In this thread on Burt Reynolds, a hijack emerged about the best action movies of the last two decades. I put forward The Rock as a contender and a few posters thought I was crazy. So I thought we should try to make it official somehow.
Nominate any action movies from the last 20 years that you think qualify as “the greatest” (however you define great) and I’ll put together a poll for the top 20-30 vote getters. We’ll also want to figure out a baseline for what an “action” movie is.
Here’s a bunch of nominees from me:
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
The Fugitive (1993)***
True Lies (1994)
Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995)
The Rock (1996)
Independence Day (1996)
The Fifth Element (1997)
Starship Troopers (1997)
Face/Off (1997)
Air Force One (1997)
The Matrix (1999)
Kill Bill Volume 1 (2003)
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Serenity (2005)***
The Dark Knight (2008)
Inception (2010)
Kick-Ass (2010)
The Expendables (2010)
Machete (2010)
*** I’m not sure these two qualify as “action” movies, but I suppose that’s what this thread will also sort out
Of those mentioned so far, my choices are marked with “—”
— Heat (1995)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Gladiator (2000)
Black Hawk Down (2001)
Hero (2002)
— Pulp Fiction (1994)
Rush Hour (1998)
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Casino Royale (2006)
Drunken Master II (1994)
Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Braveheart (1995)
The Last of the Mohicans
The Transporter
— The Professional (Leon)
— The Bourne Identity
True Lies
— Ronin (1998)
Speed (1994)
Kill Bill Vol. 1 left me slightly nauseated, but Kill Bill Vol. 2 was incredibly satisfying and IMO a far superior movie. So I definitely want that one on the list. I third or whatever the nomination for Heat.
