So Deadpool came out this weekend to great success, and Ryan Reynolds had some timely things to say about strong female characters: http://www.buzzfeed.com/elliewoodward/women-love-fcking-superhero-movies#.ly32Qgpkxr One of my greatest annoyances watching TV/Movies is when the women are portrayed as either nagging bitches (I'm looking at you, Breaking Bad), or helpless. Focus: What are your favourite fictional female characters, and why? I'll go first: Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor, T1 & T2. Here's someone who was told about impending disaster, toughened the fuck up and could kick anyone's ass. The pullup scene in the hospital? Hell yes. Oh, and Linda Hamilton learned to handle weapons and pick locks like a pro, to the extent that the scene where she escapes the mental asylum was her picking the lock in real time and posed security concerns from the filmmakers, who were uncomfortable broadcasting that kind of thing. Cara "Starbuck" Thrace, Battlestar Galactica. I liked that she was tougher and louder than any of the guys, yet she still slept with all the right men (I know this is sexist, but que cera). She's pretty much the only character I would like to actually be for a time. Gemma Teller Morrow, Sons of Anarchy. I tend to like any female character whose loyalties are undivided. Gemma is in it to stay on top and protect her (blood) family. That's about it, and she's the one on that show I'd be least apt to cross. Plus it's refreshing to see a +50 character be that attractive and tough. Any character Lena Headley has ever played. The Queen of Sparta? Check. Cersei Lannister? Yes, her too.
Per rep request: Samus Aran because I've loved Metroid for like 30 years and she's just a badass. Also I like women that don't talk. Hey-o! The next one is even more obvious. Ellen Ripley from the Alien series because she's hard working and smart and always the most rational character, but never fake rational. What I mean is she never sacrifices morality because it's rational. She's never the one that'll give up her morality or an individual for the supposed greater good.
Sarah Connor is also my favorite female character. She just goes through the movie and beats the shit out of any guy she comes in contact with. The change in the character from T1 to T2 is awesome. I would probably also say Marla Singer from Fight Club. Such a bizarre character and the line "I havent been fucked like that since grade school," is so twisted. Honorable mentions for Lisbeth Salander, Annie Wilkes, and Catherine Tramell.
Love that line. The story about how it ended up in the movie is awesome too. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137523/trivia?item=tr0755880
I gotta throw in one for Sarah Connor too. Also, this lil' badass. Brienne is worth mentioning too, but Arya is the is the human manifestation of the honey badger, which makes for good entertainment. In a different vein I'll add Leslie Knope from Parks and Rec. Amy Poehler is hilarious and her character is just funny and positive.
The comments section of that article is hilarious. Especially down about 3 paragraphs, when the guy talks about Sleepless in Seattle, and this chick responds. Funny as hell. Back on Focus: I was never a huge Sarah Connor fan. I did love Anne Hathaway as Catwoman though, much better than Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry. I will also throw Claire Underwood from House of Cards out there. That woman is the embodiment of quietly bad ass.
Anne Parillaud in the original 1990 film La Femme Nikita. This clip doesn't do the movie justice, at all, but it's all I could easily find. It's also the source material for one of the worst foreign movie remakes ever. Noomi Rapace in the original (2009) Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I think I'm drawn to the fact that they're both tough, damaged and insecure women who don't give up, and end up coming out on top.
My favorite femme fatale. Hell, she wasn't even acting. She really is psycho. "But she got that magna cum laude pussy on her that done fried your brain." Eva Green's Vesper is the best female performance in a Bond flick, possibly in an action movie. Smart, cunning, honestly human, sultry. She is perfect. As mentioned, Rooney Mara in Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and Anne Hathaway's Catwoman were awesome. Especially the former, she killed it. Transcendent performance. Stephen King writes wonderful female leads. If they are mousy, it is only to serve the purpose of the story. The original Wendy Torrence was not Shelly Duvall's melting retard face. She's her own person, tired of her husband's drunk shit, who ends up taking care of bidness. Lisey's of Lisey's Story is basically a love letter to his wife (who is in actuality a tough old bird). In Big Driver a victim hatches revenge on her rapist. Annie Wilkes, Carrie's mom, all fantastic.
Not a big fan of Vesper, but I adore Green's character in Penny Dreadful. Man, how can you make me choose amongst all my pretties? The one who set the standard for me was Sydney Bristow on Alias. Beauty, muscles, determination, and constantly dealing with the mindfuck of being a double agent and all the other jacked up stuff that JJ Abrams likes to throw at his characters. The one who takes the standard to a whole new level is Tatiana Maslany as the Leda clones in Orphan Black. She portrays a variety of characters and makes you easily forget that it is the same actor playing all of them. I guess the most fight-y of the clones is Helena. She scared the shit out of me the first season and even though she is now on the side of the angels, that doesn't mean she is one. But my favorite is going to have to be River Song. She was raised with one purpose - to kill the Doctor. Instead she fell in love with him. But given that he's not much of a homebody, she likes to spend time (and space) studying archeology Indiana Jones-style.
The ladies of Suits are all fantastic. Sarah Rafferty as Donna in particular is just amazing. She may be "only" a high powered law secretary, but she has everything in her world under control. River Tam, River Song, wonderful. Tatianna Maslany as an actress is god damned ridiculous.
I was thinking about this thread and the first character who came to mind is an old favorite: Petra, from Ender's game. I really liked Arya as your pick too, Kotchy. These two girls have a lot of similar characteristics which is probably why I adore them both so much. I identified a little with Petra when I read the book as a kid and I feel the same about Arya. I'm not nearly as plucky, but as I get older more of my real personality comes out and the "seen but not heard" qualities that were beat into my head as a child are fading away. I truly hope that if I have a daughter, she is as plucky, fearless, and clever as Arya and Petra from the get-go.
Shoshanna and "The Bride" from Tarantino flicks. They're smart as a whip, beautiful and fucking badass.
I've loved old movies since I was a little kid, and I always wanted to grow up to be a femme fatale. These ladies were my ideal type of femininity: powerful and sassy and dangerous and crafty and knew how to have a good time. If I had to pick a few favorites I'd go with Marlene Dietrich as Christine in Witness For the Prosecution: and Barbara Stanwyck as Jean in The Lady Eve: Plus for more lighthearted options and to honor my user name, Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face: and Marilyn Monroe in Some Like it Hot:
Can't believe no-one has said this yet but... Sonja Sohn as Detective Greggs. Tough as nails, smart and doesn't bend or change for anyone.
No one mentioned Divine from Pink Flamingos? The muse of John Waters? Whole lotta cis up in here. Kidding. Another one I always liked was Rachael from Blade Runner. Not exactly a femme fatale, but a very subtle character.
Rita from the Power Rangers and Elizabeth Berkley in Show Girls. Both were huge heros in different ways.