that's right, the sort of stuff he loves are the more OTT action films, Rambo Part 2, Die Hard, Mad Max II, Escape from LA, Big Trouble in Little China, Terminator 1,2 & 3, Aliens, Raiders, Temple of Doom, Hellboy, X-Men, Dog Soldiers, Starship Troopers, American Ninja, BlooRABport etc
i don't particularly think any of these films are gratuitious, just completely cartoon like in their tone. i have been berated badly on this thread today, and people accuse me of trolling, but i'm not, i just find it amusing how he shuns the kid's stuff, but is well into the films.
i too grew up on a diet of films like this, and like you, i used to read (my dad's) James Herbert, Shaun Hutson, Guy N Smith horror novels as a kid, i loved comics, the more action orientated and violent the better (i still have some cool Conan comics from the 80's that i got in Spain)
i wouldn't subject him to Saw, Hostel, or even the latest Rambo, because as others said, he wouldn't understand the narrative, and the violence is gratuitous for violence sake. he tenRAB to like films that have a leading male hero in that he then "becomes" for the rest of the day in his imagination.
he isn't nervous, he isn't disturbed, he doesn't have nightmares, and he doesn't get upset. the only film he has ever said to me "dad, i don't like it!" was in fact Harry Potter, he hates Voldemort!
as for the sexy stuff, well that's probably a bit of awkwardness on my part more than his, i remember loving all the explosions and violence and scary stuff as a kid, but my face would go a bit red when the shagging came on if i was watching it with my mum and dad

i don't see what the fuss is about to be honest, and am surprised at some of the replies, although i respect their opinions