Heroes Are Born, Not Made

Heroic characters are strong part of cinematic history, from epic adventurers like Maximus from Gladiator to our beloved adventurer Indiana Jones. Many times they sacrifice themselves for the good of others, such as Spock’s (we thought) final stand in The Wrath of Kahn and Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis) detonating the bomb in Armageddon. Perhaps none of these heroes come close to the sheer bravery of Marine Pvt. Hudson, played by Bill Paxton in Aliens.

After encountering the Aliens on a mission to save a colony of space workers, Hudson stares death in the face with a fortitude we all can only hope to one day emulate. Here are some of his notable lines:

Hudson: That’s it man, game over man, game over! What are we gonna do now? What are we gonna do?

Ripley: How long after we’re declared overdue can we expect a rescue?
Hicks: [pause] Seventeen days.
Hudson: *Seventeen days?* Hey man, I don’t wanna rain on your parade, but we’re not gonna last seventeen hours! Those things are gonna come in here just like they did before. And they’re gonna come in here…
Ripley: Hudson!
Hudson: …and they’re gonna come in here AND THEY’RE GONNA KILL US!
Ripley: HUDSON! This little girl survived longer than that with no weapons and no training. [to Newt]
Ripley: Right? [Newt apes a salute]
Hudson: Why don’t you put her in charge?

Hudson: Oh dear Lord Jesus, this ain’t happening, man… This can’t be happening, man! This isn’t happening!

Ripley: Well, somebody’s gonna have to go out there. Take a portable terminal, go out there and patch in manually.
Hudson: Oh yeah, sure! With those things runnin’ around? You can count me out.
Hicks: Yeah I guess we can just count you out of everything, Hudson.
Bishop: [speaking under Hicks] I’ll go.
Hudson: That’s right, man.
Bishop: I’ll go.
Hudson: Hey, why don’t you go, man!
Bishop: [more loudly] I’ll go.
Ripley: What?
Bishop: I’ll go. I mean, I’m the only one qualified to remote-pilot the ship anyway.
Hudson: Yeah right, man, Bishop should go. Good idea!

Hudson: We’re all gonna die man.

And he does…..