I vote for one of the less popular ones. Raiders, Alien(s), Die Hard, these have been discussed to death. Let's look at The Last Boy Scout or Star Trek, or even Salt.

For me, it's between The Dark Knight and The Matrix. Both solid action fare that pushed the envelope while still remaining crowd-pleasing fare. Since TDK is a pre-branded franchise an we spec writers don't exactly have that luxury, my vote becomes clear:

THE MATRIX

Saw it opening night, expecting, at best, the usual tepid Keanu Reeves potboiler (Johnny Mnemonic, Chain Reaction anyone?).

By the time the credits rolled, I realized I had just seen something groundbreaking and unique and game-changing for the action genre. And THAT'S exciting and what makes all this movie jazz worthwhile, right?

My vote:

#1 The Dark Night

#2 Gladiator

I vote last boy scout

In order of preference:

Fight Club
Dark Knight
V for Vendetta
Gladiator
Curse of the Black Pearl

the dark knight because i am in pittsburgh and batman is everything here now so why fight it.

Vantage point

Fight Club for its spectacular use of the dreaded (V.O)

Alien! Omg that would be fun. Great read no matter how often read, and maybe some of the haiku would rub off on us.

Last Boy Scout another script that bears rereading, would be fun to deconstruct. Fight Club could be a whole lot of fun too, and V for Vendetta could be very interesting (post Matrix, let's see what the Wachowskis put on paper after conquering reality as we know it), and kinda complex, so good stuff to deconstruct.

Fight Club
Gladiator
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Die Hard

I can't wait!

Thus far, three seem to stand out: The Dark Knight, Fight Club and The Last Boy scout. Each worthy of reading.

TDK is the most recent and I know the draft that is available is a shooting script so very much like the movie.

The Last Boy Scout was a big spec script sale and does have that distinctive Shane Black narrative voice (as well as breaking the 4th wall in addressing script readers), but it is also nearly 20 years old. That's not a knock, just something to consider.

Fight Club has an interesting narrative construction including using narrator V.O. and a Big Twist.

Of course, assuming we keep up with this series, we can do all three. And Alien (which is a great read). And The Matrix (which is also a great read). Salt is interesting too, again a more recent script.

So keep weighing in with your votes. We'll lock something down by tomorrow.

I like TDK (although I prefer Memorex) but my vote goes to Alien.

The Matrix gets my vote.

I don't know if both drafts are up on MyPDF, but a fun side-project is comparing how drastically different the two versions of SALT are: Wimmer's draft when Tom Cruise was attached and the one Helgeland re-wrote for Angelina Jolie. Two huge writers writing the same role for two huge stars of two genders. How often has that ever happened?

@Scott--Also, have you ever read some of the background stories to how Gladiator got written/that script was made? One of the most absurd exceptions to the "A-Team too many cooks in the kitchen" problem I've ever read in my life.

@Teddy: ZING! Blank media joke, one time.

Salt
- Two versions for those who want a little extra reading.
- Not based on existing material.
- Not written by the same person who directed it.

So I put in a vote for it.

Bourne or Last Boy Scout

I'd like to place my vote for Gladiator.

I want to read all eventually; But, I'm going to say either Salt or Bourne Identity because I want to analyze the POV and sequence of actions of such movies so I can decide on an approach for the screenplay I'm currently working on.

I vote for a straight action and not something cross-genre for the first time out, so Bourne or the poster-child for the genre, Die Hard. Would love to do one of the action/sci-fi flicks or something quirky like Fight Club the second time around.

The Last Boy Scout is such a pleasure to read. It could be good as well for that one scene that we, mere scribblers, would never get away with. But Shane Black, he can. Because he's cool. I aspire to one day be allowed such liberties.

For me it would be pirated of the caribbean.

Voting for:

Bourne Identity
Die Hard
The Dark Knight

DARK KNIGHT!!!

Last Boy Scout.

Right now the voting is:

The Dark Knight - 7
Last Boy Scout - 5
Die Hard, Fight Club, Gladiator - 4

The rest with 3 or less.

I'll keep the voting open until noon PDT (U.S.) tomorrow.

Can I change my vote, Scott? I'm band-wagoning on to Gladiator.

Nate, I'll change it. What's the backstory on that script? A zillion writers no doubt? Inquiring minds want to know.

Not quite as many as the 11 or whatever it was on the A-Team fiasco--I think it was three or four that got final credits, but it's more the way in which it was written. And pitched. And given the greenlight. And then the parts of it that hadn't been written when it started shooting (....) and then the fact that it won Best Picture.

Full story on it's way to you--I don't think it can be done justice within the comment length restraints.

It's Gladiator for me. Second choice would be Bourne.

The Dark Knight.

I'll change to Gladiator as well. Anything but TDK. So tired of TDK....

I vote for SALT or TDK.

This is so exciting!

The Curse of the Black
Pearl

or Bourne

Gladiator! With backstory, thanks Nate.

I'm actually reading The Matrix right now for some Sci-Fi Action research

I vote The Last Boy Scout, i'd like it if we picked one that haven't been discussed at length.

Second choice, SALT. (This is my go to script when I want to remember how to write good action lines).

As of 10:30AM PDT, here is the vote count:

The Dark Knight -- 9

Gladiator -- 7

The Last Boy Scout -- 6

So unless we get a big push for something else in the next few hours, it looks like it's going to be The Dark Knight.

Voting still open so that could change!

If it's between these three I'll change my vote to Gladiator. That's the one with Biggus Dickus, right?

Gladiator.

(Coincidentally enough just listened to the Ridley Scott commentary this weekend. Well worth it.)

In that case, if it's still possible, I retract my vote for Fight Club and give a big thumbs up to GLADIATOR (pun intended).

Since it's between TDK and Gladiator, I'd much rather see Gladiator winning.

Fight Club