Protagonist you end up rooting AGAINST?

[jmt225]

Have you ever seen a movie or television show where you're supposed to wish the best for the main character and hope for him/her to succeed, but you just end up hating their guts and wishing the absolute worst for them? If so, which movie was that and why did you feel that way? Was it because of flaws in the character? The actor playing the character? The villain being too cool not to root for? What?

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Yesterday I popped on the movie Shutter, which was a remake of a Japanese horror movie of the same name. I actually saw this in theaters, and I'm one of the very few who actually like it; however, one thing that keeps this film from being a horror classic in my mind is the protagonist of the story, Jane Shaw, played by Rachael Taylor.

Now, in the original, you end up having a ton of sympathy for the Jane character, but in this remake I absolutely loathe her. Maybe it was due to the fact that Asian women are simply more humble and sympathetic, and American women tend to be a lot more bitchy, or maybe Rachael Taylor (who starred in that piece of shit Kane movie, See No Evil) is just a TERRIBLE actress who absolutely butchered the role , or maybe my hetero love for Joshua Jackson keeps me from ever rooting against him in any movie/television show ever, but every time I watch this movie, Jane infuriates the hell out of me and even though I know she walks away without a hair on her pretty little head harmed, I always wish maybe the movie changes and she's the one who gets fucked up instead of Ben, lol. It's specifically the climax that gets my blood boiling every single time. She's such a heartless bitch in that scene; so much so in my mind she also deserved to be hunted for the rest of her life, just like Ben.

If I can think of any more (which I'm sure there are), I'll post some more in this thread. But I watched a few minutes of Shutter yesterday and it reminded me how much I can't stand Rachael Taylor in that movie and thought maybe other people would have similar stories. So let's hear 'em if that's indeed the case....

 

[Alex]

Rocky III.

I love Rocky and I root for him against all the other oppenents (Apollo Creed, Ivan Drago, they guys from V and VI) But when you're up against Mr T, I'm sorry I'm going to root against you. Mr T just made Rocky III probably the most entertaining Rocky film, his intensity and what he said (I pity the fool) just makes me go against Rocky on this one.

 

[The Mark of Zur-En-Arrh]

Jack Shepard in Lost. Hated him from the word go, mainly because it seemed that Matthew Fox's acting hadn't progressed at all since he was in Party of Five (Was that a porno?) Yes, i was subjected to Party of Five in my youth, i am ashamed to say that i have actually sat through more than one episode, but let's move on.

The other reason, is that the character was obsessed with overcoming the odds and achieving the impossible that it really made the charcter seem like a total dick at certain points.

For example, when Boone gets fucked up in the plane, and Jack tries to save his life by pumping his own blood into Boone, and even tells Charlie to instruct Kate to go and deal with Claire giving birth. He'd rather nearly kill himself trying to succeed in his futile attempt at saving Boone, than ensure that both Claire and her baby survive the birth.

Plus he kept trying to kill Locke despite the fact that Locke knew better.... douchebag!

 

[FunKay the Inevitable]

Mary Poppins

I hate this movie and I hate her. The whole Practically Perfect in every way thing is just too narcissistic for me. I find her to be annoying and just plain frustrating. She sings and dance, which are never a plus in Disney Movies unless they're animated. She friends with a man whose accent is neither here nor there. Seriously the Bert character is really awful as well. That character just doesn't sit well with me at all. She is annoying and God I just despise her personality. It’s a twisted caricature of an English person from the Georgian Time.

 

[Spidey Revivey]

Duncan McCleod from Highlander: Endgame. I liked him in the television series, actually find him tolerable in the movies (even The Source) but There Can Be Only One McCleod in my mind, and that is the original raspy-voiced ass kicking Connor McCleod. I so wanted to see Connor take his head off in the original cut.


And then there is RJ from Dreamwork's Over The Hedge, who I cannot tolerate even if it was a kid's movie. Little sucker stole from a BEAR; the fact that the bear gave him some time to go and try to replace the food proves that the hibernating victim was in fact a decent guy, wherein the raccoon stole his shit. Any average bear would have ate him on sight.

This also goes with just about every fairytale as well. We get breaking & entering (Goldilocks, Jack) brazen women (Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, etc) the list goes on and on with a

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

Tony Soprano. The first time I watched the series, I loved the guy. He's funny, outspoken, and entertaining. With him being the main character, it's really hard to turn your back on the guy.

But I just watched the entire series again (over the last two months), for the third time, and I hated him by the finale. I actually wanted him to die, and I hope he did. I had always thought he acted like a baby, but my god. He is selfish, stupid and arrogant. He seemed to get worse through every season, and was basically unbearable during the last9 episodes. He is the biggest hypocrite I have ever seen in a television series. The guy goes around, pissing and moaning about every little thing in his life, yet cannot stand when someone else does the same. He has zero patience, and really only cares about himself. Not his friends, family, anyone. Just himself.

Is he still one of my absolute favorite characters in the history of television? Sure. But that doesn't change the fact that he disgusts me, as a human being.

 

[GUN]

Bella Swan: Twilight has turned into this rampaging fad that seems to not die. I read the first book out of curiousity, and had to endure the movie because of a relationship. I hate her; she seemed okay with a 108 or so year-old-man spying on her as she slept and was comfortable with him killing others. She sets a bad example I think for women, and through it all she seemed really boring and constipated throughout the movie. Yes, I said constipated- like she was ready to cut one loose.

Superman: Please...hear me out on this one. This guy can fly into space, reverse time even, and can do just about everything that is extroardinary. He is an alien that had the misfortune of having his home planet get the Michael Bay treatment. He should practically be revered as a God in the comics (Hell it's speculated that he is a cartoon Jesus saving the world). Now let's look at this one weakness in all of the universe:

Kryptonite.

No big deal, right? That's stuff isn't even suppose to be Earth-related. Possibly the rarest mineral ever. But no; that shit is every-other-rock in the DC Universe. Almost every villain I know uses it on Superman (Luthor seems to have a mine full of the shit) and it brings the Super factor down a few pegs. This "suppose to be" hard to get item is virtually everywhere on planet Earth, making it seem stupid to have Kal-El live here. He can fly in space for Christ's sakes.

Kind of like M. Night Shymalain's Signs where the alien's weakness was water...doesn't make sense why they would come here since the planet is abundant with H2O (even falls from the skies on a regular basis)

Honorable Mention: Gilligan from Gilligan's Island. Surprised the rest of them didn't get all Donner Party on his ass.

 

[Mitch Henessey]

I'm going to have to with the boyfriend and girlfriend from The Hitcher(2007). I couldn't stand Jim Hasley and Grace Andrews. Not only was The Hitcher a bad movie, but these characters were just asking for it the whole time. First of all, you NEVER pick up a hitchhiker, especially one who looks as creepy as Sean Bean. The boyfriend was such a gullible douche bag. His GF constantly warned him not to give this guy a ride, but he did anyway. But Sophia Bush wasn't too bright either. At the very end of the film, her boyfriend goes to make a phone call, and he disappears for a long time. You would think she would be curious as to what happened to him right? Well if you thought she would do something, then you're wrong. I was seriously rooting for them to die when I saw this movie. They were just two very stupid characters who I didn't care for at all.

Tony Soprano. The first time I watched the series, I loved the guy. He's funny, outspoken, and entertaining. With him being the main character, it's really hard to turn your back on the guy.

But I just watched the entire series again (over the last two months), for the third time, and I hated him by the finale. I actually wanted him to die, and I hope he did. I had always thought he acted like a baby, but my god. He is selfish, stupid and arrogant. He seemed to get worse through every season, and was basically unbearable during the last9 episodes. He is the biggest hypocrite I have ever seen in a television series. The guy goes around, pissing and moaning about every little thing in his life, yet cannot stand when someone else does the same. He has zero patience, and really only cares about himself. Not his friends, family, anyone. Just himself.

Is he still one of my absolute favorite characters in the history of television? Sure. But that doesn't change the fact that he disgusts me, as a human being.

Yeah, Tony was a heartless dick, but he was still one my favorite characteres ever, and The Sopranos is my all-time favorite show. Still, Tony was an asshole. What he did to Christopher(who had a child by the way) in the final season was so messed up in every way, and he actually was happy about what he did to him. And let's not forget about how he cheated on Carmella througout the whole series. There were times where a I felt for the boss, but then again, there were also times where I hated him. As far as who's the most despicable human being in Sopranos history goes, I think it's a very close race between Tony Soprano and Ralph Cifaretto.

 

[Nate DaMac]

Sookie Stackhouse from True Blood.

I love the show, love following all the different stories going on, but I'll be damned if every time this bitch pops up on my screen I don't want to blow my fucking brain out. She's the typical "there's a strange noise, I must investigate" kind of characters who always have to be saved by someone else putting their god damn lives in danger, all because she couldn't ignore her ******ed instincts.

Not to mention she takes time away from the characters in ther show who are actually interesting, like Lafayette.

 

[SorgFamily]

I'm going to have to with the boyfriend and girlfriend from The Hitcher(2007).The boyfriend was such a gullible douche bag.

That reminds me of Paranormal Activity. The girlfriend was like let's not antagonize the spirit and the spirit specialist (or whatever) was like do not try to make it mad. What does he do though? He's like, "C'mon you little bitch, lets go." What a moron.

Spoiler

When he died at the end, I was like fuck you, serves you right ass.

I was happy with the ending.

 

[Wolfdemon]

I have to agree with the post about about Jack Shepard. From the start of the series I disliked him. Every single moment I rooted against him but I knew since he was the fucking doctor they would never kill him off midseries. He's just so perfect that's why I dislike him.

 

[SorgFamily]

I have to agree with the post about about Jack Shepard. From the start of the series I disliked him. Every single moment I rooted against him but I knew since he was the fucking doctor they would never kill him off midseries. He's just so perfect that's why I dislike him.

I have to disagree with him being perfect. One of the main things about him was that he wasn't perfect. He had an alcoholic father, failed marriage, and a drug addiction at one point. And I'm not sure if the reason they wouldn't kill him off is because he was the doctor. Maybe it's because he was the main character. I guess I'm one of the few that liked him.

 

[TheAnimal]

Did anyone see jumper? The film with the guy who was Anakin Skywalker in episode 2/3 of the star wars films. He was such an arrogant little fucker that i wanted him to be in mortal danger in almost every scene. He just acted like he knew he was untouchable because he could move himself from place to place and nobody could get him.

 

[Fire Marshall Bill]

Before I reply, Mary Poppins?! Really?! LMFAO! Is Annie next?

The one that immediately popped into my head at first was Richard Gere in The Jackal. It's more of a combination of him playing that part and that I thought Bruce Willis' character was a bad motherfucker. I mean, look at what he did to Jack Black haha.

Another one is Law Abiding Citizen. For me it had little to do with the characters themselves. It was more of I wanted to see where they would've taken it beyond where it ended.