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Thursday 6 June 2013

Heroes and Villains Blogfest - it's here!

We all love to have a good hero to root for when it seems like all hope is lost. And you can't really have a hero without a villain to test them to their limits.


This bloghop is to celebrate our favourite heroes and villains from films, tv, books or whatever you like. The hosts of the hop are Dani at Entertaining Interests and Jackie at Bouquet of Books, so make sure you check them both out and the others taking part on the linky list.

I have three categories for my heroes and villains:


TV series:

Picture from buffy.wikia.com

Buffy Summers is by far my favourite hero from TV. Being summoned to her calling while still in high school meant she had to grow up pretty fast, often having to leave the enjoyments of normal life to everybody else. Even going out on a date is fraught with peril for this poor girl.

She has so much thrown at her, including demon boyfriends, homework, growing pains and parental woes, and she still manages to kick ass and save the world over and over.

She has died twice to save the world, and finally made it to heaven where she could be at peace, before being ripped out again and forced to live back on Earth. Through all of this she keeps the battle going.

She is a tough, strong young woman struggling to get through each day the same as the rest of us, just with added stuff on top.



Picture from www.fanpop.com


Gabriel Gray, more well known of course as Sylar, was truly a villain to fear. Stalking all those he could find with a 'gift' so that he could take it and add to his collection, how could anyone stop someone with such an arsenal of powers. When I first started watching Heroes I wondered just who would be strong enough to defeat him.
Trying as he did in the later series to turn himself around to the good side, he still couldn't completely resist the urge to kill and keep new powers for himself.
Coupled with the struggle over whether he is a brother of the Petrelli's, he was always going to be unpredictable, no matter who he was dealing with.
This is one of the reasons I loved his character so much, you never new what he was going to do next.

Who'd have thought he'd be such a great Spock?





Film:


Picture courtesy of www.fanpop.com

Harry Stamper - Armageddon (1998)

This film may not tick everyone's boxes but I loved it when it came out. I liked the cast and enjoyed the story too. 
It may not have been all that scientifically accurate and the chances of an oil rig crew actually being trained by NASA are pretty slim but hey, it was a good adventure and provided a good distraction for a couple of hours. 

Harry was the protective father sent on the mission with his soon-to-be son-in-law and there was obvious tension to begin with. But at the end when he pushes AJ into the lift, knowing he won't be returning from the mission I couldn't contain the tears. His last lines, telling AJ he would be proud to have him as a son sealed it, and I was blubbing all over the place.

He saved the world, making the ultimate sacrifice in the process. You can't get much more heroic than that. Plus, come one. It's Bruce Willis ...






Annie Wilkes - Misery (1990)
Picture courtesy of depthsofcinema.blogspot.com

A seemingly calm and caring nurse comes across her favourite writer, stranded and injured in the snowy wilderness.
We'd all like that to happen to us, right?

I'm not sure though that we'd go to the same extremes to keep them in our house or resurrect our favourite characters that they have just killed off. I'm right on this, right? Right?

Annie turned out to be a complete head case, as we all know, and I've only ever been able to watch 'that' scene with the sledgehammer once. Every time since I have to close my eyes like a baby.


Books:


Picture courtesy of www.dailymail.co.uk

Harry Flashman - created by George MacDonald Fraser


Harry Flashman is a reluctant hero, falling into situations mostly by accident or in the pursuit of some selfish deeds to suit himself. Somehow though he ends up coming out of it as a hero, and enjoying all the benefits and status that go with it.

He usually gets himself into a scrape in the pursuit of money or, more often, women. His attention is focused so much on these things he doesn't realise the situations he is getting into.
What is actually some act of cowardice on his part to save his own skin usually comes across as some act of bravery, which he doesn't bother to correct.

It's fun seeing just how he manages to get out of the next escapade.






Picture courtesy of twitgoo.com -





Heathcliff - created by Emily Bronte


I have recently read Wuthering Heights for the second time, and I find it hard to find any good or nice characters in it. At some point, they all behave in ways detrimental to their companions. The only exception would perhaps be Nelly Dean, and at a push Hareton Earnshaw.

Heathcliff is a true villain though, plotting at length to get his revenge on Hindley Earnshaw and Edgar Linton. He seems to plan in advance, manipulating everyone to work to his own ends. Even using his own, frail, whimpering son to get the rights and access to his enemy's land and property.

I could feel the relief alongside the other characters when he finally went mad and met his maker. He cast a very dark shadow over everything that happened throughout the story.



I thought I'd feature Tom Hardy's Heathcliff for all the ladies, ;-)


Who are your favourite heroes and villains?

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21 comments:

  1. Yes, yes, yes! These are fantastic! I was going to pick Sylar as well but I was already at 3 villains and had to end somewhere. He is truly a great villain!

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    1. Thanks Dani, and thanks for hosting. I had a lot of fun with this.

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  2. Awesome...I had totally forgot about Sylar and I was a huge "Heroes" fan. Harry Stamper was also a great pick...a truly unassuming hero, just trying to save the planet. Armageddon is one of my favorite films :)

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    1. Mine too. I must watch it again soon. Thanks for stopping by.

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  3. Ah Sylar. Forgot about him. What a great character. And I really felt for him when he was struggling with his dark side to become good. He kept you on your toes, that's for sure :)

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    1. He certainly did. He was one of my favourite characters from the show.

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  4. I am so with you on Wuthering Heights - those who think it is a love story have missed the point, it is about obsession and possession, not love, and Heathcliff is a true villain. He controlled everything and everyone for his own ends when he returned and took over the farm, his plotting is total revenge and there is nothing even likeable about him. He is a very dark character and a really good pick for a villain.

    Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles

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    1. Thanks Sophie. He really stood out for me throughout the story. If it weren't for him, I'm sure everyone else would have lived happy and contented lives.

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  5. Buffy is one of my all time favourite heroes. Also, I love that you picked Heathcliff - he is a horrible character!

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    1. Buffy is brilliant. She's so kick-ass and a great role model. We need strong women out there.

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  6. Great picks! I've actually never seen Misery, but I know enough about it and that scene to cringe even thinking about it.

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    1. Thanks Patricia. It's a great film, even if I do have to turn away at 'that' point!

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  7. Harry was also great because he was Bruce Willis! I'll watch anything with Bruce Willis.

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    1. Me too! I'm having a Friends-fest at the moment and I've just been watching the episodes with him in. So lovely.

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  8. Heathcliffe is a very interesting villain choice, I like it. And I really like Buffy :-)

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    1. He's in my mind at the moment as I've been studying Wuthering Heights for my English course.
      My treat when I've finished is to rewatch some Buffy ;-)

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  9. Buffy was also proof that once in a while, the television series is better than the movie.

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    1. So true Alex. I've seen the film a couple of times, but much prefer the series. I could definitely watch that over and over.
      Thanks for dropping by.

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  10. I have to say, Buffy is my favourite hero. She rocks!

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    1. She totally does. No hero list would be complete without her.

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  11. Buffy FTW - she is such a great character. I never did see Heroes, but I have heard good things about some of the characters. A most unusual choice for your film hero, but one the nail and I just shudder at the idea of Misery - I have never been able to watch it.

    I know nothing about Harry Flashman, but as for Wuthering Heights you are so right. When people call it a love story I kind of just laugh, more like a train wreck of obsession and betrayal.

    Great list.
    Tasha's Thinkings

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