Con Air
The last half-hour is almost wall-to-wall explosions.
Die Hard
Needs no introduction.
Die Hard 2
Underrated. Almost as good as its predecessor. Far superior to the 2 sequels after it.
El Mariachi
Robert Rodriguez made this Spanish-language action movie for only $7000. It's about a young mariachi who comes into town and is mistaken for a murderous gangster who carries his guns in a guitar case. The budgets got higher, the production values got slicker, and Antonio Banderas replaced Carlos Gallardo in the lead role in the 2 English-language sequels--
Desperado &
Once Upon a Time in Mexico--but the concept was the strongest in the first film.
Hot Fuzz
More comedy than action but excels at both. I'm glad to see it's getting so many good mentions here.
A Knight's Tale
Maybe more of a sports movie than an action movie but is filled with plenty of exciting jousting scenes. A lot of critics hated it because of its blatantly anachronistic soundtrack. (The movie opens with Queen's "We Will Rock You.") But it's just fun!
Mission Impossible III
All of the
Mission Impossible movies are fun but J.J. Abrams brings a surprising amount of energy, emotion, & cast chemistry to the 3rd entry.
Reindeer Games
Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron, & Gary Sinise in an endless string of double & triple crosses involving an ex-con pretending to be a different ex-con being forced to give inside information for a casino robbery at a casino that he's never been to before. You got all that?
Rush Hour 2
Jackie Chan & Chris Tucker have very strong chemistry. Plus, this was Chan back when he was still in his prime (something which passed between here &
Rush Hour 3).
Shanghai Knights
SEE above. Just replace Chris Tucker with Owen Wilson.
Speed
Almost as exciting as
Die Hard.