On Saturday, the question was posed to me: “Who are your favorite male movie characters?” (Mary has answered the question on her blog too – [Patrick Swayze -yikes!!!]) Interestingly enough, I had been considering this last week, because I found myself sporadically watching and re-watching a few of my favorite movies. I was trying to figure out exactly what about these movies made me want to watch them over and over.
I can almost always sit down and watch epic stories like Gladiator, Braveheart, Lord of the Rings, etc. And I have to admit, because it will eventually come out, that I also love campier hero movies like National Treasure, The Mummy, and Pirates of the Caribbean - they are light-hearted, but still exude the same themes of loyalty, courage and a romantic sort of swash-buckling. (And I know it’s not real and that real people don’t behave that way and rarely get into situations where they would even have to. But maybe that is part of the appeal.)
I like these movies because they are epic. I like them because they have heroes I can cheer for and love and respect. Joseph Campbell said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” And I tend to think that is true. To me, this self-less dedication is the essence of what makes a hero, because committing to something like that involves a high amount of risk and the ability to risk is a quality I greatly admire.
Honestly, I think the reason I am so quickly swept up in those epic stories is because I love the heroes – the ones who are obviously flawed, but can overcome those flaws when they must. My heart melts when mere men (and occasionally elves) triumph over sinister foes, including, and most especially, their own fear and trepidation. It’s not the outward showy qualities I like most; no, it’s the inward resolve you see in the eyes of a man who knows he is strong, but keeps his strength hidden just under the surface until it is needed.
So, all things considered, my pick for the top four movie characters to fall in love with are:
1. Orlando Bloom in Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings, Kingdom of Heaven – it doesn’t really matter, I think he’s fabulous!
2. Russell Crowe in Gladiator
3. Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones
4. Oded Fehr in The Mummy
***Special mention for Colin Firth in the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice, it may not be an entirely accurate portrayal of Mr. Darcy, but he is very intense and the transformation is not overdone.
3 comments:
We studied Pride and Prejudice in English Literature class in our senior year and watched the BBC series in our last few weeks before graduation. I’ll have you know, my high school class named me Mr. Darcy. Yeah baby. (Even though I still don’t get the similarities, huh?)
were you like a totally different person then? Because I don't think I ever would have made that comparison...EVER!
Firstly, you're too nice - Mr. Darcy was only nice to a few people, those whom he considered to be equals. Secondly, no one ever really knew his true feelings, unless he confessed them. Elizabeth had no idea that he was secretly in love with her!! And, in all sincerity, I think Darcy was far from being a hopeless, chick-flick watching romantic...he'd never sought love and was completely thrown off his game when it came around for real.
Mary said she hated Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy - especially the 'jumping in the lake for a swim' bit at Pemberley, because it was so unlike the Darcy in the book. I will admit that his portrayal isn't exactly what I had pictured when I read Pride and Prejudice, but I thought the tortured brooding and long, soul-piercing gazes definitely made up for it. **BLUSH**
this is a really long comment...
jenn, you give yourself away :) indeed, in my humble opinion, colin firth's role as mr.darcy left much to be desired.
but i am admittedly more scarred by the selection of a much prettier elizabeth. certainly, jane was the prettiest of them all! i'm certain england could find a more comely, homely lass amongst them. the whole movie was shot when elizabeth's beauty upstaged jane's.
i think part of the point of the whole book is that mr.darcy was handsome and would only accept as a wife someone as equally stiff and handsome as himself. but here comes along this girl who in looks may be less, but is certainly quite more in character.
oh, i could go off on the lack of character in america these days, but i'll end my comment here.
with one last mention of shock that allan was nicknamed mr.darcy in high school: !!
Post a Comment