# Best Action Movie 1991-2010: Round 1 Voting (this time with poll) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177 "2011-06-20T17:36:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/21 "2011-06-21T03:05:34Z")
The leaders after 70: ```auto View Poll Results: Best Action Movie 1991-2010 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) 41 58.57% True Lies (1994) 29 41.43% The Matrix (1999) 25 35.71% The Dark Knight (2008) 25 35.71% The Bourne Identity (2002) 23 32.86% Iron Man (2008) 22 31.43% The Fifth Element (1997) 20 28.57% Casino Royale (2006) 20 28.57% Independence Day (1996) 19 27.14% Kill Bill Volume 1 (2003) 19 27.14% Speed (1994) 16 22.86% The Rock (1996) 13 18.57% Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) 13 18.57% Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) 13 18.57% Ronin (1998) 12 17.14% Inception (2010) 12 17.14% Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995) 11 15.71% Heat (1995) 11 15.71% The Transporter (2002) 11 15.71% Braveheart (1995) 10 14.29% The Mummy (1999) 10 14.29% Snatch (2000) 10 14.29% Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 70 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/22 "2011-06-21T03:22:11Z")
Quoth **El\_Kabong** : > [@](#): > > True, and while we’re at it, not a single shot of love for Timecop? Damn, people. Including, apparently, yourself. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/23 "2011-06-21T03:24:54Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Quoth **El\_Kabong** :Including, apparently, yourself. Well, damn, me. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/24 "2011-06-21T04:43:30Z")
\*Heat \*isn’t getting nearly enough votes. Come on, guys. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/25 "2011-06-21T04:46:28Z")
I don’t consider _Heat_ to be an “action movie.” I think it is a better movie than any of the films listed in this thread, but an action movie it is not. There are vast sequences in _Heat_ consisting of nothing but dialog or planning, and the movie as a whole is just too cerebral and heavy to be considered an action film. There are action scenes _in it_ - some of the best of all time - but the movie is really a character drama. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/26 "2011-06-21T04:48:03Z")
All in need of help, after 75 Voters: ```auto View Poll Results: Best Action Movie 1991-2010 Con-Air (1997) 5 6.67% Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) 5 6.67% Supercop (1992) 4 5.33% Drunken Master II (1994) 4 5.33% Hero (2002) 4 5.33% Red (2010) 4 5.33% Hard Boiled (1992) 3 4.00% Cliffhanger (1993) 3 4.00% Broken Arrow (1996) 3 4.00% The Boondock Saints (1999) 3 4.00% Crank (2006) 3 4.00% Universal Soldier (1992) 2 2.67% Face/Off (1997) 2 2.67% Planet Terror (2007) 2 2.67% Rambo (2008) 2 2.67% The Expendables (2010) 2 2.67% Executive Decision (1996) 1 1.33% Wanted (2008) 1 1.33% Ninja Assassin (2009) 1 1.33% Timecop (1994) 0 0% Equilibrium (2002) 0 0% Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 75 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/27 "2011-06-21T06:09:36Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > O.K., seriously, people who haven’t seen _Shoot 'em Up_ need to see it and watch it 100 times. I \*loved \*Shoot 'em Up, I even bought the DVD, but I wouldn’t call it a “best” action movie by any stretch. It’s a spoof. I love spoofs, don’t get me wrong, but I just don’t think derivative works should win this sort of polling. But maybe that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/28 "2011-06-21T06:47:17Z")
From all of those films I’ve seen only one (Cliffhanger), so that got my vote. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/29 "2011-06-21T06:57:00Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I don’t consider _Heat_ to be an “action movie.” I think it is a better movie than any of the films listed in this thread, but an action movie it is not. There are vast sequences in _Heat_ consisting of nothing but dialog or planning, and the movie as a whole is just too cerebral and heavy to be considered an action film. There are action scenes _in it_ - some of the best of all time - but the movie is really a character drama. It’s not like a film is a zero-sum affair, where an increase in drama and character means a decrease in action. Heat is 100% an action movie \*and \*100% a character-driven drama. Remember, the poll is for best action movie, not purest. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/30 "2011-06-21T13:13:24Z")
Here’s the whole batch, nothing left out, after 87 Voters: ```auto View Poll Results: Best Action Movie 1991-2010 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) 52 59.77% The Matrix (1999) 35 40.23% True Lies (1994) 34 39.08% The Dark Knight (2008) 31 35.63% Iron Man (2008) 28 32.18% The Bourne Identity (2002) 26 29.89% Casino Royale (2006) 26 29.89% The Fifth Element (1997) 24 27.59% Independence Day (1996) 23 26.44% Kill Bill Volume 1 (2003) 23 26.44% Speed (1994) 21 24.14% Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)18 20.69% Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) 17 19.54% Inception (2010) 16 18.39% The Rock (1996) 15 17.24% Braveheart (1995) 14 16.09% Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995) 14 16.09% Heat (1995) 14 16.09% Ronin (1998) 13 14.94% The Mummy (1999) 12 13.79% Snatch (2000) 12 13.79% The Transporter (2002) 12 13.79% Spider-Man 2 (2004) 12 13.79% 300 (2007) 12 13.79% The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) 10 11.49% Starship Troopers (1997) 10 11.49% Kick-Ass (2010) 10 11.49% Machete (2010) 9 10.34% Rush Hour (1998) 8 9.20% X2: X-Men United (2003) 8 9.20% Kung Fu Hustle (2004) 8 9.20% Under Siege (1992) 7 8.05% Bad Boys (1995) 7 8.05% Con-Air (1997) 7 8.05% Taken (2008) 7 8.05% Cliffhanger (1993) 6 6.90% Demolition Man (1993) 6 6.90% Drunken Master II (1994) 6 6.90% Mortal Kombat (1995) 6 6.90% Air Force One (1997) 6 6.90% Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) 6 6.90% Hero (2002) 6 6.90% Shoot 'Em Up (2007) 6 6.90% Supercop (1992) 5 5.75% Red (2010) 5 5.75% The Boondock Saints (1999) 4 4.60% Hard Boiled (1992) 3 3.45% Broken Arrow (1996) 3 3.45% Face/Off (1997) 3 3.45% Equilibrium (2002) 3 3.45% Crank (2006) 3 3.45% Rambo (2008) 3 3.45% Universal Soldier (1992) 2 2.30% Planet Terror (2007) 2 2.30% Ninja Assassin (2009) 2 2.30% The Expendables (2010) 2 2.30% Executive Decision (1996) 1 1.15% Wanted (2008) 1 1.15% Timecop (1994) 0 0% Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 87 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/31 "2011-06-21T14:11:23Z")
I was rooting for The Long Kiss Goodnight to make it to the second round, but in any case it’s good to see it punching above its weight. It’s certainly not a good movie, but it’s a great action flick. BTW, #15 on Zeldar’s list above is The Rock. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/32 "2011-06-21T14:50:38Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > True, and while we’re at it, not a single shot of love for _Timecop_? Damn, people. I used as my criterion: “Would I get sucked into watching most of this movie if I were flipping through the channels?” I liked Timecop, but I doubt it would suck me in like that. Same with a lot of other movies on that list, even movies that I think are otherwise great. That’s what makes a movie like The Matrix or Kill Bill a classic (or Predator or Commando or Die Hard, from days of yore), in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/33 "2011-06-21T15:01:03Z")
If the voting in the next round(s) is anything like the big multi-phased polls I’ve been involved with, the way that _Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)_ has run away from the pack means it will _most likely_ continue to do so in later round(s). That’s a good reason to go ahead and declare it #1 and remove it from later polls. That would free up votes for the #2-#whatever to be a little more liberal. Think Omar in those _The Wire_ things and _The Simpsons_ in the TV Shows one. I can supply other examples if the point seems debatable. Arguments? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/34 "2011-06-21T15:09:35Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > From all of those films I’ve seen only one (Cliffhanger), so that got my vote. And I realized that I must like action movies. I’ve seen them all. And I guess I have to admit I liked something about each of them (even the beleaguered Timecop). Sometimes it’s the great scenery-chewing bad guys (c’mon, I love Jane Austen movies, but are you ever going to get a Hans Gruber in one of them?) Hmm, maybe we need a Merchant-Ivory film with Samuel L. Jackson facing off against Alan Rickman in “Remains of The Motherfukkin’ Day With A Vengeance”. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/35 "2011-06-21T15:11:48Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Hmm, maybe we need a Merchant-Ivory film with Samuel L. Jackson facing off against Alan Rickman in “Remains of The Motherfukkin’ Day With A Vengeance”. I’d go to a theater to see that and I don’t go to the theater these days! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/36 "2011-06-21T15:22:43Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > If the voting in the next round(s) is anything like the big multi-phased polls I’ve been involved with, the way that _Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)_ has run away from the pack means it will _most likely_ continue to do so in later round(s). That’s a good reason to go ahead and declare it #1 and remove it from later polls. > [@](#): > > Arguments? Hypothetically, it might only be everyone’s second- or third-favorite choice. So if thirty sci-fi action fans would use their sole vote on **The Matrix** , and thirty Schwarzenegger fans would use their sole vote on **True Lies** , and all of 'em then went on to cast a vote for **T2** solely because you’re allowing multiple votes… ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/37 "2011-06-21T15:30:58Z")
Alright, looks like my favorite, T2, is going to be a heavy favorite! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/38 "2011-06-21T15:57:16Z")
I long ago came to the conclusion that I’m the only person on the planet who thought that T2 was an overrated piece of dreck that relied too heavily on cheesy special effects, and that T3 is the movie that T2 should have been. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/39 "2011-06-21T16:31:30Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Hypothetically, it might only be everyone’s second- or third-favorite choice. So if thirty sci-fi action fans would use their sole vote on **The Matrix** , and thirty Schwarzenegger fans would use their sole vote on **True Lies** , and all of 'em then went on to cast a vote for **T2** solely because you’re allowing multiple votes… Personally, I voted for it, but it’s not my absolute favorite, just one of my top 14. I won’t be voting for it again next round. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177/40 "2011-06-21T17:27:07Z")
Here’s a snapshot of the movies I voted for taken after 105 Voters and compared with their ranking that they had back at 87 Voters (Post #30): ```auto View Poll Results: Best Action Movie 1991-2010 True Lies (1994) 38 36.19% (3) Kill Bill Volume 1 (2003) 32 30.48% (10) The Bourne Identity (2002) 29 27.62% (6) Casino Royale (2006) 27 25.71% (7) Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) 20 19.05% (13) The Rock (1996) 18 17.14% (15) Heat (1995) 16 15.24% (18) Ronin (1998) 14 13.33% (19) The Transporter (2002) 13 12.38% (22) Machete (2010) 9 8.57% Red (2010) 7 6.67% Shoot 'Em Up (2007) 6 5.71% Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 105 (#) = Post #30 (87 Voters) ``` **Kill Bill Volume 1 (2003) 32 30.48% (10)** is the only one of mine to make a big change in position in that 18 Voters span. I would vote for _Heat_ or _Ronin_ if either makes it to the next round, but of the ones most likely to do so, I will be voting for _The Bourne Identity_. I didn’t (and won’t) vote for T2 although I thoroughly enjoyed it several times. I prefer action involving people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-action-movie-1991-2010-round-1-voting-this-time-with-poll/586177.md?page=3)