Top 12 Strongest Female Movie Characters
Top movie lists dont have to be in numbers of 10, and they dont have to give homage to the same films over and over.
After perusing Cinemas Strongest Female Characters, one wonders why female strength is still focused in the stereotypes of the early 20th century. Although Bette Davis plays a very strong role in the first movie on the list, All About Eve, the character is still ultimately concerned with her appearance and how to maintain her status as diva actress at all costs. At bottom, this film illuminates a woman succumbing to societys notions of her, not expressing the multi-facets of inner and outer strength.
Among the first five movie covers on the list, three are shown with women in the embrace of men, and one shows only a man. Many of the movies on this lengthy list seem picked more in regard to relationship-based strength, award nominations, and media acclaim, and less in consideration of the actual strength of the female character. - http://theallegiant.com/top-12-strongest-female-movie-characters/
I noticed an error in this list. On #8 ( House of Flying Daggers (2004): Ziyi Zhang as Jen Yu ), Ziyi Zhang in her breakout role, played Jen Yu in the 2000 acclaimed "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" which I consider to be better than "House of Flying Daggers."
That aside, in one scene from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", the petite Ziyi Zhang, enters a tavern that has about 30 male warriors and trashes them (and the place) before leaving. A flight of fantasy to be sure, but it highlights Ang Lee's take on the Wu Xia tradition of film making, coupled with a very strong (but sublime) female character.
What's your favorite strong female character?
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I am unable to open the link you provided for this article - perhaps it's because of where I am. Have you thought about joining the Classic Cinema group and posting articles of this nature there?
Crouching Tiger is one of my favourite movies. If I were allowed only one word to describe it, the word would be "lyrical". I was able to watch it before it hit the theatres because one of my best friends was an ACTRA member and he gets DVDs (in those days Video Cassettes) of movies in order to vote for the Oscars.
Here is part of an article about lesser known classics posted on the Classic Cinema group. You can see the article with this link
:
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)
Although this is a fairly recent film, and it did win the Oscar for best foreign movie, I don't think it had become particularly popular. For me, it was like watching a dream. It was both fantasy and reality, like watching a flowing river or listening to a beautiful symphony. Ang Lee continues to be considered the best film Director - having just now won the Oscar for The Life of Pi.
Sally Field, in Places in the Heart ! WOW, she managed, well... When she bargained for the cotton, she did so well, in such an unobtrusive way... She was tough!
Then, in Norma Rae, she stood up for the right to form a union-- that was good!
Rooney Mara in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. She is bad-ass.
Nancy, played by Heather Langenkamp (1984) and Rooney Mara (2010) in A Nightmare On Elmstreet.
Marie, played by Cecile De France, in High Tension (2003).
Many of the movies I watch have strong femalecharacters. I watch a lot of action, adventure and sci-fi films.
The article puts Jodie Foster in with Silence of the lambs (which she was fantastic in); but I loved her in The Brave One .
Of late, Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone .
No mention of Michelle Yeoh? She's been kickin' ass for decades. And still hot at 49.
I was sort of raised on science fiction, I mean aside from the reality I have dealt with. It's called "escapism". I realize there are strong female movie characters whom have played parts that deal specifically within what can be called, 'accepted genres', Ingrid Bergman comes to mind. But Sci-Fi and Fantasy, at least within the movies, is where I see the greatest proliferation of strong female characters I can identify with.
In the "Lord of The Rings" trilogy, the character owyn , played by Miranda Otto , got no accolades but was brilliantly played. A strong female.
I'm just explaining my perspective. Of course, all perspectives are equally as valid too...carry on.
Well, I always thought she was strong-- Lt. Uhura in Star Trek...
Also, Sarah Connor in The Terminator
Keira Knightley in The Duchess:
Cissy Spacek in The River:
I'm sure I can think of more... just give me a bit!
John,
With Hepburn, I think the best of them with the strongest example of a woman character was Rose in African Queen. It's almost a textbook lesson in "how to make a man do what is needed even if it's probably going to get him killed". Rose is definitely the strong character in that movie, not Charlie. He only becomes strong because she makes him do so.
Wonder Woman (Linda Carter?)
My daughter kind of lucked into a time when bad ass women were starting to come around in media. She had lots of heroes.
When I was a kid Emma Peel from the Avengers was the first we'd seen. Diana Riggs is now on Game of Thrones apparently. Anyhow, she wowed us boys at the time. I do believe we had to wait until Ripley for another.
Yah, You betcha.
"And I guess that's your accomplice in the wood chipper."
THAT was a great character!
I thought of another one-- Meryl Streep in Out of Africa-- she played Karin Blixen, but the character was based on the real life of Isak Denison.
How could I forget? My very favorite of late is Saoiris Ronan in Hanna .
I'd have to put in a vote for Jenny Agutter in Walkabout .
I'm so glad that I can go to the grocery and just buy my food, and not have to hunt it down... I know I could do that, if I had to, but I'm sure glad I don't have to.
Walkabout looks interesting! I may have to see that one!
I've always thought that she was a lovely woman-- very beautiful, very strong, and I think she has integrity.
Walkabout is well worth a peek. Made in 71, or close to it. Hanna is as well. Sort of an Art House Action Film. So's to speak.
I'll have to find that one-- I wonder if it would be available on my kindle? Maybe!!!
Take care, Tex! You always find the odd, unusual, and wonderful stuff!
I am unable to open the link you provided for this article - perhaps it's because of where I am. Have you thought about joining the Classic Cinema group and posting articles of this nature there?
Crouching Tiger is one of my favourite movies. If I were allowed only one word to describe it, the word would be "lyrical". I was able to watch it before it hit the theatres because one of my best friends was an ACTRA member and he gets DVDs (in those days Video Cassettes) of movies in order to vote for the Oscars.
Here is part of an article about lesser known classics posted on the Classic Cinema group. You can see the article with this link
:
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)
Although this is a fairly recent film, and it did win the Oscar for best foreign movie, I don't think it had become particularly popular. For me, it was like watching a dream. It was both fantasy and reality, like watching a flowing river or listening to a beautiful symphony. Ang Lee continues to be considered the best film Director - having just now won the Oscar for The Life of Pi.
Sally Field, in Places in the Heart ! WOW, she managed, well... When she bargained for the cotton, she did so well, in such an unobtrusive way... She was tough!
Then, in Norma Rae, she stood up for the right to form a union-- that was good!
Rooney Mara in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. She is bad-ass.
Nancy, played by Heather Langenkamp (1984) and Rooney Mara (2010) in A Nightmare On Elmstreet.
Marie, played by Cecile De France, in High Tension (2003).
Many of the movies I watch have strong femalecharacters. I watch a lot of action, adventure and sci-fi films.
The article puts Jodie Foster in with Silence of the lambs (which she was fantastic in); but I loved her in The Brave One .
Of late, Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone .
No mention of Michelle Yeoh? She's been kickin' ass for decades. And still hot at 49.
I was sort of raised on science fiction, I mean aside from the reality I have dealt with. It's called "escapism". I realize there are strong female movie characters whom have played parts that deal specifically within what can be called, 'accepted genres', Ingrid Bergman comes to mind. But Sci-Fi and Fantasy, at least within the movies, is where I see the greatest proliferation of strong female characters I can identify with.
In the "Lord of The Rings" trilogy, the character owyn , played by Miranda Otto , got no accolades but was brilliantly played. A strong female.
I'm just explaining my perspective. Of course, all perspectives are equally as valid too...carry on.
Well, I always thought she was strong-- Lt. Uhura in Star Trek...
Also, Sarah Connor in The Terminator
Keira Knightley in The Duchess:
Cissy Spacek in The River:
I'm sure I can think of more... just give me a bit!
John,
With Hepburn, I think the best of them with the strongest example of a woman character was Rose in African Queen. It's almost a textbook lesson in "how to make a man do what is needed even if it's probably going to get him killed". Rose is definitely the strong character in that movie, not Charlie. He only becomes strong because she makes him do so.
Wonder Woman (Linda Carter?)
My daughter kind of lucked into a time when bad ass women were starting to come around in media. She had lots of heroes.
When I was a kid Emma Peel from the Avengers was the first we'd seen. Diana Riggs is now on Game of Thrones apparently. Anyhow, she wowed us boys at the time. I do believe we had to wait until Ripley for another.
Yah, You betcha.
"And I guess that's your accomplice in the wood chipper."
THAT was a great character!
I thought of another one-- Meryl Streep in Out of Africa-- she played Karin Blixen, but the character was based on the real life of Isak Denison.
How could I forget? My very favorite of late is Saoiris Ronan in Hanna .
I'd have to put in a vote for Jenny Agutter in Walkabout .
I'm so glad that I can go to the grocery and just buy my food, and not have to hunt it down... I know I could do that, if I had to, but I'm sure glad I don't have to.
Walkabout looks interesting! I may have to see that one!
I've always thought that she was a lovely woman-- very beautiful, very strong, and I think she has integrity.
Walkabout is well worth a peek. Made in 71, or close to it. Hanna is as well. Sort of an Art House Action Film. So's to speak.
I'll have to find that one-- I wonder if it would be available on my kindle? Maybe!!!
Take care, Tex! You always find the odd, unusual, and wonderful stuff!