The films of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror are homes to a great many unlikely heroes.
By that, I mean that these motion pictures often create cinematic folk heroes from the unlikeliest actors and actresses. Why, in what other genre would the reasonably petite Fay Wray take a stand against none other than the gigantic King Kong (1933) himself? How is it that utter doufuses (sp?) like Bill and Ted could emerge as the future saviors of the planet itself in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)? And how else do you explain young Alex Rogan being the only hope for an entire galaxy in The Last Starfighter (1984)? With no disrespect intended, none of these players are of the big and imposing muscular variety -- here's looking at you, Mr. Schwarzenegger -- and yet they indubitably had 'the right stuff' to rise to whatever occasion presented itself and answer the call not for fame and fortune but because Fate pointed at them and said, "It's your turn."
Just as unlikely a hero in genre was Kris Kristofferson. In fact, when he first started appearing in projects for screens big and small, I could've never imagined him in anything that came out in the realms of the Fantastic. His somewhat weathered visage was perfect for Westerns -- that quintessentially American genre -- but SciFi? Fantasy? Or anything else? Nah. You couldn't convince me otherwise, in fact. He just didn't look the part.
And yet ... in a few short years, the actor proved himself more than capable in standing up for all of mankind. While the projects I'm specifically referring to might not be remembered for all of the ages -- 1987's Alternative History mini-series Amerika, 1989's time travel yarn Millennium, and 1998's still disrespected Marvel flick Blade -- each of them delivers a grand story peopled by real characters, among which Kristofferson shone his light. There are a few more to his resume, and -- with respect to the news breaking this weekend of the man's passing -- I encourage everyone to head on over to IMDB.com and check out the legacy he leaves behind.
Our warmest prayers are extended to the family, friends, and fans of Kris Kristofferson.
May he rest in peace.
-- EZ
By that, I mean that these motion pictures often create cinematic folk heroes from the unlikeliest actors and actresses. Why, in what other genre would the reasonably petite Fay Wray take a stand against none other than the gigantic King Kong (1933) himself? How is it that utter doufuses (sp?) like Bill and Ted could emerge as the future saviors of the planet itself in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)? And how else do you explain young Alex Rogan being the only hope for an entire galaxy in The Last Starfighter (1984)? With no disrespect intended, none of these players are of the big and imposing muscular variety -- here's looking at you, Mr. Schwarzenegger -- and yet they indubitably had 'the right stuff' to rise to whatever occasion presented itself and answer the call not for fame and fortune but because Fate pointed at them and said, "It's your turn."
Just as unlikely a hero in genre was Kris Kristofferson. In fact, when he first started appearing in projects for screens big and small, I could've never imagined him in anything that came out in the realms of the Fantastic. His somewhat weathered visage was perfect for Westerns -- that quintessentially American genre -- but SciFi? Fantasy? Or anything else? Nah. You couldn't convince me otherwise, in fact. He just didn't look the part.
And yet ... in a few short years, the actor proved himself more than capable in standing up for all of mankind. While the projects I'm specifically referring to might not be remembered for all of the ages -- 1987's Alternative History mini-series Amerika, 1989's time travel yarn Millennium, and 1998's still disrespected Marvel flick Blade -- each of them delivers a grand story peopled by real characters, among which Kristofferson shone his light. There are a few more to his resume, and -- with respect to the news breaking this weekend of the man's passing -- I encourage everyone to head on over to IMDB.com and check out the legacy he leaves behind.
Our warmest prayers are extended to the family, friends, and fans of Kris Kristofferson.
May he rest in peace.
-- EZ
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