tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350876141132999492.post8996600716145121192..comments2023-10-23T13:37:06.448-07:00Comments on Ripping Ozzie Reads: Heroes and VillainsRowena Cory Daniellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350876141132999492.post-11910902378276194722010-03-13T01:36:42.091-08:002010-03-13T01:36:42.091-08:00Thoraiya,
I'd forgotten that line -- 'Eve...Thoraiya,<br /><br />I'd forgotten that line -- 'Every last inch of me is covered in hair!'<br /><br />Thanks for reminding me.Rowena Cory Daniellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350876141132999492.post-10669149709916490762010-03-13T01:31:32.194-08:002010-03-13T01:31:32.194-08:00Rhonda, I think Unbreakable is M Night Shyamalan&#...Rhonda, I think Unbreakable is M Night Shyamalan's best film, it blew me away with its intelligence and cunning. And for the reason that we're talking about here...the line between hero and villain being so fragile.<br /><br />Interesting about Napoleon. In "Crime and Punishment", the protagonist, Raskolnikov, thinks a LOT about Napoleon and the difference between being ordinary and being great. <br /><br />He decides that the difference is Napoleon's ability to take life, if necessary, in order to achieve greatness, and so he goes ahead and kills an old lady to get her money and drag himself out of poverty - he thinks that if not for poverty, he could be great like Napoleon.<br /><br />Great, great book. <br /><br />My other favourite villains are Darth Vader (is it cheesy to believe there's good in everyone, just like Luke says?), Baron Harkonnen, Gaston from Beauty and the Beast ("and every last inch of me's covered with hair!"), the Phantom from Phantom of the Opera, and Lestat from Interview With a Vampire.<br /><br />ThoraiyaThoraiyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09679750105137251364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350876141132999492.post-28354047075827443782010-03-13T00:01:11.461-08:002010-03-13T00:01:11.461-08:00Hi Rowena
Yeah I liked the first two thirds of U...Hi Rowena <br /><br />Yeah I liked the first two thirds of Unbreakable but the ending was a real let down. And some of the best stuff was deleted too. Pity!<br /><br />I agree Joss Whedon has a good touch with humanising his 'heroes' doesn't he.<br /><br />RhondaRhonda Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15049563304174871974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350876141132999492.post-78603099653858687972010-03-12T22:28:45.445-08:002010-03-12T22:28:45.445-08:00Hi Rhonda,
Unbreakable.
I remember that film bec...Hi Rhonda,<br /><br />Unbreakable.<br /><br />I remember that film because it was so interesting. The ambiguity of the characters was intriguing, although I don't know if the film worked on all levels. It is a while since I saw it.<br /><br />I thought the characters in Firefly were well rounded. You start out thinking they are standard characters and, gradually, more layers are revealed.Rowena Cory Daniellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350876141132999492.post-18092771096266031782010-03-12T22:04:18.733-08:002010-03-12T22:04:18.733-08:00Just to clarify what I'm describing as morally...Just to clarify what I'm describing as morally ambiguous...<br /><br />In my reading of Unbreakable the tragic villain commits mayhem in an attempt to force the hero to 'rise', to take his rightful place as a superhero. So the intention is 'good' but the act itself is 'bad.<br /><br />(I know there are other ways to interpret the film but I just love Samuel Jackson and refuse to believe he can be all bad!)Rhonda Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15049563304174871974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350876141132999492.post-8632936305446305032010-03-12T20:53:49.807-08:002010-03-12T20:53:49.807-08:00Yes Rowena I agree - I find characters who are com...Yes Rowena I agree - I find characters who are completely good or bad just too damned predictable. <br /><br />I like the main character's faults to be nice and juicy - either up front from the start or revealed ever so slowly.<br /><br />I know everyone but me hates the film Unbreakable but I absolutely loved both the hero and the villain. <br /><br />The superhero was clinically depressed and the villain was a terribly tragic figure who was impossible to hate even though he killed train loads of people. Now I think that kind of moral ambiguity makes a good story!<br /><br />RhondaRhonda Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15049563304174871974noreply@blogger.com