<p>I hope women appreciate the fact that none of us knuckle-draggers has mentioned Charlton Heston’s silent, compliant, and gorgeous gal-pal in “Planet of the Apes.” Or any of the other knockouts who’ve portrayed pre-historic eye candy (Rae Dawn Chong [forget the name, but she was quite the babe], Raquel Welch [in 1 Million Years BC], and of course Betty Rubble).</p>
<p>Who’s more enchanting, Julie Christie’s character in “Dr. Zhivago” or her character in “Heaven Can Wait”?</p>
<p>Also, I’m surprised that women have not countered with male characters who make them melt…perhaps because they are embarrassed by how non-P.C. these guys are. Example #1 is ALWAYS Mickey Rourke’s abusive character in “9.5 Weeks.” To start an argument in mixed company, all you have to do is bring up 9.5 Weeks. The women tend to melt and they guys tend to go “yuck!”</p>
<p>The final nail in the feminist coffin for me was when I spent a lot of time in England in the mid-80’s and all the women there were swooning over Sly Stallone’s mono-syllabic character in the Rambo movies. It’s hard to imagine that these panting women were from the homeland of Hugh Grant.</p>
<p>Also, the men here should be commended for not mentioning any of the numerous hookers-with-the-heart-of-gold characters…Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, Jane Fonda in Klute, Donna Reed in From Here to Eternity (apparently the character’s profession was cleaned up for the movie), and so on. Also, please notice that there have been no supervixen nut-busting temptresses like Liz Taylor as Cleopatra or Rita Hayworth as “Gilda.” Nut busting is NOT, repeat NOT, something we relish (all evidence to the contrary).</p>
<p>Actors that women seem to love and guys don’t get it: Mickey Rourke, Tom Cruise, Orlando Bloom, Johnny Depp. And so on. Most guys have spent a lifetime trying to be the opposite of these pencil-necked slobs.</p>
<p>I gotta tell you. The part where men appreciated my long blond hair and then also wanted me to crack heads got old over the years. At a certain point I found I wanted someone to say to me, “Just sit yourself down right here little lady and let me take care of you.” And mind you, I’m a dyed in the wool feminist. It’s just that being the tough-talking woman who can scale a mountain and lift a table and go to a stripper bar without being embarassed is wearing on the soul. In the end.</p>
<p>I don’t know who you hang around with, Tourguide, but I’ve never felt this obsessive pull toward abusive characters that you seem to think all women do.</p>
<p>Good guys: Kevin Costner’s character in Bull Durham, Humphrey Bogart in African Queen, Johnny Depp in pretty much anything, Daniel Day Lewis in Last of the Mohicans. Guys who value real women.</p>
<p>(okay, the last one was sheer prettiness. Like Brad Pitt in really early movies–thelma and Louise or River Runs Tnrough it. I gotta think more about characters; will get back to you.)</p>
<p>When I was out in the dating world I thought that there really was a type that men wanted. Now that I’m married awhile and live mostly around other married people, I see that there surely is NO type at all.Some men want to be led around by the nose and told what to do, some men want independence, some men want trophy wives, some men want professional women, some men want bimbos. The list goes on and on. (IMHO)</p>
<p>What women like is as hard to define as what men like. One of my favorite movie men characters was Harry Connick in … shoot, now I can’t remember the name of it, but it was with Sandra Bullock.</p>
<p>Oh and James Garner in The Notebook. A man sensitive enough to actually love you, want the best for you, and shows it everyday. I got lucky and married a guy just like that (except he doesn’t look like James Garner).</p>
<p>I have never been an admirer of movie stars or even of the characters they represent. Those are fake. I’m into REAL, all the way.</p>
<p>My taste in men is a bit unusual and unlike many women I know. Not into the “bad boy” or the kinds of guys TG references above. </p>
<p>Maybe because I myself have a rather forceful personality, I like my guys shy and a little vulnerable, smart, funny, and utterly unaware of their charm. Adoring. Adorable. “Boyishly cute” rather than breathtakingly handsome. A little unsure as opposed to oozing confidence. Twinkly eyes. Empathy, and lots of it. Did I mention adoring? Generous. Capable. Thoughtful. Creative in all areas , Kind-hearted. Gentle. Did I mention adoring? Appreciative. Capable of giving (<em>and</em> receiving) love on a deep level. Affectionate. Cuddly. OH…and adoring. :D</p>
<p>And what does the MAN get for all of that? OMG, you wouldn’t even BELIEVE IT! ;)</p>
<p>Movie stars? Forget it. Give me a REAL man any day. :D</p>
<p>Garland, I’m aware of the fact that on the surface, and for public consumption, a lot of women proclaim that they want a sensitive, caring guy who will treat them like a queen (Costner in Bull Durham was great except for the toenail-polishing scene–he should have his Man Card confiscated for that). But all of us guys have seen plenty of nice guys sitting at home Friday nights while the slimebags are out living large. In other words, what you SAY and what you feel deep down inside might be two different things.</p>
<p>I’m NOT saying there is anything WRONG with preferring the rough guys to the sensitive guys. In fact it’s probably in line with 99.99% of your sisters in other species to actually want the dominators. There’s a reason that Tommy Lee has more groupies than Alan Alda (well, besides THAT reason).</p>
<p>Alumother, if you look at my original list, there are quite a few on there who aren’t butt-kickers. I’m mostly concerned that when the big fistfight starts with a burglar or mugger, she grabs a shovel and hits the bad guy in the shins, jumps on his back and gouges his eyes out, or at least calls 911. ANYTHING instead of cowering in the corner.</p>
<p>Well, Tourguide, i’m sure you know best. But I got to say, no one I know is married to or in relationships with your “rough guys.” Maybe your issue is really needing all those, um, variously endowed women you are swooning over–maybe your friends sitting home are looking for the wrong kind of women. (But then, I’m married to a guy who adores the Kevin Costner/Susan Sarandon scenes, so what would I know?)</p>
<p>Remarkably, I agree with TourGuide on this. I know MANY women who DO prefer those types. That’s why there was always a ton of incredibly wonderful men for ME to date–I’m repulsed by the types he’s talking about and both on the suface <em>and</em> deep down, prefer the ones I described above–the essential opposite of those types.</p>
<p>Don’t tell anyone, but when my oldest D is out for the day, her bf cleans her room, buys roses and leaves them on the bed, and writes her a love note to accompany the roses. He also paints her toenails for her. Seems my message (and my modeling) has had a great impact on my D’s choice of a bf (he’s still treating her this way after 2.5 years!).</p>
Generous. Capable. Thoughtful. Creative in all areas 
, Kind-hearted. Gentle. Did I mention adoring? Appreciative. Capable of giving (<em>and</em> receiving) love on a deep level. Affectionate. Cuddly. OH…and adoring. :D</p>