Buy Me A Coffee :D

Buy me a coffeeBuy me a coffee

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Solo and Jones

Our heroes, Han Solo and Indiana Jones, why do they win our hearts and admiration?

We love to wonder what it is about our favorite heroes that stimulates our senses, other than their outward appearances that is. *wink*

These two men are tough guys disguised in very appealing good-guy exteriors, what makes them so endearing?
Both characters have a certain power over their situations, either through intellect or through common sense or both. They overcome their failings and move forward. This in itself is enough to win our confidence. But we feel great when watching these characters and we have an almost inescapable sense of wanting to emulate their behavior and live their grand adventures in our own lives...OK, mostly vicarious, but still.

*Our two heroes are opinionated, passionate yet rarely arrogant. Their decisiveness makes us feel secure and they hold true to their beliefs and why they believe as they do. Take Indy's good-guy line, "it BELONGS in a museum", his noble notions of doing right and sharing his great finds (or others finds) with the world, not being a self-serving collector, is truly admirable.

*No excuses, no looking back. They've been beaten, chased, bountied, nearly killed, have had several human failings yet never blame others for their circumstances. Their hardships are only a temporary state and they always know that hope and recovery are not far from reach.

*They are active. By this I actually mean "pro"active. They never stop thinking on their feet and never wait for things to happen (save for some sketchy moments in the first moments on the Death Star) to them or for them. They are in tune with their world and other worlds and have the innate ability to connect to those around them. Which brings us to...

*Likability! They are leaders...strong, tough (in the good-guy sense), intelligent and ultimately inspire loyalty and friendship. They conquer their fears have little ego and rarely enter the realm of self-defeat.While written for the screen these characters are still very human but their personable tough-guy personas give them a powerful edge that's so very inviting.
For the women out there, and, ahem...some men, Han Solo and Indiana Jones represent a set of traits that are so deliciously tempting and sexy that we (gals and guys) can't help but be attracted to the source.

Although these characters are written for the screen I believe that anyone can follow their footsteps and become, in some way, like their heroes. These sorts of men (women too) are all around us and it doesn't take too much to find them. I can think of a few that fall into this realm personally and I adore them...I feel inspired by them and want to be a better person because of them.

Isn't that what heroes are for?

11 comments:

Nerf-Herders Anonymous said...

DarthVicomte
Vicomte's Blog Extravaganza

date Posted: Jan 26, 2006 11:54 AM
"They conquer their fears have little ego and rarely enter the realm of self-defeat."

Point of view and all that, I guess.........

Nerf-Herders Anonymous said...

janlomona
Smugglers Rants

date Posted: Jan 26, 2006 12:04 PM
I don't really have to add anything to that but say what a quality blog! Just watched the AFI Lucas Tribute and Ford was on there (roll on Indy IV!) and seeing the Raiders clips alongside Star Wars was so nostalgic - pure quality!
BTW, check out Lightsabre to see your latest pic in all its glory!

Nerf-Herders Anonymous said...

NerfHerdersAnonymous
Life, the Star Wars Universe and Everything

date Posted: Jan 26, 2006 12:20 PM
"Point of view and all that, I guess"
Han Solo has his moments but comes through in the end with less ego, especially when he tells Leia he won't get in the way of Luke and Leia's love (however premature that is) in Return of the Jedi...that's not the mark of a solely ego-driven individual. Han grows as Luke does, only differently and less so.
We all know that Solo is a fairly shallow character especially when compared to his Raiders counterpart Dr. Jones *dreamy-eyed sigh*

Thanks, Mark! Very strange to see the artwork up somewhere (other than a page on my site)...very strange indeed.
I've another one in the works. Trying to get it done between other drawing projects. ...still no cramping yet!

LM

Nerf-Herders Anonymous said...

jkelly
There Is No Conflict

date Posted: Jan 26, 2006 12:32 PM
This may not be new, but I like the "reluctant hero" aspect. Ford does this in other films as well; e.g., his Jack Ryan character or Air Force One. His conscience (aka Chewbacca) always gets the better of him and he's called into action to do the "right thing." Even when I see him in interviews, he always appears to be reluctantly making an appearance and reluctantly giving (truthful) answers. I think a lot of people can empathize with that. "I know, I know, I'll go clean my room" or "I'm going to get to the gym more often and eat right this year"

He gives us hope that we'll do the right thing in the end.

Nerf-Herders Anonymous said...

Sol Kassar
Ramblings from the Detention Center

date Posted: Jan 26, 2006 1:18 PM
I wonder if Mal Reynolds fits this profile?

Nerf-Herders Anonymous said...

NerfHerdersAnonymous
Life, the Star Wars Universe and Everything

date Posted: Jan 26, 2006 1:28 PM
"He gives us hope that we'll do the right thing in the end."
yes, he does. Many of us are more like Han Solo than we are like the other characters.


"I wonder if Mal Reynolds fits this profile?"
Yes, he fits the profile as Han Solo does. Whedon made no bones about Mal being a "Han Solo" type. Whedon shows us a far more gritty approach to the character than Lucas ever alluded to in the OT.

LM

Nerf-Herders Anonymous said...

DarthVicomte
Vicomte's Blog Extravaganza

date Posted: Jan 26, 2006 1:44 PM
"I wonder if Mal Reynolds fits this profile?"

If so, the Han Solo nude scene must be included in future SE's........

Nerf-Herders Anonymous said...

NerfHerdersAnonymous
Life, the Star Wars Universe and Everything

date Posted: Jan 26, 2006 1:47 PM
"If so, the Han Solo nude scene must be included in future SE's........"
Hear, hear!

LM

Nerf-Herders Anonymous said...

Son of a Bith
The Cantina Corner

date Posted: Jan 26, 2006 8:10 PM
Harrison does still does his own stunts at the age of 63. I saw it on TV during a sneak preview thingie for Firewall.

Nerf-Herders Anonymous said...

Sol Kassar
Ramblings from the Detention Center

date Posted: Jan 27, 2006 7:30 AM
"If so, the Han Solo nude scene must be included in future SE's........"

Shiny!

Nerf-Herders Anonymous said...

janlomona
Smugglers Rants

date Posted: Jan 27, 2006 7:48 AM
God no, if Harrison did a nude scene now it would be gruesome. Imagine Indiana, whipping around in a walk-in bath...
*shudder*

~~
NerfHerdersAnonymous
Life, the Star Wars Universe and Everything

date Posted: Jan 27, 2006 10:27 AM
hahaha, well, he's still in good shape...many of us wouldn't mind

...I think we're talking about the cut nude scenes from back then LOL ...I think.


"Harrison does still does his own stunts at the age of 63. I saw it on TV during a sneak preview thingie for Firewall."
Yeah, you gotta be in some sort of shape to do that.