In the manner of the many action-movie stars he much admired, he whirled to face the window and fired from the hip.

"Of all these action-movie stars, Bruce has the most acting chops."

He hooks up with an action-movie star, and they make a bunch of films.

In the film, produced also by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, Mr. Hopkins, though not known as an action-movie star, plays an aging but wise Zorro; Sean Connery had been considered for the part.

We may as well face the fact that our reigning action-movie star is a guy with a scowl, a ponytail and an attitude he himself has referred to (while in character, of course) as a "superior state of mind."

Over time, he developed aspirations of becoming an action-movie star while working as an étoile in the Paris Opera House.

Also along for the sail are Thad (Brad McMurray), an action-movie star, and his girlfriend, Maggie (Marie Matiko), who are supposed to entertain the presidents with some martial-arts lessons.

The governor, a former Mr. Universe and action-movie star, did not appear in public Wednesday, though his communications director, Rob Stutzman, took questions from reporters in Sacramento.

That epic shipwreck became emblematic of a kind of wretched excess associated with Hollywood egos run amok, and Mr. Harlin's directorial swagger seemed particularly evident in his determination to make his wife an action-movie star.