the greatest hero

the essential kit

I usually pick up Total Film and Empire, because I like movie industry articles, and this month’s TF had a 100 Greatest Villains & Heroes thing. Fifty of each. And on the exceedingly unlikely chance anybody cares that much, I’m going to put the reveals behind a cut, because I don’t want to spoil anything for anybody.

There were not a lot of women in either the heroes or the villains categories. Nine, in the heroes category. I was pleased to see Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in the top fifteen, along with–get this!–Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen.

But there were no women in the turn-the-page-for-it featured-top-four-before-the-turn-the-page-Final-Reveal, which I thought was particularly bitter because Harrison Ford was featured twice, for Han Solo *and* Indiana Jones. There weren’t even any in the top four for villains. (The Wicked Witch of the West made it into the top 10 villains.) So I was really, genuinely disappointed as I turned the page to see who their top choices for heroes and villains were.

Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley was their choice for the greatest hero in film.

I swear to God I almost cried. I mean, it’s true I’ve gotten ridiculously sentimental, but it was such a complete shock for Ripley–whose lack I had noticed in the runners-up–to be their favorite that it did catch me right in the sentiment. I mean, they’re not wrong. They’re not even pandering: Ripley is genuinely one of the most awesome characters ever, but I just never expected that she–or any woman character–would be their number one choice. It honestly delighted me.

(In fact, I was so happy I tweeted Total Film in thanks. And they responded!)

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