The Last Airbender
What is it about orphans? Why do these lovable scamps make such good movie heroes?
In honour of The Last Airbender’s hero, Aang (The Last Airbender will be in UK cinemas 13th August 2010), overcoming the obstacle of loosing friends and family after being buried in ice for over 100 years, we are looking back at the biggest and best movie orphans to grace our screens since cinema began...
Cinderella (1950) - Cinderella - Disney sure loves orphans (Aladdin, Snow White, Peter Pan etc...) especially when they have evil stepparents!
It’s hard to pick a favourite, but the Cinderella storyline is told and retold so many times that it gives her the edge again her waif competition. Longevity has it for the win!
Batman - Bruce Wayne- Being orphaned as a small child left little Bruce with a need for revenge, which he channelled into becoming a crime fighting vigilante.
This is one orphan who doesn’t have the positive outlook we see in Oliver or Annie, but instead a rather dark disposition that can only be comforted by kicking some serious butt.
Oliver! (1968) - Oliver Twist - one of our favourite orphans because despite his story being first written over 200 years ago, the 1968 film adaptation, Oliver!, still pulls at our heart strings.
Mark Lester as said orphan has an innocence that just won’t quit, plus an angelic voice to match his persona. Dickens would have been proud.
Harry Potter (2001) - Harry - the behemoth of movie franchises, it even inspired an entire theme park! We often forget with all the wand waving, dragon fighting, pure fangasms we have watching these films, that Harry is actually an orphan.
Harry is top dog when it comes to the World’s greatest orphans, not only because he was an infant with the power to nearly obliterate he-who-shall-not-be-named, but he spawned an entire obsessive culture for a generation, eat your heart out Twilight!
Annie (1982) - Annie - She may not be saving the world, but she is an awful cute waif icon. Sprouting from the cartoon pages of Depression era American newspapers, Annie later became a Broadway play and a successful film in the 1980’s.
Annie is one of our favourite orphans because her spunk and positive attitude, despite facing weekly kidnappings, is something we should all strive for.
Spiderman (2002) - Peter Parker-Poor guy can’t get a break. Spidey’s parents have died (we have never really figured out how or why) and then his Uncle Ben is murdered.
On top of that he has to deal with school, friends, girls, and impending Green Goblin attacks. Spider-Man’s soap opera-like life is something we just can’t get enough of, as his 3 films and upcoming reboot suggest.
Jumanji (1995) - Judy and Peter Shepherd - Nothing takes your mind of the heart-breaking sadness of your parents death like a good old fashioned game of Jumanji ...err, umm...maybe not.
With a game that is more dangerous than fun, the recently orphaned Shepherd children stumble upon the game in the attic of their new home. Pretty soon all hell breaks loose as dangerous creatures, and Robin Williams, burst out of the game with the roll of a die.
We love these kids because they show the reactions we would expect from real children who have lost their parents. They also manage to stay memorable throughout the film, even when positioned onscreen with a larger than life Robin Williams.
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) - Ofelia -In Pan’s Labyrinth we meet Ofelia, a soon orphaned girl, who must accomplish 3 terrifying and dangerous tasks in order to reclaim her place as princess in a magical realm, all the while dealing with a merciless stepfather during the Spanish Civil War.
Ofelia is one of the greatest orphans because although she seems weak she actually possesses the bravery to face giant toads, monsters, and the sadistic Captain Vidal.
The Witches (1990) - Luke -The Ronald Dahl book that was adapted to the big screen, is a bit twisted and has thoroughly horrified many unsuspecting children.
But from a more mature and grown up perspective (at least I’m not hiding behind the sofa any more) it’s easy to see that Luke was one awesome orphan. Not many children who get turned into mice would deal with the situation as well as he did.
Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - Jamal- When a film wins 8 Academy Awards, and 7 BAFTA’s I think that facilitates a #2 position on the list.
Dev Patel is no stranger to the appeal of an orphan movie portraying Jamal Malik, an orphan from the Mumbai slums who disrupts everyone’s expectations by making to the final round of Indian’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.
He is an inspiring orphan overcoming many dangers all for the girl he has loved since childhood.
The Last Airbender (2010) - Aang- Aang is an Airbender who has found out he is the next Avatar. Fearing this much responsibility he flees his home, to find out later everyone he loves has been ruthlessly killed by the Fire Nation.
With tragedy like this the one thing Aang really needs are friends like Katara and Sokka to look out for him and help him to take on his destiny as the Avatar.
Aang comes in at #3 on the count down because he may be a reluctant hero but it is evident he possesses vast powers that could make peace between the warring nations of their world. That’s pretty impressive for a little tyke.
The Last Airbender is out now.
Tagged in Slumdog Millionaire