8 Classic Action Movies ...

1. Rambo

Rambo: First Blood is one of the great classic action movies. Sylvester Stallone is often unfairly labelled as a limited, monosyllabic actor. However, he's turned in some excellent performances and has also written and directed movies. First Blood is, like many action films, better than its sequels.

2. Die Hard

The latest movie in the Die Hard franchise did not receive good reviews. So it might be a good time to reacquaint yourself with the first film, or watch it for the first time. Lots of wisecracks from Bruce Willis, and younger readers will perhaps recognise a certain Professor Snape as the villain …

3. Dirty Harry

Everybody knows the famous line "Go ahead punk, make my day!" But have you seen the movie it comes from? If not, then it's time you checked out this Clint classic. Every action film needs guns and car chases, and Dirty Harry will give you plenty of both. One of the great 'maverick cop' movies.

4. Mad Max

Before he turned into Mad Mel, Mel Gibson starred in a number of action films (more later). This classic is adored by many, who regard the film as sacrosanct. It remains to be seen how the remake/reboot/reimagining with Tom Hardy stands up to the original Mad Max movie.

5. Raiders of the Lost Ark

Another recent sequel that didn't go down too well was the latest Indiana Jones movie. The original film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, is remembered much more fondly. It's a great adventure/action movie, with the hero battling dastardly Nazis in the search for the Ark of the Covenant.

6. The Taking of Pelham 123

The 2009 movie about the hijack of a subway train, starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta, was not the first with this name. The original movie may star actors you've never heard of, but they were big names in the 70s. Instead of watching the inferior remake, your time would be much better spent with the genuinely suspenseful original …

7. Lethal Weapon

Another Mel Gibson action classic, Lethal Weapon hasn't been remade … yet. Perhaps it's only a matter of time, since the movie industry loves to remake movies that aren't even that old. In the meantime, enjoy this 80s cop buddy movie and marvel at Mel's mullet haircut.

8. Terminator

Although the effects in the first Terminator film now looks rather dated, it was quite an astonishing movie in its day. Like Sigourney Weaver in Alien, Linda Hamilton showed that women could also be the stars of action movies. Arnold Schwarzeneggar's acting abilities, such as they are, were perfectly suited to playing a cyborg.

Action movies are never going to clean up at the Oscars, but then that isn't their purpose. They're meant to be entertainment, not great art. Most of these movies may look rather dated, but they're still good fun to watch. Who do you think would be cast in today's version of Lethal Weapon, and is there another action movie you'd like to see brought up to date?