Women Action Movies

[ggersten]

I'll take up Mr. Grant's challenge for good action movies with a woman in the lead:

The River Wild (ok, not great, just good/acceptable)
Aliens (sort of - Weaver is not really the "lead" even with her Oscar nomination - it's the aliens that are the lead)

[Dennis]

Do guys view female action heroes the same as women pro wrestlers? Would it be awful if the WWE eliminated the women's division. Hasn't the wrestling always been awful? It had more credibility with women like Chyna and Lita, but now they just have maxim pinup girls wrestling. Aliens is the best female action movie. Kill Bill is alright. and Crouching Tiger too. but are those movies more in the gimmick category. people are paying for the aliens and the chopsocky, not necessarily to see the performers.

[badMike]

I dunno, I kind of liked The Brave One (one of the films that inspired the Warner Bros. dictum -- which they say now never happened -- which of course it did). It's not a great film, it's quite stupid. But fun! Any movie that has Jodie Foster blowing away one of my idols, Larry Fessenden, has got to get an automatic positive rating.

Aliens, I think, is a given and you could also possibly squeeze in Terminator 2 in there, although Linda Hamilton isn't technically the main lead and you couldn't use her role to sell the film like you can Sigourney Weaver.

I also recently watched Pam Greer's Coffy for the first time and I have to include that in the list of great female action films -- i.e. if "great" equals sleazy and degenerate. I'm not familiar with Pam's other films, but those are probably worth consideration.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

I also recently watched Pam Greer's Coffy for the first time and I have to include that in the list of great female action films -- i.e. if "great" equals sleazy and degenerate. I'm not familiar with Pam's other films, but those are probably worth consideration.

Big Doll's House and it's sequel Big Bird Cage are up there.

Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! probably rates a mention if those do as well.

[hyzmarca]

Do guys view female action heroes the same as women pro wrestlers? Would it be awful if the WWE eliminated the women's division. Hasn't the wrestling always been awful? It had more credibility with women like Chyna and Lita, but now they just have maxim pinup girls wrestling. Aliens is the best female action movie. Kill Bill is alright. and Crouching Tiger too. but are those movies more in the gimmick category. people are paying for the aliens and the chopsocky, not necessarily to see the performers.

Women's Pro Wrestling can be done well. It can even be done well when the female wrestlers are hypersexualized. A small all-female promotion called Women's Extreme Wrestling does it well.
It just can't be done well when it is take on to a male-dominated promotion simply for sex appeal. When women's wrestling is treated as an afterthought, of course it will suck. If it is treated with the same seriousness and professionalism as the men's matches are, it won't suck.

The same is true of the female action hero, which is rarely treated well. The big problem, the huge problem, is that female actions heroes tend to be treated as women who just happen to be action heroes, rather than as action heroes who just happen to be women. A movie about a woman who kicks butt is very different from a movie about a person who kicks butt and just happens to have a vagina. It is the difference between a movie about a plastic sex fantasy and a movie about an actual person.

Of course, the tendency towards stylish CGI doesn't help matters, as it creates action scenes that can be hokey and unrealistic.

Nikita (Point of No Return sucks, however).
Eko Eko Azarak.
The Heroic Trio
Lady Snowblood
Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance
The Quick And The Dead
Underworld (if you can get past the light-generating bullets)

If we include Anime, the number of good female-led action films becomes staggering.

[bartl]

There is, of course, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (Kristy Swanson). Whoopi Goldberg made a few action/mysteries (Jumpin' Jack Flash, Burglar, Fatal Beauty) which were actually decent light mystery/adventure, but were advertised as broad comedy, and therefore failed to find an audience (not to mention being lambasted by the critics, who generally seemed to have an attitude, "How DARE they cast Whoopi Goldberg in movies where the fact that she is black and female is not relevant to the plot!").

Now, of course, there is the question, "How many good action movies have there been?" There are a lot of action movies that are fun, but not good (although I don't believe the reverse is true).

Television has shown, numerous times, that a woman can be sold as an action hero; I'm not sure why it hasn't translated well into the movies.

[Your Imaginary Pal]

I Spit on Your Grave.

GI Jane

Wing Chun

Monster

Hard Candy

Barb Wire:rolleyes:
but it was probably more successful than Elektra

[badMike]

Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! probably rates a mentionYeah, I was thinking of that one, too. But, I saw it a long time ago and didn't remember how much "action" there was in it.

[badMike]

I Spit on Your Grave.
Monster
Hard Candy
Monster is not an action movie. I haven't seen I Spit and Hard Candy, but I think those are more thrillers than "action" movies.

[Melbourne Mew Mew]

Azumi and Azumi 2
Zeiram and Zeiram 2
Anything with Brigitte Lin or Michelle Yeoh

[mattx110]

Women's Pro Wrestling can be done well. It can even be done well when the female wrestlers are hypersexualized. A small all-female promotion called Women's Extreme Wrestling does it well.
It just can't be done well when it is take on to a male-dominated promotion simply for sex appeal. When women's wrestling is treated as an afterthought, of course it will suck. If it is treated with the same seriousness and professionalism as the men's matches are, it won't suck.

The same is true of the female action hero, which is rarely treated well. The big problem, the huge problem, is that female actions heroes tend to be treated as women who just happen to be action heroes, rather than as action heroes who just happen to be women. A movie about a woman who kicks butt is very different from a movie about a person who kicks butt and just happens to have a vagina. It is the difference between a movie about a plastic sex fantasy and a movie about an actual person.

Of course, the tendency towards stylish CGI doesn't help matters, as it creates action scenes that can be hokey and unrealistic.

Nikita (Point of No Return sucks, however).
Eko Eko Azarak.
The Heroic Trio
Lady Snowblood
Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance
The Quick And The Dead
Underworld (if you can get past the light-generating bullets)

If we include Anime, the number of good female-led action films becomes staggering.

and the number of bad skyrockets exponentially. just to keep things safe. but your point stands. it can potentially be done well.

[NatGertler]

Most of the films mentioned here aren't very good.

Run Lola Run, on the other hand...

[Michael P]

Wait, since when is Underworld a good movie?

[Sean Whitmore]

Most of the films mentioned here aren't very good.


Decades old too, for that matter.


SEAN

[Johnny_Luck]

Do guys view female action heroes the same as women pro wrestlers? Would it be awful if the WWE eliminated the women's division. Hasn't the wrestling always been awful? It had more credibility with women like Chyna and Lita, but now they just have maxim pinup girls wrestling. Aliens is the best female action movie. Kill Bill is alright. and Crouching Tiger too. but are those movies more in the gimmick category. people are paying for the aliens and the chopsocky, not necessarily to see the performers.

I seriously take it you haven't watched wrestling for a while now if you think Chyna was worthy while people with actually in ring ability like Melina, Mickie James, Gail Kim are not.

TNA let there women have a cage match and even let Gail jump off of the top to perform a move. Mickie vs Melina at Backlash this year is one of the best technical based female wrestling matches wwe has had in history.

In fact Melina/Mickie are the only reason raw is worthwhile other than HBK whose the best wrestler ever and been around since 89.

Wait, since when is Underworld a good movie?

Since it was made, though UW2 was better.

Also I know its a video game movie, but DOA is a cheesy but its also funny movie with a lot of sweet and killer put together fight scenes that make it worth it alone.

Other than that both Tomb Raider movies were decent/good and underrated
Charlies Angels Full Trottle was a good action movie
Buffy's movie was great(I grew up with it being one of my favs
Mr. and Mrs. Smith

and I could probably name a few others off the top of my head.

[Steven Grant]

I should have qualified:

... Hollywood films... in the last 20 years...

- Grant

[Hatut Zeraze]

Most of the films mentioned here aren't very good.

Run Lola Run, on the other hand...

Good one! That's the first one I thought of.

Could those two Joan of Arc movies they made about 10 years ago count? Both of them were quite good. One starred Leelee Sobieski and the other one starred Milla Jovovich.

There was a lot of action in both, but I'm not 100% sure either would truly count as an action movie.

[Dennis]

Is it possible for a female action hero to be unattractive? Are there any examples in comics or movies of women heroes who are out-of-shape, unattractive, old. Are females in stories usually sex fantasies. A male action hero could be anyone. It could be a guy made of rocks. a 90 year old kung fu master, who's blind. a robot. a 3 foot tall green puppet.

We look at male action heroes as role models. they're what guys are supposed to be like. the action movie is a celebration of manliness. on the other hand, the female action hero is a sex fantasy, a fetish. That's why they're required to be hot. If there was a female action hero who was a robot, it would be a damn sexy robot. And then there's manga which is all about sex fantasies, and questionable ones. you could have a hero who looks 12 with double D breasts, and it's considered a bigger turn-on if she has a cast on her broken arm with bandages over her eye. i think an image of a hot girl is enough of a turn-on, but for some guys, it's enhanced if she's holding a samurai sword.

[dancj]

Is it possible for a female action hero to be unattractive?
Bridget Neilson in Red Sonja

[bartl]

Is it possible for a female action hero to be unattractive? Are there any examples in comics or movies of women heroes who are out-of-shape, unattractive, old.
Well, in books (there have been a few poor attempts at making this series into movies), you have Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax series, about a grandmotherly retiree who doubles as a CIA courier (to make it even mildly believable, she wanted to become a spy as a teenager, and learned "spy skills" as a hobby until her husband died). In comics, the most visible one I can think of is Amanda Waller.

[dancj]

Amanda Waller (great character that she is) is not an action hero as far as I'm aware.

Rampage from the Superman books would probably qualify though. (I think she'd a hero these days)

[sgt pepper]

Kill Bill
Deathproof

[chilled monkey]

We look at male action heroes as role models. they're what guys are supposed to be like. the action movie is a celebration of manliness. on the other hand, the female action hero is a sex fantasy, a fetish.

I strongly disagree with that. The female action hero is also a role model, showing (rightly) that women can be every bit as strong, brave and capable as men, and that being strong, skilled at fighting etc makes you no less a woman. Just as being sensitive and caring makes you no less a man.

So called 'female action heroes' that are 'over-sexed' are not true female action heroes.

[Dennis]

I strongly disagree with that. The female action hero is also a role model, showing (rightly) that women can be every bit as strong, brave and capable as men, and that being strong, skilled at fighting etc makes you no less a woman. Just as being sensitive and caring makes you no less a man.

So called 'female action heroes' that are 'over-sexed' are not true female action heroes.

yes, a woman can be strong, brave and capable, but audiences don't care about that. if she doesn't look good, being strong, brave, and capable doesn't mean crap.

look at the popular people on youtube. the popular men include all types - young, old, ugly, good looking, fat. the popular females are all young and good looking.

could there be a female action hero who doesn't wear makeup? ok, in hollywood everyone wears makeup but you know what i'm talking about.

[hyzmarca]

yes, a woman can be strong, brave and capable, but audiences don't care about that. if she doesn't look good, being strong, brave, and capable doesn't mean crap.

look at the popular people on youtube. the popular men include all types - young, old, ugly, good looking, fat. the popular females are all young and good looking.

could there be a female action hero who doesn't wear makeup? ok, in hollywood everyone wears makeup but you know what i'm talking about.

Xena. Lucy Lawless isn't hard on the eyes, certainly, but Xena wouldn't win any beauty contests.

[Dennis]

Xena. Lucy Lawless isn't hard on the eyes, certainly, but Xena wouldn't win any beauty contests.

she's a pretty lady. her career didn't really go anywhere.

[hyzmarca]

she's a pretty lady. her career didn't really go anywhere.

She is pretty, but she is also rather rugged, particularly in the Xena role. She looks like a real person and like she could actually beat someone in a swordfight, in contrast to the stick-thin CGI heroines of today. Her career wen't pretty good, I'd say. 6 years staring on a hit television show, various guest appearances, a recurring role in the best science fiction series of the decade, a voice role in a really crappy Dragonlance movie a voice role as Wonder Woman in the new Justice League animated movie.

[mattx110]

She is pretty, but she is also rather rugged, particularly in the Xena role. She looks like a real person and like she could actually beat someone in a swordfight, in contrast to the stick-thin CGI heroines of today. Her career wen't pretty good, I'd say. 6 years staring on a hit television show, various guest appearances, a recurring role in the best science fiction series of the decade, a voice role in a really crappy Dragonlance movie a voice role as Wonder Woman in the new Justice League animated movie.

Yup. I don't think the options are "Robert Redford or nothing". There is a middle ground where you just act in lots of stuff and make enough money for a pretty house and pretty cars and things. I kinda doubt she's starving because she isn't a giant movie star. She's still got an amazing amount of name recognition. And unlike Jessie Alba, looks nice as a blonde. So there!

[chilled monkey]

yes, a woman can be strong, brave and capable, but audiences don't care about that.


I care about that.

I do see your point, but to dismiss ALL female action heroes as nothing more than "a sex fantasy, a fetish" is not only narrow-minded, it's wrong.

[bartl]

I strongly disagree with that. The female action hero is also a role model, showing (rightly) that women can be every bit as strong, brave and capable as men, and that being strong, skilled at fighting etc makes you no less a woman. Just as being sensitive and caring makes you no less a man.
Are you in favor of getting rid of women's sports in the Olympics, and having men and women compete in the same events? If not, why not?

Speaking of which, I'm in favor of ONLY allowing men and women (i.e. adults) participate in the Olympics. Any sport in which, if you keep in practice, one is not generally better at 21 than one is at 17 or 13, does not belong in the Olympics).

[bartl]

She is pretty, but she is also rather rugged, particularly in the Xena role. She looks like a real person and like she could actually beat someone in a swordfight, in contrast to the stick-thin CGI heroines of today. Her career wen't pretty good, I'd say. 6 years staring on a hit television show, various guest appearances, a recurring role in the best science fiction series of the decade, a voice role in a really crappy Dragonlance movie a voice role as Wonder Woman in the new Justice League animated movie.
What's interesting is that Lucy Lawless couldn't fight her way out of a paper bag. Her co-star, Renee O'Connor, on the other hand, is a rock and mountain climber, skilled in several martial arts, and an expert horsewoman. She was able to do her own stunts, while Lawless required a double for pretty much everything.

[Steven Grant]

Jeez, you guys really look at action heroes - male or female - as role models?!! Male action heroes aren't what a man is supposed to be, they're unchained aggression fantasies. They're meant to be a cathartic release before returning to the restrictions of our humdrum lives, not something to aspire to.

- Grant

[mattx110]

Jeez, you guys really look at action heroes - male or female - as role models?!! Male action heroes aren't what a man is supposed to be, they're unchained aggression fantasies. They're meant to be a cathartic release before returning to the restrictions of our humdrum lives, not something to aspire to.

- Grant

to be fair, the silent majority just thinks a chick (or guy) with a wife-beater and guns is hot.

[hyzmarca]

Jeez, you guys really look at action heroes - male or female - as role models?!! Male action heroes aren't what a man is supposed to be, they're unchained aggression fantasies. They're meant to be a cathartic release before returning to the restrictions of our humdrum lives, not something to aspire to.

- Grant

Male action heroes are generally archtypical protectors which embody, in an exaggerated fashion, what a husband, a father, and in some cases (Last Crusade, for example) a son should be. Some such characters successfully protect their loved ones and earn a happy ending by doing do. Others, such as McClain, sacrifice their own happiness in order to protect their loved ones. While it is extremely exaggerated, most traditional male action heroes do embody the ideals of what a man should be. Pure revenge movies, such as Payback, are the exception.

[chilled monkey]

Are you in favor of getting rid of women's sports in the Olympics, and having men and women compete in the same events? If not, why not?


What? How is that relevant?

[chilled monkey]

Male action heroes are generally archtypical protectors which embody, in an exaggerated fashion, what a husband, a father, and in some cases (Last Crusade, for example) a son should be. Some such characters successfully protect their loved ones and earn a happy ending by doing do. Others, such as McClain, sacrifice their own happiness in order to protect their loved ones. While it is extremely exaggerated, most traditional male action heroes do embody the ideals of what a man should be. Pure revenge movies, such as Payback, are the exception.

I agree entirely.

[bartl]

What? How is that relevant?
"showing (rightly) that women can be every bit as strong, brave and capable as men"

[Dennis]

Jeez, you guys really look at action heroes - male or female - as role models?!! Male action heroes aren't what a man is supposed to be, they're unchained aggression fantasies. They're meant to be a cathartic release before returning to the restrictions of our humdrum lives, not something to aspire to.

- Grant

a man should be an aggressive asshole because that's what is truly valuable. heroic qualities like courage, compassion, selflessness are nice n all, but they're close to worthless. chicks don't care about that kind of nonsense. the only people impressed by heroism are eagle scouts and maybe some misguided religious people.

what is valuable in this world? i think Oprah has the answer. i think she is the spiritual/corporate voice of this era and her message is this: Look Good and Kick Ass. All her shows about about fashion, makeovers, cool shoes, celebrities, a big ass house, constantly redecorating that big ass house, making loads of money... and shows about tragedies. the shows about tragedies are about laughing at the lower classes.

pro wrestling can teach us what the most important qualities are. The Rock started out as an smiling affable good guy. and fans hated him. so then he became a funny asshole. fans like that. and since he started getting cheers, he had to become a good guy. we like him because he's cocky and funny, not because he's a good guy. the good guy role is something we force on him. we find it hard to applaud evil people, not because we're against evil, but because of our confused moral upbringing or our enlightened civilized values. it's hypocritical.

what we truly value is not the hero, but the charming asshole. the cocky jackass is the true winner in this world. A quality is valuable when it brings you rewards. There's very little reward in being a good guy.

[chilled monkey]

"showing (rightly) that women can be every bit as strong, brave and capable as men"

I am talking about REAL strength. Strength of the spirit. That is what truly matters.

Your gender makes no difference to your inner strength.

[chilled monkey]

a man should be an aggressive asshole because that's what is truly valuable. heroic qualities like courage, compassion, selflessness are nice n all, but they're close to worthless. chicks don't care about that kind of nonsense. the only people impressed by heroism are eagle scouts and maybe some misguided religious people.

what is valuable in this world? i think Oprah has the answer. i think she is the spiritual/corporate voice of this era and her message is this: Look Good and Kick Ass. All her shows about about fashion, makeovers, cool shoes, celebrities, a big ass house, constantly redecorating that big ass house, making loads of money... and shows about tragedies. the shows about tragedies are about laughing at the lower classes.

pro wrestling can teach us what the most important qualities are. The Rock started out as an smiling affable good guy. and fans hated him. so then he became a funny asshole. fans like that. and since he started getting cheers, he had to become a good guy. we like him because he's cocky and funny, not because he's a good guy. the good guy role is something we force on him. we find it hard to applaud evil people, not because we're against evil, but because of our confused moral upbringing or our enlightened civilized values. it's hypocritical.

what we truly value is not the hero, but the charming asshole. the cocky jackass is the true winner in this world. A quality is valuable when it brings you rewards. There's very little reward in being a good guy.


You're entitled to your opinion but I think that is complete rubbish, and if you actually believe that then I pity you. What people value, have always valued and will always value is heroism. Courage, kindness, selflessness are what really matter. That is what we admire. Being a 'a good guy' brings the ultimate reward. Knowing that you've done the right thing. Nothing is more rewarding than that.

Speaking for myself, I despise 'the charming asshole.'

[Your Imaginary Pal]

You're entitled to your opinion but I think that is complete rubbish, and if you actually believe that then I pity you. What people value, have always valued and will always value is heroism. Courage, kindness, selflessness are what really matter. That is what we admire. Being a 'a good guy' brings the ultimate reward. Knowing that you've done the right thing. Nothing is more rewarding than that.

Speaking for myself, I despise 'the charming asshole.'

That's why for the most part in the US, firemen are unpaid volunteers and NY cops have a starting salary of $25 Grand, because heroism is valued? What people value are great deeds and success.

to put it in comic book terms, you'd choose Captain America to lead the troops and win honorably, but you'd hang out with Tony Stark and rather have his lifestyle.

[chilled monkey]

That's why for the most part in the US, firemen are unpaid volunteers and NY cops have a starting salary of $25 Grand, because heroism is valued? What people value are great deeds and success.

On the surface maybe, but in their hearts people know what really matters.

to put it in comic book terms, you'd choose Captain America to lead the troops and win honorably, but you'd hang out with Tony Stark and rather have his lifestyle.

No. Money cannot buy happiness, and no amount of material wealth is worth selling your soul for.

[mattx110]

1. Just wanted to say, i don't care about pro-wrestling, but i started liking the rock when he came off as a nice guy, and started acting better than some people that have the primary goal of being an actor.
2. Most films about charming assholes end with him learning how stupid he's been and realizing he needs balance in his life or he'll die alone. Hugh Grant, John Cusack, Keanu Reaves, and many more have all played this character. The recent trend is the push-over too nice for his own good gaining confidence, but before all this Steve Carell, Apatow stuff, we have decades of films about jerks learning they need to take responsibility and be 3-dimensional people to the point where it's a genre.

3. James Bond would be cool if he were an un-feeling jerk or not, but the child-like arrogance and gall makes it fun. I still would rather be friends with Felix.

[bartl]

I am talking about REAL strength. Strength of the spirit. That is what truly matters.
It probably makes you feel REALLY comfortable when taking public transportation late at night.

[bartl]

That's why for the most part in the US, firemen are unpaid volunteers and NY cops have a starting salary of $25 Grand, because heroism is valued? What people value are great deeds and success.
The level of salary for a job generally comes from three inputs:
1) How many people can do the job.
2) How many people who satisfy #1 want to do the job.
3) The level of responsibility involved in the job.

If the employer can't pay what the job requires, then there is no job.

That's one reason why, when the job is necessary and the salaries are fixed, such as in government jobs, when there is a shortage, the government just lowers the requirements (to increase the level of #1).

[bartl]

No. Money cannot buy happiness, and no amount of material wealth is worth selling your soul for.
Money can't buy happiness. It CAN, however, buy food, clothing and shelter.

[Your Imaginary Pal]

well a $25,000 income isn't going to attract the most qualified, maybe the most desperate.

but anywho back to bad ass action women,
P2...doesn't look too good.

But many horror films use female protagonists to good effect.
Scream and the Last Summer franchises showed that they are/were good vehicles for female heroins.

So maybe if the studios used a better known male in the role of the villain, they could create new female action stars.

[Dennis]

1. Just wanted to say, i don't care about pro-wrestling, but i started liking the rock when he came off as a nice guy, and started acting better than some people that have the primary goal of being an actor.
2. Most films about charming assholes end with him learning how stupid he's been and realizing he needs balance in his life or he'll die alone. Hugh Grant, John Cusack, Keanu Reaves, and many more have all played this character. The recent trend is the push-over too nice for his own good gaining confidence, but before all this Steve Carell, Apatow stuff, we have decades of films about jerks learning they need to take responsibility and be 3-dimensional people to the point where it's a genre.

3. James Bond would be cool if he were an un-feeling jerk or not, but the child-like arrogance and gall makes it fun. I still would rather be friends with Felix.

2) do you really like that story formula? i'm not into the idea that a main character has to change at the end, you could tell a perfectly good story about characters learning nothing and not changing a bit. And these are fantasies, successful people in the real world become bigger assholes as time goes on.

3) i'm sure james bond would rather be friends with felix than with another james bond type. ricky ricardo's best friend was fred mertz. would you rather be fred?

[Dennis]

angelina looks pretty badass in wanted. greatest female action hero ever.

[Steven Grant]

Money can't buy happiness. It CAN, however, buy food, clothing and shelter.

Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't have enough money.

- Grant

[mattx110]

Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't have enough money.

- Grant

or was born with money;)

[pitbull in a skirt]

yes, a woman can be strong, brave and capable, but audiences don't care about that. if she doesn't look good, being strong, brave, and capable doesn't mean crap.

look at the popular people on youtube. the popular men include all types - young, old, ugly, good looking, fat. the popular females are all young and good looking.

could there be a female action hero who doesn't wear makeup? ok, in hollywood everyone wears makeup but you know what i'm talking about.

Xena. Lucy Lawless isn't hard on the eyes, certainly, but Xena wouldn't win any beauty contests.

I agree. I like that they made Xena that way. I actually encountered a lot of people (always boys, by the way) who didn't "like" Xena because she was "butch" or "isn't really feminine". She is a warrior. Isn't she supposed to be?? Maybe because I'm female, cause I don't give a shit how she looks like. Its the same reason why Kill Bill was the most successful of all aforementioned female action heroes (and why I like it, albeit is justs a rip off of Xena placed in modern times :p). She wasn't "pretty" or "feminine". She is an assassin. And assassins don't have to wear stilettos.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6130/evilxherctrilogyqv7.jpg

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/5388/kb024hb9.jpg

She is pretty, but she is also rather rugged, particularly in the Xena role. She looks like a real person and like she could actually beat someone in a swordfight, in contrast to the stick-thin CGI heroines of today. Her career wen't pretty good, I'd say. 6 years staring on a hit television show, various guest appearances, a recurring role in the best science fiction series of the decade, a voice role in a really crappy Dragonlance movie a voice role as Wonder Woman in the new Justice League animated movie.

I agree. Besides, its not like she is an American actress anyway.

Yup. I don't think the options are "Robert Redford or nothing". There is a middle ground where you just act in lots of stuff and make enough money for a pretty house and pretty cars and things. I kinda doubt she's starving because she isn't a giant movie star. She's still got an amazing amount of name recognition. And unlike Jessie Alba, looks nice as a blonde. So there!

Well, Jessica Alba wasn't born with blonde hair =P

Are you in favor of getting rid of women's sports in the Olympics, and having men and women compete in the same events? If not, why not?

Speaking of which, I'm in favor of ONLY allowing men and women (i.e. adults) participate in the Olympics. Any sport in which, if you keep in practice, one is not generally better at 21 than one is at 17 or 13, does not belong in the Olympics).

Okay, this has absolutely nothing to do with anything but..

gymnastics > all other olympic events.

:D

[Steven Grant]

She wasn't "pretty" or "feminine". She is an assassin. And assassins don't have to wear stilettos... I agree. Besides, its not like she is an American actress anyway.

Not sure what that has to do with anything, but Callisto could kick her ass anyway...

- Grant

[Steven Grant]

angelina looks pretty badass in wanted. greatest female action hero ever.

Hmmm? I always thought the greatest female action hero ever was Steven Seagal...

- Grant

[Dennis]

Looks are everything. The whole action hero nonsense is just about appearance. what if Wonder Woman had some belly flab. The character would be as much of a joke as Britney on the VMAs. the blogger Occasional Superheroine said she can't take Witchblade seriously, because she's just a T&A pinup. So is Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Batgirl. The difference between Witchblade and Wonder Woman is class. Witchblade seems like she would be right at home with a stripper pole. But I'm sure she still does all the heroic things like the higher classed heroes.

[mattx110]

Well, Jessica Alba wasn't born with blonde hair =P


duh. That's why I said "as a blonde". Because she isn't a blonde, without the aid of some form of bleach and hair dye.
I'm horrible sorry if English isn't your first language. If it is, I'll be back to make more rude comments and :evilsmile this guy at you!
;) It's ok though, I'll forgive you if you send me a money order to the amount of 1000 dollars.

[pitbull in a skirt]

What's interesting is that Lucy Lawless couldn't fight her way out of a paper bag. Her co-star, Renee O'Connor, on the other hand, is a rock and mountain climber, skilled in several martial arts, and an expert horsewoman. She was able to do her own stunts, while Lawless required a double for pretty much everything.

Huh?

Renee O'Connor is a "expert horsewoman" and Lucy Lawless is not? Okaaay ... LOL. Lucy Lawless has been riding horses since youth, and she did all her horse riding stunts except for maybe ONE or TWO. Renee O'Connor probably has "ridden" a horse on the screen for maybe a mere clip, in no more than two episodes. Both of which were her merely on top of the saddle, nothing more. That does not take much of an expertise. Whereas, while Lucy has ridden horses at full speed, with swords in one hand, fighting, etc.

Lawless required a double for pretty much everything? Is this a game? Are we playing "state the opposites"? Its the other way around. Lucy Lawless did most of her stunts. Zoe Bell is distinctively distinguishable from Lawless; her body physique is completely different; she is really skinny and she does not fill out the costume the way Lucy does. That and, the obvious wig. You can easily pick her out if shes in the scene or Lucy. Renee did not do most of her stunts. That and, all she had was a staff to fight with. She never had any real fights. Renee is skilled in several martial arts? LOL Where are you getting this from??? You must be a Gabrielle fan-boy or something. And before you say it, cause I know you are, please don't tell me anything about the 'incredible' work she has done with the "sais" because that is a far cry from a real martial artist's skill.

Go watch old episodes of 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' (yes I'm serious). They were actors who were actually martial artists; Austin St. John, Jason David Frank, Johnny Yong Bosh, Steven Cardenas, Walter Jones, etc. These aforementioned peoples have credentials of several martial arts. Austin St. John has studied 14 different martial arts, including Taekwondo, Shenkito, Judo, Thai Kickboxing and Kenpo. Jason Frank is a 5th Degree Black Belt with over 20 years experience in the martial arts. I searched Renee's name and haven't found anything, besides the Wikipedia article that was vandalized once. lol

Lucy did the fire breathing stunts herself, which is quite a dangerous task considering it might, you know, kill you. I'd imagine it would be an incredible risk to have an actress on a reoccurring television show right off the from the first season, to do herself, especially with a fairly new actress (to American audiences). The DVD boxsets' extras have episode dailies that you can watch.

Not sure what that has to do with anything, but Callisto could kick her ass anyway...

- Grant

Geeze Louise, I can't suspend my belief that far. Hudson Leick who is about half of Lucy Lawless' size, could kick her ass? I'd sooner believe that Lucy Lawless can fly :D

duh. That's why I said "as a blonde". Because she isn't a blonde, without the aid of some form of bleach and hair dye.
I'm horrible sorry if English isn't your first language. If it is, I'll be back to make more rude comments and this guy at you! It's ok though, I'll forgive you if you send me a money order to the amount of 1000 dollars.

I'm horribly sorry that you couldn't figure out what I was implying - Lucy Lawless is a natural blonde. That is why she'd look better as a blonde than Jessica Alba would. Sorry to burst your bubble :evilsmile

[mattx110]

I'm horribly sorry that you couldn't figure out what I was implying - Lucy Lawless is a natural blonde. That is why she'd look better as a blonde than Jessica Alba would. Sorry to burst your bubble :evilsmile

Wow... She's a natural blonde? You just blew my mind. It really does suit her, though. She was on Burn Notice being all badass. I thought she just had better hair dye.

[pitbull in a skirt]

Wow... She's a natural blonde? You just blew my mind. It really does suit her, though. She was on Burn Notice being all badass. I thought she just had better hair dye.

Well, her hair wasn't as bright as it is now, but more or less, its definitely not jet black.

Pre-Xena, back when she was basically known as just 'that lady' who hosted a show about on traveling the world/New Zealand . lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/floetic_justice/lucyl.jpg

and now, in Burn Notice

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/floetic_justice/normal_Lucy-Lawless_Burn-Notice-Pro.jpg

[Zacharius]

There are lots of movies where male action protagonist has a damsel-in-distress
as a girlfriend.

Is there any action woman/dude-in-distress pairings ? (comedies don´t count)

[pitbull in a skirt]

There are lots of movies where male action protagonist has a damsel-in-distress
as a girlfriend.

Is there any action woman/dude-in-distress pairings ? (comedies don´t count)

Does Xena and Joxer count? Or, Xena and Salmoneous? :confused: Well...they weren't together, but still.

[Dennis]

There are lots of movies where male action protagonist has a damsel-in-distress
as a girlfriend.

Is there any action woman/dude-in-distress pairings ? (comedies don´t count)

the Supergirl movie?

[berk]

...
Speaking of which, I'm in favor of ONLY allowing men and women (i.e. adults) participate in the Olympics. Any sport in which, if you keep in practice, one is not generally better at 21 than one is at 17 or 13, does not belong in the Olympics).
Strongly, STRONGLY agree with this. I might quibble about the numbers - I think 21 is probably moving the arbitrary boundary for physical adulthood too late for females - but the basic idea is something that needs to be looked at very seriously. It hasn't been quite so bad the last few years, but some of the female gymnasts still look like concentration camp victims, not only in their emaciated physiques but even more disturbingly in the washed-out, blank expressions on their faces. It's disturbing. Pretty much the modern day equivalent of employing childrenas chimney sweeps because they could fit in the chimney.

[pitbull in a skirt]

but some of the female gymnasts still look like concentration camp victims, not only in their emaciated physiques but even more disturbingly in the washed-out, blank expressions on their faces. It's disturbing. Pretty much the modern day equivalent of employing childrenas chimney sweeps because they could fit in the chimney.

I would of agreed if this was the 1970s [shrug]. :confused:

[berk]

I would of agreed if this was the 1970s [shrug]. :confused:Things have gotten better, but I think there's still quite a ways to go. But I have to admit, I don't really keep up with it, so my impressions might be a little out of date.

[Zacharius]

Male action heroes are generally archtypical protectors which embody, in an exaggerated fashion, what a husband, a father, and in some cases (Last Crusade, for example) a son should be. Some such characters successfully protect their loved ones and earn a happy ending by doing do. Others, such as McClain, sacrifice their own happiness in order to protect their loved ones. While it is extremely exaggerated, most traditional male action heroes do embody the ideals of what a man should be.

In that case why there is (or was) so many female action tv shows now; Buffy,Xena,Dark Angel,Bionic Woman(new one),etc.

Wht not tv shows where a man saves the day and women provide him with sex,sex and sex.:D

[badMike]

Wht not tv shows where a man saves the day and women provide him with sex,sex and sex.:DThey already made that show. It was called Star Trek.

[bartl]

Not sure what that has to do with anything, but Callisto could kick her ass anyway...

- Grant
Renee O'Connor could kick either of their asses.

http://www.nutball.com/dissertation/image/roccut.gif

[bartl]

Huh?

Renee O'Connor is a "expert horsewoman" and Lucy Lawless is not? Okaaay ... LOL. Lucy Lawless has been riding horses since youth, and she did all her horse riding stunts except for maybe ONE or TWO
Renee, on the other hand, never had to miss a bunch of episodes because she fell off her horse.

[Dennis]

In that case why there is (or was) so many female action tv shows now; Buffy,Xena,Dark Angel,Bionic Woman(new one),etc.

Wht not tv shows where a man saves the day and women provide him with sex,sex and sex.:D

i thought i already gave the definitive answer but i'll explain it again. what we see on the screen is half the fantasy. the other half of the fantasy is the silly stuff going on in our heads. For example, when a guy sees a James Bond movie, the fantasy running in his head is this - i wish i could drive a cool car, gamble, kill people, and have sex with super hot women.

i remember howard stern wondering why he was so into lesbian porn. robin explained to him that he was imagining that 2 women are getting it on just to excite him, then he walks into the scene and has sex with both of them. howard agreed. that's why lesbian porn is heterosexual porn.

so when wonder woman saves the world, she's not just saving the world. she's saving the world...and then begging you to tie her up.

[pitbull in a skirt]

Oh yeah, she looks so intimidating. :runs for cover: I'm shaking in my bootz :evilsmile

Renee, on the other hand, never had to miss a bunch of episodes because she fell off her horse.

Thats because she never WAS on a horse to fall off of. Lucy missed one episode. Someone is illiterate. lol Or maybe just possesses a convenient, selective memory.

The Jay Leno skit is where she fell off. They did several takes, the director decided to do just one more and than bam, broke her pelvis. Robert Trebor spoke about it during that excerpt from the anniversary DVD boxset, which I'm sure you have.

If I must refresh your memory.

Fanboy ;)