Favourite Film Characters

I'm a little late to this party of celebrating Favourite Film Characters, but it's such a great topic I couldn't resist playing along. I had a lot of fun coming up with these lists and met with some interesting challenges along the way, such as differentiating characters from performances. One of the most interesting realizations was that often I would pick a man and a woman from the same film, but only once was it a couple and even then they were rarely seen on screen together.

Thank you Trista for tagging me, Film Squish for starting the madness, and also to Bob and Piper whose lists both reminded me to get this out in the world! Here we go.

The Men
Bucking with tradition, I'm gonna let the men go first here. The one challenge I found was needing to resist picking anything and everything from my favourite actors, just because I love them. I had to think long and hard about which characters shone through and why. There certainly were surprizes along the way, in particular to repeating characteristics.

Geser
From: Night Watch / Nochnoi Dozor & Day Watch / Dnevnoy Dozor
Played By: Vladimir Menshov

Quote: "Every Night Watch officers must be proficient in combat. I don't need my people dying or killing anyone else"

The patriarch of the Night Watch, a organization of psychics, seers, shapeshifters and the like who have chosen the way of the light and to watch those who have chosen the dark. Powerful, wise, seasoned and can heal in a pinch. Can we say, awesome? Yes we can.

Bud
From: The Abyss
Played by Ed Harris

Quote: “When it comes to the safety of these people, there's me and then there's God, understand?”

As the head of an underwater oil rig, Bud is one tough cookie. He's got a job to do and a team that will get it done, but a character that can often be portrayed as a shouting, non-caring, all-for-the-money guy we instead get a strong leader and a loyal friend who is just as happy working along side his crew as he is taking charge. For those that know anything of the tarot, I remember my sister Jamie once describing Bud as the King of Cups which is absolutely perfect. Strong, yet caring - not something that is we see successfully done in film. Thankfully Ed Harris brought this to life beautifully.

Maximus
From: Gladiator
Played by Russell Crowe

Quote “I've seen much of the rest of the world. It is brutal and cruel and dark, Rome is the light.”

Not only is Maximus the definition of Alpha, what is more than that is he maintains his dignity through exceptional circumstances. Plus, he can kick ass.

Léon
From: The Professional / Léon
Played by Jean Reno

Quote: “No discussion.”
Yes, that is an actual quote.

Ah, Léon. Who knew a professional killer could be so kind? And so naive? A character as complex as he is simple, you have to admire his skill, adept intuition and how the blinders are kept completely on.

Scott Hastings
From: Strictly Ballroom
Played by Paul Mercurio

Quote: “I'm just asking you what you think of the steps.”

So, Scott isn't really the nicest of the bunch - but he can dance up a storm and learn more than just new steps. As an outsider of insiders, you just have to cheer for him.

Mirageman
From: Mirageman
Played by Marko Zaror

Quote – ah, Mirageman doesn’t say much

Vigilante with a heart of gold, Mirageman fights evil in a unique and not-always-adept take at crime fighting.

Bors
From: King Arthur
Played by Ray Winstone

Quote “Of course I'm coming! Can't let you go on your own, you're gonna get killed.”

Tough call here, I could have just as easily picked Tristan (played by Mads Mikkelsen) or Dagonet (played by Ray Stevenson), or any of the cast of the 2004 King Arthur. But there is something about Bors that rocks. He can be rude and rash but he always speaks his mind and gets the job done.

John Lee
From: The Replacement Killers
Played by Chow Yun Fat

Quote: “You're safer with me”

I didn't think I would have any hit men on my list, let alone two of them. Skilled, deadpan, cold but with a conscience. Gets me every time.

The Big Kahuna
From: Gidget
Played by: Cliff Robertson

Quote: "Don't you ever give up?"

Kahuna is that guy that everyone looks up to. He's relaxed and accepting, which always gives a calming and cool atmosphere.

Morpheus
From: The Matrix
Played by: Laurence Fishburne

Quote: “What was said was for you, and you alone”

Morpheus represents complete and utter devotion to the quest. He believes, and the power of belief is an amazing thing.

Gabriel
From: Constantine
Played by Tilda Swinton

Quote: “You chose a higher path. Look how well you're doing!”

Ah, Gabriel. Truthteller or naysayer? Someone you aren't ever sure if you really want them around but they always have something important to say, but will you listen to them? Perhaps, or perhaps not.

Hagrid
From: Harry Potter films
Played by Robbie Coltrane

Quote: “I shouldn't have said that. No more questions, don't ask anymore questions!”

How can you not love Hagrid? Bumbling, well-intentioned and sweet as all get out even if he isn't the best wizard or even qualifies as a wizard. He wears his heart on his sleeve, knows how to take care of any creature and doesn't judge anyone (or thing) on how they look. Gotta love him.

The Women
The women fall into completely different categories than the men in terms of favourites. There are the those that would be great to be and those that would be fantastic to be around. There are also a few that are a little volitile but one thing is for certain, they are all women you'd want to have on your side.

One challenge here was that there are more great female characters I considered included, like Ripley from Aliens or Sarah Connor from Terminator but I decided against it as they are characters that went through extreme circumstances and therefore in a different life than the one intended for them. Not wanting to have this be an influence, I decided to go with characters that chose their path, as opposed to make the most of what they ended up with.

Watts
From: Some Kind of Wonderful
Played by: Mary Stuart Masterson

Quote: “Ray, this is 1987. Did you know a girl can be whatever she wants to be?”
and “You want shallow, call Amanda Jones.”

Watts is likely the first female character I wanted to be. A tomboy, a drummer, a tough chick all around. I just never understood what the heck she saw in that Keith dude.

Eowyn
From: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Played by: Miranda Otto

Quote: “The women of this country learned long ago, those without swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain.”

I love the bravery of Eowyn, and how she doesn't give in to fear. Love her character, in the films and the books as well.

Morgana
From: Excalibur
Played by Helen Mirren

Quote: “A nal nath rath, Uth as dey ta, Doth yen pen dray”

Morgana is power hungry, mischevious and shify. She's definitely a troublemaker but you have to admire her drive, craftiness and skill.

Fry
From: Pitch Black
Played by: Radha Mitchell

Quote: “I’m not your captain”

Fry certainly isn't flawless, but that is what makes her so fantastic. Vocal, brave and sometimes rash she's a real 'feel the fear and do it anyway' kinda character.

Mrs. Weasley
From: Harry Potter films
Played by: Julie Walters

Quote: “How about a spot of breakfast?”

If I had to choose any house to live in out of all the fictional worlds it would be the Weasleys. Sure it's no mansion with too many people and craziness but there is always an underlying abundance hidden there and at the centre of it is Mrs. Weasley keeping it all together. Besides, who else would make you a monogrammed sweater Christmas?

Tank Girl
From: Tank Girl
Played by: Lori Petty

Quotes: “Well, that’s a bore!” “It’s been swell but the swellings gone down” “Look at the sheer size of it” “I won”

Tank Girl is possibly the coolest character in the world. She dives in, never gives up and has a good time pretty much anywhere. Plus... great clothes.

Trinity
From: The Matrix
Played by: Carrie-Anne Moss

Quote: “Are there any agents? Goddammit”

Trinity is another one of the characters that is cooler than cool. A multifaceted fighter that kicks butt, online and off. Disclaimer on this one though, I'd have to limit it only the first of the Matrix films.

Vasquez
From: Aliens
Played by: Jenette Goldstein

Quote: “Look, man. I only need to know one thing: where they are.”

The definition of the tough chick, Vasquez kicks a whole lotta butt. Strong, loyal and with a singular vision. I find her character very inspirational, the very definition of 'you can be anything you want to be'.

Selene
From: Underworld
Played by: Kate Beckinsale

Quote: "For those like me, the death dealers, they signal the end of an era. Like weapons of the previous century we too had become obsolete. Pity, because I live for it."

Fearless. Woman. Warrior. Vampire. Selene rocks.

Gidget
From: Gidget
Played by: Sandra Dee

Quote: “All I want to do is surf. That's all."

The enthusiasm and openness of Gidget make her irresistable. She really does go headstrong into getting what she wants and she always believes she'll get it. Imagine that!

Olga
From: Night Watch / Nochnoi Dozor & Day Watch / Dnevnoy Dozor
Played by: Galina Tyunina

Quote: "Nice vampire you've got there"

Wise, assured and unusual, Olga is one powerful woman. She has a powerful calmness and confidence that I don't find we often see in female characters, at least not often enough.

Bridgitte
From: Ginger Snaps
Played by: Emily Perkins

Quote: "United against life as we know it.”

The bond of sisterhood between Emily and Ginger in Ginger Snaps is so strong. Even though the film is a crazy horror film, it really captures how far sisters will to go help each other.

Abigail Whistler
From: Blade: Trinity
Played by Jessica Biel

Quote: "I brought you toys"

What I love about Abigail character in Blade: Trinity is that her physical prowness and strength is never questioned. Never.

Serafina Pekkala
From: The Golden Compass
Played by: Eva Green

Quote: "There are many universes and many Earths parallel to each other. Worlds like yours, where people's souls live inside their bodies, and worlds like mine, where they walk beside us, as animal spirits we call daemons."

I cried a little in The Golden Compass when Serafina Pekkala came on the screen. Oh, what I would give to have been a kid growing up with films with characters like her, powerful, wise, kind and she's a witch. I don't think it gets better than that. Beautiful.

So those are my selections for favourite characters. Continuing with bucking tradition of tagging anyone, I've decided to share some lists of others I've found along with way: Do You Have a Flag?, Film Crack, Cinema Fist and Ferdy on Film, etc. There are a couple fellow rule breakers as well: The Dancing Image and Film of the Year. Please feel free to play along!

Who is Obsessed? Not Canucks who turn to 17, nor UK who takes it to the State: Canadian, North American & UK Box Office April 24, 2009 Weekend

It's another three way split at the box office for the April 24, 2009. Here in Canada the top film for the second week in a row is 17 Again, whereas the UK turns to the BBC series turned film State of Play and North America gets Obsessed. It's nice to see that the enviro-doc earth debuted in the top 5 in both Canada and North America, Fighting chimes in at #3 and The Soloist is not far behind. The UK top ten has include their debuts of The Uninvited and Observe and Report.

Top 20 Movies in Canada for the April 24, 2009 weekend
1. 17 Again
2. Obsessed *
3. Fighting *
4. earth *
5. Monsters vs. Aliens
6. Hannah Montana: The Movie
7. State of Play
8. Fast & Furious
9. The Soloist *
10. Crank: High Voltage
11. I Love You, Man
12. Knowing
13. Observe and Report
14. Met Opera: La Sonnambula *
15. Adventureland
16. The Haunting in Connecticut
17. Duplicity
18. Dragonball: Evolution
19. Tera Mera Ki Rishta
20. Sunshine Cleaning

Top 20 Movies in North America for the April 24, 2009 weekend
1. Obsessed *
2. 17 Again
3. Fighting *
4. The Soloist *
5. earth *
6. Monsters vs. Aliens
7. State of Play
8. Hannah Montana: The Movie
9. Fast & Furious
10. Crank: High Voltage
11. I Love You, Man
12. Knowing
13. Observe and Report
14. The Haunting in Connecticut
15. Sunshine Cleaning
16. Adventureland
17. Duplicity
18. Race to Witch Mountain
19. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
20. Taken

Top 10 Movies in the UK for the April 24, 2009 weekend
1. State of Play *
2. Monsters vs Aliens
3. Fast & Furious
4. 17 Again
5. I Love You, Man
6. In the Loop
7. The Uninvited *
8. Observe and Report *
9. Race to Witch Mountain
10. The Boat That Rocked

* indicates opening weekend in noted location, red text indicates Canadian film release

Source: Canada & North America info, UK info

Reverend’s Reviews: A G’day for Surfing!

Hottie Australian surfers dominate Newcastle (opening in limited release this Friday), a stunningly photographed, well-acted coming of age tale set among the beaches and waves of the port city that lies north of Sydney. Here, 17-year old Jesse (Lachlan Buchanan) yearns to win the Junior Surf Pro final and get out from under the shadow of his older brother. Similarly, Jesse’s fraternal twin brother, Fergus (the cute Xavier Samuels), is out to prove himself … and perhaps find first love with another guy, Jesse’s friend Andy.

I saw Newcastle during last summer’s Outfest in LA, and was immediately overwhelmed by how gorgeous the movie is. The underwater camera work during the surfing sequences is amazing, truly putting viewers in the midst of the action. Also, first-time feature writer-director Dan Castle (click here for my interview with him) revels in the unabashedly sexy bodies of his cast members. Newcastle should not to be missed by anyone into surfing and/or beautiful young men.

UPDATE: Newcastle is now available on DVDfrom Amazon.com.

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

Before the Dawn: A Twilight Podcast - Episode 02: Character Introductions

Before the Dawn: A Twilight Podcast - Episode 02 is up!

Head on over to Before the Dawn to check out Marina & I's favourite character introductions in both the book and film of Twilight. We also discuss recent news on the upcoming films The Twilight Saga: New Moon & Eclipse and various projects the current cast is involved in.

Star Trek: Insurrection

Dir: Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek: First Contact)
Regular Cast: Patrick Stuart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis
Additional Cast: Donna Murphy, F. Murray Abraham, Anthony Zerbe, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Gregg Henry, Michael Welch
USA, 1998

Originally Seen: Like Star Trek: First Contact, this one I first saw from rented it on VHS. 1998 was just before I started getting back into film again, so I wasn't at the theatre much.

Revisited: April 19, 2009

Reason to Revisit: For the Countdown to Star Trek Movie Marathon

I went into revisiting Star Trek: Insurrection thinking it's one of the better films and that I enjoyed it. Then from scene to scene I realized I knew almost every line, every joke, every ditty and every catch phrase. And there are a lot of them. It's strange, as I know I have it kicking around on tape somewhere but I don't remember watching it all that often. It's possible that since it came out when I was an adult that the memories are clearer that that of films like The Wrath of Khan and The Undiscovered Country which I first saw as a kid. It made for an odd, but definitely fond, re-watching experience.

The time line that Star Trek: Insurrection is set in is a darker period of the Star Trek universe, one that is inferred to but creatively offset in Star Trek: First Contact, and in Insurrection they have a brilliant way of incorporating the light along with the dark. Although the film certainly has a fair share of action, adventure and cool effects it also works in bringing ideas and ideals to light in a time of conflict which in turn presents a moral struggle. For me, this was a perfect blend of bringing together many different aspects of the Star Trek world together from the action, comedy and camaraderie but also a question to ponder - all in one film sized portion. The crew certainly gets a chance to be a bit more jovial then we usually see in the films, which sometimes works better than others but is an huge improvement over Generations and a nice return from the darker side of First Contact. Donna Murphy is a lovely addition to the film as a part of the supporting cast playing the wise and calm Anij. All in all, it was a lot of fun and I look forward to putting Insurrection back in the regular rotation of films to enjoy over and over again.

Worf, again, steals any scene he is in no matter how briefly. How does he do it? It's a Klingon mystery.

Post film freak out moment: Artim, the kid that befriends Data, is played by Michael Welch whose recent film credits include playing Mike Newton in Twilight. I try not to think about how Insurrection was released when I was in college (the first time).

Shannon's Overall View:
I enjoyed it, a lot
I'll watch it again
I recommend it to Star Trek fans from casual to die-hard

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2009

New Moon Monday: Wolf Pack, ET Coverage and Eclipse Director Revealed

Well it's another New Moon Monday here, let's have a look at what new information has been released about upcoming Twilight Saga.

Wolf Pack Pictures
Finally we get the first photo image released to promote The Twilight Saga: New Moon. I found the image first over at USA Today, but you can see it in a larger format at Twilighters Anonymous.

The Wolf Pack picture features from left to right Alex Meraz as Paul, Chaske Spencer as Sam, Bronson Pelletier as Jared and Kiowa Gordon as Embry. Notice anyone missing?

The only previous image we've seen is the title of the film. Notice that both wolf pack & title image embrace a warmer and golden pallette. This is a major change from the colour story of Twilight which was very pale and focused on whites and tints green, grey and blue. It will be interesting to see if this warmer pallette persists for all the imagery or if we will get multiple colour stories for the different character groups.

ET spots
Last week there were two days where ET had New Moon coverage including being on the set and interviews with Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner and very briefly a moment with director Chris Weisz. Overall, it's only about 6 minutes of coverage from 2 shows and doesn't give us a whole lot to chew. But it's still a first glimpse which is exciting nonetheless. For the spoiler sensitive, take note that the content of the film is discussed as well as creative solutions to the "how will the film that??" moments from the book.

April 23/09 Clip 1 (1m 49s), Clip 2 (2m 10s)
April 24/09 Clip 1 (1m 50m)

Eclipse director confirmed: David Slade
Summit Entertainment has confirmed that the third film, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, will be directed by David Slade. There have been rumours galore in the past few weeks on who would be the director of Eclipse, but what a relief that the truth is out and we are now treading in known territory. David Slade is a fascinating choice for the film, his previous works feature films are both dark in nature, Hard Candy and 30 Days of Night.

Can't get enough of Twilight? Be sure to check out Marina & I's podcast: Before the Dawn.

Cinematic Crush: Evan Marriott

This is the final post in our eight-part look at the Hunks of Reality TV:

Crush object: Evan Marriott, reality TV personality.

- He became famous for starring in the controversial reality dating show Joe Millionaire, the premise of which had him posing as a wealthy bachelor when in fact he was a just a working class guy.

- In "real" reality, he was a construction worker and (as it was discovered later) a former underwear model.

- It was later revealed on Secrets of Reality TV that (no surprise) most of the hit show was fabricated, including the infamous "oral sex in the woods" moment. A second season (without Marriott) titled The Next Joe Millionaire, was a high-profile failure.

- Nevertheless, he parlayed his fleeting fame into appearances on the game shows Hollywood Squares, Family Feud and 1 vs. 100. He also appeared as a contestant on Battle of the Network Reality Stars and hosted of his own dating show, fittingly titled Fake-a-Date.

- He has also tried his hand at acting, usually as a variation of his Joe Millionaire persona, such as on The Simpsons and in the low budget comedy Miss Cast Away.