The Best Film Characters of All Time

Screw Twilight, Hannah Montana and HSM. Those films don't have character appeal or good acting.


10. John McClane from Die Hard
While not not notch acting, Bruce Willis played Lieutenant John McClane as one of the most enjoyable characters in action films. Although he jokes even at the face of death, John McClane has moments where he is serious. Example in Die Hard 4.0 where his daughter is kidnapped. Also not to mention his sadistic and mocking laugh and the line "Yippe-Ki-Yay Mother****"


9. Tony "Scarface" Montana from Scarface
Perhaps Al Pacino's most iconic role, excluding the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather series. Maybe it's because Tony Montana suits the new generation of drugs, booze and sex. A deep contrast to the disciplined and honored Michael Corleone, Montana has a loud dirty mouth. Probably the most foul mouthed character I've ever seen. Not even John McClane could top the number of times Montana said the "f" word. Personally, I don't quite REALLY LOVE the character but dang, I won't do this list without him. Most people remember Montana as the first film character who yelled the famous line "SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!" which has been parodied countless of times.


8. The Terminator from Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Due to the fact that the robots... erm cybernetic organisms from The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and Terminator Salvation are different characters, I'll identify more to the one from the first sequel. While Arnie played the first one as a cool and chilly yet brutal villain, he returns as a cool, macho and awesome hero. He was the only time a robot could create so much emotion among viewers where he says "I know now why you cry, but it's something I can never do" before he is melted in the molten steel. Alongside the phrase "I'll be Back" is the equally iconic "Hasta La Vista, Baby".


7. Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story
I'd have to say Buzz Lightyear is the most positive thinking characters of all time. the phrase "To infinity and beyond" is proof enough. Although he did break down and "emo-ed" when he found out he's a toy after his arm broke of during an unsuccessful attempt to fly. Yet in Toy Story 2, he returned as the hero-who-never-gives-up when Woody was kidnapped. There's also a scene when he attempted to fly and ended up FALLING WITH STYLE and opened his eyes pointing to Woody "CAN!". I wonder what Toy Story 3 will be like although I'm not quite happy with a Spanish speaking Buzz Lightyear. He is heroic, but at times he is goofier than any of the toys. "YOU SEE THE HAT! I'M MS NESBITT!!! MUAHAHAHAHA"


6. Darth Maul from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Okay, Lord Maul might not be as iconic as Lord Vader but his rorschach tattooed face makes him the scariest adversary a Jedi could face. While Darth Vader's lightsaber combat employs bone-crushing and mighty swings ans strokes, Darth maul is a more agile and feeble duelist capable of wielding the double bladed lightsaber or lightstaff. He doesn't speak much but the lightsaber duel between him against Obi-Wan and Qui Gon Jinn was awesome. I mean only Darth Maul was awesome. He swings his lighsaber with a velocity Darth Vader could never dreamed of and is exceptionally skilled in melee combat. Played by wushu champion Ray Park(X-Men and G.I. Joe), you know what to expect.


5.Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Carribean
Perhaps the best film acting never to receive and Oscar nomination, Johnny Depp's Captain Jack is a mixture of pure drunken stupidity, brave and enjoyable heroism and the treacherous deadly air of a pirate. How caan we take our eyes off his gestures during speech and his mad and wild runnings. Don't let this fool you, he almost beat Davy Jones in a swordfight. Perhaps Captain Jack Sparrow is a braver and more high flying version of Indiana Jones.



4. Vito Corleone from The Godfather and The Godfather Part II
The only time ONE character received TWO Academy Awards, how can you leave a masterpiece like that out. The infamous Marlon Brando played him in Part I while Robert De Niro took over for the flashbacks of Part II. Brando played him as a raspy voiced yet wise patriarch of the Corleone family, the most powerful mafia organization of the world. Despite his background dealing with casinos, rackets, drugs and booze, we get to sympathise with him. His quiet yet convincing grieving of his son Santino and dying of a heart attack while playing with his grandson at the garden, he's a lovable character.

Robert De Niro played him with the wise and family-loving personality of Brando's version with the brash, charm and wittyness of a younger man. Especially during the scene where he negotiates with Don Fanucci and later shoots the man. Despite his portrayal of Vito as the protagonist contrast to Pacino's Michael as the antagonist of The Godfather Part II, De Niro has his dark moments. Shooting down Don Fanucci at a dark corridor and carving Don Ciccio's stomach for revenge... CHEESY


3. The Joker from The Dark Knight
The make up, the scary severed cheeks, the cackling laugh, WHY SO SERIOUS? Heath Ledger's Joker is the scariest film character not to come from a horror film. It is a mix of crazy and wacky elements and the psychopathic and murderous elements of Jack Torrance from The Shining played by original Joker Jack Nicholson. Jack Nicholson played the joker in Tim Burton's Batman in 1989. He's the funnier Joker but not the better. He's the most enjoyable joker but not the one you can't take eyes off. Ledger fills in the gaps. It is true, I agree that Jack Nicholson's take is closer to the comics but Heath drives the Joker as a dark and cynical yet charming villain. He rarely jokes onscreen but his voice and speech dominates The Dark Knight.


2. Darth Vader from Star Wars
I'll be marked TRAITOR of Star Wars is he's not on the list. Lord Vader is the epitome of pure villainy. The black suit and armor, the voice that signifies doom, the scary breathing. He'll be a kid's nightmare but a cool character for teens and adults. In Episode I, he's a cute and cheeky boy. The less said about Episode II the better. In Episode III, he plays a Jedi version of Michael Corleone from The Godfather Part II. The story of how a good man becomes evil. Skywalker/Vader is meant to scare us but we are meant to sympathise with him as a tragic hero. A badasss villain but a hero at the same time. Though no emotions and acting are seen under the mask. I really enjoyed Hayden Christensen's acting in Episode III. Yelling at his true love, mocking his best friend. All a repeat of Michael Corleone but has a lot of originality of it's own.



1. Michael Corleone
Al Pacino's a great actor. The Godfather Part II is just one of his great performances in the 70's. The Godfather, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather Part II and Justice For All all gave Pacino Oscar nominations. That totals FIVE NOMINATIONS in 7 years. That's a streak impossible to beat dude. Anyway, Michael Corleone is portrayed under the shadows of Brando's Vito Corleone in Part I. In Part II, he transforms from the good and law abiding citizen who loves his family into an evil man who kills everyone who ever loved him physically and mentally. He kills his brother Fredo, beats the shit out of his wife and alienates himself.But what was his sin? It was not, as we might have imagined or hoped, that he presided over a bloody enterprise of murder and destruction. No, Michael's fault seems to be pride. He has lost the common touch, the dignity he should have inherited from his father. And because he has misplaced his humanity he must suffer. We sympathised him in Part I for being in the wrong family. In Part II all sympathy is lost. Part III delivers the saddest film ending ever. His daughter gets shot by the bullet meant for him and screams in agony, revealing how much he treasured his family. It is said that the fact that Pacino didn't win for Part II was the biggest Oscar upset ever. Up till now, Pacino's performance in Part II is the best I've seen. He doesn't have the visionary character appeal of Darth Vader or Buzz Lightyear but replaces it with acting and a tragic story.

Movie Reviews: Infernal Affairs Trilogy

I'm always a big fan of Oscar winning hits. So far, no American film which bagged Best Picture disappointed me except for Slumdog Millionaire. The Departed was an enjoyable crime movie, obviously because of Martin Scorsese whom gave us all time classics (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas) with Godfather alumni and multiple Oscar winner Robert DeNiro.

But The Departed is a remake. So it was necessary for me to watch the original art.


Much like The Departed, Infernal Affairs is a fast paced crime thriller. A cat and mouse game played by the cops and criminals. Much in the vein of Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino's Heat. But there's a shred of difference that makes it very intriguing. An undercover cop infiltrating the Mafia... I mean Triads as well as a Triad member infiltrating the Police Force.

The plot is essentially identical to The Departed but directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak created a universe more intense and psychological compared to it's Hollywood counterpart. The Departed follows a typical tone of a Martin Scorsese film... A violent, dirty and cynical half of the American society. Infernal Affairs digs deep into the minds of Chan Wing Yan(Tony Leung) and Lau Kin Ming(Andy Lau).

Not to be missed are the performances of comedian Eric Tsang from the Super Trio Show as Triad Boss Hon Sam and Anthony Wong as Superintendent Wong Chi-Shing. I'd mark Anthony Wong as the one who gives the best acting among the main cast. Too bad he was given the backseat was killed early in the film. Don't worry, we'll see much of him in the prequel Infernal Affairs II.

However, this film is a little bit boring compared to it's successor. Maybe it's because I've watched The Departed long enough to anticipate the next move. But it's like reading Mario Puzo's The Godfather, you need to respect the original.

The pairing of Tony Leung and Andy Lau is also quite effectve. A reminiscent of the teaming of Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino in Heat.

8.0/10... Actually 6.5 but additional marks are given for inspiring an Oscar winner.




I'd like to identify Infernal Affairs II as a superior prequel to it's predecessor. The directing team of Andrew Lau and Alan Mak
takes the prequel in a more intense and productive story with a darker and more cynical tone. In the way that The Godfather Part II delved back into Brando's Don's formative years, Infernal Affairs II fleshes out beginning of Yan(Shawn Yue) and Ming(Edison Chen) as undercover components in opposing sides. It also explores the early friendship of Superintendent Wong and Hon Sam during their early days during the early to mid 1990's.

However, I find certain plot points simillar to The Godfather series, particularly The Godfather Part II. That's why I like it...LOL.

The subplot involving veteran Mob boss Ngai Kwun's death in the hands of Ming(prior to his days as Hon Sam's mole in the police force) and the rise and takeover of his son Ngai Wing-Hau(Francis Ng) parallels the end of The Godfather and The Godfather Part II.

Ngai Kwun was the boss of bosses/Capo di tutti capi of the Triad five families. Much like Vito Corleone,all bosses need to have his permission in business dealings. Hon Sam's scheming wife Mary(Carina Lau) ordered Ming to push the button so her husband could take over. The other "big four" bosses conspire to topple Wing Hau to consolidate their power. Much like the scenario in The Godfather Part II where Hyman Roth, Fredo Corleone and Frank Pentangelli rubbed out Michael Corleone.

At the same time, Superintendent Wong is relying on Hon Sam for information and sends out Yan as a mole in Wing Hau's mob. It is revealed that Yan came from a mobster background. Things got ugly as Ngai Wing Hau found out Mary Hon conspired with Superintendent Wong to kill Ngai Kwun. Superintendent Wong is demoted and is pending trial for conspiracy murder. However, he is receiving support from police force who will stop at nothing to bring down Ngai Wing Hau. Superintendent Wong gets his nerve after Wing Hau bombs his friend's car.

Wing Hau also rubs out the big four and Hon Sam in retaliation for their refusal to co-operate. However, Mary Hon worked alone and Hon Sam is very loyal to Wing Hau. The killings of Wing Hau's enemies occurred at the same time. Flashes of each assassination come spontaneously much like all 3 Godfather movies. Wing Hau also sends his family to Hawaii in the ensuing war.

Mary Hon goes into hiding after Ming saves her. Ming begins to flirt with Mary who angrily berates him and attempts to meet her husband in Thailand but is violently mowed down by a car driven by Wing Hau's henchmen.

Hon Sam also stays in Thailand and attempts to conspire with a Thai drug dealer to overthrow their respective bosses. Superintendent Wong enlists Hon Sam's help to testify against Wing Hau but runs away at the last minute. In turns out Hon Sam's That buddies have held Wing Hau's family hostage. Wing Hau holds Hon Sam at gunpoint with Superintendent Wong and his men asking him to stand down. Before Wing Hau could pull the trigger, Superintendent Wong shoots him in the head. A devastated Yan cradles his dying half brother in front of his own comrades.

This film distinguishes itself from the original to explore a more gangster orientated storyline and a violent mob war. The film is quite complicated but isn't confusing. Finally, Anthony Wong's character is shown full circle as Edison Chen and Shawn Yue are given the backseat. Eric Tsang plays a jollier version of Hon Sam before his downfall.

However, Francis Ng plays his character of Ngai Wing Hau identical to Al Pacino's Michael Corleone from The Godfather Part II.As happened with Pacino's Michael Corleone, Ngai the family's rank outsider suddenly develops into its main man, and he sets out to avenge his dead father, as well as take on the other Triad clan. Wing Hau also points out his father's ways and quotes and is a strong family man also like Michael Corleone.

Whereas Francis Ford Coppola weaved The Godfather into his narrative, here it remains very much on the margins. Thankfully, at its core, it's a skillful, absorbing crime thriller.

8.7/10... The best Hong Kong film not to be participated by Stephen Chow I've ever seen.



Unlike it's predecessor, Infernal Affairs III doesn't measure up to the previous 2 movies and it's only motivation is to end the story and make Lau Kin Ming "pay for his sins" like Coppola's The Godfather Part III. This sequel explores Yan's final months investigating Hon Sam's dealings with a mainland triad boss Shen(Chen Daoming). Also in the picture is another of Hon Sam's police moles Inspector Yeung.

In the process, Yan gets into trouble and is introduced to psychiatric treatment with Dr Lee(Kelly Chen), his love interest in the first film.

It also flashes back and forth into the days after Yan's death. Inspector Yeung is working to reveal Hon Sam's still thriving mole. Andy Lau returns as Ming, now paranoid of his previous actions is hitting on Inspector Yeung hard to prove him as the mole, giving him some breathing space.

Over time, Ming becomes paranoid and is hallucinating himself as Yan trying to find the mole. In the end, he found the edvidence he needed and proceeds to arrest Yeung. Before he could play the tapes, Shen appears and plays the tape provided by Yan, proving that Ming is the mole. Ming begs for forgiveness and in a moment of madness shoots down Yeung fatally. He attempts suicide but only manages to cause brain damage and lives the rest of his life haunted and mad.

This film is a poor effort to cash in the series and is hastily assembled. Only the ending portraying Ming's downfall is worth watching. the plot involving Yan and Hon Sam's dealing with Shen doesn't come to terms with the original film. The romantic sub-plot involving Yan and Dr Lee is kinda boring.

It's like The Godfather Part III of the series. The plot being too outlandish and convoluted, as well as the storyline being too based on continuity, rather than just a "stand alone" story. It's impossible to understand this film without watching the first film. It is also confusing with footage of Yan alive and dead showing up without any indicating of time frame. This flashback sequence is a pun of The Godfather Part II with footage of the rise of both Michael Corleone and Vito Corleone. However, the timeframe shifting in The Godfather Part II occurs only 4 times and plays for at least 20 minutes for Vito's story. Infernal Affairs III does this more than a dozen times.

To me, it's just "another Hong Kong movie"... 4.5/10

Movie Reviews: Die Hard Quadrilogy

Screw Rambo... John McClane is the Hollywood's coolest human action hero(the coolest ever action hero is Terminator). Having watched Die Hard 4.0 a handful of times and Die Hard 2: Die Harder on TV, I finished the puzzle by buying a Die Hard 4 in 1 DVD.




Die Hard begins when NYPD cop John McClane visits his wife at the Nakatomi plaza, a corporate skyscraper on Christmas Eve. A group of terrorists led by the icy Hans Gruber(Alan Rickman who played Snape in Harry Potter) takes control of the city. Fortunately for them, the security guards are killed off easily BUT unfortunately, there's McClane.

McClane makes a few kills and gains an MP5 SMG's plus some magazines, some C4 and detonators, European cigarettes and lighter from his kills. He tries to steal a shoe as he was barefoot in his wife's room when the chaos ensued. He throws it off saying "Nine million terrorists in the world and I get to kill one with feet smaller than my sister." This proved to be McClane's undoing because the men shot the glasses and forced McClane to flee with a bleeding foot.

McClane makes a few attempts to call for back-up. He gets back-up in the form of Sgt Al Powell(Reginald VelJohnson)a cop who sits behind the desk who gets his first taste of action when McClane called.

The terrorists mysteriously lacked motives and demands unlike others. In the end, it appears that Hans and his goons wanted the trade bonds secured in the Nakatomi building worth 800 million dollars.

However all ends well when McClane kills em all.

Not surprisingly, this film set a new standard for action films and launched Bruce Willis into Hollywood. Arnold Schwarzenegger was the first choice for John McClane but director John McTiernan turned him down. Obviously Arnie didn't have the cowboy persona that John McClane has. Arine also lacks the humor and fast talking persona of John McClane. Kudos to Bruce Willis. I couldn't imagine someone other than Bruce Willis playing John McClane... Van Damme? Stallone? Steven Seagal? BOOOO...

Alan Rickman also did a good job playing Hans Gruber, the villain. He's sort of a more quiet and sinister version of an Al Pacino character. A charming sociopath + gentleman.

Die Hard is an awesome action film. Quite logic, packed with gunfights and explosion that put Rambo to shame. McClane is also part of the treat. A tough but funny guy who often jokes and laughs in the face of death. Hard to imagine Arnie doing the same.

This movie has a solid 8.5/10....

Also, my dad took my mom to see this show on a date before I was born... Jeez, good movie but not for lovebirds...LOL




Bruce Willis returns as John McClane in the sequel. McClane recently moved to the LAPD to spend more time with his wife and kids. This time, his wife's life is again jeopardised when American rebel mercenaries thwart the airport's communication and landing systems, forcing the planes to circle the area with the risks of running out of fuel. Guess what, it's Christmas again and John McClane is going the distance to avoid his wife's plane to crash.

The mercenaries led by Colonel Stuart(William Salder) are aiming to collect their ally, General Ramon Esperanza(Franco Nero), a drug lord and dictator of Val Verde(fictional country).

Now, this sequel takes John McClane outdoors. From the baggage area to the runway to the underground tunnels. This film has bigger explosions(planes exploding) and more gunfights that the first film. The climax is when John McClane brawls with Colonel Stuart and his conspirator Major Grant on the wing of Esperanza's plane... Cool stuff eh?

Despite being an efficient and terrific action entertainment, this film lacked one vital part. A good villain. General Ramon Esperanza, Colonel Stuart and Major Grant just doesn't measure up to the standard set by Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber in Die Hard. However, we get to see Robert Patrick(the T-1000 liquid villain in Terminator 2: Judgment Day) as O'Reilly, one of Major Stuart's soldiers in his film's debut. Although he almost kicks Arnold's ass, he is easily shot down by John McClane... SWT...

John McTiernan refused to return to the director's chair. He chose to make the popular The Hunt For Red October instead. He is replaced by Renny Harlin who later directed other action machines such as Stallone's Cliffhanger, Deep Blue Sea and recently 12 Rounds with John Cena...

Of course you'll enjoy and laugh off this movie... A respectable 7/10....




Die Hard: With A Vengeance marks the return of John McTiernan to the director's chair. Also, John McClane is now divorced and has since returned to the NYPD.

This time, a mysterious terrorist by the name of Simon plays a game with the NYPD particularly with McClane. The game called "Simon Says" tasks McClane to push his limits by doing near impossible tasks with the threat of blowing up a public place should McClane fails.

This time, McClane has a partner. Zeus Carver(the one and only SAMUEL L JACKSON), an Afro-American extremist who hates white men including McClane. However, he is pulled into Simon's scheme when he saves McClane's life, interfering with Simon's original game plan.

It turns out Simon is actually Simon Gruber, the big brother of Hans Gruber from the first film. In his games, he attempts to humiliate and mock McClane in public in retaliation of McClane's killing of his little brother. Simon is as cunning as his brother and is certainly more aggressive and ruthless. Hans is primarily a schemer but Simon is both a schemer and a front line soldier.

Behind his revenge is to steal the gold bullion from Wall Street. Like his brother, Simon is both a terrorist and big time thief.

The third film is my least favorite of the four Die Hard films. Although it marks the return of a cheesier and icier villain, Simon Gruber(Jeremy Irons. He played the equally icy Scar in Lion King) but it lacks gunfight and brawls. McClane also sheds most of his humor and jokes less on-screen. However, the notion of Bruce Willis teaming up with Samuel L Jackson gives the film it's redeeming quality. It is also the darkest film in the series, with McClane being an angry guy after being humiliated by Simon's games.

This film is good, but not as good as it's predecessors or successor. It is interesting yet not so exciting. A favorable 6.5/10 for this one...




Die Hard 4.0 brings John McClane into the 21st century. A group of hackers plan to decimate the United States government by taking out all transportation, stock markets, utilities, electricity etc. Despite the age of technology, John McClane is still there to save the day.

This is the biggest film of the Die Hard series. It has a cool villain(the hacker) and an interesting plot. More gunfights, explosions, McClane taking on a F-22 Raptor jet. Also there is a scene where John McClane and a hot kungfu chick kicking each other's asses. Although McClane retains his trademark humor, it is considerably less compared to the first two films. Maybe McClane is now a wiser man.

Die Hard 4.0 is only surpassed by the first film. 8.0/10