Whedonesque : Comments on 18187 : Mal one of the "100 Greatest Movie Characters" according to Empire Magazine.

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November 21 2008

Mal one of the "100 Greatest Movie Characters" according to Empire Magazine. Almost made it to the top 50...so close!

Sylvie | Firefly&Serenity | 18:52 CET | 15 comments total | tags: serenity, malcolm reynolds

according to Empire Magazine.

Well according to the people who voted for the characters:). But a very notable achievement none the less.

Simon | November 21, 19:11 CET

Who doesn't love the banter? It's the best of the best parts.

YellowBear | November 21, 21:09 CET

That's a choice I can get behind, though here, preaching to the choir. I think of Mal as Indiana Jones without the whip who works in space (better lookin' too).

Tonya J | November 21, 21:26 CET

I think of Mal as Indiana Jones without the whip who works in space ...

Or Han Solo as he's otherwise known ;).

(their finest moment for Han made me smile too ;)

Good to see Mal on there and beating some very worthy competition (Rick from 'Casablanca' for instance). In general it's quite an off-beat list considering (and assuming) it was a public vote - The Dude at number 7 ? Not saying I necessarily disagree, just surprised s'all.

Saje | November 21, 21:30 CET

Then again, Reelz Channel says, "Whedon's film had this oddly inert, vaguely asexual vibe to it (Nathan Fillion's character struck me as sort of a neutered Han Solo)".

The One True b!X | November 21, 21:48 CET

I liked that the movie didn't have the usual forced romantic ending.

Sunfire | November 21, 21:57 CET

Neutered? Boy, talk about lack of insight into a character.

Tonya J | November 21, 22:05 CET

"Whedon's film had this oddly inert, vaguely asexual vibe to it (Nathan Fillion's character struck me as sort of a neutered Han Solo)".

I've read numerous slashy shippers go on and on and on about the homoerotic subtext they perceived between Mal and Simon who would strongly disagree with the "neutered" comment.

That said, movies can so often be rorschach tests. But in that case, what kind of person looks at a cinematic inkblot and thinks "guy with his nuts cut off"?

BrewBunny | November 21, 23:07 CET

Mal and Simon...really? I'd believe it of Simon. He seems "delicate" in his beauty. Mal. Not so much. And I have to agree with Tanja. There is nothing neutered about Mal.

Rebekah | November 22, 00:00 CET

Mal and Simon...really? I'd believe it of Simon. He seems "delicate" in his beauty. Mal. Not so much.

"Delicate" and "sly," as they say in the 'verse, are two totally separate things. Living here in the SF Bay area, I can tell you that there are plenty of guys out here who are "sly" but not remotely "delicate." ;-)

BrewBunny | November 22, 00:38 CET

Does Mal have to look like Ahnuld to be considered manly? Did this critic not see the absolute beating he took in Serenity? Pfffft. Mal may subjugate his desires to a certain extent, but neutered he is not.

Tonya J | November 22, 01:07 CET

Mal is a neutered Han Solo?

I love Han, but...c'mon. It's easy to see who's tougher (and who's a much more developed character all-around, to boot).

UnpluggedCrazy | November 22, 01:31 CET

I stand corrected, BrewBunny. I stand corrected.

However, regardless of orientation and subconscious never-fully-realized possible preferences in that regard, we shall return to my original point: Mal is not a neutered weakling. He is a tough, wily man.

Rebekah | November 22, 01:48 CET

The Dude at number 7 ?

Well, Saje, I'm certainly not surprised. The Big Lebowski is a very popular movie among relatively young movie loving folks, which is exactly Empire's readership. He's a cult icon, really.

Also: Mal beating Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker, Agent Smith, Wolverine, E.T. and Keyser Soze (who I really though would've been much higher than 69)? Nice!

GVH | November 22, 16:00 CET

I could beat Keyser Soze.

Sorry. That whole movie is one of my pet peeves.

However, I would gladly bow down to Wolverine.

UnpluggedCrazy | November 23, 12:57 CET

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