I saw this on Facebook.
I would have made other choices for role models. Maybe I will in another post…. interesting idea….
For now…
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Pick your best choice and give your explanation in the combox:
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I am an INTJ and is not Gandalf?
Gandalf – awesome powers, strong commitment to The Greater Good, and not unwilling to get medieval on the bad guys. Also goes through transformative death-resurrection experience, helps to save Middle Earth, and then gets to retire to elven dreamland with sandy beaches and eternal happiness.
Sounds good to me.
Gandalf – wisdom, courage and goodness/love.
Where’s Chuck Norris in that list?
Comment superfluous.
Though, in my personal life, somehow I feel rather a hobbit than a hero – which does not seem the worst thing in the world.
Why is none of em married parents, sfar s I know?
Quote “I would have made other choices for role models. Maybe I will in another post…. interesting idea….”carping:
why one one english, and why not from the sisties, even if it’s sorter like a permanent crysalis question, re Dr who.?
On star trek , Capn kirk n not scotty or he of the final front ear
Why gandalf n not frodo and a long etc
BTW, BYL, I m gonna use this as an English class exercise, WYP, it has …Possibilities.
Ps , uncomfy thought:
not so much role model , as who can I see myself as whilst preparing for confession, never thought of it that way, but Gollum?
Well, I was tempted to be shallow and pick the ones I wish I looked Like, but I went with Gandalf. He is one of my favorite characters, ever. Quiet strength, wisdom, love, selflessness, courage, awesome powers. I think Sir Ian McKellen portrays him wonderfully. I always envision him sitting puffing on his pipe when I’m in one of my pensive moods.
Of the choices given I chose Luke because he was an unwilling “hero” and stayed truly humble. I’m not familiar with some of the choices though so I’m not sure if I would have chosen another given more familiarity.
Gandalf is best of the choices there. He’s by far the smartest and he’s got the highest amount of evident commitment to doing the right thing regardless of the cost.
Would be interesting to see your alternative choices.
With the exception of “polar express” in 2004, I haven’t seen a Hollywood movie in almost 20 years. No time. No money. That limits my choices because I only recognize people from the 80’s re-runs of Star Trek and from the original Star Wars (never saw either the sequel/prequel that came out after the original). Of the 3 that I do recognize (Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, & Cpt. Kirk) I’ll choose Luke Skywalker. Didn’t he turn out to be the son of Darth Vader? My rationale is that Darth Vader is the symbol for satan in the movie. To me, if you are the son of satan and you can survive that and turn out to be the good guy, that should qualify you as a hero.
I am still a fan of anything” treky”. Kirk was always like the kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar and still denying it. Shatner was/is such a ham and does not take himself seriously. Just look at his various roles.He always seems to be having fun. Besides, I still remember the green female aliens.
You can’t beat Gandalf. He fought the Balrog and won! ’nuff said.
It is rather an odd list. Gandalf, MacLeod (to the best of my understanding, I never watched the show), and the Doctor aren’t human, of course. The Star Wars characters made for some fun movies, but I don’t know how worthy of emulation any of them are. Kirk? He has some compelling character traits, but we’ll exclude him (and the whole universe from which he comes) for being an atheist, as well as for a thirst for vengeance.
That leaves, excluding the Time Lord, who is too twisted into knots and overplayed to take seriously, the Scotsman, and the two post-modern broads, the Istar. From the list, he’s the best choice anyways: principled, strong, courageous, dedicated, and the only one expressly dedicated to serving (as He is manifest in Middle Earth) God.
(Sigh.) He isn’t “Doctor Who.” He is “the Doctor.”
Tough one, but I choose Gandalf, because he’s wise and strong. And he’s a wizard!
@Seamus: Yes, by 10 he’s called “The Doctor,” but originally (1) he was credited as “Dr. Who.”
I chose the Doctor. Traveling through time and space would be amazing. I like how flawed he is and I like that with all of his knowledge, he is still forced to learn tough lessons (like when he tries to change history in “The Waters of Mars,” the closest I’ve seen him come to exercising his godlike powers then immediately getting his comeuppance from a human) and acknowledge that he is at his best when he is with other people.
I abstain from the poll. My role model is St. Thomas More.
Gandalf because he is wise in addition to being strong. He also has a lot of strange friends…elves…hobbits and the likes!
Orthodoxchick, DarthVader has a conversion in the very end. He was once good but turned to the dark side – but that isn’t the end. So, he isn’t exactly like Satan. I know where I am the movies at the library are free to rent now. You would probably enjoy LOTRs.
The Doctor.
Insatiable curiosity and wish I could have witnessed history (OK, as a techie for ABC, I did get to witness a fair amount of it back in the day…have the photos, t-shirts, and ID badges from various venues/campaigns…)…besides, I could use the extra space in my closet, and having a TARDIS-like wardrobe (“Yes, Mr Boyle, it IS bigger on the inside…”) would help me de-clutter the ham shack/internet stream studio a bit.
Oh, and about that screwdriver. Brilliant piece of engineering and usefulness..:)
(It’s a fun poll, people…)
Gandalf! but he is TOO awesome….I hope I could be like Samwise if the need arose (Supertradmum- I’m INFP)(Orthodoxchick- I really like your thoughts on Luke Skywalker’s heroism)
Well, the Doctor, since he’s the only one with a TARDIS. Imagine the places and people you could see!
He’s a bit too mercurial to suit my personality, though. If it were an option, I’d rather be Luke Skywalker with a TARDIS.
Princess Leia. Hate her hair – but that’d be easy to fix – like her gown. Main reason: To be able to converse with Han Solo. (I know it turns out that Han and Leia are brother and sister, but I would specify a version of Leia who was not a close relative of handsome Han.)
I went with Gandalf (male), {because there is no such person as Gandalf (female). They’d be two similar but different people ! (Same for other choices – altering the sex alters the character).}
It’s an odd speculation to “go movie secular sci-fi/fantasy action heroes”of the past 75 years”.
If a generation were to be 40 years, then what would be the breakdown by generation for these role models ?
I chose Luke Skywalker. He grew over the course of the (1st three) movies..in wisdom, humility, etc. (I got lost when the newer Star Wars movies were released..messed with my head.) At any rate, who wouldn’t want a light saber? Great for trimming hedges and lopping off branches. That would make short work of chopping up firewood.
Dear @OrthodoxChic,
hm, well, Darth Vader is not Satan.
For one thing if, as fans are likely to do, we try to apply Star Wars morality one-to-one on the real world, we would (we don’t, so we won’t) end up with some rather confusing heterodoxies, such as that there has to be a balance between good and evil, that good and spiritual (as opposed to feeling emotions, etc.) are somewhat the same thing, and so on.
But anyway and that aside, if there is a representative of the Devil in it (think of the tempter, the father of lies, the prince of the [pre-redemption] world, etc.), it is surprisingly fitting to one role which is not Darth Vader. It is of course Emperor Palpatine.
Darth Vader, on the other hand, is the hero of the story (before and above anyone else) – though somewhat a St. Dismas figure, of course.
(Which does not say I do not like your thoughts, as the dear @priests wife.)
Dear @priests wife, I second that; in fact for the precise same reason I happened to exclude not only Gandalf, but pretty much all of the Fellowship, and Faramir, when looking for an Internet alias to post under. Samwise, in fact, was called by one unacquainted with the story (my sister) the real hero of the story.
But if we do look for one not too awesome to still be within reach and still a hero, Theoden might be a good choice, or Gimli, Merry, or Pippin.
Catholics of the compromising sort may choose Saruman and scientists in general may choose Denethor, though (despite the latter is, notwithstanding some adaptions, still one of the good characters, to be said in justice) they are of course not precisely heroes.
Doctor who!
I chose Gandalf, but would have preferred to choose Frodo or Samwise. Hard to explain exactly why, except that Frodo and Sam remind me more of the slogging, unglamorous journey towards Sainthood that we ordinary folk go through.
The Doctor, because Time Travel.
Connor McCleod of the Clan McCleod!
I’m a bit of a Romantic, you see.
I would have picked Aragorn, but he’s not an option.
I’m a little weary of all the sci-fi things right now.
Connor seems to resonate with me more than the others in some way to me. Maybe it’s the sword part too! I should be picking Gandalf, but no.
Marion Ancilla Mariae,
And if you were Princess Leia with better hair, a TARDIS, and could marry handsome Han, you could travel with him when he turns into Indiana Jones in search of the Ark of the Covenant.
In order for this to work, I’m assuming that a TARDIS is some sort of time machine. Is that right? That’s the impression I’m getting from everyone’s comments. If it isn’t a time machine, then just marry handsome Han and take him to a Latin Mass!
Marion Ancilla Mariae,
And if you were Princess Leia with better hair, a TARDIS, and could marry handsome Han, you could travel with him when he turns into Indiana Jones in search of the Ark of the Covenant.
In order for this to work, I’m assuming that a TARDIS is some sort of time machine. Is that right? That’s the impression I’m getting from everyone’s comments. If it isn’t a time machine, then just marry handsome Han and take him to a Latin Mass!
I’m so out of it I didn’t even recognize some of them. Well, after looking at the poll I see their names and recognize those.
The one I did recognize immediately and gravitate to is Gandalf. Maybe I’ll go back and vote…but I could never be a Gandalf.
I am a female and I do not live in a convent.
Gandalf. He would have been pope had be been around today.
“I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass.”
GANDALF!!
Gandalf:
After being beaten and locked away by the head of his order for being loyal to the truth, he escaped, had an epic battle with an ancient demon; he won, at the cost of his life, and was reinstated by the Pope – oops, I mean, revived by Iluvatar – mainly for the purpose of disposing the “dissenting” head of his order.
Don’t we all wish we could see this in reality?
Luke and Leia are brother and sister. She married Han Solo.
I should have gone with Gandalf, but chose Luke Skywalker. He ended up turning his father, Darth Vader, away from the Dark Side. And that’s something we should all be doing – evangelizing and turning people away from the Dark Side.
*a real correction – that should say “deposing the ‘dissenting’ head of his order.” In the movie, they sort of “disposed” of him as well. But that’s a different point.
I chose Connor McLeod… get to carry a cool sword, and just wear a nice thick turtleneck, to protect your neck, and who can kill you? :) I always liked the Highlander story… which I think they only ruined by making sequels which were horrible, and then the TV show.
Maybe it is a St. Claude thing? I see UncleBlobb who also chose MacLeod has St. Claude de la Colombiere as his icon image, and I am a devotee of St. Claude myself.
Re: OrthodoxChick: My rationale is that Darth Vader is the symbol for satan in the movie.
Actually, if anyone was satan in the Star Wars movies it was the Emperor, Darth Sidious. He was evil to the end, to the point when Darth Vader finished him off (or so we were led to believe – we shall see in episodes 7 through 9 when they are released). Vader found redemption before his death… …perhaps a St. Dismas character… crucified alongside Christ and earned his reward just before his death.
If I were to pick any character, I would perhaps choose Eomer. Despite my criticisms of the LOTR movies, I always like something about Eomer… and I LOVE the Rohan music :)
I’d choose Luke. Gandalf is a kind of demi-god, Luke is fully human. He has to struggle to overcome his own weaknesses and self-doubt, not to mention a rather crazy family situation. He is also given the choice – convert or die, and he has the courage to make the right choice, and in the process saves his father’s soul as well. With all of this he gains wisdom, self-control, and discipline, along with a really strong sense of hope, even in the face of death. Not a bad role model.
Though choosing Leia is tempting – just for being able to marry Han. I had such a crush on him back in the day…
Princess Leia because she seemed to always have her act together, except for that hairdo.
While I love Gandalf, LOTR and all things medieval, the one I really identify with is Ripley. She protects the little girl from the queen alien, which is the closest thing to a demon I’ve ever seen in a movie. It reminds me of what I need to do to protect my children against the devil and the spirit of the age.
Just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love to attack an alien with a flame thrower or forklift, especially if the alien was after an innocent child.
I almost voted for Kirk, then thought “He is a philanderer…”
I’d like to toss George Bailey into the ring.
Imrahil,
I only saw the one original Star Wars movie and that was a few decades ago. I don’t even know some of these other characters that you and others are mentioning. All I remember is that in the original Star Wars, I came away with the impression that it was light (Luke) vs. dark (Darth). Whatever Lucas did after that original movie to keep Star Wars going as the cash cow it was/is is up to him. If he had to soften Darth to keep him in the storyline and keep fans interested – fine. Whatever. But I don’t think that was the Darth Vader intended in the original.
Captain Kirk doesn’t believe in no-win situations. I like that. He’s also clever enough to cheat on the Kobayashi Maru test and not only get away with it but also get a commendation from Star Fleet.
There can be only one!
Luke. Pilot, warrior Knight, light saber, the force powers.
Tough choices! Since cloning is not acceptable, I chose Gandalf. He is wise and handles situations in the appropriate manner. My other choices were Luke Skywalker and Dr. Who.
I chose Princess Leia because she was a feisty yet feminine girl who was true to her goal of saving the universe from Darth Vader.
I have to admit, though, to having a soft spot for Captain Kirk. He’s ethical, is willing to sacrifice his life to protect his ship and his crew, has a great sense of humor at one moment and expects his orders to be carried out the next, analyzes the choices he has to make and takes the time to explain to the confused aliens or shipmates why things have to be a certain way – in other words, a really likable, well-rounded guy. You’d feel lucky to have him as your captain.
Dear @OrthodoxChick,
I only saw one of the movies (III of the prequel) and the rest is second-hand knowledge… still, the thing about Darth Vader himself destroying the Emperor seems to have been rather original, whatever about the rest.
In fact, as the dear @Rob in Maine has brought up George Bailey… good choice.
Or General [don’t recall precise rank, I believe Lt. Gen.] Roosevelt Jr., from The Longest Day (which btw. figures a rather heroic paratrooper Padre who makes sure to find his Communion set in the swamp). But that is, of course, a historical character. Or just about any character ever played by John Wayne… or Stumpy (from Rio Bravo). Or Rev’d Captain Clayton from The Searchers (too bad he was apparently no Catholic priest, but I just love his pastoral style.) Or the (semi-historic) Chief Engineer from The Boat (very moving scene where he breathlessly reports to the lieutenant-captain: “pumps clear… steering-wheel clear…” and so on).
Speaking of military movies (somewhat logical with heroes)… there’s also some specific scene I do not like. There’s an officer who goes takes every effort, risk and pain to get an American soldier out of the war theater, and in the end dies in the attempt, being successful. I could never imagine myself to achieve any of this. I could, however, imagine myself to refrain from doing what he did with his last dying breath: to intentionally burden this same now saved comrade with a – technically unfulfillabe- task from the moral weight of which he is going to suffer all his life long. Also, I’d assume that a real soldier would spare his comrade from such an ordeal. The burden of gratitude Private Ryan would have felt without this “earn this!” command is heavy enough.
OrthodoxChick,
DarthVader is dark but the difference is he has a last minute conversion (original Star Wars)( Battle between Luke/Darth Sidious/Darth Vader – Vader defeats Darth Sidious ) Love and mercy win out which is the hallmark character of a Jedi (which is what Darth Vader was to begin with before he turned to the dark side).
The Jedi don’t get any closer to a priest in my opinion.
None of the above, so I couldn’t vote
Connor MacLeod,
He has great power, but chooses to live a life out of the limelight and use his power only when necessary. He is being led by forces beyond his control for reasons he can’t fathom.
None of the above.
My choice would be Aragorn, or one of the other Rangers:
“…Little do they know of our long labour for the safe-keeping of their borders. Yet, I grudge it not.”
Halbarad the Ranger
The Return of the King
JRR Tolkien
What is an Istar?
Oh, my Tolkienian ignorance is showing.
mrshopey,
I guess I don’t remember as much about Star Wars as I thought I did. Oh, well…
I know what you are talking about. My sons are the reason I know so much – constant viewing for awhile! I lost the connection between the Jedi/priest when I first watched it. I personally like the 3 that were just made but I agree they have turned it into a cash cow. Especially the continuation of clone wars and resurrecting dead characters, reverting them, etc. Blah.
I don’t know, Fr. Z., it’s not that I dislike any of them but, for me…none of the above. I am a nerd but not like that.
OrthodoxChick… I always heard that George Lucas envisioned Star Wars as a 9 part story. It was felt after the prequel (episodes 1-3) that they would not bother with 7-9, but apparently somewhere along the line they decided to do it. Maybe Lucas didn’t want to do it himself, and he isn’t.
So I always imagine that he intended for the redemption of Vader.
@Darren, Lucasarts and the Star Wars franchise was bought by Disney, and then decided to make more films . JJ Abrams, who directed the newest two Star Trek movies and did a great job, will be directing the new Star Wars movies.
@OrthodoxChick , I believe Lucas always meant for Darth Vader(Anakin Skywalker) to be an evil character who turns from evil in the end(you should really finish watching them). Luke never gives up in believeing that there is good left in Darth Vader, and eventually helps him turn from his evil ways.
I choose Luke because he is tempted by power and to do evil, and in the end he chooses to do good and save his father from his evil ways. Gandalf is a good choice as well, and similarly tempted with evil, although he isn’t really pressed like Luke is.
Gandalf! Because hey, out of all the choices, I’ll take the ridiculously awesome angelic being.
@CrimsonCatholic That’s right. Disney… I was so unhappy when Disney bought it because, well… I just hate the Disney company. But, it is Star Wars, and as long as Mark Hamil, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford come back with it, then it may be good. Ford is, I believe, the only one not yet officially confirmed. I just hope Abrams and the others do consult Lucas. I can’t imagine a totally Lucas-free Star Wars film.
Fun poll Fr. Z! Thanks for asking. Hm. I don’t recognize two of them, but those were both men anyway. I don’t know enough about Gandalf, but am curious see LOTR again after all the comments. He sounds like a wonderful character. I picked the Princess because she’s a female. I don’t mind the crescent rolls on her head so much, but I did think her personality was a little flat. Still, she showed courage and loyalty, cared deeply, and Han Solo is not a bad reason.
I cannot take this seriously when Laura Croft makes the list but Indiana Jones and River Tam do not.
Preposterous… No one ever wanted to be anyone from the Star Wars universe besides Han.
Captain Kirk, because Gandalf doesn’t have Mr. Spock as his wingman.
Gandalf, because of this dialogue:
Pippin: I didn’t think it would end this way.
Gandalf: End? No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path… One that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass… And then you see it.
Pippin: What? Gandalf?… See what?
Gandalf: White shores… and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.
Pippin: [smiling] Well, that isn’t so bad.
Gandalf: [softly] No… No it isn’t.
The Duke.
None of the above. For me, it would have to be Sam Gamgee. “I made a promise, Mr. Frodo.” He may be a hobbit, but that is a MAN. (I am female, of course.)
Ok, here’s one for you, Father:
Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, Tony Stark or Thor Odinson? (Or Phil “his first name is Agent” Coulson?)
Frankly, I think what would really be fun is if we all signed up accounts on Fr. Z’s under the names of our favorite characters and then commented in character. I can just hear Yoda… “But beware the Dork Side of the Church! Feminism, liberation theology, silly these things will make you, mm!” (Hey, if you translate Latin *really* literally you’ll sound like him anyway, right?)
Honestly, I couldn’t pick one. Oh, I think Connor McLeod is cool with the sword and I like Gandalf’s wisdom.
Trouble is..well, I guess my heroes might’ve been more along the lines of..Frank and Joe Hardy, who were general all-around COOL in ways that I could never be with solving mysteries, flying airplanes, having scientific knowhow, being great with sports..and still having time to excel in school!
Or, as I grew older, Sam Brentwood and Michael (Whip) Holt, men who led wagon trains across the nation, demonstrating marksmanship, judgement, and cool nerve along the way. Or, Leland Blake and Baron von Thalman, one an Army officer, the other an Austrian aristocrat, but both of whom contribute greatly to the success of America’s first wagon train.
Trouble with all those was, none of them actually ever lived.
So, as I reached my 20’s (and 30’s), I learned of Robert Risner, of Billy Mitchell, of Curtis LeMay, of Douglas MacArthur, and some other notable Army Air Corps and early Air Force men whose names I’ve inconveniently forgotten just now (but I still remember the name of the Question Mark, a test plane).
And ultimately, .. I stumbled across the name of Archbishop Fulton J Sheen.
And Charles Chaput and Card George. ..and some others.
Now THOSE are the ones I find I wish to remember as heroes.
..as well as my parish priest–and pastor–who earns the distinction of being THE first person I’ve ever met who could wear a full, black cassock while playing an electric guitar on a hot stage. ..and look good and make the music sound decent, all at the same time.
Now THAT is what I call a hero!
One more quote from Gandalf, because liberal leaders should learn a thing or two from him. Once again, JRR Tolkien, as if he had a glimpse into our future, created some striking scenes that are a reflection of our modern decadent society, ruled by selfish indulgent lesser men than their forefathers. JRR Tolkien depicted a rise of reckless hate from the east that would threaten the west, he wrote about the fall of men who chose, not to do what was right, but to do what was popular. JRR Tolkien could have been writing about our times today, with our decadent leaders of today:
From Return of the King (extended edition), this was not in the theatrical film that most people know, Gandalf is answering why men guard the White Tree of Gondor (the city’s symbol of prosperity and blessing):
“They guard it because they have hope. Faith and fading hope that one day it will flower. That a king will come and this city will be as it once was before it fell into decay. The old wisdom that was borne out of the West was forsaken. Kings made tombs more splendid than the houses of the living and counted the names of their descent dearer than the names of their sons. Childless lords sat in aged halls musing on heraldry or in high, cold towers asking questions of the stars. And so the people of Gondor fell into ruin. The line of Kings failed, the White Tree withered, and the rule of Gondor was given over to lesser men.
@The Cobbler: I cannot take this seriously when Laura Croft makes the list but Indiana Jones and River Tam do not.
Right! Well, about Indy. I never heard of River Tam before… had to look that one up.
Indiana Jones would beat every one of them! Just for the hat and the whip if nothing else ;)
Heros? Ha! For fictional heroism, my vote is for Bethy, the young girl who could feel everybody else’s pain in Zenna Henderson’s, The People, series. If you’ve never heard of Zenna Henderson, she was a Golden Age teacher-turned-sci-fi writer, who wrote a series of connected stories (later collected and novelized) about a group of Amish-like people who just happen to be from another planet. Her writing is claimed by Mormons, but she, herself, converted to a non-denominational Christianity, I believe, and it shows throughout her stories, each of which starts with a quote from Scripture.
One of the few five-star rated sci-fi books on Amazon and we’ll worth it.:
http://www.amazon.com/Ingathering-Complete-People-Stories-Henderson/dp/0915368587
William Shatner and Kim Darby (who both were in the Star Trek TOS Episode, Miri) would later bring one of the stories to life in a made-for-TV movie back in the 1970s (called, The People). The movie is only fair, at best, but the near poetic prose of the stories is amazing. Issac Asimov was amazed by her use of language and evocative style as many of the Golden age masters were.
The Chicken
Captain Kirk. Maybe in a small way inspired me to be where and what I am now…a Captain.