What Movies Make You Feel Like A Man?

[jsoto81]

So we had a thread about what movies cry and that got me wondering about what movies make you feel like a man? What movies get you just pumped up and thinking or feeling like "grrr-arrr yeah that was great"?

For me it's any James Bond movie (but mostly with Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig), after seeing any of those movies I want to through on a suit and just go at it, you know. Drive sports cars that I'll never be able to afford and just get any woman I want.

After that it's fight club. Once again after that movie I feel so much like a man, but this time instead of being sophisticated and daring, I just want to beat the crap out of something. I have the urge to fight and get the crap beaten out of me.

And last but not least, most recently was 300 (I love historic epic movies and this is no different). Just something about it, maybe because it's 300 men (even though in real history it was 300 spartans and some 1000 athenians) defending their homeland from the enemey and (I won't spoil the ending). My family has been in America since the time of the mayflower, we've defended our home and had a family member fight in every single war/battle this country has ever been in and my father's family were knights in spain. So I guess it's the generations of soldiers coming out of me when I see movies like that.

How about you, what movies make you feel like a man when you see them?

[AllieSF]

Good question. I find that I like movies and books that have the opposite effect and make me act more like a woman. Thinking and relationship flics. Maybe the Harrison Ford movies being the college professor who has these great adventures in exotic lands. I love exploring and these seem to fit right in, just like me being on this site!

[false_dichotomy]

I agree, 300 definitely made me feel like going out and doing something manly. But I feel more "manly" after watching movies/reading books with male characters I want to emulate, or male characters who remind me of myself, rather than action films with a lot of butt-kicking.

[Abraxas]

I just finished watching Terminator 2: Judgement Day, a half hour or so ago. Always love that film. Makes me wanna get out and climb on a motorbike and shoot big guns at metal people. *grin*

Another one which probably doesn't actually qualify, is 'Shine.' It just makes me feel, well, firstly envious. Secondly it always makes me want to go and bash out some amazing piano music (which is why I'm envious-- cos I can't). It always gives me a lot of energy, watching that film. First time I saw it, I was sitting in my room playing air piano on my bedrail, until I was sweating. It was awesome. Watching any really great pianist does that to me, and that film's just full of great piano playing (although piano snobs will tell you it's crap-- I say to them, 'well, can you play it? Thought not.').

[pocoyo]

I just finished watching Terminator 2: Judgement Day, a half hour or so ago. Always love that film. Makes me wanna get out and climb on a motorbike and shoot big guns at metal people. *grin*

Muahaha Good choice there
*coughsoneofthebestfilmsevercoughs*

Cool question Jsot!

Yeah I feel like that basically every good action film I watch lol!
Always have done.

(Although some resonate more than others).

Man I love action films!

Infact, I fancy some butt-kicking now, just thinking about it!

*leaps up to kick some butt..... remembers the bleeh feeling in his head and flops down again*

... meh....

hehehe


[SIZE="1"]By the way, shut up Abraxas...! You can't play amazing piano? My fat little *SS![/SIZE]

[Kate Simmons]

It's okay to be cool and kick butt Ben but even though I am a genetic guy, I use Patton's tactics and try to fight "smarter" (getting the other poor b***ard to die for his country). Nothing can get the old juices flowing like a good fight though and Sal can lick her weight in wildcats (and Klingon warriors, jagh luHoHmeH jagh lunejtaH). Okay, maybe I'm "Barbie on steroids" but I know where you are coming from and agree with you and I love a cute guy who kicks butt.

[Abraxas]

[SIZE="1"]By the way, shut up Abraxas...! You can't play amazing piano? My fat little *SS![/SIZE]

Cannot, either. I can play moderately well, and maybe a few things that may or may not make you go 'wow' but I'm certainly no... bug. I don't even know the names of any totally amazing piano players. *snort* There are five-year-olds who can play better than me. Granted, not many, but there are some.

[bi_weird]

The Steve Prefontaine movies make me want to go out and run ten miles at a sprint...he was such a macho jack@$$ and still I and most other American distance runners worship him.
Anything with explosions after which I can bond with my brothers about is good. The more pointless action, the better. Well, at least to a point. I've seen some crazy foreign films that really don't work.

[Felix]

Hope this is ok.... It isn't so much the movie that makes me feel like a man, it's what's in the movie. Like it's the content and can't put that in here really but use ya imagination xx Felix

[Question Mark]

Martial arts flicks. Well, except House of Flying Daggers. That degenerated into a soap opera for the last forty-five minutes.

[CaptLex]

Definitely action/adventure movies do it for me - and James Bond is a perfect example. Also stuff like the Indiana Jones movies and the Star Wars movies. And, of course, pirate movies, cowboy movies, superhero movies, some cop movies (like SWAT) and some war flicks (like The Patriot or Braveheart). But the hero doesn't necessarily have to be male to have this effect on me - it can be Lara Croft or Geena Davis in Cutthroat Island (I know, I know . . . but I like that movie ).

I also get that from male-bonding type shows (which HBO has in abundance): Entourage, the Sopranos, Deadwood and Rome. I love to see how the guys in each of these shows interact with each other - there's always a hierarchy and seeing how each guy figures out what part he plays in the group fascinates me.

[janedoe311]

when I watch macho movies. Do not see myself as the man like in Bond. Not sure why (I love women and do not like men) and sure would not tell my wife!

Saw Casino Royal in the theater with my wife,(think we have seen maybe 3 movies in 9 years without the kids.) Did not see myself as Bond, I am not a violent person and am a vegetarian because I like animals so he is a bit of a brute for me, even if I was a women. Of course his bond girl died. Did figure she would, so it was no surprise. Trying to think when I saw myself as the male hero in a movie. May take sometime to think about it.

[jsoto81]

Awesome everyone. It's cool to see everyones answers.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not a brute (but all the action movies I watch associate with the hero) I see myself as the protector. And I love chick flicks too, once again as the I guess you'd call hero that always gets the girl. I'm a romantic at heart and love taking care of women. Opening doors, flowers for no reason really. But If i'm forced to fight I will.

I loved the Tomb Raider movies too. I think I'm gonna buy them again but this time on HD.

[Question Mark]

Hehe. I always like the underdog myself. Ever since I was young, I always identified with him. A good example of the character, if you want to get into really old movies, is Seven Samurai. Toshiro Mifune's character is the definite underdog.

The rookie's a good one too.

[AERIN]

The Molly Maguries of course!

[Charleen]

Two movie series I love- the Blind Swordsman from the 50's, 60's, and the Thin Man. Hey, I ain't never said I was normal! Or sane!

[John]

hhmm... lets see. Well, Dog Soldures for one (a british weirwolf movie), the Die-Hard movies, and a few Kevin Smith movies (clerks, mallrats), just because I can watch them and think 'hell, I'm more of a man that that'. Oh, and James Bond of cause (wel would wouldn't?).

[Taylor105]

This is an awesome question. When I was ten I saw "The Karate Kid" for the first time. I wanted to be Ralph Macchio soo bad. So as I got older I got into the martial arts. I am a second degree black belt now and that makes me feel like a man. I can kick some butt if I ever need to. To this day I love all martial arts movies. Taylor

[Felix]

Ok I've been thinking about this a lot more and I remembered when I was younger I used to watch all the Epic movies at the time, a lot of which had Roman soldiers in them. I used to imagine myself as a Roman soldier Also I used to watch all the war films at the time I used to imagine myself in the uniforms particularly the air force uniform male of course. I loved Superman and used to imagine myself as him I always wanted to be the hero in the film and always the male hero! xx Felix

[bi_weird]

Did you guys know that there's a new Die Hard movie coming out soon?!?! Now those movies, to me, define the genre "pointless action flick". I'm so psyched there's another one! Yay for explosions!

[jsoto81]

Yeah I heard that there was a new one coming out. I've never actually seen any of the die hard movies, maybe I should rent them some time.

And I love the Superman movies too Lex, I even watch Smallville now and the Superman Returns movie when it came out.

[XDW Nathan-Natasha]

It's funny... even as a GM I don't know if I have a solid answer to this question (and I have a friggin' huge DVD collection too...).
Braveheart comes to mind (that made me want to go out and fight wars and stuff... And I don't even own that one...). 'Sin City' sticks out a little (Bruce Willis was just such a buff bad-ass in that...). Oh! 'Desperado' and 'Once Upon A Time in Mexico' kinda touched my manly side. So did 'The Rock' and 'Con Air'. 'From Dusk 'Til Dawn' did a good job of that too. (Vampires, gunfights, cute girls, manly men...it kinda fits the bill...).

I suppose anything with a good gunfight, swordfight, fistfight, barfight, dogfight (aerial warfare...oooo!), catfight (girls fighting...oooo!), or, well...any fight in general probably helps make me feel manly when I watch a movie. Any movie with huge explosions also tickles my manhood too (that sounded kinda gross...). But then huge explosions tickle my fiance's fancy too and she's truely a GG...

It's really hard to say though... I don't honestly have a good idea. You've really got me thinking now... I'll have to pay attention next time I watch a good flick!

I'd love to reccomend any David Lynch film here (as his unoffical and self-nominated fan PR rep) but they're all pretty androgynous ('Wild At Heart' kinda comes across as somewhat manly. You could say the same for 'Lost Highway' too) and pretty confusing, mind-screwing rides, too. They're definitely not James Bond or Die Hard films, but I like them a lot in general - as a guy or girl.

Anyhow, Nicolas Cage is great in 'Wild At Heart'. If you can take a little confusion and a strange mix of 'The Wizard of Oz', 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' (another pretty good manly film), and 'Snatch' (Yet another good one! Same with 'Crank' (I have to buy that one!), and 'Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels'), then I highly reccomend 'Wild At Heart.' Good film, good film...

("This is a snakeskin jacket. To me, it's a symbol of my individuality and personal freedom." - Sailor (Nicolas Cage) from 'Wild At Heart.')

[XDW Nathan-Natasha]

...but this time instead of being sophisticated and daring, I just want to beat the crap out of something. I have the urge to fight and get the crap beaten out of me.

Man, I wish I could feel that! When I watched 'Fight Club' I just thought: 'Wow, I wish there was a real fight club! Maybe I should start one! But then I probably would take a hit and cry like a kindergarten girl.' I guess I'm not cut out for fighting and getting the crap beaten out of me. I'd like to be, but I guess I'm too timid for that.
Although...it would be cool to start a fight club in my basement...

"Yeah...uh, Mom, Dad? I'm gonna bring a bunch of strange local guys downstairs later tonight for a, um...bingo tournament. It could get a little rowdy. Oh, and don't be afraid if the police show up. They'll be here for the tournament too. I gave them free admission. There's a $5 cover otherwise. Oh, and the paramedics...um, they're here in case someone swallows a bingo chip or something like that. Oh, and could you run to the liquor store and pick up about 10 kegs? That'd be great. I've got to instal padding on the walls... For what? Oh...nothing. That reminds me, I'd better lay sawdust down, too..."

Now that would be totally awesome. Of course, I'd probably be sitting on the sidelines in a recliner (or throne) sipping Heineken enfemme, wearing an evening dress and heels... and toting a handgun, or a shotgun, or grenade launcher. Why? Just because I could! (Hey, I've gotta feel a little manly somehow, don't I? And what if one of the gents tries to get fresh with me...? But then, I suppose putting a 2 foot wide hole in his torso wouldn't be the best solution, though...).

[XDW Nathan-Natasha]

Hehe. I always like the underdog myself. Ever since I was young, I always identified with him. A good example of the character, if you want to get into really old movies, is Seven Samurai. Toshiro Mifune's character is the definite underdog.

The rookie's a good one too.

I own 'Seven Samurai' but have yet to watch it! I almost forgot! I guess the idea of sitting for 3 and a half hours kinda turned me off a bit. But dang, it's like supposed to be one of the best movies ever! I'm a gonna watch it when I have a free day - or two (It took me 2 days each to watch all of 'Apocalypse Now' and 'Deer Hunter' which were both killer long films...I couldn't sit for that long...plus 'Deer Hunter' was REALLY boring).
Thanks for reminding me about 'Seven Samurai', Question Mark!

[CaptLex]

I own 'Seven Samurai' but have yet to watch it! I almost forgot! I guess the idea of sitting for 3 and a half hours kinda turned me off a bit. But dang, it's like supposed to be one of the best movies ever!

It's a classic - and so is the remake, "The Magnificent Seven". Like most classics, it may turn out to not be your cup of tea, but everyone should see it at least once. For the record, I enjoyed both movies.