Here are the rules:
A list of 10 iconic movie characters has been made. That list will be assigned to another blogger who can then change it by removing one character (describing why they think it should not be on the list) and replace it with another one (also with motivation) and hand over the baton to another blogger. Once assigned that blogger will have to put his/her post up within a week. If this is not the case the blogger who assigned it has to reassign it to another blogger. After you have posted your update leave the link in the comments here and I will make sure it gets added to the overview post.
Rocky Balboa
James Bond
E.T.
Indiana Jones
John McClane
The Terminator
The Tramp
Darth Vader
Mary Poppins
I'm removing:
“Dirty” Harry Callahan
I think 10 iconic characters list is pretty much impossible to put together precisely because it's only 10. Someone less iconic for me will be more iconic for the next person. All of those characters are iconic in one way or another and what makes them so is how they are recognizable to so many movie fans. As famous as Dirty Harry is, Clint Eastwood has played so many memorable characters in so many memorable movies, while this one may be more iconic, there are other roles of his that are pretty damn close to. However...
I'm adding:
Ellen Ripley
...for Sigourney Weaver it's all about Ripley. Ripley was on that list before and I'm not adding anyone but her. She is the ultimate badass movie heroine and she has set the bar for other action/horror ladies so high no other actress and character has managed to cross it and it's been decades. Alien franchise was as much about the creature as it was about her. Even if part 3 and 4 were so-so they were still worth seeing for her character.I'm not gonna sit here and pretend I have some sort of vast film knowledge, but I think most people know the creature from the Alien, not even film buffs, but ordinary people. But I'm willing to bet 90% of those people also know who Ripley is.
I'll never forgive James Cameron for taking one of the best horror movies in cinematic history and using it as the basis for silly action movie in the sequel (yeah, I just called motherfucking Aliens silly, deal with that) but for Weaver to actually pull off a better performance in this movie than in original masterpiece is a true accomplishment.
They keep adding films to the franchise. But I don't think they will ever succeed in topping the original - sure CGI is better, the technology is better, but you can never have another Ellen Ripley. Hell, even when you clone her, things get kinda weird.
I'm passing the baton to someone with actual film knowledge - Alex Withrow of And so it Begins.
Nooooooo. Words exist that speak ill of Aliens? The devil is among us!
ReplyDeleteAll dickery aside, I like the pick of Ripley. Though, sadly, it's at the cost of dirty Harold. Anyway, Weaver definitely laid the foundation for estrogen-fueled badassery. I mean, remember that scene when she's in that giant robot/fork lift thing? HOLY SHIT, right?
Oh, wait. That's from that silly action movie...nevermind.
It was entertaining, but in the world where so few good horror movies exist and there are so many action movies, taking the plot of a horror and turning it into action should be considered a crime. It's an easy way out. Suspense is hard to create and it's just lazy to replace 1 creature with hundreds that look cool when morons shoot at them.
DeleteYou're right.
DeleteFuck.
I often am :) but anyone can prefer whatever movie they like :)
DeleteNone of the sequels top the original Alien for me. It's a proper classic. Great choice :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I often watch all Alien movies but the first one is just unbeatable.
DeleteLOVE that you brought Ripley back so quickly. She's an icon, all right. No question about that. Thanks for passing the baton over to me!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! You actually know stuff about movies, I just watch them from time to time :)
DeleteLol YES Ellen Ripley's back! Excellent choice, Sati!
ReplyDeleteThank you and thanks for passing this to me!
DeleteRIPLEY!!!!!! THE ULTIMATE FEMALE BAD-ASS... GET AWAY FROM HER YOU BITCH!!!!
ReplyDeleteShe is the best! :)
DeleteThink you opened the floodgates on the debate of Alien versus Aliens. There is a big group of people who find Aliens the better movie, but I don't even have to think about it. Alien is the better film. Nice to see you put Ripley back in!
ReplyDeleteI don't intend to participate in pointless debates, for me making of good horror will always be more impressive than making of flawed action flick.
DeleteGlad you are in the Alien is better group!
Nice to see Ripley reinstated. Sad that Dirty Harry went, but I guess someone had to.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately yes, there is just too few spots on the list.
DeleteYou righted my wrong! I'm just glad that you didn't take out McClain in the process, although that would have been the most hilarious case of karma.
ReplyDeleteNah, I think he belongs on the list, sad to see him go in following round!
DeleteYAY!! I remember seeing your comment on Fisti's blog that you would reinstate her and I'm so glad you did! Ripley is da bomb, and though I barely remember most of Alien or Aliens, I always remember Sigourney's performance.
DeleteI'm impressed you saw Alien :) That movie is to this day one of the scariest movies I've seen.
DeleteI think I was much braver when I was younger. I mean, I actually saw The Exorcist and American Psycho (the unrated version), ahah. There's also this sci-fi horror LEVIATHAN that scared the living sh*t out of me, absolutely terrifying I don't even know how I managed to live thru it.
DeleteHmm...I'd think that seeing as many movies as you do, some of them featuring accidental gore one would be more immune to things like this. But people are just different. I was never scared of this kind of stuff. I cannot however watch animated flicks - not because of it being scary, but because I think I'm just too annoyed by singing and overwhelming cuteness to enjoy it.
DeleteOh, and I'm 100% with you on Alien/Aliens. Scott's original film is a fucking MASTERPIECE!!!
ReplyDeleteIt sure is! I don't think anyone will ever top in terms of being the perfect sci-fi/horror hybrid.
DeleteThis is so funny. I just did a post on my favorite space marines, most of whom were in 'Aliens.' I love that movie, but to each his own. On what we agree on, Ripley should absolutely be on this list. She is iconic and probably one of the smartest/toughest female protagonist I've seen onscreen. I never cared for Dirty Harry. Eastwood essentially played the same character (in different movies) for about 20 years.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point about Eastwood! Ripley is just so unique on so many levels.
DeletePerfect choice Sati. Ripley's one of the great, iconic female film characters in that she eschews typical female character stereotypes in the horror movie. I'm not in agreement regarding Aliens, which is another fantastic movie, but you're right, it is a different kind of film from the first. I love them both.
ReplyDeleteThanks! They are both entertaining but I consider horror genre to be much more complex and difficult than action.
Delete...particularly in the 1980s and 1990s, I felt horror and action (and to a certain extent sci-fi) mixed rather well with some fine movies produced - ie. Predator. However, I thought Cameron did it best with Aliens (a film that has inspired numerous imitations since).
DeleteRipley is a great addition to the list. She's an iconic character. Notice I didn't say female character. That's not her only attribute! She's the ultimate heroine. SO many characters are based off of her. That makes her iconic in itself!
ReplyDeleteIt's not her only attribute but it is one of them. Her being female adds to her importance.
DeleteGreat pick. Ripley is iconic indeed, and you're right -- Eastwood has had even more memorable roles than Dirty Harry.
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteReally true list, James Bond is the famous in all and my favorite also....
ReplyDeleteBond definitely needs to stay in this race :)
DeleteGlad that you put Ripley back in. She's such a brilliant character, and Weaver nails her performance in all of the movies (except for maybe Alien: Resurrection).
ReplyDeleteI agree Alien is better, but I LOVE both of the first two films. :)
I still liked her in Resurrection, no matter how ridiculous the movie itself was :)
Delete