A hero is defined as someone who is admired for his or her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. A hero usually demonstrates the values of sacrifice, selflessness and bravery. In today’s society, the work hero is passed around excessively much. A football player who scores the winning try or the final swimmer of the Olympic relay team are defined as heroes but in reality, they are not. An ordinary person who does extraordinary things is usually a hero. “A true hero is really never a hero at all; at least not in their own mind”, - Jerry Lewis (2008). In today’s society, there are various cases where we can see the exact opposite of these characters. The people who are the exact opposite of what the definition of a hero is are called anti-heroes. Anti-heroes are relatable to all people; they can be awkward, dishonest, and imperfect and lack bravery. An anti-hero cannot be classified as a hero nor a villain. The anti-hero lacks the natural heroic qualities but has the flaws that everyday people can relate to and understand that even though they make mistakes they still have good intensions.
I remember when I was little and I would watch movies about superheroes saving the world and the everyday citizens, and wishing I were like them when I would grow up. It used to be very disappointing knowing that I would never be a hero and never save the world or make a difference. Growing up and watching movies such as ‘Gran Torino ‘with the character Walt Kowalski and ‘The Blind Side’ with the character Leigh Anne Tuohy opened up my eyes to realize that it’s not just about saving the world, having superpowers and having all the best qualities. It is really about being human, being just like everyone else around you but doing it for the greater good. Even though you may make mistakes, you always have good intension and the outcome is for good.
Walt Kowalski from the movie ‘Gran Torino’ is the type of stereotypical ex-military man who we have all met at least once before. He is an extremely hygienic and tidy, nationalistic and is a very quick man to respond to conflict with violence who had fought in the Korean War. It is pretty obvious that Walt, played by Clint Eastwood (the director), was not going to handle the arrival of Asians into his neighborhood that he has been living in with his recently passed wife very well. Walt has his call to adventure when he goes out on his front lawn with a gun to break up a fight caused by a gang initiation. The only reason that Walt breaks up the fight is in his own interest to get the ‘gooks off his lawn’. We as the audience see Walt as the hero he really is as he still doing the right thing by breaking up the fight but his intentions for breaking it up may not be ‘morally correct’ as he was being selfish. Behind the racism and the uneasy past concerning war, Walt has an inner desire to be a good person and to do good for himself and other people around him.
I can really relate to the character Walt Kowalski from the movie ‘Gran Torino’ as he his honest and does what he believes is right. Although he is very racist and can be quite rude to people. Walt just really wants to do well in the world. He wants to help people around him and wants to make the world a better place. Walt is much related to not just me but too many average humans. He is relatable as he makes rational discussions, makes rude comments and makes some mistakes. Doing these means that average citizens can believe that they can be a hero like Walt. This gives children and adults the hope and understanding that they too can be a hero, an anti-hero.
Leigh Anne Tuohy from the movie ‘The Blind Side’ is a strong independent woman who is head of the Tuohy family. She is married to Sean Tuohy, a devoted Christian and the person who is the most responsible for helping Michael Oher survive and achieve his success. Although people may see her as an everyday hero, she is realistically an anti-hero. She does all that an everyday hero does by feeding Michael Oher, clothing him, giving him a home and taking him in as her own son, she goes against her religion, friends and family values to do all of this for Michael Oher. This still might come across as an everyday hero she also threatens the father of a football play on the opposing team, controls and talks to Huge Freeze (the high school football coach), poorly. Leigh Anne Tuohy also manipulative, when Michael is discussing college options with all different college coaches, Leigh Anne Tuohy talks to the coach of Ole Miss Rebels Football. She tells the coach that he needs to really sell the college to Michael Oher and get him to fall in love with it. This is an act of selfishness, as she wants him to go there, as that is where she and her husband went and where his children will go. All of little things that she does supports the fact that Leigh Anne Tuohy is an anti-hero.
I can really relate to the character Leigh Anne Tuohy from the movie ‘The Blind Side’ as she is honest and does what she believes is right. She is a very good role model for everyone from young children all the way to adults well into their later years of life. She a good influence as she goes against the beliefs of other people and is not influenced by peer pressure. Although many see, Leigh Anne Tuohy as a hero is really is an anti-hero. She is my personal superhero. I look up to her and wish I could make a difference that she made when I become older. She makes me want to be a better person.