Thats been the tricky question that weve had to unconvincingly answer before putting this list of titles together.

Its not been an easy list to compile.

There were two impressive action movies about a plane hi-jack in the 90s.

Plus Kurt Russell simply doesnt get enough love for being the everyman action star.

The Mask Of Zorro

Do you know how to use that thing?Yes.

The pointy end goes into the other man.

Furthermore, theres a rarely-better Catherine Zeta-Jones by his side.

They then have to fight Don Rafael Montero (played by Stuart Wilson) in a bid for vengeance.

What makesThe Mask Of Zorrotick, though, is a combination of factors.

Banderas is excellent in the title role for starters, exerting effortless charm and plenty of wit.

And humour is in abundance too.

Mission: Impossible

Everybody has pressure points, Barnes.

You find something thats personally important to him and you… squeeze.

Brian De Palmas last great movie?

Id certainly argue so.

Itd be remiss not to mention David Schneider popping up right at the end, too.

But the thing we most take away fromMission: Impossibleare wonderfully set-up action moments.

Instead, youre just left to enjoy one of the very best action thrillers of the 90s.

The simplicity of the plot is wise here.

Even if I do wish there was a bit more Jeff Daniels in it…

8.

Goldeneye

Standard operating procedure.

Bond, they were crowing, was dead.

Its big screen action entertainment of some excellence.

The Rock

Losers always whine about their best.

Winners go home and f**k the prom queen.

But heck,The Rockis a blast.

Its the casting that wins out too.

Tony Todd, Michael Biehn, the marvellous John Spencer and David Morse are all on duty.

Ed Harris, surprisingly, is the least convincing, but its still one heck of a cast.

The film is over-long, over-indulgent and has all sorts of problems.

But its also a lumbering hoot, and proper brain-free action entertainment.

Michael Bay hasnt done better since, and arguably never will again…

6.

The Last Boy Scout

Why did Mr Milo cross the road?

I dont know, why?

Because his dick was stuck in a chicken.

Bruce Wills did lots of action films in the 90s.

ButThe Last Boy Scout?

Its an absolute, hard-edged action treat.

Were gettingDie Hardmovies with PG-13 ratings.

What happened, Bruce?

Kids, smoking, a desire to raid the fridge.

Plus, it gave the world the three sea shells.

Even if weve no idea how theyre supposed to work…

4.

The Matrix

Throughout human history, we have been dependent on machines to survive.

Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony.

And the film sold a lot of discs.

BecauseThe Matrixwas an absolute game-changer for action cinema.

It must have been one of the best movie pitch meetings ever.

We hope he took in storyboards.

Shame the sequels were so shoddy, really…

2.

In an insane world, it was the sanest choice.

And heck, he needs it.

In Robert Patricks T-1000, Cameron arguably created the most formidable foe of the action cinema decade.

His relentlessness is never in doubt, and Patrick employs his sinister stare to optimum effect.

Con Air

Why couldnt you put the bunny back in the box?

And it never, never fails to disappoint.

Seriously, whats not to like?

Nicolas Cage is a hippy, hard-assed nutter as Cameron Poe, the oh-so-innocent man hitching a ride home.

Just check out the names.

Behind the camera, Director Simon West has never done better since this, his feature debut.

Con Airit is, then.

An over-indulgent, entertaining hoot, but not quite enough to make the list.

Plus its a long, long way short of John Woo at his very best.

Cliffhanger: On rewatchingCliffhanger, I cant help feeling that the action sequences themselves are surprisingly ordinary.

Its the setting that makes them impressive.

Stallones biceps in it are scary, mind…