Seconding Pam Grier. Just saw “Jackie Brown” last night. Dayumn.
Salt certainly qualifies Ms. Jolie in the action move genre, along with Wanted, Mr. & Mrs. Smith & Lara Croft. Kung Fu Panda, not so much.
Seconded. Nobody (certainly no American) really comes close.
Well, the Resident Evil stuff kind of fits the bill. It has the Umbrella Corporation and by the third sequel it’s rather “dystopian futurey”.
I guess if you want to get all technical. But the movies are more Alice versus zombies than Alice versus Umbrella.
Don’t forget Dana Barrett, aka The Gatekeeper. And of course, who could forget the third Alien movie? No, not that David Lynch schlock, but Alienses
Agreed. We’re really just arguing about second place, here. And don’t forget that she was in Avatar, too (though her role didn’t get as much action).
On Angelina Jolie, she also had an action role in Sky Captain. I’d probably place her at #2 among American action actresses, but she’s far behind Weaver. And I specify “American” because I’m not too familiar with Yeoh’s portfolio.
Sigourney Weaver is second place; here are a few of Pam Grier’s movies
Hit Man 1972
Black Mama, White Mama 1973
Coffy 1973
Scream Blacula Scream 1973
Foxy brown 1974
Sheba baby 1975
Friday Foster 1975
Let’s not forget her first starring role in that masterpiece of fine cinema, Cyborg 2 ;).
You don’t support the claim you made in the first clause, and I don’t see why the second clause is relevant. Are you suggesting Pam Grier as a candidate for 53rd place? And who are you claiming is the top?
I was sure Jenna Jamieson would be in here somewhere.
Sigourney Weaver, with a close runner up of Linda “watch me rack this shotgun one-handed” Hamilton, thank you very much.
I have seen Black Mama, White Mama; Coffy; Scream Blacula Scream; Foxy brown & Friday Foster. You know what, she is no Ripley in any of them and the movies themselves are pretty bad.
Doesn’t Gone in 60 Seconds count as action?
I’ll through in Kate Beckinsale (two Underworld movies and Van Helsing) for consideration even though I don’t think she’s the best (though maybe the hottest).
Freudian slip?
Michelle Yeoh was what I was thinking before I opened the thread.
Also adding in my nominations for Sigourney Weaver, Linda Hamilton, and yes, Geena Davis - she did a very respectable job in Long Kiss Goodnight.
Not sure if “Skinwalkers” was actiony enough to put her over the 3 threshold - but I want to give honorable mention to Rhona Mitra. Hell, “Doomsday” alone should count as 3!
Came in here to vote Pam Grier. I knew I would be beaten to it. She’s a bad mama!
Uma Thurman deserves an honorable mention. The Kill Bill movies were memorable, and she also did Batman and Robin* and The Avengers.
*Also very memorable - but not in a good way