Post by The Mad Plumber on Apr 21, 2012 14:23:43 GMT -5
Having a few hours to kill before I can get the tools I need to do my work today, I thought I might start a post where users can chime in on the most notable characters in film history.
Luke - Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Paul Newman plays what is perhaps one of my absolute favorite characters in cinema. Luke undermines the authority of the prisoner Dragline who comes to respect him and takes him under his wing. The fellow chain gang inmates idolize Luke for his determination and for the way he shakes up the atmosphere that the prison wardens want to cultivate. His will makes him a target in particular for Strother Martin's Captain who wants to break him as he had broken the others. With little to amuse me during my long shifts at work, I find myself thinking about "the natural born world shaker" and it makes me feel a little better.
Mick - Rocky (1976)
Burgess Meredith plays the fiery owner of the gym that Rocky trains at. He is initially seemingly dismissive of Rocky, lambasting him for his lackluster boxing skills and his occupation as muscle for a loan shark. When Rocky's big break comes in, Mick reveals that he once was a proud boxer that couldn't take the abuse that Rocky subjects himself to and wants to ensure that Rocky doesn't make the same mistakes he did. This leads to a great scene where Rocky unloads on Mick for seeming to not understand his own problems. Meredith performs Mickey with great energy and his gravely yelling is very amusing.
The Cowardly Lion - The Wizard of Oz (1939)
This character steals the show as the last of Dorothy's companions. The Lion initially appears to bully and intimidate our heroes, that is until Dorothy outs him as a quivering, cowardly pussy cat. Lion is the great comic relief, and I can't help but snicker when I think of lines like, "How long can you stay fresh in that can?" Despite Lion's handicap, he will face the dangers ahead if only to save Dorothy.
Han Solo - The Star Wars Trilogy (1977 - 1983)
Amongst the main characters of this favorite film series of mine is the smuggler-turned-rebel Han Solo. While his ship may look like a disheveled aged mess on the outside, the Millennium Falcon is his baby and her hyperdrive is nothing to laugh at ... that is when it works. Solo shoots first and asks questions later, although that might depend on what version of the films you're watching. He'll fly into a volatile asteroid field to shake of enemy fighters and might fly straight into the command tower of a capital ship just to fool the radar.
Raphael - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
Okay, this one is probably a bit of a stretch. This might be more of a reflection of how Raphael is the lead focus of the film. Something I personally can relate to is his temper and frustration that none of his brothers can sympathize with, but his master clearly recognizes his pain and wants to cull his demons. A brief scene I enjoy is when Raph lets loose his fury when realizing Splinter had been abducted. By the way, all you current filmmakers might want to take a note from Steve Barron when and when not it is okay to employ "shaky cam".
Luke - Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Paul Newman plays what is perhaps one of my absolute favorite characters in cinema. Luke undermines the authority of the prisoner Dragline who comes to respect him and takes him under his wing. The fellow chain gang inmates idolize Luke for his determination and for the way he shakes up the atmosphere that the prison wardens want to cultivate. His will makes him a target in particular for Strother Martin's Captain who wants to break him as he had broken the others. With little to amuse me during my long shifts at work, I find myself thinking about "the natural born world shaker" and it makes me feel a little better.
Mick - Rocky (1976)
Burgess Meredith plays the fiery owner of the gym that Rocky trains at. He is initially seemingly dismissive of Rocky, lambasting him for his lackluster boxing skills and his occupation as muscle for a loan shark. When Rocky's big break comes in, Mick reveals that he once was a proud boxer that couldn't take the abuse that Rocky subjects himself to and wants to ensure that Rocky doesn't make the same mistakes he did. This leads to a great scene where Rocky unloads on Mick for seeming to not understand his own problems. Meredith performs Mickey with great energy and his gravely yelling is very amusing.
The Cowardly Lion - The Wizard of Oz (1939)
This character steals the show as the last of Dorothy's companions. The Lion initially appears to bully and intimidate our heroes, that is until Dorothy outs him as a quivering, cowardly pussy cat. Lion is the great comic relief, and I can't help but snicker when I think of lines like, "How long can you stay fresh in that can?" Despite Lion's handicap, he will face the dangers ahead if only to save Dorothy.
Han Solo - The Star Wars Trilogy (1977 - 1983)
Amongst the main characters of this favorite film series of mine is the smuggler-turned-rebel Han Solo. While his ship may look like a disheveled aged mess on the outside, the Millennium Falcon is his baby and her hyperdrive is nothing to laugh at ... that is when it works. Solo shoots first and asks questions later, although that might depend on what version of the films you're watching. He'll fly into a volatile asteroid field to shake of enemy fighters and might fly straight into the command tower of a capital ship just to fool the radar.
Raphael - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
Okay, this one is probably a bit of a stretch. This might be more of a reflection of how Raphael is the lead focus of the film. Something I personally can relate to is his temper and frustration that none of his brothers can sympathize with, but his master clearly recognizes his pain and wants to cull his demons. A brief scene I enjoy is when Raph lets loose his fury when realizing Splinter had been abducted. By the way, all you current filmmakers might want to take a note from Steve Barron when and when not it is okay to employ "shaky cam".
