We have all sat through those movies… ones that didn’t live up to their hype. They aren’t too terrible but in a week’s time we’ll have forgotten all about them. Often these movies have some great characters. Often overlooked or forgotten about how they make the film worth watching again when we see it late on cable. Here is Mania’s 10 Memorable Characters in Forgettable Movies.
10. Darth Maul
From: Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Why oh why did George Lucas kill him off? Or at the very least bring him back with a spider-like body and multiple arms? His time was too short. Like any candle that burns twice as bright it won’t last very long. Is the Phantom Menace forgettable? We try to forget about everyday.
9. Geoffrey Chaucer
From: A Knight's Tale (2001)
Taking jousting and professional wrestling and mixing them together works--sort of. It is just when you see the first Nike symbol and hear the rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack that your brain begins to check out. Thank God for the humor of Geoffrey Chaucer. Quick witted and funny, he makes all of William Thatcher’s (Heath Ledger) “change your stars” lines almost bearable. If only Paul Bettany would have stuck with portraying Englishmen and not fallen angels.
8. S.R. Hadden
From: Contact (1997)
This touchy feely film about space exploration is a little too warm and fuzzy for our taste. Yes there are some great ideas in the film, but nothing we hadn’t seen before. S.R. Hadden keeps popping up in all the right places and enables us to “go for a ride” after Ellie and the gang screw everything up. Somewhere you know a man like this exists. Hadden is the key to the future and the best part of surviving an almost three-hour snooze fest.
7. The Deacon
From: Waterworld (1995)
While we were lost at sea watching the boring and nameless amphibian one thing made it bearable, The Deacon. He was the smartest and funniest of the Smokers in a world that was just plain boring. Even he knew his people were worthless but hey he was making the best of it (in the film and on the planet).
6. Mason Verger
From: Hannibal (2001)
How do you make a character scarier than Hannibal Lector? Easy, you make him a deranged rich billionaire who actually survived being eaten by Hannibal the Cannibal. Throw in a patch work face, a southern accent and some hogs and you’ve got a villain that literally makes your skin crawl. Too bad it’s in a film that should have never have happened.
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5. Human Torch
From: Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
Why did we go back for the sequel? That’s easy, Chris Evans as the Human Torch (and maybe Michael Chiklis despite the terrible make-up). Evans got the character right and had great chemistry with everyone in the film. He was living the embodiment of Johnny Storm. Too bad Marvel and 20th Century Fox screwed up everything else with this franchise. Galactus as an intergalactic smoke monster? Lame!
4. Denton Van Zan
From: Reign of Fire (2002)
“Eden isn’t burning, it’s burnt!” –Denton Van Zan. A pre-Batman Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey team up to take down a pack of dragons that have turned the world to ash. Van Zan is the perfect action hero for this world. Dedicated to the cause and insane enough to see his plans come to fruition. Reign of Fire was a blink and you’ll miss it film but Van Zan is a dragon slayer whose legend will live for all time.
3. Sheriff of Nottingham
From: Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (1991)
Why don’t they give out Academy Awards for best Villain? Would it promote people being evil? Alan Rickman stole the entire movie from everyone, including Bryan Adams’ song. When the Sheriff wasn’t on screen we were constantly reminded of the bad beards, the clothes, Robin Hood sans accent and Morgan Freeman in this movie.
2. Evil Superman/Clark Kent
From: Superman 3 (1983)
All right I know that Reeve had already played him twice before so this is cheating a bit. You have to admit that Superman 3 is pretty forgettable. Yet when we do catch it we always stick it out until we see the Evil Superman fight Clark Kent. It is an amazing visual representation of the struggle going on within.
1. Cameron Poe’s Hair
From: Con Air (1997)
Nicholas Cage’s hair is probably the most memorable thing in the entire film. Just watch it as it blows in the wind and gently glides across his face. Those extensions should have won the Academy Award for best make up. Steve Buscemi’s Garland 'The Marietta Mangler' Greene almost made the list but he lost miserably to that hair.