Views: Great films mean great characters

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What makes a movie for me are the characters.

Give me characters I’ve never seen before in a movie. I don’t want to see the damsel in distress, the socially-awkward guy who gets the girl in the end or the jerk who later sees the err of his ways.

I want characters who, well, have character. Ones who had some thought put into their creation. Guys who I can relate to.

I was reminded of this once again last weekend when I caught a showing of “Zombieland.” Go see Woody Harrelson’s character in this movie.

So, I guess this column serves as nothing more than a reason for me to list my favorite movie characters. Heck, I even consider some of them heroes, because we share some of the same character traits.

Tallahassee (Harrelson) in “Zombieland” – I can admire a guy who loves his junk food. Tallahassee is a loner who will drive for miles, fighting zombies to find the last remaining Twinkie in the country. What do you do when you find a salvo of guns and ammo in the back of an abandoned Hummer while being chased by hungry zombies? Put a gun in each hand and fire off a couple celebratory rounds into the air.

The Dude (Jeff Bridges) in “The Big Lebowski” – You have to love a guy who enjoys the simple things in life. The Dude only needs bowling, a White Russian in his hand, Creedence in his tapedeck and a rug that ties the room together. One day I hope to be content with such simplicity.

Han Solo (Harrison Ford) in the original “Star Wars” trilogy – Sure, I like his bravado. However, it’s a bravado we had seen so many times in westerns prior to the trilogy. No, there is one moment in “Empire Strikes Back” that really gives us a true portrait of Han Solo and puts him a notch higher than other tough guys on the big screen. As he is about to be jettisoned down to be frozen in carbonite, Han is confronted by a somber Princess Leia. “I love you,” Leia says. Han responds, “I know.” C’mon ladies, you know you can’t resist that kind of response.

Dignan (Owen Wilson) in “Bottle Rocket” – I could have filled this list with my favorite Wes Anderson characters. I probably love Dignan the most. He’s a dreamer who keeps his eye on the prize. Unfortunately, he trusts the wrong guy in James Caan’s Mr. Henry. While Dignan’s heist plan seems absurd, his drive and ambition are admirable.