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Avatar List added by Grand Assault on 9 February 2008 05:51

Favourite Characters in cinema.

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People who added this item 377  Average listal rating (264 ratings) 5.9  IMDB Rating 5.9 
1. Rocky IV (1985)
Rocky Balboa - The Prizefighter with a heart of gold who taught invaluable lessons about determination and compassion to millions! The personification of the word 'underdog'. Someone who would never admit defeat and stop at nothing to show the world what he could do.

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People who added this item 997  Average listal rating (682 ratings) 7.2  IMDB Rating 7.8 
2. Collateral (2004)
Vincent - The ice cold assassin who never loses control. Cruel, calculating and deadly, any emotions he may have are brutally repressed as he mercilessly prowls the city as a ruthlessly efficient contract killer.

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People who added this item 1277  Average listal rating (843 ratings) 8  IMDB Rating 8.3 
3. Blade Runner (1982)
Rick Deckard - The bounty hunter who hides his vulnerability behind a sea of dead pan and a huge side arm. Called out of retirement for one last job, he faces a morality crisis as he comes to terms with his own ambiguous origins and morally dubious occupation.

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People who added this item 1308  Average listal rating (927 ratings) 7.7  IMDB Rating 8.3 
4. Die Hard (1988)
John McClane - Everyone's favourite wise-cracking renegade cop! The classic all-American anti-hero who is seemingly blighted with bad luck throughout his entire life. Goes to extraordinary lengths to protect what is close to him in the most unorthodox and highly quotable way possible.

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People who added this item 1673  Average listal rating (1221 ratings) 7.6  IMDB Rating 8.5 
5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
The T-800 - The indestructible machine that I idolised from a very young age. Sent from the future to protect mankind's only distant chance of survival, the machine manages to learn some distinct human traits and better understand the species that he was originally intended to destroy.

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People who added this item 1652  Average listal rating (1085 ratings) 8.5  IMDB Rating 8.9 
6. The Dark Knight (2008)
The Joker - A character that is impossible to overlook. He'll be haunting cinemas for a good few years yet. Psychotic and extremely competent, the only man who could ever hope to make Batman break a sweat, and casually bring an entire city to its knees in his spare time.

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People who added this item 2029  Average listal rating (1394 ratings) 7.7  IMDB Rating 8.5 
7. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Captain John H. Miller - Tom Hanks as his very best as the soft-spoken squad leader sent on an unimaginable mission across occupied France. He barely manages to hold it together and his fragility makes the battle scenes all the more intense. Never loses his humanity in the brutality of conflict.

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People who added this item 1684  Average listal rating (1201 ratings) 7.2  IMDB Rating 8.1 
8. The Terminator (1984)
Kyle Reese - It's good to know that even in the future, there are still legends like Kyle Reese fighting the good fight. Having the unenviable task of defending a hapless woman from the ultimate future killing machine, Reese performs admirably to the death.


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People who added this item 635  Average listal rating (439 ratings) 6.9  IMDB Rating
9. Desperado (1995)
El Meriachi - The wondering enigma who is about as legendary as it gets. Stealthy, slick, stylish and extremely competent with a vast array of firearms, El Meriachi is pretty much a man we all want to be, and not just because of his ability to snare beautiful Mexican honeys.

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People who added this item 2086  Average listal rating (1517 ratings) 7.4  IMDB Rating
10. The Truman Show (1998)
Truman Burbank - A man whose ignorance and innocence endear him to the whole world. The way he tries to come to terms with what is going on around him is hilarious. From his laborious daily routine to his heroic last stand, Truman is a lovable character throughout.

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People who added this item 1179  Average listal rating (819 ratings) 7.3  IMDB Rating 8.1 
11. Groundhog Day (1993)
Phil Connors - The network weatherman who is a rain-cloud made of comedy gold! Bitter and cynical in everyday life, Connors is punished for his miserable personality and has to relive the same day over and over and eventually transforms from reckless rogue into hero of the town.

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People who added this item 597  Average listal rating (327 ratings) 8.6  IMDB Rating 8.8 
12. Seven Samurai (1954)
Kikuchiyo - The runt of the samurai litter, but the one member of the troupe who you sympathise with most as he takes the challenge to heart and ends up honouring his reputation.

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People who added this item 752  Average listal rating (500 ratings) 8.2  IMDB Rating 8.3 
13. Oldboy (2003)
Oh Dae-Su - Driven by an interminable desire for revenge, Oh Dae-Su transforms himself from a worthless drunkard and terrible family man into a lethal weapon hell bent on finding the man who imprisoned him without explanation for 15 years.

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People who added this item 110  Average listal rating (62 ratings) 6.7  IMDB Rating 6.9 
14. Angel-A (2005)
Andre - The down and out bum whose smart mouth only seems to get him into more trouble. Flitting between utterly hopeless and inspired genius, his life gets turned upside down, and even then he continues to push his luck.

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People who added this item 465  Average listal rating (307 ratings) 7.7  IMDB Rating 7.9 
15. Akira (1988)
Kaneda - Cocky and heroic in a world that has fallen apart around him. Growing up in a world of utter violence and commercialism, he has wisdom beyond his years. Seeing him mop up after the entire city had failed was one of my favourite parts.

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People who added this item 2280  Average listal rating (1562 ratings) 7.7  IMDB Rating 8.6 
16. American Beauty (1999)
Lester Burnham - Fuelled by a mild psychosis, Lester manages to blackmail his boss and quit his job with a years salary. He heads right back down the food chain, where he intends to spend the rest of his life without responsibility or stress. The ultimate mid-life crisis.
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People who added this item 813  Average listal rating (500 ratings) 8.1  IMDB Rating 8.1 
17. Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
Howl - Everyone's favourite moody magician who, behind a veil of flamboyance and over-confidence, is really just a spoiled sulky young man. Being voiced by another hero amongst men aids him in his cause. Definitely a man after my own heart.

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People who added this item 566  Average listal rating (375 ratings) 6.9  IMDB Rating 7.4 
18. The Fly (1986)
Seth Brundle - A passionate scientific genius who inspires my sympathy. I even empathised with him during his transformation into a hideous beast. Such a tragic character who does his best to maintain humanity to the very last!

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People who added this item 1310  Average listal rating (909 ratings) 7  IMDB Rating 7.8 
19. The Last Samurai (2003)
Ujio - One of the fiercest and most loyal of all the samurai following Katsumoto. Quick to anger and utterly determined, he does not make friends easily, but is thoroughly steadfast in his beliefs and honourable in his alliances.


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People who added this item 716  Average listal rating (444 ratings) 6.9  IMDB Rating 7.2 
20. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
Alistair Hennessey - The smug and ultra-rich rival of Steve Zissou never fails to get the laughs throughout the film. Their bitter feud is comedy gold, and he certainly gets his comeuppance at the end of the film, but we all still love him anyway.

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People who added this item 2196  Average listal rating (1541 ratings) 7.7  IMDB Rating 8.4 
21. Sin City (2005)
John Hartigan - The beleaguered noir detective in played to absolute perfection by Bruce Willis. Even with a dodgy ticker and his advancing years, he still rids the world of a vile pervert in style.

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People who added this item 362  Average listal rating (234 ratings) 7.2  IMDB Rating 7.9 
22. Carlito's Way (1993)
Carlito 'Charlie' Brigante - Al Pacino portrays the street smart and insanely charismatic reformed gangster who just wants to earn an honest living so he can escape his past. His fierce loyalty eventually drags him into increasingly sinister scenarios resulting in a tragic finale. A legend to the end!

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People who added this item 1277  Average listal rating (854 ratings) 7.3  IMDB Rating 7.6 
23. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
Kiril - The Russian super agent who goads Bourne out of hiding with an attempt on his life and the accidental assassination of his girlfriend. Spends the rest of the film in the company of exotic dancers, before critically wounding Bourne and chasing him through Moscow upon his return to Russia.

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People who added this item 486  Average listal rating (332 ratings) 7.7  IMDB Rating
24. Battle Royale (2000)
Kazuo Kiriyama - A tour de force of sadistic, merciless killing. Kiriyama is warped enough to volunteer for the inhumane and brutal survival contest and in turn, is responsible for the majority of the deaths. Aided by the fact that he looks like the Devil incarnate, some people would kill for that hair!

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People who added this item 458  Average listal rating (342 ratings) 7  IMDB Rating 7.5 
25. Falling Down (1993)
William 'D-Fens' Foster - D-Fens loses it one day when stuck in traffic and embarks on a city-wide rampage as he attempts to make it home to his estranged wife and child. The grime of a broken society stand in his way, sickening him to the point of murder and contributing to his mental downfall.

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People who added this item 1136  Average listal rating (745 ratings) 8  IMDB Rating 8.4 
26. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Animal Mother - An unhinged loon who finds his calling as a heavy machine gunner in the Vietnam War. Unpredictable and angry, he is the most disconcerting member of the platoon, though he is always willing to fight for his friends. His imperious use of the HMG is the stuff of legend.


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People who added this item 830  Average listal rating (568 ratings) 7.2  IMDB Rating
27. Hero (2002)
Broken Sword - In a movie filled with raw beauty, Broken Sword is easily the most beautiful character. Calm, collected and utterly adept with a blade, he is the only character strong enough to plant the seed of doubt in the mind of the unnamed hero - one that ultimately leads to united peace for China.

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People who added this item 2149  Average listal rating (1564 ratings) 7.6  IMDB Rating 8.3 
28. Gladiator (2000)
Maximus - Russell Crowe portrays a character that epitomises manhood. Battling through the adversity of a murdered family and a disgraced reputation, he rises the ranks of the gladiatorial arena in search of revenge against Commodus, the unlawful ruler of Rome.

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People who added this item 1591  Average listal rating (1082 ratings) 8  IMDB Rating 8.5 
29. The Departed (2006)
Dignam - Portraying the explicit, foul-mouthed detective, he was always going to get the laughs; but as the story progresses into a serious and complex plot, he eventually ends up performing the most agreeable execution of the whole film, a killing that makes you thankful that he exists.

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People who added this item 1339  Average listal rating (900 ratings) 6.4  IMDB Rating 6.6 
30. The Addams Family (1991)
Gomez Addams - The dedicated lover and family man who we all wish was our own father. Elegant, suave, sophisticated with a slick dress sense to boot, not every man can pull of a slimline 'tache, but his style is as sharp as his skills with a blade.

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People who added this item 771  Average listal rating (569 ratings) 7  IMDB Rating 7.8 
31. Predator (1987)
Dutch - This film saw Arnie at his most carnal. His squad was full of legends, but it was him alone that was made of strong enough stuff to go toe-to-toe with an intergalactic assassin in a fight to the death. Pure muscle-bound brilliance.

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People who added this item 1018  Average listal rating (723 ratings) 7.9  IMDB Rating 8.5 
32. Aliens (1986)
Dwayne Hicks - An astute leader who kept his head when all about him were losing theirs. Just about the only marine who wasn't governed by machismo, but rather common sense and a legendary ability to steal the show.

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People who added this item 774  Average listal rating (530 ratings) 7.7  IMDB Rating 8.3 
33. Heat (1995)
Vincent Hanna - An unhinged city cop whose only solace comes from his work, a job that is slowly ruining everything he has. That never impedes on his brilliance though. A beaten and weathered man who has seen it all. I love characters like this.

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People who added this item 1194  Average listal rating (855 ratings) 8.2  IMDB Rating 8.6 
34. Léon: The Professional (1994)
Stansfield - Corrupt, sinister and disgusting to the rotten core. Portrayed to perfection by Gary Oldman. Stansfield has absolutely zero morals and probably wouldn't have thought twice about icing a twelve-year-old girl in the gents toilets if he wasn't rudely interrupted.

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People who added this item 432  Average listal rating (274 ratings) 7.9  IMDB Rating 8.2 
35. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Sonny Wortzik - Sonny is the centrepiece of this incredible film. Starting out as an unconfident robber, he ascends the food chain and gains a place in the hearts and minds of the public. One bank robber you'd just want to slap on the wrist instead of sending him to the slammer.

Grand Assault's rating:

People who added this item 1876  Average listal rating (1338 ratings) 7.1  IMDB Rating 7.8 
36. Ghostbusters (1984)
Raymond Stantz - The unsung hero of the film. While all the plaudits and best lines go to Peter Venkman, Ray was the man after my own heart. Taking everything utterly seriously and offering nothing but forlorn solutions to any problems they faced, Ray was just about the most helpless of the bunch.

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People who added this item 917  Average listal rating (564 ratings) 6.6  IMDB Rating 6.2 
37. Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
Sheldon Sands - A covert CIA agent who almost completely lives on the wrong side of the law. Promoted to legendary status simply for wearing a T-Shirt emblazoned with 'CIA' across the front when he is supposed to be undercover. His outfit at the end of the film isn't too bad either.

Grand Assault's rating:

People who added this item 739  Average listal rating (531 ratings) 6.9  IMDB Rating 7.6 
38. Lethal Weapon (1987)
Martin Riggs - Riggs starts off as an uncontrollable detective. A real loose cannon, probably inventing that cliché of character by himself! But BY GOD does he get the job done! Completely believable as an unpredictable head case. Thank God he's one of the good guys!

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Comments

Posted : 1 year, 5 months ago at May 26 16:26
Superb list, put together really well. Looks great.
Posted : 1 year, 5 months ago at Jun 3 15:36
I personally would have thought Benny from da Bronx was up there with the greats for you??
Posted : 1 year, 5 months ago at Jun 12 6:54
Great list, I agree with every single one up there, though Rocky has one or two weaker films (weaker, not bad), it's a great saga in the overall.
Posted : 1 year, 5 months ago at Jun 15 14:43
Map to the Stars Eddie?
Percy Wetmire?
Donald Gennaro?
Simon from True Lies?

You've changed man!
Posted : 1 year, 5 months ago at Jun 15 15:55
All worthy choices for your 'greasy sleazeballs I love to base my life on' list, but I don't want to steal your thunder!
Posted : 1 year, 4 months ago at Jul 6 18:22
Interesting choices, many supporting roles that are scene stealers.

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Description

These films may not be my all time favourites, but they contain my favourite characters on the big screen. These are characters that have left a lasting impression on me and kept me interested in cinema altogether.

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