Blood, guts, guns and cleavage seem to be standard in classic dude flicks. It's all about the action.

In chick flicks, relationships are cental. Not necessarily romantic relationships but any human relationships. See Pride and Prejudice (any version really) for great examples of that.

(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at [email protected].)

Sorry, I forgot to add car chases.

(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at [email protected].)

The most compelling "guy movie" to me has to be "Saving Private Ryan."

It has its share of blood and guts but rooted in history. It has a large amount of male bonding because, in war, its a necessity of staying alive.

Finally, in the end, it poses the question most men ask themselves "Was I a good man?"

It is a classic "guy movie" and one that strikes at the core of being a man.

On the lighter side, there's no way you can mention a "guy movie" without bringing up the "Rocky" series with my favorite being Rocky IV!

Rose McGowan with a machine gun leg.

That plot point, in the upcoming film "Grindhouse," ensures its status as one of the year's true "guy movie."

The movie opens this Friday, and is a double-feature homage to the type of low-budget movies that might have played in drive-ins during the 1970s.

One movie is directed by Robert Rodrigues - he of the "Desparado" movies and the other is directed by Quentin Tarantino - he of the "Kill Bill" movies.

The movies apparently involve a lot of car crashes, zombies, etc. -- and a starring role for Kurt Russell.

People either remember Russell in his earlier career as "The Computer wore Tennis shoes" or later, in movies like "Escape from New York."

Some might just remember him as that guy they see all the time with Goldie Hawn.

His portrayal of Snake Plissken in the two Escape movies assure his "guy movie" actor status.

He gets "Honorary Minnesotan" status for his role as Herb Brooks in "Miracle."

However, I'm partial to his movie "Tombstone" -- which also included some of Val Kilmer's best acting, as Doc Holliday.

Does anyone else have a favorite Kurt Russell movie?

"Roadhouse" comes to mind as the ultimate bad guy movie -- even though it's difficult to turn off any time it's on television.

Any other guy movies that are among the worst? How about examples of terrible chick flicks.

Looking for a film that combines that quirky English village comedy and a “Guy Movie” with explosions on the scale of “Bad Boys II”?

Did you know such a movie exists?

Look no further than “Hot Fuzz.”

Some have called the movie a parody of action films, but it’s less a parody than throwing together two types of movie genres and seeing what happens.

Even the movie executives don’t seem to know what audiences will watch this movie. When I saw it at AMC Theatres in Eden Prairie, the types of movies previewed were all over the place – from an eccentric English comedy to Larry the Cable Guy’s upcoming “Delta Farce.”

“Hot Fuzz” is a funny movie, made by has the crew from “Shaun of the Dead.” And, like that movie, stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

I also saw "Transformers." It wasn't as good as critics led me to believe, but it was a good popcorn movie, and definitely falls into the "Guy Movie" category.

"I Am Legend" with Will Smith is one of the latest "Guy Movies" I've been too. Or at least, it fits the "Guy Movie" bill -- guy goes safari hunting in a post-apocalyptic New York. Guy goes golfing in post-apocalyptic New York. Guy drives muscle car down post-apocalyptic New York streets. Guy bonds with faithful dog in post-apocalyptic New York. Guy battles zombies in post-apocalyptic New York.

Did I mention post-apocalyptic New York? There's a good New York Times article about how movies are always seem to be imagining a New York that's been destroyed in some hideous fashion -- from "King Kong" to "Planet of the Apes" to "Escape from New York" (all classic Guy Movies).

On the flip side, or "chick flick" side, "Enchanted" is out right now, starring the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre's Amy Adams.

This movie lovingly depicts New York, with a 15-minute song and dance sequence in Central Park -- where Will Smith grows corn for survival in "I Am Legend."

The two movies would make a great compromise double bill for a gal and guy.

"Omega Man," starring Charlton Heston -- one of Guy Movies founding fathers -- was also based on the novel "I Am Legend."

I mention this, because I saw the movie at camp during my formative years, and it probably prepared me for a life of Guy Movie fandom.

At the Chaska Rex, I saw a whole row of boys who must have been just old enough for the PG-13 "I Am Legend." I didn't know if I should sit behind them, or whether they'd be talking the whole time. But their eyes were glued to the screen and they were quiet as church mice through the entire movie.

I can imagine that they're also on the way to a lifetime of Guy Movie fandom.

I'll take some Jedi Knights and the force versus The Empire.

Well, the "Death Race" review by Nathan Lee in the New York Times pretty much seals the deal on whether I'll watch the movie. Read the review here: http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/movies/22race.html?ref=movies

Among Lee's phrases that caught my eye: "a supercharged junkyard apocalypse powered by an unabashed relish for brutal comeuppance and a flair for delirious vehicular mayhem ... increasingly frantic, vividly murderous ... a tour de force of no-nonsense neo-grindhouse ... legitimately greasy, authentically nasty ... good old-fashioned sense of laying waste to everything in sight ... No fancy talk here, just solid, monosyllabic obscenities ... souped-up monster cars flipping end over end in a napalm blaze and crashing in a crunch of flaming metal ouch."

Yep. Sounds like a guy movie.

I also caught "Tropic Thunder" the other day at the Rex. It was a good farce.

I may have laughed the most at Tom Cruise rendition of "Les Grossman," the only fictional movie producer who could go head to head with Harvey Weingard, the similarly hot-headed movie producer in HBO's Entourage.

It's nice to see Cruise in a movie where he doesn't take himself too seriously.

You can bet that the date Nov. 14 has been circled on my calendar for some time now. I believe I am correct in stating that Daniel Craig's James Bond is the only one anyone can ever take seriously anymore.

I've tried to watch the old Bond movies--Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan and their Hugh Hefner-ish Playboy man about town schtick is pretty silly, especially since Hef's brand of sexiness is kind of sweet and harmless now, old man humor, y'know. And, isn't he like in his 90s now? His bathrobe no longer makes him look like a cosmopolitan swinger but an old man who is too feeble to put on day clothes without assistance -- But hey, that's just me.

At least Sean Connery's Bond still exudes some sense of danger and virile masculinity. Moore and Brosnan always seemed a little too pretty, like they spent too much time blow drying their hair. And they were all about the gadgets cause they didn't want to muss their hair.

I'm telling you, Daniel Craig is the ultimate. He's not afraid of a brawl and using his fists. The new movie better be good or I will be very disappointed!

I'd be remiss if I didn't note the opening of "Transporter 3" this holiday weekend, starring Jason Stathom.

Stathom, as noted previously is a clear sign of a "Guy Movie" in much the same way as Vin Diesel and Arnold Schwarzenegger used to define a guy movie. (That would be pre-"The Pacifier" for Diesel and pre-"Twins"/"Kindergarten Cop" for Schwarzenegger.)