The Top 20 Movie Heroes of the Decade (2000-2009)

Following the epic-ness that was my Villains list, here's the Top 20 Movie Heroes of the Last Decade!

20. Walter Kovacs/Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley- Watchmen, 2009)

Even though Zack Snyder's "Watchmen" divided critics, most agreed that one thing stole the show: Jackie Earle Haley's intense, powerful performance as the ruthless vigilante Rorschach. A man who thinks only in absolutes, Walter Kovacs is a loner in a world without superheroes, positive that the world is nearing its end, and believes in the kind of justice that isn't exactly by the books. He's a Batman-type detective mixed with a Punisher-style killer, seemingly devoid of emotion or compromise.

19. Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe- Gladiator, 2000)

"Are you not entertained? Are you NOT ENTERTAINED?!" Despite some historical inaccuracies on its part, Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" was still pretty kick-ass, and Russell Crowe delivered a fantastic, Oscar-winning portrayal of Roman General Maximus, a man who's definitely had better days. After the Emperor's son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) orders the murder of the noble Maximus' family, our hero is sold into slavery, and forced to fight to the death every day in gladiator arenas. But this predicament doesn't keep Maximus down: pretty soon, his epic battles gain him great popularity, allowing him to get closer and closer to the man responsible for the murder of his wife and son.

18. Jamal Malik (Dev Patel- Slumdog Millionaire, 2008)

Whenever you watch game shows, you never really look at the contestants and think, "Gee, that guy must've gone through a lot to get to this point!" But such a thought certainly applies to Indian teenager Jamal Malik, a pure-of-heart "slumdog" from the streets of Bombay who appears on India's version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Though he's gotten every question right, he suspected of cheating, and is interrogated by security. Jamal goes on to recount his harrowing life, explaining how he knew the answers, and how his appearance on the show was merely a way to find the love of his life, Latika (Freida Pinto). English actor Dev Patel delivers a beautiful, sincere performance as Jamal, making us root for him all the way to the thrilling finale.

17. Anung un Rama/Hellboy (Ron Perlman, Hellboy, 2004; Hellboy II: The Golden Army, 2008)

He's big. He's bad. He came from the very fires of Hell, and he's... a cat-lover? Who'd have thought that a demon brought to Earth by Nazi occultists, raised by the U.S. military, and trained to become a paranormal ass-kicker was such a softie? But even though he gets all nervous around his firestarter crush Liz (Selma Blair) and he has an affinity for candy, Hellboy still isn't afraid to kick ass and take names. With his ever-present cigars, a huge right hand made of invincible stone, and a gun big enough to make Dirty Harry shit his pants, Hellboy is one devil you want on your side. Ron Perlman is a hoot as Hellboy, giving him a degree of empathy underneath all of his gruff, crotchety nature.

16. James T. Kirk (Chris Pine- Star Trek, 2009)

If there's one constant in life, it's that you can't top William Shatner. No way, no how. But Chris Pine was able to fabulously expand on where the Shat left off with Captain James T. Kirk in J.J. Abram's stellar reboot of the "Star Trek" franchise. Here we get a new take on Kirk's early life, but he's still that impulsive, charming, womanizing troublemaker that we all know and love. Remaining true to Shatner's characterization of Kirk (but thankfully never delving into an impersonation of the famously hammy actor), Pine delivers a funny and believable performance as the future captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise.

15. Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin- The Lord of the Rings trilogy, 2001-2003)

Even though hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood) is considered the main protagonist of "The Lord of the Rings" saga, the true heart and soul of the story is that of Frodo's loyal friend and bodyguard, Samwise Gamgee. Protective of his friend and without a shred of selfishness, Sam risks life and limb several times to make sure Frodo reaches his goal of Mordor. Even as the Ring of Power tightens its hold on Frodo, and as the scheming Gollum (Andy Serkis) plots to kill the two, Sam never gives up on his comrade, going so far as to physically carry Frodo up the steep landscape of Mount Doom.

14. Jason Bourne (Matt Damon- The Bourne trilogy, 2002, 2004, 2007)

Matt Damon proves that he's more than a pretty face in the role of amnesiac spy Jason Bourne in the "Bourne" trilogy of movies. Left for dead in France, and not having a clue who he is, Bourne nevertheless makes use of his proficient combat abilities and mastery of multiple languages. Hounded by the CIA and his former handlers, the human killing machine goes through whatever assassins and agents they throw at him as he tries to piece together his past.

13. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen- The Lord of the Rings trilogy, 2001-2003)

Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy was a project of many successes, but none were more successful than the casting. In this case, the casting of Viggo Mortensen as exiled King and ranger Aragorn was a masterstroke. Rather than go for the usual handsome-guy-with-a-big-sword act, Mortensen gives Aragorn a true sense of angst and pain, battling his own sense of identity and responsibility, not to mention agonizing over losing his true love Arwen (Liv Tyler). But you certainly wouldn't want to get on his bad side, seeing as how his sword Anduril would happily take off your head.

12. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe- The Harry Potter series, 2001-2009)

Tip for all bullies: never pick on the kid with glasses, because he just might cause you to inflate and soar into the sky. Orphaned Harry Potter certainly had a rough life growing up with his vile relatives, the Dursleys, but his life definitely turned upside down after learning that he's the son of two wizards and was destined for incredible things. Daniel Radcliffe shines in his star-making role (pretty much the only role he's had, considering that there's about seven million "Potter" movies), going from lonely nerd to a spellcasting super-nerd who seems to be the only one at Hogwart's who's paid any attention to.

11. Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire- The Spider-Man trilogy, 2002, 2004, 2007)

Once again, think twice before picking on the nerds. This time, he might web your sorry ass from the Empire State Building. After Leo DiCaprio, Wes Bentley, and Heath Ledger were considered for the coveted role of Peter Parker (a.k.a. the Amazing Spider-Man), the honors finally went to Tobey Maguire, who captured the introspective, quirky essence of the early '60s incarnation of the character. Driven by guilt and a sense of responsibility, Peter juggles a job as a photographer, an elderly Aunt May (Rosemary Harris), college life, paying the rent, pining after his dream girl (Kirsten Dunst), and, of course, protecting New York City from everyday burglars and superpowered maniacs. And he always learns the important lessons, from "with great power comes great responsibility", to "no one likes dancing emos".

10. General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe- Letters From Iwo Jima, 2006)

Clint Eastwood certainly made a daring move with "Letters from Iwo Jima", the companion piece to his adaptation of "Flags of Our Fathers": he focused on the Japanese perspective of the war. Rather than demonizing our enemies like so many WW2 films have, Eastwood instead humanizes the Japanese soldiers, portraying many of them being surprisingly similar to our troops: scared, vulnerable young men fighting for their country. Leading the effort to defend the Japanese island of Iwo Jima is decorated General Kuribayashi. Having traveled to America many times before the war (and appreciating the American people he met), Kuribayashi is a compassionate and wise man who shows mercy to the U.S. troops his men capture, yet still will fight to the end to protect his homeland. Ken Watanabe delivers a stirring performance as the General, emphasizing the man's love of country, but also his refusal to view his enemies as faceless monsters.

9.  Harvey Milk (Sean Penn- Milk, 2008)

Every persecuted minority has its figurehead. The East Indians of the '30s and '40s had Mohandas Gandhi, the African-Americans of the '50s and '60s had Martin Luther King, Jr., and in the 1970's, no man could be better identified with the fight for gay rights than Harvey Milk. Having moved from New York to San Francisco with his lover Scott Smith (James Franco), Milk is shocked by the fierce anti-gay bigotry shown not only by the town's citizens, but also the police and local government. He decides to run for City Supervisor in hopes of giving a voice to the gay community, but is defeated election after election, but he finally wins in 1978, after which he leads a successful effort to strike down an anti-gay legislation known as Proposition 6. Sean Penn, in perhaps his first happy role since Jeff Spicoli, is terrific in his recreation of the tireless advocate of civil rights.

8. Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellan- The Lord of the Rings trilogy, 2001-2003)

Not much is cooler than an old man with a magic walking stick and wizard powers, and there's no person better for such a role than Sir Ian McKellan. A highly powerful wizard, Gandalf risks his life to protect Frodo and the Fellowship from the evil forces of Sauron, from going mano-a-mano with evil wizard Saruman (Christopher Lee), to facing down a giant, fiery Balrog. Of course, mere death is nothing he can't handle, and Gandalf switches his color scheme from kindly grey to kick-ass white, where he continues to lead the charge against the armies of Mordor.

7. James "Logan" Howlett/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman- The X-Men series, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009)

Canadians have been known to take a ribbing from their American counterparts every now and then. Of course, us Yanks wouldn't be running our mouths if a certain indestructible Canuck with six metal claws came knocking. In a star-making role, Aussie heartthrob Hugh Jackman portrays the popular Marvel mutant with one half ferocity, and one half humanity. His tragic, checkered past and his secret love of Jean Grey only endeared himself to the viewers even more. Though the character was portrayed as less feral and more tame in "The Last Stand" and his own spinoff film, there's no doubt that Jackman's performance is the shining constant amongst all four films.

6. James Bond (Daniel Craig- Casino Royale, 2006)

"The name's Bond. James Bond." After hearing this now-legendary phrase a billion times by Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan, we'd think we'd be sick of Agent 007. But as "Batman Begins" proved, reboots of a beloved franchise can do wonders, and James Bond is no different, played this time by the superbly-cast Daniel Craig. Rather than being the suave, laid-back superspy we all know and love, 007 is portrayed here as a rough-around-the-edges newbie to the MI6 game, as brutal as he is efficient. Of course, he still retains his affinities for Aston-Martins, martinis, and every beautiful woman on the planet. Simply put, Craig is the best Bond since Connery, and despite the less-than-stellar sequel "Quantum of Solace" two years later, he still shows no signs of letting up.

5. Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp- The Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, 2003, 2006, 2007)

What do we all think when we see a fey, swaggering pirate with a bunch of black make-up and nail polish? A Goth working at Long John Silver's? No, we think of Johnny Depp, in his spectacularly funny, Oscar-nominated performance as the rogue Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy. From his hysterical introduction on a sinking ship, to his showdown with an army of undead buccaneers, Depp all but steals the show. Reportedly basing his character's drunken mannerisms after rock legend Keith Richards, Depp single-handedly revived the pirate film with his unforgettable performance. "Now, show me that horizon..."

4. Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.- Iron Man, 2008)

Ever had a change of heart about something? Yes? Now, have you ever had a LITERAL change of heart? Well, billionaire playboy Tony Stark did, and after seeing the harm caused by his brand of military weapons, Stark plans to use his new, superpowered heart for good use. Played by Robert Downey Jr. in a career-reviving role, Tony Stark isn't your normal, everyday superhero. Instead of loathing his new life, he celebrates it. He proactively sets out to right all of his wrongs in his awesome, tricked-out new battle armor, and pretty much goes through the best anti-midlife crisis ever. He's Bruce Wayne, without all the glowering and angst.

3. Beatrix "The Bride/Black Mamba" Kiddo (Uma Thurman- Kill Bill, 2003-2004)

As stated on my "Top Villains" list, Quentin Tarantino has a knack for reviving the floundering or already-dead career of actors and actresses. After hitting it big in her Oscar-nominated role in Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction", Uma Thurman went through a slew of decent to mediocre movies, until she hit her nadir as Poison Ivy in the craptacular "Batman & Robin". Thankfully, QT was there to save the day, casting Thurman as the mysterious and deadly Bride in the homage-crazy, action-packed "Kill Bill" duo of films. Initially known to the audience by her assassin codename of "Black Mamba", the Bride doesn't waste any time hunting down the five people responsible for the massacre of her wedding party. Thurman exemplifies the strong woman warrior prevalent in Tarantino's films, whether it's enduring harsh tutelage by powerful kung-fu master Pai Mei (Gordon Liu), to singlehandedly carving up dozens of O-Ren Ishii's (Lucy Liu) "Crazy 88" gang. Of course, later on, we learn that there's a human side to this stone-cold killer, leading up to the final confrontation with the man who destroyed her life.

2. Bruce Wayne/Batman (Christian Bale- Batman Begins, 2005; The Dark Knight, 2008)

As stated above, the Caped Crusader reached his absolute low point with Joel Schumacher's 1997 bomb "Batman and Robin". Instead of being the dark, brooding vigilante that he's supposed to be, Batman became a laughingstock, with George Clooney sporting rubber nipples and ice skates that popped out of his booties. Thankfully, director Chris Nolan took a risk eight years later to bring the Dark Knight back to his roots in "Batman Begins". Bringing the superhero back to life was the terrific Christian Bale, who helped Nolan reestablish the more mythic, brooding side of the character. Free of the campy, neon-tinted qualities of the previous incarnations of Schumacher's films, and returning to the mature, almost scary version created by Michael Keaton and Tim Burton, Batman is back, and better than ever.

1. WALL-E (Sounds by Ben Burtt- WALL-E, 2008)

Though the decade had been brimming with superheroes, soldiers, action heroes, and mutants, no hero was more heroic or pure of heart than a character that physically didn't even HAVE a heart. Mixing Charlie Chaplin's "Little Tramp" with R2-D2, the little robot called "WALL-E" was programmed to gather up and crush trash on a heavily-polluted, now-deserted Earth, 700 years in the future. But a seemingly random glitch in his circuitry provided him something unexpected: a personality. And of course, with personality comes an inevitable sense of loneliness. Having collected many pieces of trash merely out of curiosity, and having watched the same VHS of "Hello, Dolly!" every day, WALL-E pined for something more than what he had. After meeting a sleek, feminine scout robot named E.V.E., our hero discovered love, and the two end up going on an epic adventure in the stars. Along the way, the two 'bots become closer, and WALL-E soon becomes destined to not only cement his love with E.V.E, but save the very human race as we know it. Proving that beating up bad guys and blowing things to bits isn't all it takes to make a hero, WALL-E is the greatest cinematic hero of the last ten years.


And the Top Five WORST Movie Heroes of the Decade:
5. Duke (Channing Tatum- G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra, 2009)

It's usually an unfortunate mess when a toyline from the 1980's is adapted into a movie. So, accordingly, the cast needs to be just as shitty as the movie surrounding them. And thankfully, Channing Tatum was up for the challenge! Boring, dull, and completely devoid of any charisma, Duke is portrayed as a jock numbskull who's better off posing for Calvin Klein ads than defeating international terrorists.

4. Thomas Anderson/Neo (Keanu Reeves- The Matrix Reloaded, 2003; The Matrix Revolutions, 2003)

"Whoa." If Keanu Reeves became any more wooden, he could be used for kindling. Though his stone-faced performance in the first "Matrix" was overlooked due to the groundbreaking CGI and original story, the two sequels weren't as lucky, leaving us with a boring portrayal of mankind's new Messiah and savior from the evil machines.

3. Rayne (Kristanna Loken- Bloodrayne, 2006)

Note to any aspiring actor: if you want to have a successful reputation in Hollywood, do NOT star in Uwe Boll's movies. Seriously. Even if you end up showing your boobs, viewers will not appreciate what they plunked down more than eight bucks for.

2. Susan Storm/The Invisible Woman (Jessica Alba- Fantastic Four, 2005; Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, 2007)

The sad thing about this travesty is the fact that in the comics, Sue "The Invisible Woman" Storm is a fully fleshed-out, independent character, who isn't used to merely titillate the male comic book readers. Unfortunately, in the film adaptations of "The Fantastic Four", director Tim Story and actress Jessica Alba didn't get that memo, instead making the character a boring, one-dimensional, and utterly passive-aggressive wimp who's only function is apparently to accidentally lose her clothing.

1. Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen- Star Wars: Episode II- Attack of the Clones, 2002; Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith, 2005)

"Like, some day, I'm gonna be the most powerful-est Jedi in the whole galaxy! Yeah! That'll show them!" Who'd have thought that before he became the most feared Sith in the universe, Darth Vader was such a whiny little pussy? After the God-awful portrayal of a child Anakin Skywalker by Jake Lloyd in 1999's "Episode I", the circle truly was complete when Hayden Christensen was cast as the older, "mature" Chosen One of the Force. Not only was his chemistry with Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) completely nonexistent, but when Christensen was meant to evoke anger and angst, it was laughably hopeless. It was essentially the "Star Wars" version of "Saved by the Bell". It makes Mark Hamill's whiny performance in the original "Star Wars" look like Lawrence Olivier.