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This week's Ten on Tuesday theme is 10 Favorite Movie Characters. I had a difficult time coming up with really, really good ones after the first three or four, until I got my stride. Then I could barely restrict it to ten.
Everyone's favorite, Captain Jack Sparrow.
"You cheated!" "Pirate."
My first true love, Mary Poppins. Also any other role the young Julie Andrews played, particularly Maria in The Sound of Music. I am still in love with Mary Poppins and Maria. Le sigh.
Dory. Has there ever been a better animated character? "I wish I could speak whale."
Inspector Cluseau (the Peter Sellers version). Sellers bridged Marx Brothers humor with more modern slapstick in a creative, hilarious, and subtle way. Cluseau (along with Dreyfuss and Cato) are among the most memorable characters ever.
Navin R. Johnson. "He hates these cans!" "The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here!" Steve Martin's defining role, I think. At least until later in his career.
Here's a twofer: Harold and Maude. Neither character rates my top ten without the other, but together they were terrific.
Forrest Gump. A lot of people seem to think this movie is cotton candy for the brain, but I love it, and the character is the main reason. And Lieutenant Dan makes my honorable mention list.
Inigo Montoya.
"Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means whatta you think it means."
"Let me explain. No, no. There is no time. Let me sum up."
Willie Wonka. I have not seen the remake starring Captain Jack Sparrow, but I knew I had to put a Gene Wilder role in my top ten, and this was the clear, logical choice.
Indiana Solo. I mean Han Jones. You know, those phenomenally awesome cool guy adventure roles played by Harrison Ford.
And honorable mentions:- Otto from A Fish Called Wanda. Kevin Cline's masterpiece role.
- Bill and Ted in their excellent adventure.
- The "I want my two dollars" kid and most of the other wacky characters in Better Off Dead. Like the two japanese guys who spoke like Howard Cosell, and the hot French neighbor, and the mom who cooked the green goop with raisins that slimed off the plate.
- Any and all Bond Girls. Without the Bond Girls, these movies would be just spy thrillers.
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22 comments:
Great list. I hate reading other peoples lists, because you end up saying "Damn, I should have thought of that". But then who do you take off your original list?
If it's just 10 Favorite and not 10 best, my list would be (more or less):
10. Albert Goldman, played by Nathan Lane in The Birdcage
9. Susan Bradley, played by Judy Garland in The Harvey Girls
8. Elle Woods, played by Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde
7. The Goblin King, played by David Bowie in Labyrinth (honorable mention to Jennifer Connelly for her role as Sarah)
6. Popeye Jackson, played by Alfre Woodard in "Miss Firecracker" (honorable mention to Alfre's role as "Penny Washington" in Heart and Souls)
5. Gandalf, played by Ian McKellan in LOTR
4.Han Jones/Indiana Solo (ditto Pete)
3.Madmartigan, played by Val Kilmer in Willow
2. Aeon Flux, played by Charlize Theron in Aeron Flux
1. Pollyanna, played by Hayley Mills in Pollyanna
(I refused to consider animated movie characters because I'm such a Disney Fanatic.)
Very cool list. I forgot Inigo Montoya on mine. I love Mandy Patinkin.
Harold and Kumar from Harold & Kumar Go to Whitecastle. Hi-larious.
I think my #1 is yours. And most of the gang on your list would have made my honorable mention, at least.
The Goblin King in Labyrinth by David Bowie.
The Devil in Legend by Tim Curry
Professor Snape by Alan Rickman
Sheriff of Nottingham by Alan Rickman (that consummate the marriage scene in Robin Hood is one of the funniest ones ever)
Gee...you think I have a thing for the bad guys?
Back in the 'olden days' (as my kids call it), I memorized every song from Mary Poppins and Sound of Music and did my best to sing them like Julie Andrews.
And I love Gene Wilder. He was great as Willie Wonka, but one of my favorite scenes of his was the "Put-the-candle-back!" scene from Young Frankenstein. I still use that voice and emphasis with my children sometimes in memory of that scene.
Navin, good choice. I was trying to think of a good character that Steve Martin played; how could I forget that. Dory is a good one too.
I actually saw Mary Poppins when it opened in theaters!! Great list.
wyrdd - Alan Rickman, period. Yummy.
Haha very cool list you got there. Dory's quite a favorite this week. She's a darling alright.
Cheers. ;)
Wow, Pete. Good list!
I'm right there with ya on the vast majority, although, geekburger that I am, I'd have to add Sirius Black to mine. (Don't tell anybody.)
nice list.
thanks for taking a peek at mine.
Dude, If I had thought about it, I so would have put Gene Wilder's Wonka in there. Awesome list.
Numbers 1,2,3,4,8 and 9 are favorites of mine as well, thought I neglected to put them on my list . . . :P
I've gone back and added the movies.
Your list is great
Navin and Otto rock! Ha!
Thanks for stopping by mine :)
I love your list! That's so awesome that you mentioned the John Cusack classic "Better Off Dead". One of the best movies ever! Got to give props to the singing hamburger :)
Thanks for stopping by my site!
Wow, thanks all y'all for commenting!
Aerin, thanks for playing here. The Goblin King, yeah, and The Birdcage guy, and Gandalf no doubt. But I think Madmartigan was only so good because Willow was so lame. Val Kilmer had some great roles (Iceman, Nick Rivers), but Willow... ?
WW, why am I not surprised you have a thing for the bad boys? LOL. Rickman as Snape is a very good one.
Robin, your secret is safe here.
I've visited about 25 other lists, and a few glaring omissions became clear to me:
Not one single muppet was mentioned. Not even Sam the Eagle.
Not one role from Robert Redford. Personally, I loved him as Sundance and as Johnny Hooker and as Roy Hobbs, but maybe most bloggers are too young (there were a lot of recent movies on the lists).
Nothing from the Marx Brothers, either. But I'm not that surprised.
I thought maybe we'd see some other celebrities such as Meryl Streep or Sally Field, but I don't remember seeing either.
I also forgot Dennis Hopper's villainous role in Speed. He made a great bad guy. Oh, and Agent Smith in The Matrix. Great villain.
There are just too many to mention them all. What's funny is how many lists had serious overlap.
Wonderful list! I had forgotten a few of these!
Totally great list! Captain Jack Sparrow is such a hottie!
Definitely the Bond girls. Good call!
Am I the only other person who knows Harold and Maude?
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