Excuse the Blurbs below, there often skiddish between "Why" I like them and a simple explanation behind their motives or personalities (most it is based on memory, so forgive the errors).
[Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi/Horror "Strong Female" Archetypes]
#1. [Lt.]
Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) - [
Alien &
Aliens]
The Character to define the Female Action Persona, Ellen Ripley starts off as a Lieutenant aboard a Commercial Ship on the way back to earth, when the ship picks up a distress signal. Upon landing on the mysterious planet, three crew members are deployed to access the situation and return with one of them with a strange organism attached his face. Ripley, is something of a rather minor character, only voicing her disagreements about the situation until she is virtually the only person able to do something about it. The end result is a harrowing sci-fi/horror, that bends the rules of what to expect and emerges with a unlikely hero & survivor that would go on to face the Xenomorphs once more in
Aliens, after growing an attatchment to a little girl who lost her family to them.
Entertainment Weekly has stated that Ripley was "one of the first female movie characters who isn't defined by the men around her, or by her relationship to them."
#2. Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) - [
Terminator II: Judgement Day]
No longer the trembling young woman seen in the first
Terminator, Sarah Connor has completely embraced the life that was once Kyle Reese's; Destroying Skynet and molding her son into the leader of the future. That is until she's thrown into a loony bin; Even then she continues to fight, suffering nightmares and jerks for Doctors and nurses. When she escapes with her son and the reprogrammed Terminator, she makes it her business to stop the T-1000 before it can fulfill its mission.
#3. Alice (Milla Jovovich) - [
Resident Evil Trilogy]
A character that was largely inspired by the aforementioned characters above, Alice is a Employee of Umbrella gone rogue when she decides to go against the Corporation and give a Undercover Agent a sample of the T-Virus. However, all goes wrong when an outbreak occurs in the Hive, the station she was guarding. Despite her inability to remember much, she helps the BRAVO team uncover what happened. Throughout the series, she continues to fight against Umbrella, even when the world has been obliterated by their virus.
#4. Ana Clark - (Sarah Polley) - [
Dawn of the Dead Remake]
Before the Outbreak, Ana was a nurse hoping to get some time off to spend with her husband. However, her idyllic life is brought to a grinding halt when one of her neighbors, infected by some means, kill her husband and turn him into one of the undead. Forced out of her house, she flees for her life and meets up several other people, who decide to take refuge in the mall. Afterward, Ana takes some initiative in keeping the Mall secure and does most of the killing when one of her comrades are turned. She doesn't like it when people point guns in her face.
#5. Rain Ocampo - (Michelle Rodriguez) - [
Resident Evil]
More or less, modeled after the "Vasquez" character in
Aliens, Rain Ocampo is one of only two female members of One's commando team. She was the group's most skilled marksman, short-tempered and had at least one close friend in J.D. Salinas. She forms a sort of friendship with Alice and Matt during their attempt to escape the Hive.
#6. Storm/Ororo Monroe - (Halle Berry) - [
X-Men Trilogy]
Like most of the characters in the X-Men Movieverse (that weren't Wolverine), Storm's character wasn't left with much to do until X3. It was however, more or less true to her character (Storm did have a tenancy to stand quietly in the background or behind Professor Xavier, occasionally voicing her opinion). Unlike Jean, Storm is the not the apple of anyone's eye (never mind Nightcrawler), which probably gave her character more room to become something other than be a romantic interest. In X3, Berry's Storm is more like her comic book persona, acting as the leader in Cyclops' absence, though she tends to be a bit violate towards Mutants who want to take the "cure".
#7. Vasquez (Jenette Goldstein) - [
Aliens]
Private Jenette Vasquez, is as tough as they come. More or less an equal with her male peers, Vasquez is quick to anger and eager to fire in the face of danger. She'll even go as far as disobeying orders (albeit stupid orders). Her character could've easily been extremely cliched (more so than she was), but there was just something about her, besides that awesome Pulse Rifle, that came off as incredibly convincing.
#8. Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen) - [
GoldenEye]
Ah, there's nothing like a psychopath who gets a rise out of creating chaos with a gun and her spry little body. Probably one of the few women Bond has ever been outright adverse towards (after she got a little too "rough" for his tastes), Xenia is a manipulative and sexually-driven villainess who works beside Bond's former comrade, Alec. Karma, however, is not with a sense of humor as she meets her end in fashion much like her own victims. Okay, so Xenia's character doesn't exactly inspire "Heroism", but she was my favorite "Bond Girl" in GoldenEye.
#9. Lady Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) - [
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Only.]
Excellently portrayed the first time around by Jolie, this Indiana-Jones/Bond-esque Inspired Adventurer is the spinning image of her video game counterpart. At least when concerned with her mannerisms and personality, Lara tends to change her physical appearance quite frequently depending on the artist. Like VG-Lara, Lady Croft raids tombs for the pure sport and thrill of it all; She isn't one to run from danger (unless absolutely necessary, even then she might not) and lets no one push her around. Sometimes without their realizing it, her enemies are manipulated by Lara when they both have something to gain from their working together.
#10. Leeloo - (Milla Jovovich) - [
The Fifth Element]
At first glance, Leeloo looks to be nothing more than a pretty face without much in her head, rambling gibberish off at you. But you'd be wrong about that. This nimble creature is "Perfect in every way imaginable" and speaks the Divine Language. Despite her sensitivity, Leeloo is quite capable to defending herself against enemies.
#11. Trinity (Carrie Ann-Moss) - [
The Matrix. Only]
Before she became a shell of her former-self in the sequels, Trinity was one of the Nebuchadnezzar's best fighters and a very skilled Computer Hacker admired by many still trapped inside the Matrix. Trinity serves mainly as a go-between for Morpheus and the individuals he wishes to free from the Matrix. As the series progresses, her primary importance as a character becomes her close relationship with Neo (which rather unfortunate). She is skilled with computers, at operating vehicles both inside and outside the Matrix, and in martial arts.
#12. Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) - [
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace]
Even in her Queens garb or disguise, Padme Amidala is no pushover to authority or those who would otherwise overrule her given their status while she's undercover. She takes the initiative to storm her own palace on the planet of Naboo once she forms an aillance with the Gungans, and wins back the city of her people. A lot of people say her defining moments as a "Hero" are in AOTC, but she does more here in terms of action than she does in the sequels. Seriously.
#13. Arwen (Liv Tyler) - [
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy]
From what little I remember, Aragorn's lover, Arwen, was not a major part of the War of the Ring in the Novels, but in the Peter Jackson's adaption of
Fellowship of The Ring, Arwen (instead of Glorfindel) comes to Frodo's rescue and takes him to safety from the Nazgul (Wraiths), effectively drowning them in the River they were hesitant to cross. Afterward, her character isn't given much to do aside await for the return of Aragorn, but she goes as far as surrendering her Immortality for Aragorn. She is willing to face the possible fact that man may go under and Sauron will emerge victorious, effectively defying her Father's will.
#14. Abigail Whistler - (Jessica Biel) - [
Blade: Trinity]
A Character created specifically for this "Last" Blade Movie, Abigail Whistler the daughter of Blade's mentor of the same Surname, has enough muscle, arsenal, and self-defense tactic to rival her partner, Hannibal King (Ryan Reynolds). For the most part, she speaks only absolutely necessary and tends to mimick the stoic silence of Blade (either or admiration or naturally).
#15. Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh) - [
Tomorrow Never Dies]
During Brosnan's run as James Bond, his rendition of the MI6 Spy had its fair share of good and bad bond girls/henchwomen (almost as much as Connery), but to be frank Michelle Yeoh's Wai Lin stands out as probably one of the more developed "Bond Girls", more or less because she does more than stand around a look pretty and does it effectively. Wai Lin, a spy for the Chinese People's External Security Force, is a formidable opponent, a fierce warrior with incredible skill in martial arts and really doesn't become a lover of James Bond until very end of the movie.
#16. Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory) - [
Resident Evil: Extinction]
A Fanboy favorite immortalized by actress Sienna Guillory, Jill Valentine in RE:Apocalypse, has been suspended from the Racoon PD for spreading vile rumors about the Umbrella Corp. in the wake of her Partner's, Leon, death. When the outbreak occurs, she maintains control with her [Kimber Raptor?] gun and quick thinking in the face of danger. A softer side of her character comes out when she goes to rescue Angela Ashford from her zombified school. A lot of people complain about her lack of screen time, but I thought she was given plenty.
#17. Stella Oleson - (Melissa George) - [
30 Days of Night]
Willingly-estranged wife of Eben Oleson, Stella is a fire Marshall in the Alaskan area (mainly Barrow), hoping to get her work done and return to civilization before her husband notices her presence. When she misses plane, she is the unfortunate victim of a Vampire attack on the town. After deciding to help Eben, she struggles to keep small band of survivors alive during 30 Days without sunlight.
#18. Fa Mulan - (Ming Na) - [
Mulan]
Fa Mulan, voiced by the very underrated Ming Na, is probably one Disney's strongest carnations of a female heroine, if only because she acts selflessly to protect her father in the face of "dishonoring" him, and joins the Chinese army to stop a the Huns from raiding anymore of China and later, the Imperial City.
#19. Pris - (Daryl Hannah) - [
Blade Runner]
At first glance, Pris comes off as sweet and innocent young woman, with a questionable wardrobe, looking to meet up with her friends. For the most part, this is true, however, Pris is what a Blade Runner would call a "devious" Replicant. Like her comrades, she comes to earth searching for a way to prolong her life span. Pris has the reflexes of a gymnast and is extremely dangerous in a fight.
#20. Alexa Woods (Sanaa Lathan) - [
Alien vs. Predator]
More or less a throwback to the "Ellen Ripley" persona, Sanaa's character is a no-nonsense and experienced guide who spent several seasons exploring the Arctic and Antarctic environments. She is hired as the guide for a team of explorers and scientists that is sent by Weyland Industries to explore a pyramid beneath the ice of Bouvetøya.
[Standard Action/Adventure/General "Strong Female" Archetypes]
#1. Jackie Brown (Pam Grier) - [
Jackie Brown]
A middle aged air-hostess looking to do more with her life while she can, Jackie Brown plays both sides of the board and overcomes manipulation of her male peers on right and wrong sides of the law, with either her charm or her wits (from what I remember, anyway).
#2. Laura Bowman (Patricia Arquette) - [
Beyond Rangoon]
It takes a certain amount of guts to jump off a train that take you safely from the war-torn country of Rangoon just to rescue a acquaintance you don't all that well from certain death, and even more will to stay alive during the harrowing events of the 8888 Uprising back in 1988. This is what widowed doctor, Lara Bowman does, all while trying to make sense of and come to terms with a senseless act of violence that occurred in her life prior to her vacation in Rangoon.
#3. Mathilda (Natalie Portman) - [
The Professional]
A tough little girl with a crappy family life (and only one good family member out the bunch), who probably knows more than she should at her age, Mathilda takes a shine to Leon and his profession. After making it clear she is not afraid of what it takes to become a "Cleaner", Leon teaches her some of the ropes. In the another cut of the movie, Mathilda claims to be in love with Leon, more than is originally stated in the theatrical version.
#4. Lola (Franka Potente) - [
Run Lola Run]
Desperate to save her boyfriend from an untimely death because of moment of forgetfulness, Lola goes to extreme lengths to satisfy a crime boss when Manni looses the compensation. She lets nothing stand in her way and with a little help from fate or luck, she'll either succeed or fail.
#5. Alabama Whitman/Worley (Patricia Arquette) -
[True Romance]
After a short-lived run as a call girl, Alabama Whitman falls in love and marries her second customer, Clarence. At first glance, Alabama doesn't look like the kind of woman who is able to defend herself, but after being attacked, Alabama more than proves her strength in a fit of rage when she kills Virgil, a man looking for his boss' stolen "product".
