Clash of the Titans XLI: Die Hard v. Pirates
August 10, 2007, 12:00 pm; posted by Steve
Filed under Chloe, Connie, Debate | 6 Comments
In this corner, on the side of Bruce Willis/John McClane, is Connie! | And in this corner, backing Johnny Depp/Jack Sparrow, is Chloe! | |
I must say I was somewhat excited about this Clash, and I’m not ashamed to say it was at my suggestion that it is even here for your Clashmusement. I also should say that I am a fan of the Pirates movies, but the question here before you today is who makes a better hero? Bruce Willis and Die Hard’s John McClane? Or Johnny Depp and Pirates’ Captain Jack Sparrow? I submit that when the rubber hits the road, there is no contest! The only real hero — the only real man — is John McClane. Let do some straight up comparisons shall we? John McClane is a man. Jack Sparrow? Let’s just go with flaming sissy boy. You can tell by the amount of hair on their heads and the way they walk. Okay, you might not like bald, but at least you don’t have to worry about what might be crawling in it. John McClane’s role model? I’d guess John Wayne. Jack Sparrow — we all know it’s a drunken druggy rocker from the Rolling Stones named Keith Richards. Motive? John McClane is always out to save his wife, family, or country. Jack Sparrow? Someone else’s ship, treasure, or rum. Two out of three of those are definite vices — and the third is iffy. John McClane fights terrorists. You know who the bad guys are. In Pirates the bad guys change at least three times. It’s the British:except for the two funny soldiers. And the officer that wants to marry what’s her name. Except at the end — then he’s a good guy! Arghh! Pirates change all the rules. Dead’s not dead anymore. You can’t count on anything! I need order! Give me a simple story with a simple man who can drive a simple car into a helicopter when it’s absolutely called for! In summation: John is a mind-your-own-business reluctant hero kind of man, a police officer just trying to do his job and earn his pension. Not unlike you and me? Somehow along the way though, he has managed to save the greater San Francisco Bay area, Washington’s Dulles Airport, most of New York City, and now the entire US economy as we know it. He always makes us laugh along the way, too, WHILE eliminating the bad guy(s). John’s just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Jack Sparrow, on the other hand, is just plain wrong! A drunken, strange-toothed, boot-jingling, sashaying sissy with an eyeliner bill that must demand some serious doubloons, a man who somehow has us rooting for the vortex to win. Bottom line — who would you rather walk down a dark alley with after midnight? If you don’t know, watch both movies. See, they take off their shirts. Bruce/John: buffness. Johnny/Jack? Well, a she-crow could carry him off for lunch for her babies. CAW!!! (David Maxon may have contributed to this report) |
Hmm. What Connie says is true. Sparrow is not, by any means, buff. He does not typically blow things up. And he certainly hasn’t saved the greater San Francisco Bay area, Washington’s Dulles Airport, most of NYC, or the economy. So I will address each of these issues in order. Looks Method of Combat Accomplishments So let’s tally up. Sparrow is much hotter and more manly (as proven by his ability to wear eyeliner, yet still sweep a girl off her feet). He’s got intellect, while McClane stops at brawn. And Sparrow saved both the world and the afterworld, while McClane is ethnocentric. Who’s the better hero, then? |
Comments
6 Comments to “Clash of the Titans XLI: Die Hard v. Pirates”
Leave a comment!
What girls did Jack get in the movies. I believe that the only girl that got sweept of her feet is you Chole. I bet you can’t wait for September 19th, can you? Your one chance to see all the look-a-likes of your hero Jack in eyeliner.
~Love and Giggles Hoss~
I’m sorry. I didn’t read this post after I figure out that “Pirates” meant Pirates of the Carribean and not actual pirates. Then, maybe, there’s a debate.
I’m voting for Bruce Willis but only because Jack Sparrow is such a queer acting dork, and as for sex appeal—my wife won’t even watch the 3rd movie because he turns her stomache. Jack is the classic ant-hero, a product of modern times that CS Lewis even mentions in Mere Christianity. A hero can now be perverse, cowardly, adulterous, dishonest or possess any other number of negative traits as long as its treated with humor. But Bruce Willis has his own issues.
That should say anti-hero above, not ant-hero. The insect world has its own heros.
Chloe, watch the hair comments…….
You have support from me, Chloe.
I’m not sure if ‘hero’ is the right word to apply to Jack Sparrow, and I (being male) don’t necessarily find him attractive, I’m going to have to say I’d prefer a story about piracy, freedom, and inner nobility in deference to one about guy who thinks that the way to save a city is to cause as much collateral damage as possible.
And, for the record, the anti-hero is a profound literary movement that A. no claim that the anti-hero is admirable (see Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights) and B. introduces hints of moral ambiguity, actual development of a character as opposed to the insta-good-guy formula that was so frequently used by previous story-writers. While it is true that a normal, every day hero can make a good character (C.S. Lewis himself is a good example of how to accomplish this), it is also true that an anti-hero can be just as good of a character.
Also, pirates have cool hats, and mythical beasts. Die Hard doesn’t have mythical beasts. Case closed.