Top 5 Movie Heroes

"Get away from her, you bitch!"
Here are the finest five of them all.

5) Luke Skywalker
I was really doubtful about this one. He is a poorly written character that gets all the praise and glory after the first Star Wars' huge success. He initially is a terrific pilot, but in the movies to come we witness the skillfull swordsman, heroic figure who dares to mess with the "Man". Were it not for the arm-chopping and the effects-driven chases, I doubt he would have earned this one. But still, Luke has so much potential as a character, plus he has been worshipped and loved by a whole generation, and not without a reason I might say. Put the blame on good timing, cause if this character was in a B-movie Sci-fi and not on the most successful trilogy of the 20th century, then he would have been a footnote on this list.

4) James Bond
He's a spy for the British govenment, accompanied by gorgeous women, expensive cars, fancy gadgets, cheesy one-liners and carries a license to kill. It doesn't get any cooler than this. Don't search for human qualities on this character, oversee the invisible cars and stuff, and you shall see why this is the most successfull movie character ever. With 20 movies, 5 different actors and counting, you can't judge James Bond subjectively, since every actor contributed different qualities to him. It wasn't until Die Another Day that we saw him imprisoned and abused, an unsucuccessfull attempt to show some dark fearures of his. With Casino Royale out in some weeks, he could be higher in this list, or not at all. I hope it's the first one.


3) John McClane
He is the definition of the all-time American cop action-hero type. I'm not sure whether that's a good or a bad thing, but with Bruce Willis on it, we see a dark character with balls and attitude instead of some stupid untouchable hero-wannabe persona. Talk about right person at the wrong place, at the wrong time, John is reluctant to do his job, but saves the day afterall. Tough and grumpy, this man doesn't know when to give up. He combines Indy, Bond and Mel Gibson's Martin Riggs qualities, which translates into a bruised and battered, break-every-rule kind of guy with an attitude problem. You don't mess with this one.

2) Ellen Ripley
This woman fights for survival ever since the Nostromo discovered the alien race. The character of Ripley was originally written for a man, but it makes so much more sense with Sigourney Weaver. She has logic, she tries to outsmart the alien, she has moral principles, that's why she survives the first movie. In the second one, we see her maternal instincts, her kick-ass side and her sensitivities. In the third one she's the definition of the word survivor, while in the last one she combines rather ineffectively all the above. Alien invented the space horror genre and Aliens is one of the best action movies ever made, and don't get me started on how this franchise affected movie monsters. Nobody else could possibly fill in Sigourney's shoes, she offers us an action heroine unlike anything we had ever seen, but many times badly immitated since.

1) Indiana Jones
He teaches archaeology and at his spare time he discovers hidden treasures and fights the Nazis.He knows how to handle a whip, plus he's pretty good with his fists too. He hates snakes and he doesn't say no to exotic cuisine. Indy was something completely different when he first appeared. He wasn't this macho, trigger-happy guy with an atitude, nor was he an out-of-this-world carricature. No stupid one-liners, no fancy gadgets, this man doesn't get out of trouble without bruises. His girls actually have a pesonality. He's a real, believable character, and this is due to Harrison Ford's performance and Spielberg's inventive direction. They gave us three Indiana Jones movies filled with stunning action sequences, horror elements, lots of humour, but above all things, stories that didn't defy our IQs. If this is not movie magic then I don't know what is. Real entertainment for all tastes. Mr Spielberg, get to work please.

Contenders
Ash, the crazy, girlfriend-killing, arm-chopping, demon-possesed, chainsaw-using, monster-fighting, mean motherfucker from the Evil Dead franchise would have taken Luke's place, but came sixth. The other main contenders were The Bride, Han Solo, Neo and Ethan Hunt. In a random order, Rocky, Rambo, Conan, Harry Callahan, Martin Riggs, Mad Max, Clarice Starling, Jack Ryan and Aragorn would fill in the Top 20. Only franchise characters were considered, which means two or more movies with the same character. And no, sniveling brats like Harry Potter were not considered either.

Top 5 Plot Twists

"Be it a rock or a grain of sand, in water they sink as the same."
Here are the finest five of them all.

5)The Usual Suspects(1995)
Well-written script, that's for sure. Could he be Keyser Soze? Is everything made up entirely? It's as if the plot serves one purpose and one purpose only: make you watch the movie again and again. Although it may be a thrilling ride the first couple of times, then the whole thing starts unravelling, revealing some plot holes which are interpreted differently by each and every viewer. But that's the magic of the movie. It's not just the final twist, The Usual Suspects is built that way in order to make you think and rethink the movie from its very beginning, and engage in endless conversations with your pals. Well played, Mr Singer.


4) The sixth sense (1999)
The most talked about twist of all time, even from Psycho. The twist that gave Shyamalan his trademark. Jaws drop and "shut up!" repeated constantly. There are almost no clues in the film, showing us that Bruce's character is actually dead from the start, other than the alienation with his wife. Jacob's Ladder was a more psychological take of the same main concept, but the 6th Sense was a crowd-pleaser, and that's where its success is based upon. You can't overlook the plot holes, like how did Bruce enter houses and stuff, but this movie reinvented a genre.


3) The Others (2001)
Such a shocking ending. This movie combines the right direction, script, editing and performances, all for the sake of the final twist. Borrowing elements from The Sixth Sense and The Haunting, it gets you in the right mood from the very beginning. It may seem like such a simple plot (haunted mansion, children seeing ghosts) and you turn off your brain. And as we progress towards the end, everything turns around. And you start thinking, why didn't I see that coming? So Overall, it's not just for the scares, this movie is based on a main concept like we've never seen before, making you see things from a ghost's point of view.


2) Fight Club (1999)
How twisted is the Narrator? When we come to realize that Tyler Durden was just a figment of his imagination, an alter ego with all the qualities he lacked, you can't but admire the way all the events where depicted on us. And there are clues throughout the movie. The single frames of Tyler, as his personality starts kicking in, the monologues of the Narrator, the attitude of Marla and everyone else. An irony about the downfall and the lack of sincerity in our society, how mayhem and chaos actually make sense from time to time, how sick our current lifestyle really is. Fight Club is a disturbing movie, yet honest and pure, the twist has an actual meaning unlike most films. Now go consume.

1) Oldboy (2003)
Once he starts turning the pages of the photo album, you become suspicious. When he reaches that picture, it's as if a trap door opens underneath your feet. And the manipulation has just got started. It's the perfect revenge plot. What's moral, right or wrong, it's all a matter of opinion. Who seeks forgiveness and who seeks redemption now? Everything is justified, in a script with no plot holes. In the second viewing, you spot and understand the little details. In third viewing, you're along for the ride. And that final shot where Mido and Oh-Dae Su hug in the mountains! Did the psychic do her job? Does he still remember everything? Is Park Chan Wook a twisted fuck?



Contenders
Angel Heart, Audition, Wild Things, Planet Of The Apes, The Game, Chinatown, Saw, Jacob's Ladder, sorry but you all came close. Again, Psycho had indeed a great twist, but there have been much better ones since then.
It's the top 5 plot twists, not the best endings. So, endings with no particular twist of events were not considered. That leaves out Se7en, Citizen Kane etc. Just wait for the Top 5 Movie endings.

Top 5 Drug Films

"Choose your future. Choose life... "
Here are the finest five of them all.

5) Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas (1998)
This movie is like the bastard child of Salvador Dahli and Snoop Dogg. It's as if the entire crew and cast were constantly high during filming. No narration pattern, no storyline, yet such an entertaining movie. Like it or not, it's the only movie to show us what it looks and feels like getting high through the eyes of a junkie. Terry Gilliam's finest hour, Depp's best performance to date, in one word, surreal.



4) Scarface (1983)
This is actually a gangster film, nevertheless it surely deserves 4th place. We watch Tony Montana pursuing the American Dream and finally becoming a drug and crime lord. There isn't much to say for this movie that hasn't already been said, one of Pacino's greatest performances, maybe DePalma's greatest film, but it's the complete lack of political correctness that gives this movie its glory. And this is mainly due to Oliver Stone's script and him fighting over a drug addiction while writing it. Lots and lots of cocaine, drugs here shape each and every situation in the crime world. It's the over-the-top situations and the extreme violence that make this movie unforgettable though, not the drugs, still it's a great drug related movie.

3) Traffic (2000)
Watch this with the right mood and your complete attention and you shall see its greatness. Scripted by Stephen Gaghan, the man who gave us Syriana, this movie has everything. Drug fighting DEA official, junkie daughter, drug smuggling, drug dealing, corrupted officers and so much more, this man knows how to write a script. Soderbergh's eye is intentionally detached from all the characters, giving a documentary-like feeling with his hand-held camera. Trully enlightening movie, deals with every aspect of drug addiction while taking nobody's side. Everything you could ask for from a political thriller.

2) Requiem For A Dream (2000)
It's a movie you 'll probably watch only once in your lifetime, but it will stay in your mind for many many years to come. Extremely depressing movie, it's as if Innaritu made it. It shows you how addiction is a bitch, show you the real decadence of our society. Rarely you find such an exact depiction of everyday flawed characters. Glorious direction, fitting editting (watch Aronofsky's Pi) and soundtrack, plus a breathtaking performance by Ellen Burstyn. You either love or hate this movie, nothing in between.

1) Trainspotting (1996)
It's the drug world from the junkie's point of view. Expains why they do it, how they got started, how they deal with it. Not the best portrayal of characters, you have a comic sidekick, a sleazy bastard, a smart-ass and Renton... But Boyle's stylish and daring take on drug addiction and degradation gave us a film that changed movie history. No cliches here, you see it as it is, be it the infant's death or the heroin injections. The bedroom rehabilitation scene is pure cinematic anthology. Provocative.