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The Friday Question: Action heroes

Started by Mike Olbinski · 10 months ago

Today’s Friday question comes from the Ultimate Bad Ass competition we’ve started this week. In the coming weeks we’re going to get closer and closer to a final champion in the action hero genre.
But even though we will eventually get a winner, it may not b ... Continue reading »

27 comments

  • Steven

    1 year ago

    I am going to go with Martin Riggs from Lethal Weapon for the same reason - Lethal Weapon was my first true love as far as action movies go.

    Plus, he got shot like ten times at the end of Lethal Weapon 2 and survived! :-)

    Steven's last blog post..Don’t Agitate The Dots
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  • Robert

    1 year ago

    Jackie Chan is The One True Action Hero. To me, the concept of "there's a dude who can actually do this!" is important. That said, that movie magic sure punches up some less talented (though that's not a dig) people and makes them look good, plus the writing and comments they make is a big plus.
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  • Rob O.

    1 year ago

    I guess I'm just old school, but "Dirty" Harry Calahan still kicks ass! I always liked that his was a believable character - one who has flaws, weaknesses, gets tired & beat down, but ultimately does the job we want him to do.
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  • Rob O.

    1 year ago

    John McClane was a good one too... Just a lucky (and smart) sumbeesh who manages to keep kicking long enough to outdo the baddies.

    But then when you venture into the Martin Riggs territory, it's just totally beyond belief. It may be fun to watch, but it's essentially a cartoon.

    I prefer the heroes who're kinda grounded in some semblance of reality.
    reply
  • Robert

    1 year ago

    I'll give you John McClane through Die Hard 2 (hmm...maybe 3? haven't seen it in a while) but Die Hard 4 was pretty weak and presumed he could do anything and it wouldn't even be that hard, even though he still got as dirty and bloody as the other movies.
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  • Mike

    1 year ago

    John McClane walked over broken glass and then pulled it out with his fingers WHILE TALKING ON THE PHONE!
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  • Steven

    1 year ago

    Dirty Harry is not grounded in reality in the least. Shoot first and ask questions later? Racist comments? Inability to follow direct orders? He is a great character, but he wouldn't have kept his job long enough to make a sequel :-)

    Steven's last blog post..Don’t Agitate The Dots
    reply
  • Robert

    1 year ago

    Glass? Who gives a shit about glass? -- one of my favorite movie lines. Willis' delivery tends to be excellent, no doubt there. :)
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  • Kory

    1 year ago

    I am going with Bourne. His character is simply awesome and consistent throughout the three movies.
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  • Steven

    1 year ago

    Agreed. The Bourne films are incredible.

    Steven's last blog post..Don’t Agitate The Dots
    reply
  • Jason

    1 year ago

    No, the actual best action HERO ever is Indiana Jones.
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  • Cap'n Schwartz

    1 year ago

    Well I was tending to agree with Robert.. chan does it all. Jet Li is another one who is amazing (nonwire stuff)... and then I saw Jasons, Indy Jones... I mean him having to recover the arc, tracking down a truck and offing all the soldiers, lol... he's da man...although Bourne is no slouch either if he could only figure out how to make the camera stop moving... I'll go with Indy as well...
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  • jina

    1 year ago

    I vote Bourne, because I like my action hero with some serious smarts!
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  • Ana

    1 year ago

    What about Bruce Lee? Where is he in this whole action hero contest? I never saw any of his movies but, my goodness man, they had to slow down the film to catch his super fast moves!
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  • Jason

    1 year ago

    Bourne can't even remember who he is! It's Indy all the way!
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  • Jason

    1 year ago

    @Ana - I like my heroes homegrown. If they gotta dub you, I don't love you.
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  • Ana

    1 year ago

    @ Jason: Que?
    reply
  • Kory

    1 year ago

    @ Jason - Ok, so he has some memory issues but that does not stop him from kicking some serious ass along the way.
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  • Kory

    1 year ago

    Speaking of dubbing...Kung Fu Theater. I used to love watching that show as a kid.
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  • Mike

    1 year ago

    Never heard of it :)
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  • Jason

    1 year ago

    @Ana - lol

    @Kory - I don't dispute the fact that Bourne can kick butt. He deserves to be in the bad ass contest. But we're talking about action HEROES here. Having seen the Bourne films, I wouldn't classify him as a hero...he's done some bad things. Now I'm not certain that Indy is exactly a HERO either but at the end of the day he does the right thing for the right reason...good enough for me.
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  • Robert

    1 year ago

    You need to distinguish between the Bourne books and movies, though. In the books, those who he did kill were bad guys or during the war (Vietnam, they were written in the early 80s or so) and he also had a reputation of NOT killing people when he didn't have to, and all the spectacular killings for hire he just took credit for, but didn't do, all designed to draw out Carlos the terrorist. The movies were almost completely different.

    Indy of course, stole precious archaeological artifacts. ;)
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  • Mike

    1 year ago

    Robert..."They belong in a museum!"
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  • Robert

    1 year ago

    Yes, certainly, as part of cultural exchanges with other museums, not via theft or spoils of war. :)
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  • Jason

    1 year ago

    Well, I haven't read the Bourne books so you probably have a valid point. Still, I think I'd rather have Indy as my hero.
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  • Raven Spinner

    1 year ago

    My hero would have to be Indiana Jones for #1.

    Raven Spinner's last blog post..Health Kick: Two Months Update
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  • Kory

    1 year ago

    @ Jason - Agree with your take on Indy about doing the "right thing for the right reason". However, couldn't you make the same argument for Bourne? He is fighting to regain his identity and independence.

    The debate seems to be focusing more on "Action" and less on "Hero". If you look for balance between the two, Mike may have a point with arguing for McClaine.
    reply

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