The Manliest Movies? Not So Much

Another campus humor website has posted a list of the 64 Manliest Movies to Date.  The list is not a bad collection of guy movies, but “guy movies” and “manly movies” are not at all the same thing.  Worse, the commentary shows a bit of confusion about what movies appeal to women.  Also, the list falls apart as it climbs to the top.

First, manly implies toughness.  Adventure is manly.  Heroics are manly.  Horror isn’t manly.  To enjoy horror, you have to let yourself be frightened and vulnerable.  Die Hard is manly.  Braveheart is Manly.  Gladiator is Manly.

Boobies, while awesome in almost every way, are not manly.  Even Woody Allen likes boobies.  A movie with boobies is a guy move, but not necessarily manly.  Porkys is not manly.  It’s funny, it’s a guy movie, but it’s not a manly movie.  Gator is a manly movie.

Also, really bad movies are not manly, not matter how much blood and gore is involved.  The remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre just sucked.  Boondock Saints is just ludicrous.  Not manly.