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 be YOUR winner. Just as some of us are infatuated with Mr. T, there are others who wont agree with the person at the top when it’s all said and done.
So here is your time to tell us who your favorite is:
Who is your all-time favorite action hero?
Now, let’s keep with the same rules that Ultimate Bad Ass is using: No superpowers allowed. Because if they were, I’d likely pick Neo from The Matrix.
For me, this is a tough choice between John McClane and Jason Bourne. The first real action movie I ever saw was Die Hard when I was 13, and it was actually a pretty big event for our dad to take my brother and I to a rated R movie.
And Bourne is just flat-out awesome. The Bourne films are one of the greatest trilogies ever made in my opinion.
But I’m going with McClane, just because in the world of action movies, he was the original for me.
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!
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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.
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.
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.
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.
John McClane walked over broken glass and then pulled it out with his fingers WHILE TALKING ON THE PHONE!
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
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Glass? Who gives a shit about glass? — one of my favorite movie lines. Willis’ delivery tends to be excellent, no doubt there.
I am going with Bourne. His character is simply awesome and consistent throughout the three movies.
Agreed. The Bourne films are incredible.
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No, the actual best action HERO ever is Indiana Jones.
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…
I vote Bourne, because I like my action hero with some serious smarts!
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!
Bourne can’t even remember who he is! It’s Indy all the way!
@Ana – I like my heroes homegrown. If they gotta dub you, I don’t love you.
@ Jason: Que?
@ Jason – Ok, so he has some memory issues but that does not stop him from kicking some serious ass along the way.
Speaking of dubbing…Kung Fu Theater. I used to love watching that show as a kid.
Never heard of it
@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.
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.
Robert…”They belong in a museum!”
Yes, certainly, as part of cultural exchanges with other museums, not via theft or spoils of war.
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.
My hero would have to be Indiana Jones for #1.
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@ 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.