Contributed by Robert P. Simon, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

Exciting, never-boring, with more than their share of weapon play, chases, heart-pumping musical scores and an elite cast of cool and buff actors, the action movie is sure to please.

What makes a good action movie a GREAT action-packed movie? Watchability. More than just shoot-em, crash-em, these top ten action packed movies have style, plot, great acting and longevity.

Check them out:

10. Avatar

The newest entry on this list, Avatar set a new standard for the integration of live and computer-animated action. The politically charged story turns off some viewers, but the stunning action, lifelike imagined world of Pandora, and wildly creative creatures and machines that populate it are the real draw of this movie.

9. Blade Runner

Blending elements of science fiction, noir, and straight action, this thinking man’s action flick is a cult classic. Influential and visually striking, the film is as intelligent as it is exciting, a precursor to the modern sci-fi action thriller.

8. Lethal Weapon

The classic buddy cop film, Lethal Weapon pairs Danny Glover’s straight veteran cop with Mel Gibson’s over-the-edge wild man in establishing a template copied for years. Though later films in the series relied too heavily on comedy and absurd action, the original entry maintained the right mix of tension, comedy, and action.

7. Gladiator

Excepting Braveheart, Gladiator is probably the finest example of the epic film made popular in the 90’s and early 2000’s. Riveting and well-acted, the film balances action and a sweeping narrative, and is anchored by Russell Crowe’s Oscar-winning performance.

6. Enter the Dragon

Though perhaps not Bruce Lee’s most exciting martial arts flick, Enter The Dragon was certainly his most successful with American audiences. Stylish and simple, the movie offers a lot of beautifully choreographed violence and not a lot of plot.

5. Hard Boiled

Few action stars can wield a gun (cinematically, of course) as convincingly as Chow Yun Fat, and Hard Boiled is his grizzly masterpiece. This Hong-Kong action flick can be difficult to follow and it’s certainly not lacking in violence, but for fans of mayhem and artful gun play few other movies even come close.

4. The Matrix

By now, we’ve all gotten accustomed to the slow-motion, space-bending action pioneered in The Matrix, but when the movie was released it was totally unique. Far superior to its nonsensical and occasionally downright stupid sequels, the original was a thrilling mash-up of familiar action and science fiction conventions.

3. The Dark Knight

More than just a great action movie, The Dark Knight is a great movie, with powerful performances and a message that overshadows other comic movies. Christian Bale is characteristically on point, but the undeniable star of the film is Heath Ledger in a haunting turn as the Joker.

2. Terminator 2

While the original Terminator was certainly no slouch, this 1991 sequel pushed the limits with its CGI action scenes, sweeping plot, and mature performances by Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The early chase scene is one of the most riveting action sequences put to film, and James Cameron’s T-1000 terminator was a monument of both imagination and computer animation.

1. Diehard

Action packed, humorous, and engrossing, the original Die Hard set the tone for one of the most successful and beloved action franchises. Bruce Willis is at once funny, sympathetic, and convincing as an unwitting hero, and the pacing for the film is perfect in developing characters without sacrificing energy.