9.14.2010

Top 10 Favorite Original Movie Characters.

A lot of movies are based on something else these days. Therefore, a lot of movie characters are not original creations for the medium. So today, I wanted to list my Top 10 favorite original movie characters. These are only characters that were created specifically for film, not characters that were in books or graphic novels or television or plays or TV shows first.

Note: These aren't necessarily the best characters; the key word is favorite. So without further ado...

Top 10 Favorite Original Movie Characters.

10. Indiana Jones

What?, you say? Indiana Jones at number 10? Blasphemy! I knew I couldn't have this list without him or else face certain death. But I have to say, the only Indy film that ever resonated with me was Last Crusade. Still, there's no denying his character. I just have others that are more favorable to me.



9. Leon

From Leon or The Professional (but preferably Leon), the titular character is a naive man who can't read and kills people for a living. And one day, he takes in a young girl whose family was just murdered. He's stricken with a conscience and has to decide between what is right, and what is easy... (oh yeah, Harry Potter reference, baby).


8. Derek Zoolander

While looking at a small, model building...
"How are you supposed to teach children to read if they can't even fit inside the building?"

'Nuff said.


7. John "Jigsaw" Kramer

They've fleshed out this character over soon-to-be 7 films. There's no denying this is a pretty original character... and for a movie character, very detailed. Sure, he's crazy, but he strongly believes in what he's doing (mixed in with a touch of revenge from time to time). And sure, he's technically been dead since the third one (and/or fourth one, really)... but the man knows how to plan ahead.


6. Randal Graves

He's snarky. He's perverted. He doesn't give a shit. And how can you not love his bluntness? Randal first brought the snark in the original Clerks, and then upped the ante in the sequel, where his relationship with Elias was pure hilarity. Not to mention he had a very touching scene at the end with Dante that I wasn't expecting. There's actually a heart behind it all.


5. Shaun

Yes, the main character from one of my favorite movies of all time--Shaun of the Dead--is just at number 5. Really, there's nothing all that remarkable about him. That's the point. But he's just so fun and grows over the course of the film. Simon Pegg played him wonderfully.


4. Napoleon Dynamite

Idiot! Gosh!


3. Captain Jack Sparrow

Again, is there really anything to elaborate on, here? He's Captain Jack. Even in the not-so-good sequels, he was excellent. Yes, the movie is based on a theme park ride, but the character himself is original... so it counts.


2. Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Everybody should be like The Dude. Laid back, chill... the world might be a better place if more people just relaxed and stuff. Maybe get a nice rug. It'll really tie the room together.


1. Richard B. Riddick

For the longest time, Riddick (preferably the Pitch Black version, but I suppose the Chronicles of Riddick version will work, too) has been my favorite movie character ever. He's a badass anti-hero, and you're never sure if he's going to save you, kill you, or leave you to die. And he has night vision eyes so can see in the dark. Easily Vin Diesel's best character... and just a well-written one all around.

6 comments:

  1. Favorite original characters? Just about every single one from any Tarantino film (except Jackie Brown).

    Seriously, I didn't realize how difficult it would be, but it is. I can't even say Tyler Durden since he's from a book!

    Nice list, though!

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  2. RIDDICK!!!!!!!!

    Definitely likin' your choices, mate.

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  3. Rachel - oh no you didn't just talk shit about Jackie Brown. :|

    Nick, I'm gonna go ahead and just ignore what you said (indirectly) about Raiders of the Lost Ark. If I acknowledged it, I might lose some respect for you. :P

    This is indeed a difficult task these days with current flicks, but not so much if you go back in time, I'd imagine. Anyway, I checked with my old 20 favorites from the last 20 years list, and I'll add these:

    Max Fucking Fischer
    Tracy Flick
    Bill Lumbergh
    Jules Winfield
    Ace Ventura
    Amelie
    Keyser Soze
    Shrek

    The Dude and Napoleon might be near the top of my list for something like this.

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  4. Fletch-You're right: I didn't talk shit about Jackie Brown. The characters in JB don't count as original because QT adapted the screenplay from an Elmore Leonard novel.

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  5. Shrek doesn't count. I think the movie is based on a children's book.

    And Jules barely missed my list.

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  6. Rachel - Phew. Clearly, emotion got the better of me there. :D

    Forgot about the Shrek book, too. Was focused on how he wasn't from an old-timey thing.

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