One of the items I read on Instapundit this morning was this piece: Ten Macho Movies Every Man Should See.
Wow; what a list. First; its from Popular Mechanics.
Say What? Why is an article like this in Popular Mechanics? I mean, the same magazine that at one time brought us plans for a do-it-yourself mini-submarine is now doing macho man movie reviews?
I don't know who developed this list, but my guess he is about 23, and has no idea what macho is all about. He is probably also a metro-sexual, who pulled some old movie names off of IMBD just so the crap he wanted to watch would at least look like it had some balance.
The comments section is just loaded with better movies that the junk in the current list.
For the record, I have seen the first five movies on the list, and not (Thankfully) any of the last 5. Of the five I have seen, Wrath of the Khan is the only one I have seen more than twice.
Maybe I just don't understand his version of macho (I keep saying HE, but it doesn't say who wrote the article; it is equally possible it was written by a she, or a they I suppose), or is his version just blood and violence?
To me, macho isn't so much about violence as manliness. The ability to defend yourself is of course a component of macho, but not the basis for it. I checked Wikipedia for their definition, an didn't like any I liked. They seemed to be rather down on the concept.
I also checked the Urban Dictionary; Home run! Definition #9:
Macho: Description of someone manly, specifically someone who ignores or endures discomfort to maintain the appearance of manliness.
The height of macho is jogging home after your own vasectomy.
That I think sums it up. Except... I'm not sure that a definition of Macho should include the word vasectomy?
UPDATE- I was asked today what is my opinion of the epitome of the Macho in a movie?
That's easy; John Wayne in The Shootist, his last film. The King of Macho.
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