Whatever happened to the anti-hero?

Bomby · 06-01-2007, 09:30 AM

Remember when the main characters of movies were allowed to be morally ambiguous - or even morally corrupt - and despite all this, we still cheered them on?

This thread is dedicated to all the anti-heroes and anti-heroines of cinema past.

Codiekitty · 06-01-2007, 10:25 AM

Where are these lemmings going? Not the Super Nintendo Super Shire! They know to go to Codiekitty.com now!

**Booyakasha** · 06-01-2007, 11:17 AM

I don't see it. If anything, I'd suggest that antiheroes are the norm and heroes are the exception these days.

Sim Kid · 06-01-2007, 12:01 PM

^No...Emo heroes are the norm nowadays.

t3hDarkness · 06-01-2007, 04:00 PM

Long live the anti hero.

Actually its hard to tell an anti hero anymore without any true heros to compare them against.

We still need Magical Bastard Truthsayer Spidey.

Bomby · 06-01-2007, 04:04 PM

Recent movies with an anti-hero I can think of:

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
You could argue Oldboy
Kill Bill and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance would REALLY be stretching it.

Even if there are still antiheroes today, they are simply not as unlikably likable as Travis Bickle or Sasori (the REAL Sasori, not that bitch from Naruto).

t3hDarkness · 06-01-2007, 04:12 PM

No what about main heroes that know they are bad, but still fight for a better future.

Acradius · 06-01-2007, 10:21 PM

Han definitely falls in the 'ambiguous morals' category. Yeah, the empire may be the bad guys, but if they paid him enough, he'd smuggle for them too.

**Booyakasha** · 06-09-2007, 02:17 PM

^Maybe at first. Han straightens out pretty well by the end of the first movie, though.

☎☃☢ · 06-09-2007, 03:04 PM

**Perrin Aybara** · 06-11-2007, 10:01 PM

If you want an anti-hero, read the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. He's a leper and a rapist.-jay

**Dr. Horrible** · 06-11-2007, 10:25 PM

***CaptHayfever*** · 06-12-2007, 05:52 PM

They aren't completely extinct.

And remember, "I'm-a Wario; I'm-a gonna win!"

Koga · 06-13-2007, 08:02 AM

I often find myself 'cheering on' or 'rooting for' the guy you're not supposed to sympthatise with. Recent examples include Matt Damon in the Departed and Anthony Hopkins in Fracture. I think Jack Sparrow, like Deku pointed out, is also a very good example of a recent anti-hero. You never really know whose side he's on, but he's always got your sympathy.

Bomby · 06-13-2007, 08:58 AM

If these are today's anti-heroes... they're pretty damn weak.

***CaptHayfever*** · 06-13-2007, 02:52 PM

Really, any heist movie stars anti-heroes, as do Thank You for Smoking, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, et cet,.....these are all of wildly varying quality, but they're still anti-heroes.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

**Dr. Horrible** · 06-13-2007, 05:41 PM

I kinda liked this Anti-Hero too.

***CaptHayfever*** · 06-14-2007, 01:54 AM

^Rock on, Rainbow Randolph.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

Koga · 06-14-2007, 07:48 AM

Aaron Eckhart in Thank You For Smoking was awesome.

06-01-2007, 09:30 AM	#1
Bomby Condescending Film Jerk Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere Gender: Posts: 15,378 Thanks: 227 Thanked 676 Times in 428 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 4,323.89 Bank: 3,669,804.85 Total Points: 3,674,128.74 Donate	Whatever happened to the anti-hero? Remember when the main characters of movies were allowed to be morally ambiguous - or even morally corrupt - and despite all this, we still cheered them on? This thread is dedicated to all the anti-heroes and anti-heroines of cinema past.

06-01-2007, 11:17 AM	#3
Booyakasha Mod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 6,989 Thanks: 83 Thanked 441 Times in 260 Posts Points: 14,105.31 Bank: 38,128.83 Total Points: 52,234.14 Donate	I don't see it. If anything, I'd suggest that antiheroes are the norm and heroes are the exception these days. __________________ Boo--the only dude bad enough to rescue the president

06-09-2007, 02:17 PM	#9
Booyakasha Mod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 6,989 Thanks: 83 Thanked 441 Times in 260 Posts Points: 14,105.31 Bank: 38,128.83 Total Points: 52,234.14 Donate	^Maybe at first. Han straightens out pretty well by the end of the first movie, though. __________________ Boo--the only dude bad enough to rescue the president

06-09-2007, 03:04 PM	#10
☎☃☢ Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet X Gender: Posts: 3,858 Thanks: 290 Thanked 207 Times in 137 Posts Points: 22,450.66 Bank: 44,708.17 Total Points: 67,158.83 Donate	Godzilla's an anti-hero, right? Riiight?

06-11-2007, 10:25 PM	#12
Dr. Horrible PP&R Mod Current Events Mod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: More important than where is when.... Gender: Posts: 6,718 Thanks: 125 Thanked 448 Times in 298 Posts Points: 2,370.07 Bank: 3,747,681.64 Total Points: 3,750,051.71 Donate	Why is the Anti-Hero gone?

06-01-2007, 10:25 AM	#2
Codiekitty Just Another Face in Red Jumpsuit Join Date: May 2001 Location: Lemmingland Gender: Posts: 19,143 Thanks: 121 Thanked 174 Times in 120 Posts Points: 48,800.72 Bank: 3,021,450.74 Total Points: 3,070,251.46 Donate	Where are these lemmings going? Not the Super Nintendo Super Shire! They know to go to Codiekitty.com now!

06-01-2007, 12:01 PM	#4
Sim Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The state of Denial Gender: Posts: 6,869 Thanks: 9 Thanked 55 Times in 30 Posts Points: 36,856.04 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 37,356.04 Donate	^No...Emo heroes are the norm nowadays.

06-01-2007, 04:00 PM	#5
t3hDarkness Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I've been lost here before Gender: Posts: 4,286 Thanks: 45 Thanked 133 Times in 103 Posts Points: 15,342.05 Bank: 113,899.85 Total Points: 129,241.90 Donate	Long live the anti hero. Actually its hard to tell an anti hero anymore without any true heros to compare them against. We still need Magical Bastard Truthsayer Spidey.

06-01-2007, 04:04 PM	#6
Bomby Condescending Film Jerk Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere Gender: Posts: 15,378 Thanks: 227 Thanked 676 Times in 428 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 4,323.89 Bank: 3,669,804.85 Total Points: 3,674,128.74 Donate	Recent movies with an anti-hero I can think of: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang You could argue Oldboy Kill Bill and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance would REALLY be stretching it. Even if there are still antiheroes today, they are simply not as unlikably likable as Travis Bickle or Sasori (the REAL Sasori, not that bitch from Naruto).

06-01-2007, 04:12 PM	#7
t3hDarkness Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I've been lost here before Gender: Posts: 4,286 Thanks: 45 Thanked 133 Times in 103 Posts Points: 15,342.05 Bank: 113,899.85 Total Points: 129,241.90 Donate	No what about main heroes that know they are bad, but still fight for a better future.

06-01-2007, 10:21 PM	#8
Acradius Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Where Time, Space and Reality fade, and there is left only the mind... Gender: Posts: 939 Thanks: 21 Thanked 28 Times in 19 Posts Points: 14,181.20 Bank: 21,174.91 Total Points: 35,356.11 Donate	Han definitely falls in the 'ambiguous morals' category. Yeah, the empire may be the bad guys, but if they paid him enough, he'd smuggle for them too.

06-11-2007, 10:01 PM	#11
Perrin Aybara LLLUUUCCCCCCAAA!!! Ban HotD Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Alone....so terribly alone... Some... where... out... there... dies Gender: Posts: 11,839 Thanks: 187 Thanked 375 Times in 183 Posts Points: 42,375.26 Bank: 203,658.03 Total Points: 246,033.29 Donate	If you want an anti-hero, read the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. He's a leper and a rapist.-jay

06-12-2007, 05:52 PM	#13
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,783 Thanks: 235 Thanked 942 Times in 574 Posts Points: 117,376.76 Bank: 1,811.26 Total Points: 119,188.03 Donate	They aren't completely extinct. And remember, "I'm-a Wario; I'm-a gonna win!"

06-13-2007, 08:02 AM	#14
Koga Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Netherlands Gender: Posts: 17,093 Thanks: 104 Thanked 174 Times in 116 Posts Points: 107,546.41 Bank: 21,215.78 Total Points: 128,762.19 Donate	I often find myself 'cheering on' or 'rooting for' the guy you're not supposed to sympthatise with. Recent examples include Matt Damon in the Departed and Anthony Hopkins in Fracture. I think Jack Sparrow, like Deku pointed out, is also a very good example of a recent anti-hero. You never really know whose side he's on, but he's always got your sympathy.

06-13-2007, 08:58 AM	#15
Bomby Condescending Film Jerk Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere Gender: Posts: 15,378 Thanks: 227 Thanked 676 Times in 428 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 4,323.89 Bank: 3,669,804.85 Total Points: 3,674,128.74 Donate	If these are today's anti-heroes... they're pretty damn weak.

06-13-2007, 02:52 PM	#16
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,783 Thanks: 235 Thanked 942 Times in 574 Posts Points: 117,376.76 Bank: 1,811.26 Total Points: 119,188.03 Donate	Really, any heist movie stars anti-heroes, as do Thank You for Smoking, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, et cet,.....these are all of wildly varying quality, but they're still anti-heroes. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

06-13-2007, 05:41 PM	#17
Dr. Horrible PP&R Mod Current Events Mod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: More important than where is when.... Gender: Posts: 6,718 Thanks: 125 Thanked 448 Times in 298 Posts Points: 2,370.07 Bank: 3,747,681.64 Total Points: 3,750,051.71 Donate	I kinda liked this Anti-Hero too.

06-14-2007, 01:54 AM	#18
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,783 Thanks: 235 Thanked 942 Times in 574 Posts Points: 117,376.76 Bank: 1,811.26 Total Points: 119,188.03 Donate	^Rock on, Rainbow Randolph. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

06-14-2007, 07:48 AM	#19
Koga Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Netherlands Gender: Posts: 17,093 Thanks: 104 Thanked 174 Times in 116 Posts Points: 107,546.41 Bank: 21,215.78 Total Points: 128,762.19 Donate	Aaron Eckhart in Thank You For Smoking was awesome.