Top 10 Notable Female Film Protagonists
10
Sucker Punch (2011) – Babydoll
Many have criticised 2011’s Sucker Punch as misogynist trash. So why in a list praising the female action hero would it be included?
Because Babydoll, regardless of attire, still overcomes all enemies and obstacles placed in her path with cognition and glorious over the top action.
Her journey begins in an asylum, but gradually becomes increasingly abstract depending upon archetypes to suggest meaning to the subconscious, without explicitly having to explain that she is being programmed by her handlers.
She has five days to wake from her induced coma to prevent her own lobotomy and this can only be achieved if she can collect all the correct objects to unlock the levels of her mind’s perceived prison.
09
La Femme Nikita (1990) – Nikita
When she is caught robbing a bank, instead of receiving a prison sentence, a mysterious handler sees Nikita’s potential and takes her away to be trained as an elite assassin. Of course this turns out to be much worse than any state rehabilitation process, and after a brief two years of horrific ego destruction and rebuilding, she is abandoned in a restaurant and thrown into her first killing mission.
The director, Luc Besson, often uses strong multilayered female characters within his films, but some of Nikita’s actions and choices make this a controversial addition to the list.
08
Coffy (1973) – Coffy
When her sister becomes the latest victim of the heroin epidemic, Coffy reaches breaking point. She continues her more feminine role of nursing in the daytime, but becomes a ruthless vigilante by night. Using her abundant sexuality to lure the pimps and pushers back to her home, she kills them in complete privacy. Gradually she works her way up the hierarchy until she finds the notorious King George.
07
Mulan (1998) – Mulan
Mulan was a legendary woman warrior from China.
When conscription for one male in every household is announced to fight the invading Huns, Mulan’s aging father no longer has the ability to carry on. In order to prevent him from a certain death in battle, Mulan disguises herself as a man to take his place.
Beyond this act of bravery and sacrifice, she also has the quick thinking tactical mind of the greatest warriors.
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06
Lady Snowblood (1973) & Lady Snowblood: Love Song Of Vengence (1974) – Yuki Kashima
Illegitimately conceived by the seduction of a prison guard, Yuki is raised solely for vengeance and trained by a priest from a young age in the art of sword fighting. At the age of twenty, having been told the tale of her family’s murder at the hands of the Matsuemon gang, her mission in revenge begins with the slaughter of many men using a sword concealed in an umbrella. Yuki even saves her enemies deaths at the hands of others just so she can fulfil the act of vengeance
herself.
05
The Terminator (1984 & Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) – Sarah Connor
Sarah Connor just wanted to be a free spirited party girl with the hope of one day finding a decent man to fall in love with and settle down to have kids.
Unfortunately there is always a time travelling robot to come along and scupper your plans.
Little to her knowledge she has to give birth to the king caveman of the apocalypse, John Conner. Luckily for her, her son has sent one of his best soldiers to protect her.
By the end of The Terminator, you realise she doesn’t need protection from anyone and by the time she returns to our screen in Terminator 2: Judgement Day the viewer realises how tough an ordinary woman can become.
04
Chocolate (2008) – Zen
Taekwando expert, Yanin Vismitananda, made her film actress debut as Zen in 2008’s Chocolate.
Found to be autistic at a young age, Zen becomes infatuated with the martial arts school adjacent to her house. She soon begins to mimic their moves. Add to this a fascination with the films of Bruce Lee and Tony Jaa and we soon have the making of a new warrior.
Although Zen earns money busking by demonstrating her reflexes, the money is never enough and the family resorts to calling in some debts. Things soon escalate when the debtors try to shirk away from Zen without realising her inherent skills.
03
Nausicaa Of The Valley of the Wind (1984) – Nausicaa
After the death of her father, Princess Nausicaa proves she is not only an ingenious pacifist leader; she also has the strength and diplomatic nature to bring peace and prosperity throughout the post apocalyptic world. Battling with various armies wanting to rule the planet and nature fighting back by way of oversized woodlice and poisonous spores, she has a lot to contend with.
Luckily, Nausicaa has a few extra skills that will help with the survival of the human race; she can communicate with the obscure creatures and fly her hover-board with the greatest of ease.
02
Alien (1979), Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Alien Resurrection (1997) – Ellen Ripley
No introduction really necessary as she is the most obvious choice in such a list. Ripley upturned the portrayal of women as the action hero especially in science fiction and horror films.
Most importantly, in regards to cinematic boundaries of a lead actress in genre films, Ripley is not a just a victim, sidekick or a love interest.
And of course she saves the cat and a little girl along the way.
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01
Hunterwali franchise (1935 – present) Princess Madhuri (AKA Hunterwali)
Hindi film Hunterwali (translated literally as “woman with a whip”) stared Fearless Nadia, an Australian stuntwoman, as the cloaked Princess Madhuri.
When the Indian chaste system scuppers her plans for love, she becomes the masked vigilante Hunterwali, the “protector of the poor and punisher of evildoers”.
Her stunts were so highly regarded and her cult following was so enduring that in April 2013 she was named as Bollywood’s best loved character.
