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!

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!