Not bad meaning bad, but bad meaning good.
April 14, 2012 8:38 PM
What are some good tv shows or movies about righteous badasses?
Usually it's the villain in a story who is a cool, colorful, violent character. But I'm looking for movies and tv shows where the "good guy" has those qualities.
I guess this question is brought about because I'm already feeling the loss of Justified in my life, so I'm looking for characters similar to Raylan Givens. Characters who are some combination of tough, smart, insouciant, aloof, funny, and prone to violence -- but who are on the side of good.
Ideally not superheros -- but just regular humans. (Unless you have an incredibly awesome righteous badass superhero that I just need to know about.)
Usually it's the villain in a story who is a cool, colorful, violent character. But I'm looking for movies and tv shows where the "good guy" has those qualities.
I guess this question is brought about because I'm already feeling the loss of Justified in my life, so I'm looking for characters similar to Raylan Givens. Characters who are some combination of tough, smart, insouciant, aloof, funny, and prone to violence -- but who are on the side of good.
Ideally not superheros -- but just regular humans. (Unless you have an incredibly awesome righteous badass superhero that I just need to know about.)
Nikita (on the CW).
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:43 PM on April 14, 2012
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:43 PM on April 14, 2012
Shaft.
posted by puritycontrol at 8:47 PM on April 14, 2012
posted by puritycontrol at 8:47 PM on April 14, 2012
This is totally the story of the first Die Hard.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 8:50 PM on April 14, 2012
posted by Snarl Furillo at 8:50 PM on April 14, 2012
Seth Bullock in Deadwood.
posted by AkzidenzGrotesk at 9:02 PM on April 14, 2012
posted by AkzidenzGrotesk at 9:02 PM on April 14, 2012
This is probably something you've already seen, but Mal from "Firefly"?
posted by dotgirl at 9:04 PM on April 14, 2012
posted by dotgirl at 9:04 PM on April 14, 2012
Daryl Dixon, The Walking Dead. Total badass.
posted by mochapickle at 9:05 PM on April 14, 2012
posted by mochapickle at 9:05 PM on April 14, 2012
Burn Notice is a more light-hearted version of Justified. Definitely start there.
posted by lilac girl at 9:05 PM on April 14, 2012
posted by lilac girl at 9:05 PM on April 14, 2012
Payback with Mel Gibson
Any Spaghetti Western Clint Eastwood movie.
posted by Fairchild at 9:15 PM on April 14, 2012
Any Spaghetti Western Clint Eastwood movie.
posted by Fairchild at 9:15 PM on April 14, 2012
Supernatural
posted by ArsncHeart at 9:16 PM on April 14, 2012
posted by ArsncHeart at 9:16 PM on April 14, 2012
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
Six String Samurai
The Outlaw Josie Wales
posted by jeffamaphone at 9:20 PM on April 14, 2012
Six String Samurai
The Outlaw Josie Wales
posted by jeffamaphone at 9:20 PM on April 14, 2012
Xena?
posted by elizardbits at 9:23 PM on April 14, 2012
posted by elizardbits at 9:23 PM on April 14, 2012
The Boondock Saints
Foxy Brown
In Bruges
Rescue Me
Fastlane! (it's cheesy but it's funny!)
posted by fshgrl at 9:39 PM on April 14, 2012
Foxy Brown
In Bruges
Rescue Me
Fastlane! (it's cheesy but it's funny!)
posted by fshgrl at 9:39 PM on April 14, 2012
Veronica Mars
Not really prone to violence as she's pretty petite, but she usually carries a taser and/or is accompanied by backup in the form of a pitbull named Backup. Also, she has a taste for vengeance.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 10:10 PM on April 14, 2012
Not really prone to violence as she's pretty petite, but she usually carries a taser and/or is accompanied by backup in the form of a pitbull named Backup. Also, she has a taste for vengeance.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 10:10 PM on April 14, 2012
Lizbeth Salander, obviously. And Buffy! (But I guess she's kinda a superhero.)
posted by torticat at 12:22 AM on April 15, 2012
posted by torticat at 12:22 AM on April 15, 2012
Breaking Bad- not a badass when it begins, but he certainly picks it up!
posted by KateViolet at 1:07 AM on April 15, 2012
posted by KateViolet at 1:07 AM on April 15, 2012
Luther. Also: Peter Boyd (Waking the Dead) and Ray Langston (CSI).
posted by rjs at 1:39 AM on April 15, 2012
posted by rjs at 1:39 AM on April 15, 2012
Dexter, as mentioned above, would be perfect for you.
posted by v.barboni at 4:01 AM on April 15, 2012
posted by v.barboni at 4:01 AM on April 15, 2012
He's part of a team, but Eliot from Leverage is a badass, and according to the show's writer, his favorite snack is justice.
posted by specialagentwebb at 6:01 AM on April 15, 2012
posted by specialagentwebb at 6:01 AM on April 15, 2012
Wesley in Princess Bride is not adverse to killing (and apparently has an off camera history of killing all his prisoners), can climb impossible cliffs, outfence and outtrick (mostly) anyone.
I am going to put in a word for Buckaroo Banzai, who is a world class physicist, neurosurgeon, rock star and all round winner. Not sure if he is violent enough for you.
Han Solo and Indiana Jones obviously.
Dr Who is certainly cool and colourful, and has been distinctly violent on occasion.
posted by biffa at 6:08 AM on April 15, 2012
I am going to put in a word for Buckaroo Banzai, who is a world class physicist, neurosurgeon, rock star and all round winner. Not sure if he is violent enough for you.
Han Solo and Indiana Jones obviously.
Dr Who is certainly cool and colourful, and has been distinctly violent on occasion.
posted by biffa at 6:08 AM on April 15, 2012
A lot of good suggestions above, to which I'd add a couple of my own:
Chev Chelios from Crank
Most Clint Eastwood characters (esp The Man with No Name and Harry Callahan)
Most of the characters in Inglorious Basterds
Wolverine
The main characters in Goodfellas (if you consider them "good guys")
Check out the Anti-hero page on TV Tropes for a ton more.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:13 AM on April 15, 2012
Chev Chelios from Crank
Most Clint Eastwood characters (esp The Man with No Name and Harry Callahan)
Most of the characters in Inglorious Basterds
Wolverine
The main characters in Goodfellas (if you consider them "good guys")
Check out the Anti-hero page on TV Tropes for a ton more.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:13 AM on April 15, 2012
Any of the Jason Statham Transporter movies would fit, I think.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:39 AM on April 15, 2012
posted by Thorzdad at 6:39 AM on April 15, 2012
In Plain Sight's main character Mary is exactly "tough, smart, insouciant, aloof, funny, and prone to violence." It's a great show, and I'm surprised I don't hear more about it from others!
posted by Pwoink at 7:17 AM on April 15, 2012
posted by Pwoink at 7:17 AM on April 15, 2012
Out of Sight, for both the good guy, and the 'bad' guy.
Grosse Pointe Blank, if you can accept a hit man as the good guy
posted by Mchelly at 7:20 AM on April 15, 2012
Grosse Pointe Blank, if you can accept a hit man as the good guy
posted by Mchelly at 7:20 AM on April 15, 2012
Clive Owen as Smith in Shoot 'Em Up. Not only is he the good guy, but he kills bad guys with carrots. (He does lots of other impressive stuff, but if I go through all of it, I'd essentially be describing the whole movie.)
posted by bakerina at 7:29 AM on April 15, 2012
posted by bakerina at 7:29 AM on April 15, 2012
Ultimate?: Sin City. Maybe Beretta, lol? Keep your eye on the sparrow, man.
posted by Shane at 8:02 AM on April 15, 2012
posted by Shane at 8:02 AM on April 15, 2012
Omar on The Wire fits, though the show isn't about him specifically.
posted by softlord at 10:55 AM on April 15, 2012
posted by softlord at 10:55 AM on April 15, 2012
Seconding Lee Marvin in Point Blank. Plain bad-ass dude.
Also, one of the classic mostly unlikeable 'central characters' (hero just seems like the wrong word) is Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer in Kiss Me Deadly.
posted by ovvl at 10:59 AM on April 15, 2012
Also, one of the classic mostly unlikeable 'central characters' (hero just seems like the wrong word) is Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer in Kiss Me Deadly.
posted by ovvl at 10:59 AM on April 15, 2012
Tony Stark (more so than Iron Man, which would be more confusing if it was actually a secret identity).
It seems like there are a bunch of these in professional wrestling, though many of the characters change sides at least once in a while.
Remember Sledgehammer? He was maybe more of a goofy loose cannon, though.
I second zombieflanders' call on anti-hero - good search term too.
posted by attercoppe at 11:57 AM on April 15, 2012
It seems like there are a bunch of these in professional wrestling, though many of the characters change sides at least once in a while.
Remember Sledgehammer? He was maybe more of a goofy loose cannon, though.
I second zombieflanders' call on anti-hero - good search term too.
posted by attercoppe at 11:57 AM on April 15, 2012
If you want a badass, why not Bad Ass with Danny Trejo?
posted by spasm at 12:37 PM on April 15, 2012
posted by spasm at 12:37 PM on April 15, 2012
Spenser: For Hire
I don't think the series is out on DVD or Netflix, but maybe somewhere on the web... You've made this my mission to find.
posted by Jazz Hands at 2:43 PM on April 15, 2012
I don't think the series is out on DVD or Netflix, but maybe somewhere on the web... You've made this my mission to find.
posted by Jazz Hands at 2:43 PM on April 15, 2012
What? How has no one mentioned Kurt Russell in "Escape from New York" and "Escape from L.A."?
I mean, Snake Plissken, people! SNAKE PLISSKEN.
posted by DisreputableDog at 3:06 PM on April 15, 2012
I mean, Snake Plissken, people! SNAKE PLISSKEN.
posted by DisreputableDog at 3:06 PM on April 15, 2012
James Bond (Daniel Craig version) from Casino Royale. All of the Tranpsorter movies, mentioned above, scratch that particular itch, too. And pretty much all of Clint Eastwood's stuff, also previously noted.
posted by karlos at 5:57 PM on April 15, 2012
posted by karlos at 5:57 PM on April 15, 2012
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posted by empyrean at 8:40 PM on April 14, 2012