We have many threads so it's easy to forget them. :nod:Eowyn was the first one to come to my mind. Would does'nt love it when a woman kicks ass like the way she does? I love that she stands up for what she believes in and actually does something about it. I don't know if I have that quality but I definately aspire to be someone like that.
I would also say Hau Mulan. I'm really REALLY looking forward to the movie production with Michelle Yeoh. I think it will be even better than the disney cartoon. Her father is too old and brother is too young to fight in the war. So she dresses up as a man and takes their place. Leads some of the troops on the battlefield. Can't wait to see it!
[ 01-21-2004: Message edited Eowyn_Evenstar ]
I would also say Hau Mulan. I'm really REALLY looking forward to the movie production with Michelle Yeoh. I think it will be even better than the disney cartoon. Her father is too old and brother is too young to fight in the war. So she dresses up as a man and takes their place. Leads some of the troops on the battlefield. Can't wait to see it!
[ 01-21-2004: Message edited Eowyn_Evenstar ]
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TheCheshireKitten
Guest
Eowyn (Lord of the Rings) - She's one of my favorite female characters ever. She isn't superwoman, doesn't have any extra strength or extraordinary skills, but she has the courage to fight instead of wait on the sidelines. I absolutely loved her face off with the Witch King. That scene proved not all strength is physical. The fact that she faced him down says everything about her. "I am no man."
Trinity & Niobe (Matrix) - These two are examples of strong women, both mentally and physically. Neo may be the "One" and Morpheus may be the leader, but Trinity's love for Neo kept him going. She was strong, and continued to be strong even after she fell in love with Neo. Niobe didn't get as much development, but her character struck me as someone like Trinity. Extremely capable and independent.
Leia (Star Wars) - She may have been a princess, but she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty. She didn't cry in the corner while Han and Luke were rescuing her, or break down in fear of Tarkin or Vader aboard the Death Star.
Just to name a few.
Trinity & Niobe (Matrix) - These two are examples of strong women, both mentally and physically. Neo may be the "One" and Morpheus may be the leader, but Trinity's love for Neo kept him going. She was strong, and continued to be strong even after she fell in love with Neo. Niobe didn't get as much development, but her character struck me as someone like Trinity. Extremely capable and independent.
Leia (Star Wars) - She may have been a princess, but she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty. She didn't cry in the corner while Han and Luke were rescuing her, or break down in fear of Tarkin or Vader aboard the Death Star.
Just to name a few.
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PVCscully
Guest
Alice Hyatt from Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore is a wonderful character. Ellen Burstyn plays Alice and Martin Scorsese directs, a wonderful combination. She's strong, yet human, and a good inspiration.
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iamsomisty
Guest
thanks, rockstar, forgot all about this thread.
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rachtotheizzo
Guest
I'm on a wonky connection, so I'll list for now and most definitely come back to this ASAP! I mean, I can't not!
Oooh, Sarzy! Lee Holloway is an excellent character there.
- Karen Sisco (J-Lo) in "Out of Sight". I'm not a big J-Lo fan. Nope. But I basically just enjoyed Karen for some reason only known to God.
- Mulan (voiced by Ming-na). Need I say more? She was awesome! Despite her failure to please her family in a "traditional" sense, she was able to end up saving her country by acting in a very "non-traditional" manner.
- Bethany (Linda Fiorentino) in "Dogma". She was reluctant at first to join up and defeat the forces of evil, but she ended up doing that anyway. Obviously the fact that she worked in an abortion clinic was quite the irony, but it worked on me, so whatever.
- Vianne (Juliette Binoche) in "Chocolat". I loved her costumes, her ability to reach out to people, and the strength and courage she had to do her own thing and open up the chocolaterie despite the conservative village she lived in.
- The Bride (Uma Thurman) in "Kill Bill: Vol. 1"./Jackie Brown (Pam Grier) in "Jackie Brown". Basically, my Tarantino (read: Ass-Kicking) chicks.
- any of the mothers in "The Joy Luck Club"
- Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". Almost the same as Mulan, except she was willing to take a chance on/for love. Sort of.
--Rach
[ 01-30-2004: Message edited batmite3 ]
Oooh, Sarzy! Lee Holloway is an excellent character there.
- Karen Sisco (J-Lo) in "Out of Sight". I'm not a big J-Lo fan. Nope. But I basically just enjoyed Karen for some reason only known to God.
- Mulan (voiced by Ming-na). Need I say more? She was awesome! Despite her failure to please her family in a "traditional" sense, she was able to end up saving her country by acting in a very "non-traditional" manner.
- Bethany (Linda Fiorentino) in "Dogma". She was reluctant at first to join up and defeat the forces of evil, but she ended up doing that anyway. Obviously the fact that she worked in an abortion clinic was quite the irony, but it worked on me, so whatever.
- Vianne (Juliette Binoche) in "Chocolat". I loved her costumes, her ability to reach out to people, and the strength and courage she had to do her own thing and open up the chocolaterie despite the conservative village she lived in.
- The Bride (Uma Thurman) in "Kill Bill: Vol. 1"./Jackie Brown (Pam Grier) in "Jackie Brown". Basically, my Tarantino (read: Ass-Kicking) chicks.
- any of the mothers in "The Joy Luck Club"
- Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". Almost the same as Mulan, except she was willing to take a chance on/for love. Sort of.
--Rach
[ 01-30-2004: Message edited batmite3 ]
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Jezebel In Hell
Guest
You can't forget Franka Potente in Run Lola Run as Lola. She saved the day 
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Ali Marie
Guest
Julia Roberts as Erin Brockovich
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AdriaMichelle
Guest
A League Of Their Own - It showed that women can play baseball w/ heart, courage, and determination.
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Cotton Candy
Guest
Some of my favorite strong female characters in film include Maggie Mackendrick (The Parent Trap), Maria Von Trapp (The Sound of Music), Rose Dewitt-Bukater (Titanic) and Beverly Donofrio (Riding in Cars With Boys). They're the epitome of inspiration.
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Profaine Angel
Guest
Definitely Eowyn in ROTK, she has to be one of my all-time fave characters now. And not just 'cos I adore Miranda Otto. But I was so proud to see it was her playing such a strong character
Alongside Kate Hepburn, Barbara Stanwyck also played a lot of strong characters, one of the reasons I admire her work so much.
Irene Dunne in I Remember Mama also deserves a mention
Alongside Kate Hepburn, Barbara Stanwyck also played a lot of strong characters, one of the reasons I admire her work so much.
Irene Dunne in I Remember Mama also deserves a mention
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cherrios
Guest
Emma Thompson's character Elinore in Sense and Sensibility, she was the glue that held everything together. She behave with such grace and respect, she took care of her family when they acted foolish. And even though she was sadden to be away from the man she loved. Her world did not fall apart and she kept going and held her head high.
Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line, she was so strong and kind. She stood by her man and made him into the great man he became. She didn't crumble when people attack her for her divorces. And she never lost her faith and humor.
Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line, she was so strong and kind. She stood by her man and made him into the great man he became. She didn't crumble when people attack her for her divorces. And she never lost her faith and humor.
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aciam
Guest
Sigourney Weaver in Alien & Aliens first came to my mind along with Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde and Uma Thurman in Kill Bill
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shrrshrr
Guest
Oh, FANTASTIC thread topic!
I noticed this in my early developing years - mostly as an undergrad - and the specific roles that come to mind are both in James Cameron films, if you can believe that: Sara Connor in the first Terminator film, and Sigourney Weaver's character in Aliens.
Both of these women started off as weak, average women - basically you're girl next door in the case of Sara Connor - and in the end, they prevail, without the help of their male counterpart who dies in both films (and is interestingly played by the same actor). In the end, it's just woman against machine/monster, and it's powerful to see her develop strength and survival instincts, the metaphor or implication being that life begins with women, not men, and that while the men are necessary to procreate, etc., they do not determine survival.
Then James Cameron made Titanic and I lost all respect for him (even though his female lead is strikingly similar to those listed above, it was such a smaltzy film that I just couldn't forgive him).
There are wonderful female characters from the 80s and 90s - like those often played by actors like Christina Ricci (I can't think of the film) - but I can't think of any currently that I would find powerful enough to find inspirational.
Sure, I like women in some of these roles, but as inspiration to other women? Can't think of any...
Edited because I thought about it and realized that the current version is quite different - at least those that I find appealing. I like the tough chick who's powerful, talented, brilliant, and SEXY - women like the Charlie's Angels gang and the Lara Croft character. They're not afraid to have men in their life, wear lipstick, what have you, but they don't NEED men - they just like men.
And I have to add that while they're definitely not deep roles by any means, I do like what Reese Witherspoon (can we say Freeway? YES!) and Sandra Bullock often do in films is similar, but a little more independent.
Seriously dramatic roles, though? I don't know...
Edited AGAIN because I totally concur with sarzy's list - now those are some powerful women - and some of them grow into such in their films, even though they start off as somewhat dependent and weak.
[ 01-20-2004: Message edited shrrshrr ]
I noticed this in my early developing years - mostly as an undergrad - and the specific roles that come to mind are both in James Cameron films, if you can believe that: Sara Connor in the first Terminator film, and Sigourney Weaver's character in Aliens.
Both of these women started off as weak, average women - basically you're girl next door in the case of Sara Connor - and in the end, they prevail, without the help of their male counterpart who dies in both films (and is interestingly played by the same actor). In the end, it's just woman against machine/monster, and it's powerful to see her develop strength and survival instincts, the metaphor or implication being that life begins with women, not men, and that while the men are necessary to procreate, etc., they do not determine survival.
Then James Cameron made Titanic and I lost all respect for him (even though his female lead is strikingly similar to those listed above, it was such a smaltzy film that I just couldn't forgive him).
There are wonderful female characters from the 80s and 90s - like those often played by actors like Christina Ricci (I can't think of the film) - but I can't think of any currently that I would find powerful enough to find inspirational.
Sure, I like women in some of these roles, but as inspiration to other women? Can't think of any...
Edited because I thought about it and realized that the current version is quite different - at least those that I find appealing. I like the tough chick who's powerful, talented, brilliant, and SEXY - women like the Charlie's Angels gang and the Lara Croft character. They're not afraid to have men in their life, wear lipstick, what have you, but they don't NEED men - they just like men.
And I have to add that while they're definitely not deep roles by any means, I do like what Reese Witherspoon (can we say Freeway? YES!) and Sandra Bullock often do in films is similar, but a little more independent.
Seriously dramatic roles, though? I don't know...
Edited AGAIN because I totally concur with sarzy's list - now those are some powerful women - and some of them grow into such in their films, even though they start off as somewhat dependent and weak.
[ 01-20-2004: Message edited shrrshrr ]
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dixieland_dreamer
Guest
Eowyn (LOTR) and Elizabeth (PoTC) were the first two that popped into my head. Those women are forces to be reckoned with.
[ 01-20-2004: Message edited dixieland_dreamer ]
[ 01-20-2004: Message edited dixieland_dreamer ]
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~*Johanna*~
Guest
Wonderful topic. Just to let you know, my list isn't just physical strength, but emotional and brain power!
-Eowyn(Miranda Otto), Return of the King
-Audrey Hepburn, The Nun's Story
-Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blond
-Grace Kelly, Rear Window
-Elizibeth(Kiera Knightly), Pirates of the Caribbean
-Cate Blanchett, Veronica Guerin
There are so many more...I can't think of the rest...
-Eowyn(Miranda Otto), Return of the King
-Audrey Hepburn, The Nun's Story
-Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blond
-Grace Kelly, Rear Window
-Elizibeth(Kiera Knightly), Pirates of the Caribbean
-Cate Blanchett, Veronica Guerin
There are so many more...I can't think of the rest...