Character Spotlight: Clark Griswold

Clark W. Griswold lives in the windy city of Chicago, with his wife Ellen, son Rusty and daughter Audrey. He's a food additive designer, and a family man with the best of intentions. However this seemingly average man has very a short temper, and he may resist it for a little while. But if his buttons are pushed watch out because he will just about literally go berserk. He and his family have vacationed in such places as Las Vegas, Europe and Wally World Theme Park, but the experiences haven't gone as smooth as planned. Played by Chevy Chase in four hilarious National Lampoon movies, Clark Griswold is a character that even though he may say and do stupid things we can still relate to him when vacations go badly.

Character Duo Spotlight: Harry and Marv

Harry Lyme and Marv Merchants are known as the "Wet Bandits" because of their calling card for always leaving the water running after robbing a house. Around the holidays when burglaries most often occur, Harry poses as a police officer to check out the security of a suburban neighborhood to make sure they are taking the proper precautions, when really he and his partner plan to rob them when they're away on vacation. But the two bumbling bandits don't count on an eight-year old mistakenly being left behind and will stop at nothing to defend his home. Played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern in the 1990 family comedy Home Alone and its 1992 sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

Character Spotlight: John McClane

John McClane is a tough, crude, wise-cracking, chain-smoking New York City cop whose been on the force for many years. This has greatly effected his personal life so much so that his marriage to his wife Holly is dwindling. John always seems to find himself at the wrong place at the wrong time, and being the good guy that he is he reluctantly steps in where there's trouble because no one else will. This is what makes him someone we will most always root for because of his relentless efforts to not give up and get the job done by whatever means necessary. Played by Bruce Willis in four of the Die Hard films, John McClane is one of our great heroes in cinema that everyone would want to be there in a life and death situation. 

Character Spotlight: Lex Luthor

Deeming himself, "The greatest criminal mind of our time", Alexander Luthor (nicknamed Lex) resides in his secret lair two-hundred feet below ground level in the city of Metropolis, along with his girlfriend Eve Teschmacher and bumbling sidekick Otis. After finding about the invincible being called Superman, Lex and his two loyal followers devise an evil plan to destroy Superman and everything good that he stands for. Lex Luthor has been played by Kevin Spacey in the 2006 film Superman Returns, as well as Michael Rosenbaum in the television series Smallville, but for me there is none that's more memorable than Gene Hackman's performance in the 1978 film Superman the Movie. He is evil yes, but in a comedic way that despite being the villain you can't help but find him like-able.

Character Duo Spotlight: Ollie Dee and Stannie Dum

Ollie Dee and Stannie Dum live in a magical place called Toyland, where they work for The Toymaker making toys for the holiday season. They live in a shoe along with Mother Peep, her daughter Bo Peep and several other children. While Ollie is the smarter of the two, Stan is a little slower, but both are good and loyal friends who help out when there is trouble afoot. Trouble being in the form of the nasty and villainous Silas Barnaby, owner of the shoe looking to collect the mortgage. But Ollie and Stannie assure Mother Peep that they'll ask their boss for the money without any trouble, and hilarious hijinks ensue. Played by the wonderful comedy team of Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel, in the 1934 musical comedy film Babes in Toyland (aka March of the Wooden Soldiers).

Character Spotlight: Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Doctor Michael Hfuhruhurr, whose name is often mispronounced but sounds just as it's spelled, is a brilliant brain surgeon, known for inventing the cranial screw-top to enter the brain. After he has a car accident with a beautiful woman named Dolores Benedict, and operates on her to save her life, he marries her soon after. But he can't help compare her to his first wife Rebecca, whom he keeps a little statue of on his dashboard, and often quotes their favorite poems of John Lillison. However he doesn't realize that his new wife is evil and manipulative, and just out for money. Frustrated and unsatisfied with his marriage, he ends up falling for the one thing he is fascinated and aroused by; a human brain. Played by the hilarious Steve Martin in the 1983 sci-fi comedy The Man with Two Brains, Michael Hfuhruhurr is a character that's a little naive but on the nutty side.

Character Spotlight: Captain Hook

James Hook lives in Never Land, and is the Captain of the pirate ship The Jolly Roger. In addition to being a captain, he spends his time killing Indians and Lost Boys (runaway orphans). His long-time nemesis Peter Pan cut his arm off and fed it to a crocodile, which was replaced with a hook, thus giving him the nickname "Captain Hook". Hell bent on getting his revenge, he uses Peter's children as bait to lure him back to Neverland for a long-awaited battle. Played by Dustin Hoffman in the 1991 Spielberg film Hook, Captain Hook is one of the most recognizable pirates ever, featured in the children's book Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. Hoffman's portrayal of the ruthless and sleaziest villains of the seven seas is easily a nostalgic favorite.

Character Spotlight: Oda Mae Brown

Oda Mae lives in New York, New York and owns a small business where she is supposedly a spiritual reader and adviser. But unbeknown to her customers she is just a fake who scams them out of money. However, Oda Mae is shocked to realize that in fact she really has psychic abilities and can hear the voices of the dead, which her mother and grandmother also possessed but she never believed she did. Until a ghost named Sam contacts Oda, telling her he desperately needs her help because his girlfriend is in danger and needs Oda to be the medium. Played by Whoopi Goldberg (in an Oscar-winning performance) in the 1990 romantic drama Ghost, Oda Mae is a unique character with a spunky attitude and an extraordinary gift, who learns that death cannot stop real love.

Character Spotlight: Eric Draven

Eric is a rock musician who's engaged to be married on Halloween, to his girlfriend Shelly Webster. However his life is tragically cut short when he is shot and stabbed the night before their wedding, and his girlfriend is brutally beaten and raped by a gang of lowly thugs. A year later on the same day, Eric is resurrected back from the dead and led by a black crow, to avenge his and Shelly's murder. Painting his eyes black and face white to look like a porcelain harlequin mask, Eric is ready to face his killers. He is played by Brandon Lee in the 1994 American Gothic film The Crow.

Character Spotlight: Mary Katherine Gallagher

Mary Katherine Gallagher resides in the little town of Besamee Heights, where she goes to Catholic School and because her parents had died, lives with her grandmother. She is the rewind girl at her local video store, and ever since she was a little girl she'd dream of becoming a superstar so she could get kissed. So when she finds out that her school is having a talent contest, she is most eager to enter it, despite her grandmother's refusal. Played by the hysterically funny comedienne Molly Shannon, Mary Katherine Gallagher was first seen on the sketch comedy and variety show Saturday Night Live and later made her film debut in the 1999 comedy Superstar. In spite of her accident-prone personality, Mary Katherine is an inspirational character, who believes in her dreams so strongly, no matter who or what puts her down which is very admirable.

Character Spotlight: Jack Dawson

A poor young man whose parents had died, Jack is quite the talented sketch artist, traveling to Paris and drawing portraits for ten cents a piece. He thinks he's the luckiest guy in the world when he wins a ticket on Titanic when playing poker. While aboard the ship meets rich debutante Rose Dewitt-Bukater when rescuing her from nearly falling off the luxury liner. He ends up falling in love with her, but their places in society are worlds apart and conflict with their ever- growing affections for each other. Played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1997 James Cameron film Titanic, Jack Dawson is a down-on-his luck character who is given a twist of fate, but at the ultimate price.

Character Spotlight: Martin Brody

Originally from the violent streets of New York City, Martin Brody is a police chief that is relocated to a small coastal island town called Amity. And despite having a terrible case of aqua-phobia, has a house near the water where he lives with his wife Ellen and sons Michael and Sean. So when a killer shark terrorizes the islanders of Amity on Fourth of July weekend, it is Martin's job as chief of police to deal with the situation and solve the problem, even if that means facing his worst fear. Played by Roy Scheider in the 1975 blockbuster hit Jaws, Martin Brody is a good cop and family man, but also gutsy and tough when he needs to be.

Toughest Female Characters in Film

It's not just the men who can get down and dirty when it is necessary. These female characters are all strong-willed, tough-as-nails and when they need to, they can kick some serious butt. Girl Power! That's why they're on my list of the toughest female characters in film.

10: Alabama Whitman
Played by: Patricia Arquette
In the Film: True Romance

9: Marge Gunderson
Played by: Frances McDormand
In the Film: Fargo 

8: Leeloo
Played by: Milla Jovovich
In the Film: The Fifth Element

7. Danielle De Barbarac
Played by: Drew Barrymore
In the Film: Ever After

6. Erin Brockovich
Played by: Julia Roberts
In the Film: Erin Brockovich

5. Valeria
Played by: Sandahl Bergman
In the Film: Conan the Barbarian

 
4. Guinevere 
Played by: Keira Knightley
In the Film: King Arthur

3. The Bride
Played by: Uma Thurman
In the Film: Kill Bill Volume 1

2. Ellen Ripley
Payed by: Sigourney Weaver
In the Film: Alien

1. Sarah Connor
Played by: Linda Hamilton
In the Film(s): The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Character Spotlight: Ace Ventura

Ace Ventura resides in Miami, Florida and is a very different type of private investigator; he solves crimes that involve missing or lost pets. To the detectives at the police department he's a joke and constantly laughed at because he isn't considered a real detective. But Ace has keen instincts and is a master of disguise. So when the Miami Dolphins most beloved football mascot is stolen, it's Aces' chance to prove just how good a detective he really is. Played by the talented and funny Jim Carrey in both Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Ace is not a character you're likely to forget; from his eccentric, unpredictable behavior to his love of animals he is who you'd want in a sticky situation because he always gets his man, or beast for that matter.

Character Duo Spotlight: Wayne and Garth

Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar are the best of buddies who live in Aurora, Illinois. They have their own television show on the local cable access station called "Wayne's World" where they talk about which female stars they like, interviewing local people and playing their guitar. When a big tv executive offers to buy the rights to the show, Wayne is excited about the big money they'll get. However Garth is not so quick to sign the contract, suspicious that maybe the guy is trying to take advantage of them. The fun-loving characters of Wayne and Garth were originally seen on the hit comedy skit show "Saturday Night Live" and are played in their film debut by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey.

Character Spotlight: Cry-Baby

Wade Walker, also known as "Cry Baby" because he has the ability to shed one single tear, driving all the girls wild. He lives in Baltimore, and is called a Drape because he wears a leather jacket, drives a motorcycle, has greasy hair and loves rockabilly music. He was raised by his Uncle Belvedere and Grandmother Ramona after his parents were executed, his father being the notorious "Alphabet Bomber" who would set off bombs in alphabetical order.  He falls in love with a Square named Allison, who despite her good girl nature finds herself instantly drawn to Cry-Baby and his bad-boy persona. Played by Johnny Depp in John Water's 1990 cult favorite Cry-Baby, one look at this character and you'll be instantly drawn to him too.

Character Spotlight: The Joker

Real name unknown and with no other alias, The Joker loves destruction, anarchy and chaos. Donning a purple suit and painted up like a clown, he has a severely disfigured face which only enhances his menacing nature. He has no rules, and wants only one thing; to kill Batman, the masked vigilante of Gotham City. The Joker character has been played by many actors, including Jack Nicholson and Cesar Romero, but none more memorable than Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight. It's not a comical caricature like Nicholson, but it's a very dark and intensely scary character that will haunt your subconscious.

25 Sexiest Film Characters

1. Bruce Wayne

Played by: Christian Bale

In the Film: Batman Begins

Best Line: "Does it come in black?"

2. Count Dracula  

Played by: Gary Oldman

In the Film: Bram Stoker's Dracula

Best Line: "I have crossed oceans of time to find you."

3. The Phantom

Played by: Gerard Butler 
In the Film: The Phantom of the Opera

Best Line: "You will curse the day you did not do, all that The Phantom asked of you!"

4. Patrick Bateman

Played by: Christian Bale

In the film: American Psycho

Best Line: "Don't just stare at it eat it!"

5. The Joker

Played by: Heath Ledger

In the Film: The Dark Knight

Best Line: "Why so serious?"

6. Sirius Black
Played by: Gary Oldman
In the Film: Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban
Best Line: "The ones that love us never really leave us."

7. Harvey Dent
Played by: Aaron Eckhart
In the film: The Dark Knight
Best Line: "I make my own luck."

8. The Sheriff of Nottingham
Played by: Alan Rickman
In the Film: Robin Hood Prince of Thieves
Best Line: "Locksley I'm gonna cut your heart out with a spoon!"

9. Arthur Dimmesdale
Played by: Gary Oldman
In the Film: The Scarlet Letter
Best Line: "In God's Eyes I am her husband!"

10. Eric Draven
Played by: Brandon Lee
In the Film: The Crow
Best Line: "I'm dead, and I move."

11. Drexel Spivey
Played by: Gary Oldman
In the Film: True Romance
Best Line: "I know I'm pretty, but I ain't as pretty as a couple of titties."

12. Stanley Kowalski
Played by: Marlon Brando
In the Film: A Streetcar named Desire
Best Line: "Hey Stellllaaa!!!"

13. Tyler Durden
Played by: Brad Pitt
In the Film: Fight Club
Best Line: "Now as a question of etiquette as I pass do I give you the ass or the crotch?"

14. Johnny Castle
Played by: Patrick Swayze
In the Film: Dirty Dancing
Best Line: "I don't see you fighting so hard, Baby. I don't see you running up to daddy telling him I'm your guy."

15. Norman Stansfield
Played by: Gary Oldman
In the Film: The Professional
Best Line: "Bring me everyone, Evverrryyoonnnee!"

16. Michael Corleone
Played by: Al Pacino
In the Film: The Godfather
Best Line: "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse."

17. William Wallace
Played by: Mel Gibson
In the Film: Braveheart
Best Line: "Every man dies, not every man really lives."








18. Maximus 
Played by: Russell Crowe
In the Film: Gladiator
Best Line: "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."

19. Jim Gordon
Played by: Gary Oldman
In the Film: The Dark Knight
Best Line: "He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector, a dark knight."

20. Jack Traven
Played by: Keanu Reeves
In the Film: Speed
Best Line: "I'm gonna rip your fucking heart out, I swear to God."





 

21. Jim Stark
Played by: James Dean
In the Film: Rebel Without a Cause
Best Line: "You're tearing me apart!"

22. John McClane
Played by: Bruce Willis
In the Film: Die Hard
Best Line: "Yippeekiyay motherfucker."

23. Ichabod Crane
Played by: Johnny Depp
In the Film: Sleepy Hollow

Best Line: "Villainy wears many masks, none of which so dangerous as virtue."

24. Mad Max Rockatansky
Played by: Mel Gibson
In the Film: Mad Max
Best Line: "If you're lucky you can hack your ankle in five minutes; go."

25. Sailor Ripley
Played by: Nicolas Cage
In the Film: Wild at Heart

Best Line: "Did I ever tell ya that this here jacket represents a symbol of my individuality, and my belief in personal freedom?"