Well, Heather is in Texas for the weekend. What better time to hijack her blog? The subject of my last post dealt with being in a constant state of transition. How about we go the opposite way?
What follows are a few permanent fixtures in my life - my childhood/adulthood heroes. Now I need to point out the difference between these heroes and real life heroes. Martin Luther King is a real hero who stood for something. When confronted with tough situations, he dealt with them head on. Dutch, from Predator, merely flexed his muscles at the boogeymen of the world. Understand the difference? Nevertheless, my admiration and loyalty to these guys goes back a long way. I am listing 6 b/c I just couldn't narrow it down to 5. Enjoy!
Arnold Schwartzenegger
This guy literally had me at hello. Once I saw
Conan the Barbarian, I was a life-long fan of the Governator. Not that he should expect an academy award any time soon (considering his voice had to be re-dubbed for his first several movies). Still - I wanted to be him. I had the crew-cut and fooled myself into thinking I had his biceps.
Favorite Movies: Predator, Conan the Barbarian, Running Man, Terminator, and Twins (just kidding).
Favorite Quote (Conan's response to a Mongol Warlord asking him what is best in life):
To crush your enemies; see them driven before you...and hear the lamentation of their women!
(Honestly - does it get any better?)
Clint Eastwood
C'mon...the Man with No Name. To me, he was (and remains) the ultimate example of the strong silent type. I discovered him rather late in life (junior year of high school) but his influence on me was definitive. I cruised through the Spaghetti Westerns of Sergio Leone and moved on to other westerns (Unforgiven, Outlaw Josie Wales, etc) and the Dirty Harry movies. To this day - The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly is the definitive western for me.
Favorite Movies: For a Few Dollars More; Fistful of Dollars; The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly; The Unforgiven; Dirty Harry; Magnum Force; In the Line of Fire
Favorite Quote (As if you had to ask...Dirty Harry): I know what you're thinking, punk: Did he fire 5 shots, or all 6? Well, to tell you the truth, in all that action I've forgotten myself. But seeing as how I'm holding a .44 Magnum (the most powerful handgun in the world) and can blow your head clean off...you really only have to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well do you, punk?!?
John Wayne (The Duke)
Now I can't hold a candle to my dad's zeal for this man - but at least I can borrow from it a little. Is there a better example of a "man's man" than the Duke? Doubtful. For my 29th birthday, my parents bought about 6 or 7 of his films b/c I had expressed interest so many times. I've watched most, but my favorite is still the first one my dad ever let me watch....The Cowboys (Granted...I haven't watched the Shootist yet).
Favorite Movies: The Cowboys; Rio Bravo (Hawks); True Grit; The War Wagon
Favorite Quotes (The Cowboys - Bruce Dern is picking on one of the kids): Alright! We've seen what you can do with a boy. How are you when they come a little bigger?
(Right before the fight): I'm 30 years older than you are. Had my back broke once and my hip twice...and on my worst day I could beat the **** out of you!
Dude!
Robert DeNiro
By far, my favorite actor of all time. The ultimate tough guy. I have yet to see a movie of his I'm not in love with (well...maybe Mad Dog and Glory).
His look in this picture says it all:You talkin' to me?
I never was able to match his swagger - but that's cool. I'll just live vicariously throuh the man himself.
Favorite Movies: Heat; Godfather II; Goodfellas; Casino; Mean Streets; Raging Bull...really too many to mention.
Favorite Quote (From Heat - to Val Kilmer's character regarding his marriage): "I don't know what you're doing. Remember Jimmy McIlwane from the yard..what he used to say? If you're going to be making moves on the street have no attachments. Allow nothing to be in your life that you can't walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you spot the heat around the corner."
G.I. Joe: The Real American Hero
I know, I know...this is a picture of Cobra Commander and Storm Shadow...but it's just too awesome not to have it on here.
When I was coming up you were either a Transformers guy or a G.I. Joe guy...I was Joe all the way. Not only b/c it was more "real" (a collection of commandos and terrorists whose aim was worse than the A-Team) but b/c I have yet to meet one person who could manipulate transformers in real-time. Ever watch the Transformers cartoon? It's (cool sound effects) and your done in 5 seconds flat. When actually playing w/them, the action would have to take a 10 minute recess while the flippin' robot turns into a VW Bug, or Jet, or Tape Deck...whatever. Transformers have the upper hand right now...but the minute there is a live action Joe film - Optimus Prime will need to step aside
The best Christmas present I ever received (other than our Nintendo - which my mom swore up and down would never be allowed in our house) was the Cobra Terror Drome. This was the most wonderful base of operations ever invented (move over Death Star). I literally spent hours upon hours playing w/ my G.I. Joes. I don't know how the Joes ever won. Here Cobra had this massive, impenetrable fortress (complete with gun turrets, prisons, and a jet hangar)...all the Joes had was a beat up suitcase turned on its side. Yet - the forces of good always prevailed...unless Storm Shadow and Firefly (two of the baddest mamma-jammas to don pjs) got together. Serious mayhem was sure to happen when that went down.
Now - I may sound like a zealot, but I have one credit to my name. At least I didn't have to watch the G.I. Joe public service announcements to know not to try and jump my dirt bike over a downed power line. "Now we know...and knowing is half the battle"
Batman
I have collected comics for over 20 years now. The first comic I ever read was Batman #375. It involved a sinister plot with some doofus named the Mad Hatter (actually a staple in Batman's "Rogues Gallery"). Nevertheless - I was hooked. Thanks to my dad, I still get a bundle of Batman comics once every month or so. I love to collect whole story arcs...not reading an issue until it's complete.
While Superman stands for Truth, Justice, and the American Way - Batman represents the potential for growth and the strive for perfection in everyday humans. He's mortal...doesn't have any powers to speak of. Just a keen sense of detection and the mastery of virtually every marital art form in existence.
While I watched the 60's TV show (and loved it), I always hated the campiness of it all. Batman is a serious dude...on a mission. He doesn't carry Anti-Shark Spray for crying out loud! I do have fond childhood memories of being in the car w/dad going somewhere. Whenever we would start moving from a red light or stop sign, dad would suddenly grab my knee and shout "Hang on, Robin" and start singing the 60's Batman Theme Song.
Still, my favorite renditions of the man comes courtesy of Denny O'Neil/Jim Aparo, Neal Adams, and Frank Miller. This picture says it all: Always moving forward...never quit. Not even after the goal has been reached and surpassed.
Favorite Quote (From the Dark Knight Returns - Batman has just thoroughly thrashed goody two shoes...I mean Superman): "We could have changed the world..now...look at us. I've become a political liability...and you? You're a joke. I want you to remember, Clark...in all the years to come...in your most private moments: I want you to remember my hand at your throat. I want you to remember...the one man who beat you."
Of course I could continue...but it's getting late and I have a dissertation to write. Feel free to let me know who some of your heroes are/were.
Thanks for reading!
Josh
Clint Eastwood
C'mon...the Man with No Name. To me, he was (and remains) the ultimate example of the strong silent type. I discovered him rather late in life (junior year of high school) but his influence on me was definitive. I cruised through the Spaghetti Westerns of Sergio Leone and moved on to other westerns (Unforgiven, Outlaw Josie Wales, etc) and the Dirty Harry movies. To this day - The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly is the definitive western for me.
Favorite Movies: For a Few Dollars More; Fistful of Dollars; The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly; The Unforgiven; Dirty Harry; Magnum Force; In the Line of Fire
Favorite Quote (As if you had to ask...Dirty Harry): I know what you're thinking, punk: Did he fire 5 shots, or all 6? Well, to tell you the truth, in all that action I've forgotten myself. But seeing as how I'm holding a .44 Magnum (the most powerful handgun in the world) and can blow your head clean off...you really only have to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well do you, punk?!?
John Wayne (The Duke)
Now I can't hold a candle to my dad's zeal for this man - but at least I can borrow from it a little. Is there a better example of a "man's man" than the Duke? Doubtful. For my 29th birthday, my parents bought about 6 or 7 of his films b/c I had expressed interest so many times. I've watched most, but my favorite is still the first one my dad ever let me watch....The Cowboys (Granted...I haven't watched the Shootist yet).
Favorite Movies: The Cowboys; Rio Bravo (Hawks); True Grit; The War Wagon
Favorite Quotes (The Cowboys - Bruce Dern is picking on one of the kids): Alright! We've seen what you can do with a boy. How are you when they come a little bigger?
(Right before the fight): I'm 30 years older than you are. Had my back broke once and my hip twice...and on my worst day I could beat the **** out of you!
Dude!
Robert DeNiro
By far, my favorite actor of all time. The ultimate tough guy. I have yet to see a movie of his I'm not in love with (well...maybe Mad Dog and Glory).
His look in this picture says it all:You talkin' to me?
I never was able to match his swagger - but that's cool. I'll just live vicariously throuh the man himself.
Favorite Movies: Heat; Godfather II; Goodfellas; Casino; Mean Streets; Raging Bull...really too many to mention.
Favorite Quote (From Heat - to Val Kilmer's character regarding his marriage): "I don't know what you're doing. Remember Jimmy McIlwane from the yard..what he used to say? If you're going to be making moves on the street have no attachments. Allow nothing to be in your life that you can't walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you spot the heat around the corner."
G.I. Joe: The Real American Hero
I know, I know...this is a picture of Cobra Commander and Storm Shadow...but it's just too awesome not to have it on here.
When I was coming up you were either a Transformers guy or a G.I. Joe guy...I was Joe all the way. Not only b/c it was more "real" (a collection of commandos and terrorists whose aim was worse than the A-Team) but b/c I have yet to meet one person who could manipulate transformers in real-time. Ever watch the Transformers cartoon? It's (cool sound effects) and your done in 5 seconds flat. When actually playing w/them, the action would have to take a 10 minute recess while the flippin' robot turns into a VW Bug, or Jet, or Tape Deck...whatever. Transformers have the upper hand right now...but the minute there is a live action Joe film - Optimus Prime will need to step aside
The best Christmas present I ever received (other than our Nintendo - which my mom swore up and down would never be allowed in our house) was the Cobra Terror Drome. This was the most wonderful base of operations ever invented (move over Death Star). I literally spent hours upon hours playing w/ my G.I. Joes. I don't know how the Joes ever won. Here Cobra had this massive, impenetrable fortress (complete with gun turrets, prisons, and a jet hangar)...all the Joes had was a beat up suitcase turned on its side. Yet - the forces of good always prevailed...unless Storm Shadow and Firefly (two of the baddest mamma-jammas to don pjs) got together. Serious mayhem was sure to happen when that went down.
Now - I may sound like a zealot, but I have one credit to my name. At least I didn't have to watch the G.I. Joe public service announcements to know not to try and jump my dirt bike over a downed power line. "Now we know...and knowing is half the battle"
Batman
I have collected comics for over 20 years now. The first comic I ever read was Batman #375. It involved a sinister plot with some doofus named the Mad Hatter (actually a staple in Batman's "Rogues Gallery"). Nevertheless - I was hooked. Thanks to my dad, I still get a bundle of Batman comics once every month or so. I love to collect whole story arcs...not reading an issue until it's complete.
While Superman stands for Truth, Justice, and the American Way - Batman represents the potential for growth and the strive for perfection in everyday humans. He's mortal...doesn't have any powers to speak of. Just a keen sense of detection and the mastery of virtually every marital art form in existence.
While I watched the 60's TV show (and loved it), I always hated the campiness of it all. Batman is a serious dude...on a mission. He doesn't carry Anti-Shark Spray for crying out loud! I do have fond childhood memories of being in the car w/dad going somewhere. Whenever we would start moving from a red light or stop sign, dad would suddenly grab my knee and shout "Hang on, Robin" and start singing the 60's Batman Theme Song.
Still, my favorite renditions of the man comes courtesy of Denny O'Neil/Jim Aparo, Neal Adams, and Frank Miller. This picture says it all: Always moving forward...never quit. Not even after the goal has been reached and surpassed.
Favorite Quote (From the Dark Knight Returns - Batman has just thoroughly thrashed goody two shoes...I mean Superman): "We could have changed the world..now...look at us. I've become a political liability...and you? You're a joke. I want you to remember, Clark...in all the years to come...in your most private moments: I want you to remember my hand at your throat. I want you to remember...the one man who beat you."
Of course I could continue...but it's getting late and I have a dissertation to write. Feel free to let me know who some of your heroes are/were.
Thanks for reading!
Josh
