The next action star?

[Grant Matrix]

If you're looking at it from a pure action star standpoint, then Jason Statham is the archetype of the action movie star of the 00's. He is today what Arnold, Dolph and Stallone were in the 80's ... all action all the time.

There is no denying that Will Smith and Rock are both incedible in action movies, but Jason Statham is really the one stand out who's career is marked by the shoot em up action genre. Will Smith and Rock are really more diverse than just being action stars. Arnold never got beyond being an action star. His few attmepts to break away and try comedy were very luke warm.

Other than Statham, there is really no one else out there dedicating their career to one particular genre. That aside I think that some of the other great current action stars are Clive Owen and Mark Wahlberg. It is a shame that Vin Diesel made some really stupid career choices (passsing up XXX sequal and making the Riddick sequal) and veered off the path of pure action star. I really had my hopes on Vin becoming the next Arnold, but it never materialized. Hopefully the new Fast and Furious will energize his action career.