Most Interesting Character..

[Silverstein]

From Captain Jean Luc Picard, to Dr. Who, what character do you feel is the most well created and interesting character in any media? From novels, movies, shows, etc.

But you can't just say the character's name, give your reasons why. I know it's hard to pick, but you can have up to five, if you explain them all.


For example, you might say that Randolph Carter of H.P. Lovecraft's The Statement of Randolph Carter, is the most interesting character to you. He appears in many of the author's works, and is an aptly produced vision of Lovecraft himself through his own eyes. The character only appears vaguely in comparison to characters such as Harry Potter, but in the few short-stories that he appears, the character connects with the reader and displays a wide variety of emotions from fear to heroics.

Or you could say that Marc Antony, Romeo, Macbeth, Demetrius or Oberon are the the best. Hell, you could pick the kid from The Hatchet or Kino from the Pearl. Just explain why.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

Hmmm...5 characters, complete with explanations. Well, here's my first one; I'll post the rest as I think of them.

Captain David Webb (a.k.a. "Jason Bourne")

Spoiler

As one of the most interesting and heartfelt characters I've seen in recent film history, Matt Damon's amnesiac assassin is far from a simple, cold-blooded killer. This is a man who, unbeknownst to him for years, voluntarily joined the CIA to save American lives...and subsequently was stripped of his humanity through behavior modification. He became the most deadly and secretive Black Ops agent the government ever had, so much that his own people wanted him dead, to protect their secrets. The only thing that made his mission bearable was the fact he couldn't remember anything, prior to waking up on a fishing boat in the Mediterranean Sea. Slowly but surely, his haunted past began to surface...and for three long years, he watched as those he once worked for gunned down anyone who stood in their way...including the love of his life, Marie.

Finally, after traveling from city to city, continent to continent, his long race finally ended in New York. Confronted by the horrific truth of what he'd once done, David Webb embraced his true self, leaving Jason Bourne behind. But the hunters are still out there, and Webb will go to any length to protect himself and those he loves from thier murderous tactics. It makes him a modern-day "hero of our time", and a character audiences love because of our common desire to see justice prevail.

 

[Silverstein]

Wow. Amazing and accurate review of the character. I agree with everything stated there, you almost make me want to put him on my list. Good job, man, I can't wait to see who else you pick!

 

[Silverstein]

I guess I'll do mine now. Or one of them anyway.

Romeo Montague

Spoiler

I put him on my list because the character has reached so many people and reflects how easily humans fall in and out of love. Love is supposed to be a special thing, somethings that bonds two people and makes us do incredible things. Romeo does those types of things in the play, but just like so many people, he thinks he is in love when he is not.

Romeo loved Rosaline, but to get over her, tried too hard to get with Juliet. Juliet claimed to love him too, though she was young and naive and most likely only loved him because A.) She was told not to, and B.) because he said he loved her. The interesting dynamic of how hard the two characters push makes the love seem genuine. In actuality the entire play takes place in the span of maybe a month or so. Almost everyone in the play is over-reacting and embellishing their thoughts and feelings. They rush into love, they rush out of love, and they do things because they think that they feel like they are supposed to. If the Friar and the Nurse had shut up and minded their own business, respecting the families that they each were aligned to, Romeo and Juliet would still be alive.

But everyone ignores this. They are told it's a love story, so they go with it. Their is enough presented that shows that it is love, and so the people think that they feel this is how love is supposed to be. As readers we almost always fall prey to becoming like Romeo ourselves. The story makes us Romeo Montagues in our reception of the tale.

He makes the list for me, for being an inspiration, a memorable character, displaying emotions and character development and for having the ability to effect the reader and make himself an avatar.

 

[deadskie]

This question is sensory overload, really. And so I'm a bit afraid as soon as I pick five, I'll think of others who are even more interesting. At any rate, here's the initial five ::coughs:: cheesy answers ::coughs::

Professor Severus Snape from the Potter-brat books, on account that I find it very impressive how every single thing he says and/or does can have a double-meaning. And how it all did, up until the very end. And so I like to think of him as a whole bunch of puzzle pieces, that finally all fell together.

Batman. Batman has always been my favorite comic book hero, on account that I figure it's got to be pretty easy to sit on your butt and do nothing for the rest of your life if you were so fantastically rich. And so instead, to take up such a cause and to sacrifice everything for it--well, that's something. Something I find very interesting. The whole one-person-can-make-a-difference deal.

The Joker. He's always knocked my socks off, on account that it's not every day you run into a villain who is so....so....evil without apology, I suppose. Someone who is unhinged by society's standards, yet perfectly hinged by his own. I don't know. There's an appeal, I think, to someone who lives without fear and without regret, and does whatever they want whenever they want.

Sandman, from Neil Gaiman. I very much like how Morpheus is understated, and not. How you kind of just catch glimpses of his personality and who he is, by catching snippets of what he has and hasn't done. How he makes everything complicated and simple all at once--how he can control a whole dimension, and yet can't even control himself. And how much he was and wasn't able to change--how he grew, and tried to make things right.

Holden Caulfield, from "The Catcher in the Rye". And really, it isn't so much that I find Holden interesting, so much that I find it interesting that I can relate to a fictional character so very very much.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

In keeping with my self-imposed theme of "justice" archetypes, here we go again...

Eric Draven ("The Crow")

Spoiler

As created by well-known comic artist James O'Barr, and brought to cinematic life by director Alex Proyas and the late Brandon Lee, this character represents both our darkest desires and our most selfless choices.

In the original comic, Eric has no last name, and he is not a guitarist. He is a day laborer, an "everyman" whose main source of joy is his bride-to-be, Shelley. But that all changes one terrible night, when their car breaks down in the midst of nowhere. Soon, a group of drugged-out thugs approach, who viciously attack the couple in a cruel frenzy. Eric is mortally wounded, powerless to do anything but watch as his love is raped and murdered...all for the trifle of a simple engagement ring.

His soul traumatized, Eric cannot bear to pass into the afterlife until the gang members pay for their heinous crimes. Brought back as a half-human ghost figure, Eric is now a form of "avenging angel", with one purpose alone: to kill those responsible for destroying he and Shelley's lives. At its core, his mission is less about social justice than personal revenge...and while we may not always agree with it, we do understand it. In our crime-ridden world, the "bad guys" so rarely pay as we believe they should. Who wouldn't want to punish the guilty, when they'd been allowed to survive by escaping the law?

In the 1994 film version, Eric and Shelley's lives are depicted differently, but the injustice is the same. A struggling underground musician, Eric Draven is engaged to Shelley Webster, a beautiful woman with a gentle yet defiant soul. But when they challenge the wrongful eviction of their apartment building, the building's owner Top Dollar sends his gang of henchmen to "address the situation". Catching Shelley alone, the scumbags beat and abuse her, until Eric arrives from a grocery run. Stabbed and shot, Draven is thrown from the window of their high-rise loft. A year later, Eric's soul returns to complete his dark mission, and return to his love in eternity. Aided by one of the few honest cops, Eric slays each of Top Dollar's goons. But when his friend Sarah is kidnapped, Eric risks his own fate to save her from a similar tragedy. Following this selfless act of heroism, he barely survives long enough for Shelley's spirit to welcome him home.

 

[Silverstein]

Excellent posts you guys. I never really liked The Crow, but that seems very intriguing. And Deadskie, you stole one of the characters from my list! lol :P Just kidding. I have Joker on my list as well.

Joker

Spoiler

He is the most evil yet the most aware character in all of comics. If you think about it, as a character, he knows he is a character. And sure, other characters do this such as Deadpool, but never to the point where it's a non-comical canon that almost makes sense of the actions a character makes.

This awareness begs the question: Is he even evil? I mean, if you knew that you weren't real and stuck in a world where everyone has roles and your role happens to be that of a reoccurring villain, what would you do?

For everything that Batman is and fans and writers make him out to be, Joker is arguably moreso. Brilliant, genius, aware, formulating, etc...The Joker has to be one of the most sane people in all of comics.

I know I'm repeating myself, but this time...I don't think I can actually formulate words for the point I'm trying to make.


To explain this one, just stop and think about every Joker comic, cartoon, movie or appearance you've ever seen of the character. He's one of the only characters ever to be diverse and creative enough to be represented well by EACH adaptation. Versatile. He's one of the only characters in comics who people can not claim is over-hyped. His appearances in serious storylines work, in more relax storylines.....


I could go on forever about The Joker..I'm done. Haha...this one is a wrap.

 

[Arcturus]

In keeping with my self-imposed theme of "justice" archetypes, here we go again...

Eric Draven ("The Crow")

Spoiler

As created by well-known comic artist James O'Barr, and brought to cinematic life by director Alex Proyas and the late Brandon Lee, this character represents both our darkest desires and our most selfless choices.

In the original comic, Eric has no last name, and he is not a guitarist. He is a day laborer, an "everyman" whose main source of joy is his bride-to-be, Shelley. But that all changes one terrible night, when their car breaks down in the midst of nowhere. Soon, a group of drugged-out thugs approach, who viciously attack the couple in a cruel frenzy. Eric is mortally wounded, powerless to do anything but watch as his love is raped and murdered...all for the trifle of a simple engagement ring.

His soul traumatized, Eric cannot bear to pass into the afterlife until the gang members pay for their heinous crimes. Brought back as a half-human ghost figure, Eric is now a form of "avenging angel", with one purpose alone: to kill those responsible for destroying he and Shelley's lives. At its core, his mission is less about social justice than personal revenge...and while we may not always agree with it, we do understand it. In our crime-ridden world, the "bad guys" so rarely pay as we believe they should. Who wouldn't want to punish the guilty, when they'd been allowed to survive by escaping the law?

In the 1994 film version, Eric and Shelley's lives are depicted differently, but the injustice is the same. A struggling underground musician, Eric Draven is engaged to Shelley Webster, a beautiful woman with a gentle yet defiant soul. But when they challenge the wrongful eviction of their apartment building, the building's owner Top Dollar sends his gang of henchmen to "address the situation". Catching Shelley alone, the scumbags beat and abuse her, until Eric arrives from a grocery run. Stabbed and shot, Draven is thrown from the window of their high-rise loft. A year later, Eric's soul returns to complete his dark mission, and return to his love in eternity. Aided by one of the few honest cops, Eric slays each of Top Dollar's goons. But when his friend Sarah is kidnapped, Eric risks his own fate to save her from a similar tragedy. Following this selfless act of heroism, he barely survives long enough for Shelley's spirit to welcome him home.

I remember buying the graphic novel by James O'barr years ago and it's one of my all-time favorite comic-books, the story is truly well done. The same for the movie. A memorable movie, indeed. The character of Eric Draven is very interesting.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Yea I've gotta go with Joker. There is just so many layers and so many ways to portray him. IMO the greatest villain ever, in any medium.

 

[Microchip]

Oooh, I like the idea of Jean-Luc Picard. Actually, the whole cast there sans that creepy doctor from the second or third season was pretty darn intriguing. Oh, and Wesley sucked too, that 12 year old little bastard. Oh wait! Faux Pas!

 

[Majic Walrus]

So many interesting characters, how can one pick the most interesting? I'll have to say that one of the most interesting characters, certianly one of my favorites is Captain Ahab.

No need for spoiler tags, read the book and you'll understand.

 

[DeGenerate10]

Batman/Bruce Wayne and the Joker IMO.

 

[Silverstein]

You guys have to explain at least a little bit for why you pick them in your own words. For instance, Ahab might be a fun and interesting character, but why should I say he was well-created?

And DeGenerate10, you don't have to write much just explain a little.

 

[Erzengel]

I'm probably top 3 most interesting posters on SHH.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Hmmm...5 characters, complete with explanations. Well, here's my first one; I'll post the rest as I think of them.

Captain David Webb (a.k.a. "Jason Bourne")

Spoiler

As one of the most interesting and heartfelt characters I've seen in recent film history, Matt Damon's amnesiac assassin is far from a simple, cold-blooded killer. This is a man who, unbeknownst to him for years, voluntarily joined the CIA to save American lives...and subsequently was stripped of his humanity through behavior modification. He became the most deadly and secretive Black Ops agent the government ever had, so much that his own people wanted him dead, to protect their secrets. The only thing that made his mission bearable was the fact he couldn't remember anything, prior to waking up on a fishing boat in the Mediterranean Sea. Slowly but surely, his haunted past began to surface...and for three long years, he watched as those he once worked for gunned down anyone who stood in their way...including the love of his life, Marie.

Finally, after traveling from city to city, continent to continent, his long race finally ended in New York. Confronted by the horrific truth of what he'd once done, David Webb embraced his true self, leaving Jason Bourne behind. But the hunters are still out there, and Webb will go to any length to protect himself and those he loves from thier murderous tactics. It makes him a modern-day "hero of our time", and a character audiences love because of our common desire to see justice prevail.

Have you ever read the Bourne trilogy of books MovieFan? The books are pretty much completely different from the movies and really show different sides to the character.

As for me John Kelly/Clark from various Tom Clancy books, but mostly Without Remorse since it's his "origin story". Just a totally fascinating character. Just amazing to see how far a man will go to find justice. Read Without Remorse and you'll figure it out, one of my favorite books of all time.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

Have you ever read the Bourne trilogy of books MovieFan? The books are pretty much completely different from the movies and really show different sides to the character.

I'm well aware of that fact. I've read part of the original book, and I got about a third of the way through Eric van Lustabder's "The Bourne Legacy", but most of my opinion is based on the film version. I'm definitely looking forward to the next one's release.

 

[C.F. Kane]

My namesake, Charles Foster Kane. He's a wonderful example of a modern tragic figure.

He devotes his life to the grandiose, building an opera house for his lover, building a modern Xanadu in Florida, collecting art and jewelry. He's a larger than life figure who somehow becomes even larger than his own life. For all his pomp, his last thoughts are of a childhood toy, a symbol of the simplicity that he lost growing up.

He's a frightening figure. Frightening because I can see a lot of myself in him.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

I'm well aware of that fact. I've read part of the original book, and I got about a third of the way through Eric van Lustabder's "The Bourne Legacy", but most of my opinion is based on the film version. I'm definitely looking forward to the next one's release.

Don't bother with Legacy, just read Ludlum's books. They are difficult reads though.

 

[SuBe]

O'Brien's and Winston from 1984. Amazing relationship for 2 powerful people. O'Brien because you just don't know if he is lying or telling the truth. The exchange at the end is probably one of the best I've read.

 

[BlackLantern]

Det. Vic Mackey (The Shield)

One of the most interesting and frightening characters on TV today, Mackey shows that the world is not black and white, that it's not good guys win and bad guys lose..that the world is huge shades of grey...from the murder of a fellow police officer to robbing millions of dollars in dirty drug money from an Armenian mob, Mackey displays a deep seeded desire to live in a more perfect world

Dirk Pitt (various novels by Clive Cussler)

The consummate adventurer and action hero, Pitt works for NUMA, the National Underwater and Marina Agency. From discoveries of the Titanic and the true fate of Abraham Lincoln in a Confederate ship buried in the Sahara desert, Pitt has always displayed that any fight is winnable and no treasure hunt is too treacherous. The discovery of a daughter and son in the later novels, and Pitts promotion to head of NUMA display that a character can change and still be relevant.

Hieronymous (Harry) Bosch (various novels by Michael Connelly)

World weary detective in the LAPD, Bosch demonstrates an intelligence that doesn't come from police academies and regulations, but an understanding of human nature and the "why" of crime. Kept fresh by constant changes of partners and constant changes in which division he works in, everything from Robbery-Homicide to Missing Persons to an assignment in the Chiefs Office, Bosch is driven to "get the job done"

 

[Captain_BluTac]

I'm too lazy to write as much as everyone else, but I would say Faith Lehane from Buffy, her struggling against what she would inevitably become and her alwasy having to fight that she felt drawn too the grim / evil life always just sorta hypnotised me like no other character could.

 

[The Guard]

Hmm...Jesus?

 

[SuBe]

Hmm...Jesus?

Supposed to be "Interesting".

 

[Moviefan2k4]

Supposed to be "Interesting".

I don't know about you, but I'd certainly find someone interesting who could walk on water, raise the dead, heal the sick, calm storms with his voice, cast out demons, and turn water into wine.

 

[Silverstein]

I don't know about you, but I'd certainly find someone interesting who could walk on water, raise the dead, heal the sick, calm storms with his voice, cast out demons, and turn water into wine.

Amen.

But I said "characters", so I'm referring to fictional people. Jesus lived..