Advertisement To be included in this list the characters had to come from a series of movies, and it helped that each franchise first hit theaters about 20 years ago.
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CHRISTIAN BALE stars as Batman in Warner Bros. Pictures action adventure Batman Begins. PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE USED SOLELY FOR ADVERTISING, PROMOTION, PUBLICITY OR REVIEWS OF THIS SPECIFIC MOTION PICTURE AND TO REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF THE STUDIO. NOT FOR SALE OR REDISTRIBUTION.
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Returning favorites
Batman Michael Keaton or Christian Bale. Old school or new. When it comes to Batman on the big screen there really are only two choices. Forget the Val Kilmer and George Clooney movies because, well, they were forgettable. Years after Keaton brought Bruce Wayne to film, Bale is breathing new life into a character audiences want to like. The question that remains is will they still be fans of the shadow and gloom version, The Dark Knight, swinging into theaters July 18?
John McClane Apparently audiences wanted a bit more “Yippee ki-yay.” After more than a decade away from theaters John McClane was back at it last summer in Live Free or Die Hard. Audiences often want heroes to have flaws and Bruce Willis’ down-to-earth acting, plus McClane’s difficult family life provide just the right backdrop for a hero who really knows how to dispatch terrorists while still feeling like a guy you’d love to have a beer with.
Indiana Jones After a nearly two decade vacation, Indy recently made a return to the big screen. And while audiences might be mixed on the quality of the plot, they didn’t mind paying to see the whip-wielding hero back at it. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull grossed about $100 million in it’s opening weekend. Audiences love a character that can get the snot knocked out of him and still come out on top. Harrison Ford gets bonus points for being the actor behind not only Dr. Jones, but also Han Solo, who could easily have a place on this list.
Where it started
James Bond Gagdets, girls and guns. Really, when you think about it, how could these movies go wrong? Movie heroes often go through the same types of plot developments that Bond does, but few come out looking as good. With more than 20 films since 1962, it’s fair to say James Bond has legs. From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig there have been changes to the character and the franchise, but overall, you know what lies ahead when you sit down to watch a James Bond movie.
Dirty Harry You’d have good reason to say that in 1971, a new bread of movie hero was born: Action. Harry Callahan is a no nonsense detective who carries a huge hand gun and gets the bad guy at all costs. If that doesn’t say action movie, not much will. With five films worth of butt kicking, few can dispute that Harry knows how to take care of business.
The future
Jason Bourne Smarter, faster and perhaps a tad more believable than those who came before him, Bourne may be an indicator of what’s to come in the action hero category. Matt Damon’s portrayal of Bourne may have launched a spy war with the Bond franchise. Bourne’s first three movies centered around the idea of identity. It will be interesting to see: 1. If future movies get made, and 2. How the character evolves without the central theme that began the franchise.
A class all her own
Ellen Ripley Action hero is often a “Boys Only” kind of club. Sigourney Weaver’s protagonist in the four Aliens movies shows that girls can kick butt. As soldier after soldier (and just about every other character) dies, Ripley just keeps fighting.
Superheroes
Even though these three aren’t human in the movies, they still make the list. Besides, they’ve saved more people than us regular folk.
Superman You’re a star when you save the world in tights.
Spider-Man Funny and troubled. Audiences can relate.
Blade Dusting vampires and saving the day with style.
Action stars
Jason Statham No one else gets it done quite like Statham. He’s always holding down a masculine character in his films. It could have something to do with his muscular build and convincing ability to beat the crap out of someone on film. On DVD: Check out the original Transporter. Upcoming tough guy film: Death Race in theaters August 22.
Vin Diesel Never mind the fake Hollywood name that Mark Vincent uses, largely because if you have a problem with it, he’ll ask “You want to take this outside.” Say no. Upcoming tough guy film: Babylon A.D. in theaters August 29.
Jet Li Perhaps he’s a bit too heavy on the martial arts to be an action hero in the traditional sense, but there is no denying that Jet Li kicks butt. Upcoming tough guy film: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor in theaters Aug. 1.
Once upon a time
Jean-Claude Van Damme Despite now being the king of direct to DVD action flicks, he really knew how to get stuff done in Universal Soldier and Timecop.
Steven Seagal Remember when he was good in Under Siege? Yup, those were the days before he became a middle-age karate guy with a ponytail.
True classics
Arnold Schwarzenegger Sure he’s the Governor of Cal-E-fo-knee-a, but it wasn’t so long ago he was the star of True Lies, Terminator, Predator, Total Recall, Commando, Conan the Barbarian and of course Kindergarten Cop. OK, maybe not so much with that last one.
Sylvester Stallone Tried to comeback with both Rocky and Rambo flicks, and while those really weren’t bad movies, Stallone just doesn’t stand up to the star power of Bruce Willis coming back as McClane.
