Exemplary Protagonists

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I've made previous posts similar to this in the past, but I think that phrasing the question this way will get the best results:

I'm wondering what movies you all have seen that have particularly stood out in your mind due to the protagonist (or other admirable character) demonstrating those behaviors, choices, ideals, actions, habits, routines, or engaging in specific actions that are admirable or worth imitating due to their difficulty/uniqueness/effectiveness.

Lots of factors to consider in that question. Here's some answers I'd give to it:

Batman Begins:
-Batman showed exemplary behavior during his training when he was urged to push himself past his limits by his instructor, Ducard.

Michael Collins:
-Liam Neeson's character showed great skill in leadership as he rallied crowds on the street, prepared men for battle, and always had an outgoing personality.

Casino Royale:
-Bond always kept his cool even in the most trying situations. He also resisted some brutal torture.


One of the main reasons I watch movies is to try to pick up admirable habits from characters in them. I find if I can visualize someone else who has certain traits, it is easier for me to obtain those traits.

Anybody else have any input?

Thanks.



I think you are relying on movies a tad too much. You should get your examples of good/exemplary behavior from people around you, not movie characters. Movies are not made to teach life lessons, they are made to entertain and make money. If there happens to be a good lesson in a movie, so much the better, but I would never go to them with the intention of learning how to be a better person.

On the flip side of that, I would never let my kids see a movie that had a blatantly bad message either, but hey that's the dad in me
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Don't worry about me, I don't rely on movies much, but I do enjoy those with admirable protagonists. Do any movies come to mind for you?



Good topic.

How about Andy in Shawshank.... that was a great protagonist.

A couple others: Willem Wallace in BraveHeart (his undying love for Murron through it all), Ruby from Cold Mountain (not the protagonost but one of the best characters in any movie IMO), and Tom Hanks' character in Saving Private Ryan - the shakey hands yet he never showed fear to his men.
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Originally Posted by Chaiwriter
How about Andy in Shawshank.... that was a great protagonist.
Yeah! How to murder your wife and get away with it! Yippee!




Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Gandhi (1982)



Lucas Jackson
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
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I haven't even been here that long and I've got to say it's pretty hysterical how often The Shawshank Redemption gets mentioned. Is that like the greatest movie of all time and I missed it, or what? Anyway...



Billy Jack (1971)





Brubaker (1980)
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Yeah! How to murder your wife and get away with it! Yippee!


Ummm, you either didn't see the movie, forgot the movie, or you misunderstood the movie.

Andy didn't kill his wife... remember? He went there to kill her but then he chickened out.



Lets put a smile on that block
Theres alot of hate for Shawshank round here. I can understand it if it's personal tastes just not liking it, irritated by the fact that it's like every other human beings favourite movie ever (I have a similar thing with Star Wars, meh, just don't like it that much yet it frequently ranks in ‘best top tens ever’ polls making my blood boil)

But other than that reason, I don't think its a bad movie at all. (Yes sir, I’m a fan)
Andy didn't kill his wife... remember? He went there to kill her but then he chickened out.
Kiddo, i like your gusto for sticking up for the movie, but i'm pretty sure that aint' a quality you would admire in an "Exemplary Protagonist"...
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Theres alot of hate for Shawshank round here. I can understand it if it's personal tastes just not liking it, irritated by the fact that it's like every other human beings favourite movie ever (I have a similar thing with Star Wars, meh, just don't like it that much yet it frequently ranks in ‘best top tens ever’ polls making my blood boil)

But other than that reason, I don't think its a bad movie at all. (Yes sir, I’m a fan)

Kiddo, i like your gusto for sticking up for the movie, but i'm pretty sure that aint' a quality you would admire in an "Exemplary Protagonist"...

I didn't say that's what I admired about him. It was everything that came after that that I admire.