Who are the finest female characters in science fiction movies?
For here we present women with fleshed-out characteristics.
With balls of steel.
Thrown in to aid the portrayal of the male lead, or to offer light sexual relief.
Theyre much more likely to show women in some compromising positions involving tits/ass/gore/blood/mutants/screaming.
The gang leader, Rox, not only wins for best 80s hairdo, shes also a lesbian.
Certainly not tough, foul-mouthed, undead-fighting, biker lesbians thrashing zombies with chainsaws in true b-movie slasher style.
And not one tit or ass in the whole film.
Saying no to Wolverine?
She doesnt have to be big and tough with a laser-gun.
She doesnt have to be sexy and blonde with a kid to protect.
Because of these attributes, not despite them, we all found Agent Scully rather hot.
Scully provided that rare thing a good role model for girls along with a good fantasy for guys.
There are no out-and-out good or evil characters.
Instead, the message of the film is subtle and nuanced.
It is a beautiful piece of cinema that asks questions rather than shoving answers down the viewers throats.
Mononoke Hime San is a strong, feminine, brave and smart leader.
This first human he encounters is Lisa.
The lucky so and so.
Shes certainly no shrinking violet and is an integral part of the survival of humankind.
Shes also shit cool.
An ordinary girl with a hum-drum life and nothing exceptional in it.
But in one moment of time-travelling-cyborg fury everything changes.
Or at least she will be.
When he is killed.
And she has their son John Connor.
Who is the one who sent Reese to her in the first place.
Not bad for a waitress.
Shes a revolutionary rebel leader who gives cheek to sci-fis most notorious villain and bags cinemas most gorgeous man.
She is both philosophically and physically capable and proves herself a great marksmen and soldier for the Jedi.
Leias strong, smart, authoritative, has a great sense of humour and heaps of integrity.
Girls want to be Leia, guys want to be with Leia.
She is vulnerable and tender while remaining incredibly fierce and smart.
Shes gentle and beautiful while also being lethal and kick-ass beyond belief.
We just loved the fact that the most intelligent, important being ever to have lived is a woman.
Thank you for such a great character Luc Besson (writer/ director).
The Bitch AliensPlayed by the Alien Queen/ Xenomorph
Cmon.
Which brings us neatly to…
1.
Hard to believe, but Alien was made in 1979.
Ripley certainly deals with patronising male characters questioning her ability throughout.
Ellen Ripley consistently appears in top film character lists, and is often the highest ranking female to appear.
