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What makes an ideal action hero/heroine?
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Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie
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Sep 23, 2011 06:48AM
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oops.
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I've been thinking about getting the Dresden books on audio. I've heard James Marsters is great. I wish we had new Dresden already.
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Well the actor that plays Spike, but I don't think he uses a British accent.
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This is the thread that brought me to this group!I am like many of you, I like my heroes/heroines to be human with normal thoughts, feelings, a failings. I also like some conflict within the protagonist's mind.
Then again...sometimes I just revel in the action scenes that the words create in my brain.
Great opinions on this thread and from my perspective, very valuable.
Splitter
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I am like many of you, I like my heroes/heroines to be human with normal thoughts, feelings, a failings. I also like some conflict within the pro..."
I agree, there are some valuable opinions here (exempting my own, since I belive that nobody can/should be judge and juryin thier own case). I particulalry liked and was impressed with Sparhawk the Y.A. gang's rather deep and inspiring look at the stuff heroes should be made of.
Awwww, I loved Sparhawk. Neighbor :).Splitter
I've already mentioned that my favourite book is The Lord of the Rings and I think that for me highlights the best types of heroes in any book. You have the reluctant heroes in the hobbits, you have the elderly sage (Gandalf), you have the seasoned warriors (Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas) and the feisty female who takes it up to all the guys and goes one better (Eowyn).
The one other type of hero I do like not mentioned there is the eccentric kind of hero. The one like Sherlock Holmes or The Doctor. The one who moves from subject to subject and has his peculiarities yet is always planning to get out of the situation he is in.
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Yes I think many people do. That's why you see a lot of them become popular in books and film.
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I like a hero who sets out to do what's right against the odds. An extension of that is an idealistic hero who is actually what they seem.
I also like the reformed hero (like Waylander), the villain becoming "an actual" hero type.
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Dexter creeps me out. My mother watches the show at dinner sometimes, and I just look at my plate. I'm very wimpy about serial killer stuff.
I like a conflicted, but deeply honorable hero. He has flaws, but he does try to do what's right.
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Han Solo's just a rogue really. Just a guy who wants what's best for him and then ends up losing the selfish personality type and saving the galaxy... You're forgetting Darth Vader here if you're talking Star Wars. Hero then villain then hero.Another anti-hero that I have to mention is Wolverine. And then you have the conflicted hero type in Batman.
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Ah not big on the claws and mutant healing factor?I like Batman myself. I'm more a marvel fan but I'll always like the Dark Knight. And he's a really good example of the kind of hero I like. The one motivated (like in the future Spiderman) by an incident which changed their world. The one who wants to prevent people dying again if they don't have to. The one driven by loss. Yet the one who struggles not to slip over the edge and become the villain.
message 79:
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Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie
(last edited Feb 29, 2012 04:35PM)
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Good comparison with Spiderman.
I like DC a bit more because I love the JLA.
I know some people scoff at the idea of the superheroes being any quality but I respectfully disagree. I think graphic novels and comics can be great books and I really think that the heroes in both DC and Marvel's works epitomise various hero types.Spiderman's the more reluctant hero type who feels guilt but he's driven by death like Batman. Yet Batman's the type where he's driven to make sure crime cannot destroy another kid's life. And in the process he turns all the other people he encounters into weapons and heroes themselves. Iron Man's similar yet he more struggles in his father's shadow. Battles his demons.
The X-Men are the outcast heroes. The unsung heroes; those left in the dirt at the end of the book. They're really representative of any form of discrimination. The same thing applies to the Martian Manhunter from JLA, because he's an alien he's the type that doesn't fit in and disguises himself to look more human.
Then you have your Captain America, your Superman, Flash, Green Lantern and Wonderwoman types. The hero who has incredible power yet struggles to save everyone, to do the right thing who still has weaknesses and fails. That kind of hero is appealing despite their all powerful abilities to me because you look at them and go: they have all that power and cannot use it when they sometimes needed it most. Or despite their power they struggle with the day to day tasks. On the other side you have the Hulk who is basically a new representation of Jekyll/Hyde and the uncontrollable animal within the hero.
Finally I'll mention those kinds of heroes like the Fantastic Four and Avengers which are the celebrated types. Adored by the public. However often they fail in the smaller details of life.
I doubt I'm alone in appreciating The Incredibles by Pixar. I like that film because it's basically a depiction of extraordinary people bound by ordinary society and restrictions. I also appreciated Megamind for similar reasons but The Incredibles is far superior.
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I am much enamored with superhero fiction for many of the reasons you stated.
There is a great documentary called Superheroes about real-life men and women who work as masked crime-fighters in real life scenarios. It's a bit hair-raising at times, the danger they put themselves in. I admit I got choked up because I admired their sense of dedication to what they were doing. I think one guy probably needed psychiatric help, but he meant well.
I thought it was very good.
Here is a link to the Imdb page about it:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1792621/
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So behind on the movies....
IMO...I would move My Super Ex Girlfriend to the bottom of your movie list.lol
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message 88:
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The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be
(last edited Mar 02, 2012 08:36PM)
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Just a fun answer from Joss Whedon on Strong Female Characters.
That's good Hugh. I really like that.
message 92:
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The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be
(last edited Mar 10, 2012 04:59AM)
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Connie Cox The Baby Who Saved Dr Cynical
I agree with many of his points but have to argue about others.I have an issue with that word equality. As one person I read once put it (paraphrased) "the world is not equal because we have natural differences that occur between people in height, weight, abilities..."
I read Heart of Darkness recently and the one positive idea I could gather was that strength exists because of an accident which causes weakness.
Okay so I guess what I'm saying is yes we need equality in some aspects. But it's impossible to strive for equality in some areas like some people want. Because it won't be physically possible. But we should strive for an equality on discrimination, on pay, on job availability and any areas possible. My mother and grandmothers have been big influences like Joss Whedon talked about with his life.
message 94:
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The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be
(last edited Mar 10, 2012 05:17AM)
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We don't have that anywhere that I am aware of. Some places are better than others. Some people and agencies are better than others.
When it comes to writing, I'm not so much about equally physically capable characters as I am interested and hoping for an equal sense of power and an equal right to determine what way and how one makes their way through the universe.
Diversity is a strength, if you are willing to accept and celebrate it. Different does not mean we are not equal, but we are well aware that separate is not equal either. Equal inclusion might be a better way to say it.
And, if art imitates life, then we have made some headway, but we have more work to do. Just MHO.
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Well what you state is precisely what I would argue we should be equal in. Yes I would agree equal inclusion I would say yes in some things. I don't see how with many religious institutions you could end up with equal inclusion for all people. I'm against women being excluded from church roles however I mean more the point of view of non believers being included in special 'rituals'.
It's for me one of those touchy subject where you have to draw a line at some point or some areas. I mean you have to be realistic right? It would be ridiculous if men demanded maternal leave for the purposes of equality. Or vice versa.
I loved a saying someone had written in a book: there are no female or male jobs, just jobs. (okay obviously there are some things only females can do and only men can do) But the point was that when it comes down to it and there's work you should be allowed to do it (if you're able physically).
So yes I guess equal opportunity or inclusion is the best word. If you're capable of doing something then you should be allowed to do it.
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It's not about being capable or not, it's about being "valuable" as a person more than you are an object.
As for religion...too complicated and likely for me to piss somebody off, on any side of the equation.
But, here are two white guys on opposite sides of the globe debating what equality for women means. I like to think I use my Jedi powers for good, but, I'm prepared to be laughed at by a lady who knows better.
Yeah I'm trying to express myself but when it comes to sensitive issues I end up stumbling over my words. Because while I want to express what I believe I end up thinking - hang on will that offend?No one annoys me when it comes to religious talks because I know what I believe... I just read them for my own amusement at times in fact. But we'll leave that bottle alone with its Djinn.
I guess my point is on equality as a whole. Equality in expression, respect etc. should be allowed. The thing is I've recently been thinking about what equality is meant to be in light of some comments about professional sport. We have a sport - AFL - over here which is watched by all kinds of people. The debate has been about whether female players should be allowed in the guys teams and its made me think that that probably is actually a no go. Not merely for the physicality (it's like rugby so a lot of tackling, bumping etc.) but also that raises questions of is that what the spectators want to see/should see, is it right.
I guess my problem with the idea of equality is people turning it into a sort of loophole or argument for their own little wants.
I'll end this quickly with one of my favourite quotes that ties into the last point:
"All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others."
So yes I want equality like you and Joss Whedon were talking about. A kind of "equal importance in the world, equal respect, and equal choices for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." But I'm wary of any people using the idea of equality as a right to just con people into getting what they want.
It depends on the genre. In fantasy, sf i like the reluctant hero who is stuck in a situation where he must do something heroic. Gemmell heroes is the ideal there. Shannow,Druss,Waylander,Connavar.SF Takeshi Kovacs is the version there.
There are many other book heroes like that in crime fiction for example for me.
Its only superhero comics i stand the truly heroic,trying to bring order, do good for humanity kind of hero. Batman,Daredevil etc
Ive become bored with all these super heroes everywhere, i like characters that have made themselves out of nothing, who have become strong and smart and wise, not born special and gifted and magical. I like character that have that Get out of trouble skillsets, like Bond, Conan and Riddick. I saw a documentary once with Steven Spielberg, who said the Indiana Jones movies were created to be like the James Bonds, where Indy would get into an impossible to escape situation, then escape from them, using his wits and cunning.
Action/Adventure Aficionados
Books mentioned in this topic
One for the Money (other topics)Jet (other topics)
Whiskey Sour (other topics)
Finding Round (other topics)
The Geneva Decision (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Alex Sheridan (other topics)Connie Cox (other topics)
Pax Rolfe (other topics)
