Our favourite male characters

So, here goes the list of our top 10 favourite male characters and the reasoning behind the choices.

1. Michael Vronsky from The Deer Hunter. Not only does this movie share #1 place as our favourite film, but Michael is hands down our favourite male character ever on film. First of all, it is such an unconventional male role for a 70s film, not to mention for Robert De Niro to be playing. He's both compassionate and ruthless, two traits you'd not expect to see together. Plus his loyalty is something that really makes him the best character for us as that is the most important thing for us in a person. His compassion is probably summarized best in the scene he has with Angela; you'd expect him to at least get frustrated with her incapability to answer him, but instead he's unbelievably calm, patient and gentle. He's such a complex character; each time you watch the film you feel like you find out something new about his motives, maybe because he's so delightfully succinct.

1. Vash from Trigun. We know, we know, it's anime, but trust us, this one is actually good. Vash is simultaneously the funniest and the most tragic character ever. He's also the most compassionate and gentle character to roam any fictional world. He's really complex as well, when you start watching the show you immediately think that he's just a clown but holy cow is he not. He does not compromise his principles, which of course brings great conflict into the show. He's the kind of guy who would weep for stepping on a flower. And that is exactly why we love him. Don't make us choose between these first two, because we cannot. Also, who doesn't like doughnuts?

 

2. Robin Hood from the Adventures of Robin Hood. He has always been a favourite of ours, Jonna in particular, and after watching this movie again for the longest time the other one of us was also persuaded to place him on this list. He is the inspiration for every single cheeky male character. What we especially greatly appreciate in him is that he's a really good sport and has no ego to prove himself. Also, he's a class traitor, which is always a plus for us. And c'mon, the cheek of the man!

 

2. Han Solo from the Star Wars-trilogy. The classic cheeky hero. He probably has the best sense of humour out of anyone. He's wrongfully accused of being a womanizer, to which we adamantly object, as there is no proof of that in the films. In fact, we recently discovered that one of the reasons we enjoy his character so much is because he never comments on the looks of Princess Leia, he never once admits that to be the reason he's into her. Quite the contrary, his first observations of her are about her personality ('wonderful girl' and 'she's got a lot of spirit'). And seriously, who doesn't love Han Solo?

4. Mr. Darcy from the 1995 adaptation of Pride&Prejudice. The ultimate brooding hero. The verbal intelligence of this character is astounding (which makes it all the funnier how he keeps unintentionally insulting Lizzy). He's so human with all his failings and that is what makes you like him so much. No matter what anyone says, the 95 version has the authentic Mr. Darcy as it's the only version in which he actually changes like in the book. Best proposal scene ever can be discovered at the end of the third episode.

5. Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird. He's a visionary and a pioneering man. An idealist. We'd want him to be our father, or even better the father to our children. He has such admirable convictions and the way he stays true to them.... It's Gregory Peck, need we say more?

6. Mr. C.C. Baxter from The Apartment. Golly, is this character the most adorable male protagonist in a movie or what? With Chaplin's Tramp of course. Mr. Baxter is almost too considerate to be true. He's also very human though; he can get angry and even resentful. We really like how he starts out in the film seeing things in black&white but then learns to see in colour as the story progresses. 

7. Beast from Beauty and the Beast. He starts out probably the most immature and flawed out of all the others on this list. The amount of self-loathing he has for himself is just brilliant. He's hands down the best Disney male character; he's the only one with a more complex storyline. He can be funny and sad, but not at the same time like Vash (which is why he landed #7 here).

8. George Bailey from It's a Wonderful Life. Of course we had to have him, it's the other #1 movie for us! He's just the best everyday Joe. His faults and unwillingness make him so lovable. George is the reluctant hero you just have to love. He's played by James Stewart, our favourite actor of all time. He's such an underrated actor too.

9. John McClane from Die Hard. He's the epitome of an accidental hero. He really has no idea when to stop. He has a lot of common sense (maybe he should try applying it with his wife?) He's such a badass. 

 

                                                                         

10. Terry Malloy from On the Waterfront. He's the ultimate whistleblower. Once again, there's more to this character than first meets the eye; he's definitely not a stereotype. We like the boyish way Brando plays him; it makes all the things Terry does all the more impressive.