Sir Evan's Top 10 Heroes of Movies and Television: Part II

Five More to Go... Thanks for Your Patience

(Remember, in no particular order...)

6) Frodo Baggins

This is a difficult one, simply because his portly companion, Samwise, is quite the hero himself, as is their bearded, pointed-hat adviser, Gandalf the White. But when it comes down to it, Frodo Baggins, a Hobbit from the imagination of writer, J.R.R. Tolkien, later translated to the screen by Peter Jackson, is the ultimate hero of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Frodo, an unassuming simpleton with very few ties to the bigger world, takes it upon himself to deliver the One Ring to its fiery end in the pit of Mount Doom. No one forces him to shoulder this responsibility; he does it out of moral conscience. Over the course of his epic journey, Frodo (Elijah Wood) faces one life-threatening obstacle after another, and - by the story's end - he has given up practically everything but his very life, what little semblance of it remains... Frodo reminds us that heroism knows no greater definition than personal sacrifice.


7) Sir William Wallace

Speaking of personal sacrifice. How about giving your life? Sir William Wallace, portrayed by Mel Gibson in the film, Braveheart, is the ultimate "medieval hero," who leads his fellow Scotsmen in a rebellion against the tyrannical English during the Wars of Scottish Independence. A man who gives everything he has for the freedom of his country, Wallace is both a hero on screen as well as in reality. Whether wooing fair damsels or waging bloody combat on the battlefield, Wallace shows true passion, and he takes it with him to the film's tragic, yet heroic finale. You may not agree with all of my choices for best heroes, but you will never take "OUR FREEDOM!!!"


8) Luke Skywalker

As far as epic conflicts between good and evil go, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is my favorite good guy. Anxious for adventure, Luke is a young man at the start of his space odyssey. From the Star Wars saga's inception to its climactic conclusion, audiences witness young Luke emerge from his identity as a lonely farm boy to a brave and skillful hero of the Rebel Alliance. Unwavering in his quest to face the dark and mysterious Darth Vader, he embarks down the path of the Jedi Knight, learns to use the force, and confronts the Dark Lord of the Sith in a grueling lightsaber duel. Twice! And let's not forget he sort of saves the galaxy from the Dark Side and brings hope to humanity. Not bad for a whiny kid who just wanted to "go to the Toshi Station to pick up some power converters!"


9) John McClane

"Another basement, another elevator. How can the same sh** happen to the same guy twice?!" He's one of those guys who always happens to end up in the wrong place at the right time. The average cop with the mean streak and the independent fervor to kick some real a$$! With 4 movies under his belt (Die Hard, Die Harder, Die Hard with a Vengeance, & Live Free or Die Hard) and a potential fifth, Bruce Willis has proven that his hero, John McClane, is a good guy to have in a fight. A sort of cowboy or a loose cannon, he has a hard time restraining his aggressive impulses, but in the kinds of situations he often finds himself in (hijacked airport in a blizzard, hostage situation in a high-rise office building, etc.), these characteristics actually come in handy. And don't mess with his wife or kids; he's a family man.


10) Harry Potter

The ultimate kid hero, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) of J.K. Rowling's famous novels, has faced the evil and nearly immortal, Voldemort, on numerous occasions, and lived to fight another day. And he isn't done yet. Six films down, two to go. The 7th installment in the series will be split into two, for sheer magnitude of content. Sounds good to me! Over the course of the Harry Potter books and films, readers and audiences have seen the boy wizard develop in maturity and skill. He shows courage in the face of great adversity and bears a load far greater than most teenagers... It isn't every day a 14 year old must face a fire breathing dragon, combat traitorous wizards, and duel the cruelest sorcerer in the world. He wields a wand and sports a nifty lightning bolt scar on his forehead. Let's face it. Scars are cool. And there is this prophesy that says he's "the chosen one" who must defeat the evil lord... Talk about responsibility...


Welp, that's it for now, folks. Sir Evan's top 10 heroes of movies and television. There are obviously many others, but I had to narrow it down to my personal favorites. Feel free to agree or disagree! Let me know what you think! And thanks for reading!

Sir Evan's Top 10 Heroes of Movies and Television: Part I

Who doesn't like a hero?

Sure, the bad guys are pretty interesting too. Sometimes more than their do-good counterparts (The Dark Knight, for example? Eh?), but when the going gets tough, everyone roots for the hero. I also happen to believe most men secretly want to be heroes. It's a boyhood longing that never goes away, rooted in our natural circuitry. Another post! And, clearly, hero status is not reserved for men alone. Anyhow, for no particular reason other than feeling inspired recently by epic music and a little too much TV, here are my top 10 heroes of movies and television! In no particular order...


1) Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones

You all knew it was coming. With his trademark whip and fedora, archaeologist and grave robber, Indiana Jones (portrayed by Harrison Ford), is an every man who often finds himself in extraordinary circumstances. A world traveler and renowned academic, he is both rough and sophisticated. Whether he's slugging Nazis, searching for lost artifacts, or galloping on horseback, Indiana Jones always comes out on top, and he's also pretty good at rescuing the ladies. And why should anyone doubt him? After all, he did say, "Trust me."



2) The Man With No Name

Speaking of cool hats... Clint Eastwood as "The Man With No Name," of Sergio Leone's classic spaghetti westerns, "A Fistful of Dollars," "For a Few Dollars More," and "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," is a man who walks the narrow line between light and dark. Brooding, mysterious, and skilled with a six-shooter, he is a force to be reckoned, especially if your name is Ramon... And whatever you do, don't hurt the ladies or insult his mule, or he will come for you with a vengeance! "I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. You see, my mule don't like people laughing..." Who else but Eastwood could pull off a line like that?



3) James Bond, 007

With 22 films and 12 novels under his belt, the world's most dependable secret agent is a given on any top 10 list, and if his track record so far says anything about his appeal, he won't be going anywhere any time soon... Created by British novelist, Ian Fleming, "Bond, James Bond," has been portrayed during various historical periods over the last half of the twentieth century and into the next decade. Sean Connery, the original Bond, set the bar for all Bonds to come, and Daniel Craig, the newest incarnation of 007, has put his own unique spin on the classic character. A larger than life character who always gets the job done, James Bond is the ultimate spy and a timeless hero.



4) MacGyver

Someone is bound to argue with me on this one, but who cares? MacGyver is awesome! A television hero of the 80s, Angus MacGyver is the chemistry-nerd/clever secret agent who can make a bomb with a toothpick, some chewing gum, and a Swiss Army Knife. He also hates guns and wears aviator shades. What is not to like? Oh, and he has a mullet... Portrayed by Richard Dean Anderson, MacGyver enjoyed a long run on television from 1985 to 1992, airing on ABC all seven seasons. Employed by "The Phoenix Foundation," MacGyver finds himself in one sticky situation after another, but he always manages to find a way out and save the day. For these reasons and more, he is the quintessential 80s hero.



5) Ellen Ripley

In "Alien," audiences are introduced to Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) when she becomes the sole survivor of an interstellar tragedy involving... you guessed it: an alien. One nasty alien, I might add. While she kicks some serious butt in this film, it pales in comparison to later butt-kicking... In "Aliens," the James Cameron directed follow up, moviegoers witness a whole new side to Ms. Ripley when she takes on an entire hive of acid-for-blood, life-sucking-and-parasitic-aliens! Hell hath no fury like a protective mother with deep scars... So that may not be the most politically correct statement, but when Ripley gets the chance to strike back at the creatures that killed her friends and robbed her of her daughter, stay clear of the flame throwers and pulse grenades!


Stay tuned for the last 5 heroes of movies and television!

And please comment! Disagree? Absolutely agree? Who are your favorite heroes? I want to hear from you!

Dragon's Tooth: The Motion Picture

Featuring... the Nightwalkers

Like the previous video, this 'motion picture' is compiled of photos from the Nightwalkers' annual backpacking adventure from December 30-31 in 2006. An article will come later with plenty of details, but Dragon's Tooth is a unique rock formation in the mountains of Roanoke, VA. A part of Cove Mountain, it was originally called 'Buzzard Rock,' but was eventually renamed the more apt, 'Dragon's Tooth.' Enjoy the movie!

Music by Steve Jablonsky

Sir Evan's Weekly Movie Recommendation

The Ghost and the Darkness (***) 1996

Rated R (violence)

Starring Michael Douglas, Val Kilmer, & Bernard Hill
Written by William Goldman
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Directed by Stephen Hopkins

The Ghost and the Darkness is based largely on the true story of the "Tsavo man eating lions" that systematically hunted and killed over 130 men in Kenya towards the end of the 19th century. In the film, Colonel John Henry Patterson (Kilmer), a gifted bridge builder, is sent on a difficult mission to Africa, where he must design and oversee the construction of a bridge that will advance the railroad and help "save the Africans from the Africans," as his primary benefactor so eloquently puts it.

But when a pair of killer lions begin decimating the camp, picking off one worker after another, Patterson is forced to take action, lest his entire camp disappear and his project fail. Enter Charles Remington (Douglas), a renowned big-game hunter. Sent to help Patterson pick off the lions, Remington brings attitude and experience to the hunt.

The two independent and strong willed men form a reluctant alliance that leads to a thrilling adventure story set amongst the backdrop of Africa, a rugged land of danger, mystery, and myth. The score, composed by Jerry Goldsmith, mixes African themes with contemporary energy, and they blend perfectly with the wild and beautiful landscape.

If you're looking for an exciting yarn with colorful characters, one heckuva setting, and villains with killer instincts, be sure to watch "The Ghost and the Darkness." It will deliver all of these things and more. As the tag line says, "Only the most incredible parts of the story are true."

The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) - Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Sir Evan's Weekly Movie Recommendation

Blood Diamond (***) 2006

Rated R (intense war violence)

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio & Djimon Hounsou
Written by Charles Leavitt
Directed by Edward Zwick

Nominated for five Academy Awards, Blood Diamond, showcases outstanding performances from DiCaprio, as a diamond smuggler in war-torn Sierra Leone, and Hounsou, as an African fisherman and dedicated father. In the film, Solomon Vandy (Hounsou) is ripped from his family and put to work in the RUF diamond fields while his son is taken by the fiendish rebels for indoctrination into their ranks. There seems little hope for Solomon and his family until he discovers a rare, pink diamond, which captures the attention of Danny Archer (DiCaprio), a self-seeking diamond trader and disillusioned soul. The diamond represents freedom to both men - to Solomon in the form of his family's freedom... to Archer, freedom in the form of a plane ticket... out of Africa.

In this whirlwind of a film, helmed by veteran director, Edward Zwick (Glory, The Last Samurai, Defiance), viewers witness the chaos and destruction of the civil war that overcame Sierra Leone in the late 90's. Amidst the struggle, Archer and Solomon, joined by American journalist, Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), must band together to rescue Solomon's son and keep the valuable "blood diamond" out of the wrong hands. But with Archer's motives unclear, the "wrong hands" may be relative...

Blood Diamond is a riveting film about two unlikely allies thrust together against the backdrop of a national conflict. Powerful and moving, it is a motion picture of epic proportions, if not from its massive scale, then from its characters' personal struggles.

Sir Evan's Weekly Movie Recommendation

The Patriot (****) 2000

Rated R (intense war violence and innuendo)

Starring Mel Gibson & Heath Ledger
Written by Robert Rodat
Directed by Roland Emmerich

As with most war films, The Patriot has many full-blown battle scenes, but with the American Revolution as the conflict in focus, these scenes take on a unique tone. Mel Gibson words it perfectly in an interview where he says, "It was a different kind of warfare all together." Troops by the thousands blatantly march across open fields; cannon balls blast through lines of soldiers; and Gibson wages combat with a pair of Native American tomahawks.

One would expect the story to get lost in such a massive film. But director, Roland Emmerich, excels at big budget, summer action-movies, not only because he knows how to keep our attention, but because he maintains focus where it really matters. The story is not about the war; rather, it is about the characters fighting the war. The Patriot follows the story of Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) and his family. A colonial farmer and widower, he is left to take care of his 5 children, as turmoil increasingly surrounds them. At first an opponent of war with Britain, Martin has only his family's safety in mind, but when the war comes to his front doorstep, he is left with little choice but to defend his land and family. The movie co-stars a young Heath Ledger in his first big role as Gibson's son, Gabriel Martin. They share many engaging scenes together, and movie goers could certainly predict, based on Ledger's performance, he would go on to become a first rate actor.

The film is full of gripping scenes, among them an up close (and personal), hand-to-hand fight between Gibson and a platoon of Red Coats, in which he brandishes his deadly tomahawks. Romance is also central to the plot of The Patriot, and it is handled tastefully and in moderation. And most importantly, it is believable. Ultimately, The Patriot is about a family's reaction to the American Revolution. It is uplifting and inspiring, full of epic, patriotic moments big enough to stir the emotions, but these scenes really pale in comparison with the more personal, family scenes occurring between the action.

If you're looking for an engaging take on the American Revolution and enjoy a thrilling story, check out The Patriot. And if you're still not convinced, check out the trailer below.

Sir Evan's Weekly Movie Recommendation

Raiders of the Lost Ark (****) 1981

Rated PG

Starring Harrison Ford & Karen Allen
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Written by George Lucas & Lawrence Kasdan

A film like Raiders of the Lost Ark can leave a lasting impression on a 9-year old, or anyone for that matter. Although I didn't realize at the time, it sparked in me a spirit for adventure I have never been able to shake, as I'm sure it has done for many individuals over the years.

It was a typical, Summer afternoon in Virginia... hot, humid, and sweltering. My friend, Wingate, was over (yes, that's really his name). Tired of playing "war" and causing neighborhood mayhem outside, we came inside to escape the heat for a while. My Father suggested we watch a movie, since our excitement level was running high. And in his brilliant, Fatherly wisdom, he choose a movie he knew would captivate our attention from beginning to end. From the scene where Indiana Jones, fedora-wearing adventurer and archaeologist, runs from a massive, rolling boulder and narrowly escapes an onslaught of poison-tipped arrows, to the scene where he boldly chases after a Nazi convoy on a white stallion, I was hooked.

The film takes place in the late 1930's, during Hitler's expansive search for Biblical artifacts. Dr. Indiana Jones, a college professor and renowned adventurer, is enlisted by the United States government to locate and secure the long lost Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can get their hands on it. They fear with a relic as powerful as the Ark in the Nazis' possession, nothing will stop them from marching over all the armies of the world. Dr. Jones, more interested in fortune and glory and the historical significance of the Ark than in do-good idealism, travels from the snowy climate of Nepal to the sands of Egypt in his search for the Ark. But Nazi agents are always close behind, and Dr. Jones, as usual, finds himself in way over his head. He will have to use every ounce of strength and resourcefulness he can muster if he hopes to win the chase!

In many ways, the movie speaks for itself. From the very first scenes, it grabs viewers and doesn't let go. Raiders, later changed to Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, for continuity with the three sequels that followed, is movie magic. Somehow, Spielberg and Lucas managed to craft an adventure film that went both with and against the grain. Inspired by old-fashioned serial films from the 1920's, Raiders has a familiar feel with its over-the-top action and campy style, but by 1981, this type of film was less common. The 70's introduced an array of bleak, dark, and brooding films, heavily influenced by the political climate of the decade, so when the "Blockbuster Duo" introduced Indiana Jones to the world, people flipped out. It was new, fresh, and much-needed. Here was a movie designed to simply be enjoyed.

So if you haven't seen any of these films, start with the first (and in this writer's opinion, the best). But make sure you allow enough time to watch from start to finish. Believe me, if you have to stop in the middle, it's going to drive you crazy. Raiders of the Lost Ark is a true, movie going experience. Hang on and enjoy the ride!

Here follows the reissue movie trailer, which I find a little better than the original, theatrical version. And for more information on the series, check out the official website!

Sir Evan's Weekly Movie Recommendation

The Edge (****) 1997

Rated R (language and violence)

Starring Anthony Hopkins & Alec Baldwin
Directed by Lee Tamahori
Written by David Mamet

One of my all-time favorites, The Edge is a thrilling tale of survival in the remote woods of Canada. Charles Morse (Hopkins) and Bob Green (Baldwin) find themselves stranded in a deadly wilderness when their Cessna seaplane crashes. Having gone way off course, no one will be coming to get them. They must push aside their differences in order to survive. To make matters worse, a giant, flesh-eating bear haunts their every move, and the harsh winter is well on its way. The Edge is a small masterpiece of raw suspense, action, and the complexities of human interaction. Check it out, and you will not be disappointed!