I like the original Terminator better than T2. Although I watch it as a comedy, Commando is a favorite action movie. The first Predator is just plain great, all the way around.
The first Lethal Weapon for good cheesey action. Gary Busey!
The first Die Hard, of course.
The first and third Indiana Jones movies. The second one, wtf? The Fugitive wasn't bad.
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is one of my favorite movies, period. With subtitles, of course. I hate the dubbed-in English version. Hero and House Of Flying Daggers weren't too shabby either.
Dirty Harry and tons of Eastwood westerns.
Heat, except I hate the end.
Tombstone
I love how Bill Paxton is still Chet from Weird Science in Aliens.
Full Metal Jacket=action movie, Catesta? I'm with you on 48 Hours, Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte are both great in that.
Aliens is an action movie, Alien is more of a horror/drama, imo.