10 Best Movie Characters of the Last 20 Years.

1. The Joker from The Dark Knight: Did Heath Ledger’s untimely death only helped his Joker grow in popularly? Maybe so, but even if did Ledger’s portrayal of Batman’s enemy that wears his love of Dark Humor on his sleeve and then some shows that you don’t have to go for the camp as Cesar Romero or even Jack Nicholson did in their portrayals of Crime Clown. Ledger’s Joker was darkest portrayal of The Joker and using humor as way to drive fear into his victims and giving Batman a very big challenge in saving people on two evacuating ferries that he rigged to explode.

2. Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean series: Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio created the pirate for the movie trilogy based on the Amusement Park ride featured at most of the Disney amusement parks. In the movie’s universe Captain Jack Sparrow is one of nine pirates in in the Brethren Court, the Pirate Lords of the Seven Seas. Sparrow prefers to use his wits and negotiation skills rather than go into a fight to get what he wants. However if cornered than get ready to fight the Pirate. Johnny Depp truly made the character his own, and his best known role.

3. Woody from the Toy Story series: When we first meet the toy modeled after a Wild West Sheriff, he was the favorite of Andy Davis who was six years old of the first film. Woody serves as a leader of Andy’s toy collection and in each of the films he faces great challenges. The first Buzz Lightyear who does not quite understand that he is not the space ace but just a child’s toy, and Woody eventually learning to accept him. The second deals with Woody losing his arm and along the way learning about his heritage and coming to his own crossroads. The third takes place many years later dealing with Andy’s passage into adulthood and Woody taking charge of the Toys as they have to deal with anantagonist Teddy Bear, but in the end Woody, Buzz and most of the collection wind up with a new child named Bonnie. Woody proves his worthness as a leader in each the movies. Overcoming his envy of Buzz in the first, his friends standing by him in the second, and all working together in the third. Woody’s Toy Story is not quite over yet. A new movie is in the works and the Toy Story 4 is to be released in 2019.

4. Harry Potter from the Harry Potter Movies: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling wanted to cast an unknown child actor for the movie adaptation of her popular series of novels of the Boy Wizard. Producer ran across David Heyman ran across Daniel Radcliffe who gotten his feet wet in the 1999 TV movie David Copperfield and later the feature film The Tailor of Panama. Still Radcliffe did not achieve superstar status and his quality made him the perfect boy to bring Harry Potter to life. He portrayal of Potter won fans and critics over, and each movie adaptation was a box office smash. Would Harry Potter done well with someone other than Radcliffe. Maybe not as much.

5. Pedro Sánchez from Napoleon Dynamite: Napoleon Dynamite is a character in himself, but Pedro Sanchez who comes Mexico proves to be Napoleon’s equal if not better half. At first he comes across as someone likes to stare at the wall or whatever…but he proves that he is a get go person. For starters he beats Napoleon to the punch in asking Deb Bradshaw to the dance, and Napoleon aims for Trisha Jennerwho wants nothing to do with me…but Napoleon can shake it off and get his dance with Deb anyway. At the same time Pedro puts his hat in for Class President and when he feels he is going to lose, Napoleon encourages him to continue and move forward and Dynamite is able to literally dance on his friend’s behalf into the office of Class President.

6. Tony Stark from the Iron Man series and the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Robert Downey Jr. was able to overcome his real life demons and was able to make the role of Tony Stark aka Ironman his own. In spite of the adversity that Stark faces regardless if it’s Obadiah Stane, Ivan Vanko, or even Loki; Stark is one to challenge any enemy with logic, cool collective swagger, and his sense of humor, and yeah the Iron Man suit above it all.

7. Effie Trinket from the Hunger Games series: At first she was a Capitol born chaperone who wanted a better District than the one she was assign to during each reaping prior to the Hunger Games itself. However as Katniss Everdeen and PeetaMellark’sstar power grew and then some Trinket would be intertwined in their lives and supportive of Everdeen and what she believes in. She would give up the life in the Capitol and live as a refuge in the underground District 13, and supporting the tribute she once chaperone that has become the Mockingjay and a threat to President Coriolanus Snow who she lived under as a citizen of Panem’s Capitol. It is still the best movie role Elizabeth Banks has played to date. Her version of Rita Repusla from Power Rangers just does not equal or better Effie.

8. Kylo Ren from the Star Wars series: The Sequel trilogy of the Star Wars core saga introduces us to a new fallen Jedi who was born Ben Solo and is the biological son of Han Solo and Leia Organa. He was mentored by Luke Skywalker but Supreme Leader Snoke of the First Order is able to seduce Kylo Ren to the dark side of the force. Ren is so conflicted but feels he is doing the right thing. Does that including murdering your own father? Can anyone redeem him or must he be put down? Can’t wait to see more of Kylo Ren in “The Last Jedi” and maybe a few more.

9. Wonder Woman from the Wonder Woman and the DC Extended Universe: The current Wonder Woman is played by Jewish actress Gal Gadot, in spite of the character’s pagan origins. CRTV’s Steve Deace points out certain Christian elements in the movie comparing the movie’s antagonist Ares to the Devil himself. Diana Prince/Wonder Woman however counters that statement that the antidote to the darkness within us is “Love.” Modeled after the Christ-like gesture. Diana also admits another Christian true. All like Sheep have Gone Astray. In real life Gadot served in the Israeli Defense Forces for two years and was a Combat Trainer. Truly the right woman to play a Strong Amazon Woman.

10. Shrek from the Shrek films: Shrek is an ogre who is like your cranky next door neighbor who wants to be left alone, but certain events in his life would humble just a little. When Lord Farquaad actions cause Shrek’s space to be infringed upon he makes a deal with him and rescue a Princess so that Farquaad can become a King and gain more power. He rescues Princess Fiona and so realizes that thanks to a curse she is really like Shrek…an ogre. Since Shrek is her true love she is accepts her fate as an ogre. However his still has his crankiness thanks to his foil Donkey who truly became the closest thing Shrek has to a best friend.