, and it's closing in on $200 million worldwide. Director Christopher McQuarrie has managed to bring the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise back to prominence with 'Rogue Nation' and now 'Fallout', which is probably the darkest installment in the series. Cruise is still a great Ethan Hunt, and I hope that this series continues on for a while longer.

'The Equalizer 2' has not made the money that 'Fallout' has, but it's just as good. Washington returns as Robert McCall, who has taken up a job as a Lyft driver. However, that doesn't stop McCall from carrying out his duties as the Equalizer, and he punishes those who prey on the innocent.

The first Equalizer movie proved that Denzel is one of the best action stars that you didn't know you wanted. Known for movies like 'Malcolm X', 'He Got Game', 'Remember the Titans', and 'American Gangster', Denzel managed to add yet another skill to his repertoire: action star chops.

When I first saw the original Equalizer movie, it never crossed my mind that there could be a sequel in the works. When the ads for 'The Equalizer 2' surfaced, I didn't know what to think. All I knew was that I would be seeing it as soon as possible. That's how good the first one was.

In 'The Equalizer 2', Robert McCall hunts down the men responsible for a close friend's death. At the same time, McCall mentors a young man who lives in his neighborhood, attempting to steer him away from the gang life and helping him realize his artistic talents. At first, you get a look at McCall's new life as a Lyft driver, but then the action heats up quick, and it's on.

The effects and action in this installment of the relatively young franchise ('The Equalizer' was released in 2014) proves to be just as good as its predecessor's. As for the movie overall, it's just as good as the first one, if not better. You have fun the whole time you're watching it, and the action is worth the money.

I have a lot of friends who are unfamiliar with 'The Equalizer' franchise but want to get in on it. I tell them that they're missing out. I tell them that they need to see the first one to get their feet wet, then buckle-up for the second one. It's a thrill until the very end (and what an ending it is).

'Mission: Impossible - Fallout' and 'The Equalizer 2' prove that the action movie genre is far from over. In fact, it's as thrilling as ever.

If you're looking for some good flicks before the end of the summer, don't look any further than these two.

Image credits: Xscape Theatres, Times of India

YouTube channels: Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment