[John Peterson]

Hey Friends,

For My new book on Virility I have a section on 'role models' and how important they are to us as we are growing up and defining our personalities and coming to grips with why what is right is right, and what it means to be a Man. Some people may think this is a joke. But I assure you it's not. I'm deadly serious. Role Models like Charles Atlas and John Wayne (among others when I was growing up) are critical in helping us to define our culture and the expectations we should have for ourselves. And because I believe that movies have been and will continue to be a source of "role Models" and inspiration for American boys as they mature and become men I think it's important that some of us leave a trail of what we believe to be worthwhile films, books, and men that have inspired us and have helped us in defining what it means to be a real man.

So for this section of the book I have compiled a list of what I believe are the "Top 20 Most Manly Films of All time." At least up to this point. Naturally, Spartacus is at the top of the list, as is Ben Hur, Casablanca, Papillon, The Magnificent Seven, and The Great Escape. But if you want to see a film that really celebrates American Manhood and makes no excuses for it, then I would recommend that each of you see Clint Eastwood's New Film "Gran Torino". Believe me, Clint has never been better. This is one of those rare films where a man is a man and makes NO apologies or excuses for it. That's why I added it to " The Top 20 Most Manly Films of All Time" . I hope each of you will see it. And I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

---John Peterson

P.S. And yes, how could 'Dirty Harry' not be on the list? Believe me, He's there.

[JoeJustice]

Looking forward to this film, John. It looks like a modern version of Death Wish, am I far off?

-Joe

[gs300tx]

I loved the movie Gran Torino. John what did you think about the ending?

[Aaron Hoot]

Great list I will have to watch Gran Torino. I have a question. Do any of you have any suggestions for some more good movies like this? We rent some movies every once in awhile and some of the ones that you mentioned are some of our favorites. I really like the Lonesome Dove series. You would help me out a lot with some suggestions because the kids think that I am a caveman because we don't have cable. I am not against cable it is just down here you get package deals and you don't have any kind of control over what comes with it even if you pay for the family package. Some of the stuff on the family packages here would be X rated in the states. Thanks for any suggestions!

Aaron

[gruntbrain]

Although I don't like the idea of having indiviiduals as role models, I cherish some of the principles that the individuals have displayed.
Clint's character in the Gran Torino's trailers reminded me of the one in Heatbreak Ridge incl. the grizzled, gruff voice . The Sarge in Heartbreak Ridge had admirable qualities but also had serious flaws & hence could not be a role model

[TimK]

I am really going out on a limb here, and agreeing with John, that Gran Torino is an excellent movie. Clint breaks any and all previous records for political incorrectness and even at 78 he does come off as a manly man.
Gran Torino standsout like a beacon against the pussification of American films.

tim

[tom]

Gran Torino was sold out the other day, so it will wait.

Two more that are all time hero movies for me are Cool Hand Luke with Paul Newman, and The Longest Yard, the first one, with Burt Reynolds.

Hmmm . . . two incarcerated men.

Oh well. They are cooler than cool.

Clint Eastwood is also a long-time favorite. He works out, he plays jazz, what else is there.

Tom

[JoeJustice]

Originally Posted by tom

Clint Eastwood is also a long-time favorite. He works out, he plays jazz, what else is there.

Shooting guns.

But it's cool cuz he does that too.

-Joe

[John Peterson]

Hey Tom,

Cool Hand Luke made the list as did Les Miserable (Jean Paul Belmondo version from 1995). So let's see that's 1)Spartacus, 2) Ben Hur, 3) The Great Escape,4) Papillon, 5) Cool Hand Luke, and 6) Les Miserable all of which are about men escaping prison and all of which are in the top 20 of the manliest movies of all time.

And TimK, I'm glad you chimed in on this. I agree wholeheartedly. I'm totally sick of the pussification of American men in films today. It's about time that we have a man that is a man and makes no apologies or excuses for being what he is. I appreciated seeing the fierce loyalty this man showed to those whom he befriended and protected.

And Joe, I would not really compare this film to Death Wish. This is one film that connects on multiple levels.

---John Peterson

[gruntbrain]

I'd be interested in finding out about Clint's health/ fitness regime. I wonder if he still follows Durk Pearson's supplement regime; Clint was the Mr Smith in Pearson's Life Extension book.