Over on the forum we had an argument about who was tougher, Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris.  And then someone mentioned Clint Eastwood.  So it's time for THE TOURNAMENT.   We will assemble a roster of the 64 toughest movie stars / actors.  We will rank them like the NCAA Basketball Tournament (4 groups ranked 1 to 16) and have them face off until only one man is left standing. 

 

Suggested Regions:  Fist & Blades of Fury, Weird (Sci-Fi, Horror), Old School, Modern?

 

Fists & Blades of Fury

1  Chuck Norris - Has a legit background in martial arts, started in standard chop socky flicks and moved on to contemporary action roles in films like Delta Force, and the Walker Texas Ranger character which crossed over onto TV.  Bonus Points:  Chuck Norris tough guy jokes are an Internet sensation and comedy gold

2  Bruce Lee - Martial arts legend, short but brilliant career, often imitated but never duplicated.  Bonus Points:  beat up Chuck Norris and Kareem Abdul Jabbar in movies

3  Jet Li - The reigning champ of martial arts movies, his moves are astounding

4  Toshiro Mifune - Brought a tough guy persona to every role and was the epitome of samurai spirit in great films like Seven Samurai and Yojimbo

5  Jean-Claude Van Damme (Universal Soldier) 

6  Jackie Chan - Don't let the comedy fool you, Jackie can dish out a beating as well as he can take one.  Able to turn any common object into a weapon.  Bonus Points:  routinely risks grievous bodily injury doing his own insane stunts

7  Chow Yun Fat - Under John Woo's direction he is the king of Hong Kong action.  Bonus Points:  can accurately fire two pistols while diving through the air

8  Steven Seagal - Kicks butt with akido.  Bonus Points - hot wife (actually, more than one ;-))

9  Sonny Chiba - The Streetfighter and karate master.  Bonus Points - used karate to kill a bull and a bear with his bare hands

10  Shintaro Katsu - Zatioichi the blind swordsman, sure he looks like a harmless blind man that gives good massage, but when you let down your guard he will carve you up like sushi grade tuna.  Bonus Points:  also played the character in a long running TV series

11 Sho Kosugi - He's a ninja!  What else do you need to know?

12 Dolph Lundgren - Action star, martial arts master, and he's really really big.  Bonus Points:  he killed Apollo Creed

13 Sammo Hung - He could use his fighting skills to kill you with his bare hands.  But with his rotund physique and clownish personality, you'd probably die laughing.  Bonus Points:  scary bad haircut

14  Al Leong (Lethal Weapon, Die Hard)

15  Tom Laughlin - As Billie Jack he used his martial arts to stomp rednecks and make the world safe for hippies.  You'd better respect his right to nonviolent protest, or he will beat you senseless.  Bonus Points:  cool hat.

16  Steve Reeves - Muslce bound Hercules star, could bench press any opponent in this category, except possibly Sammo

 

Weird

1 Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Terminator, Conan)

2 Sigourney Weaver (Ripley - hey, I love Aliens, I can't leave my girl off this list!)

3 Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal Lecter)

4 Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger)

5 Keanu Reeves (Constantine, Matrix)

6 Kurt Russel (Escape from New York)

7 Peter Weller (Robocop)

8 Haruo Nakajima (Godzilla)

9 Brandon Lee (The Crow)

10 Tommy Lee Jones (M.I.B) 

11 Bruce Campbell (Ash)

12 Kevin Peter Hall (Predator)

13 Hugh Jackman (Wolverine)

14 Christian Bale (Batman)

15 Heath Ledger (The Joker-He studied the character more than Cesar and Jack :/)

16 Mickey Rourke (Marv, Sin City)

 

 

Old School

1 Clint Eastwood - Awesome tough guy credentials in different eras:  spaghetti westerns, Dirty Harry Callahan, and more recent modern style westerns, and don't forget his action comedies as a prize fighter in the movies with that orangutang.  Bonus Points:  also an accomplished tough guy director

2 John Wayne -

3 James Cagney - The tough guy actor other tough guys tried to imitate.  His signature role as violent and crazy Cody Jarrett in White Heat is one of the all-time great tough guy performances.  "Made it, Ma!  Top of the world!"  Bonus Points:  could also beat you in a dance off - you've been served!

4 Steve McQueen (Bullit)

5 Humphrey Bogart (Duke Mantee, Sam Spade)

6 Charles Bronson - His signature character is the vigilante in the Death Wish movies, but don't forget his many other tough guy roles including the memorable "Harmonica" in How the West Was Won.  Bonus Points:  Excellent '70s moustache

7 Kirk Douglas (Spartacus, The Vikings)

8 Richard Widmark - His performance as the giggling homicidal maniac Tommy Udo will never be forgotten.  When he wasn't playing a tough guy villain, he was playing a tough guy cop.  Bonus Points:  Threw an old lady in a wheel chair down a flight of stairs, now that's hardcore

9 Lee Marvin - any man tough enough to lead the Dirty Dozen is tough enough to be on this list.  Bonus Points:  USMC sniper, purple heart at Battle of Saipan

10 Marlon Brando (Vito Corleone)

11 Lee Van Cleef - His piercing stare gave him the nickname "Angel Eyes" and plenty of work as an intimidating bad guy.  Bonus Points: tough enough to make a worthy opponent for Clint

12 Randolph Scott

13 Jack Palance

14 Sean Connery - He doesn't always look so tough when he's wearing a tux, swilling martinis and bedding Russian spies, but he'd just as soon kill you as look at you.  Bonus Points:  taught the Highlander everything he knows

15 Richard Roundtree (Shut your mouth!  But I'm talkin' 'bout Shaft!  Then I can dig it.)

16 Audie Murphy - Small but tough, it always ended badly for anyone foolish enough to mess with Audie.  Bonus Points:  war hero

 

Modern

1 Sylvester Stallone Went back to 'Nam and single handedly won the war.  And knocked out Mr. T.

2 Bruce Willis Die Hard was a great action film.  I'm trying to forget I ever saw that last one though.

3 Mel Gibson (Road Warrior, Braveheart, Lethal Weapon)

4 Robert De Niro (Ronin, Deer Hunter,Good Fellas)

5 Al Pacino Say hello to my little friend!  He'd be ranked higher if he wasn't so tiny.

6 Vin Diesel Not my favorite, my he has his supporters.

7 Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones)

8 Clive Owen (Shoot em' Up)

9 Matt Damon (Jason Bourne)

10 Jason Statham (The Transporter and Transporter 2)

11 Russell Crowe (Gladiator, LA Confidential)

12 Jean Reno Manages to act tough although handicapped with a French accent.  That ain't easy, Rafifi.

13 Will Smith (Bad Boys and Bad Boys II)

14 Danny Trejo He's a bit small, but his chick has a machine gun for a leg.  You can't overlook that.

15 Antonio Banderos (Desperado)

16 Daniel Craig (Bond)