Sunday, December 28, 2008

Two kinds of Bad Boys...


It's the wrap up day of Bad Boys Week on our blog -- all in celebration of the release of Buzz Girl Simone Elkeles' new book Perfect Chemistry.


I got to thinking about bad boys and I've come to what I think is a pretty good conclusion... there are two types of bad boys.


The first is the bad boy that ultimately earns redemption by the end of the story -- and the other bad boy is the type that takes you to to the edge of what you will accept or take and by the end of the story has you realizing that the *other* guy right under your nose is actually the one for you.

I'm a big fan of the first type of bad boy -- and Daniel Craig plays just this type of dark hero in the new movie Defiance, which opens nationwide in January.
This movie is directed by Edward Zwick, who did The Last Samuarai and Glory, as well as having a hand in the wonderful TV series, My So-Called Life, incidentally. But back to Daniel...
He and his brothers (the awesome Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell) in this WWII set movie are the town ne'er-do-wells who know the forests of Bellarusse like the backs of their hands -- they've often used the woods as a hideout during their thieving days. As the Nazis begin rounding up the Jewish people of the town, Daniel and his brothers take to the woods, interested only in their own survival. But soon, more people find their way to the forest seeking asylum and Daniel becomes the leader of a small society that fights the tyranny of the Nazis and ultimately saves hundreds of people.
He is a bad boy redeemed in this wonderful movie that shows a story of war never before told. I got to see a preview screening with a Q and A with the director afterwards and it was fabulous.

Anyway, it's this kind of bad boy that I think is the very best kind. The reluctant hero that rises to the occasion. See also my beloved Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You - and of course, Simone Elkeles' book Leaving Paradise for the bad boy with redemption possibilities.
The other type of bad boy is not my favorite -- though I've definitely dated him before. Lol. This one takes you to the edge, hooks up with your best friend, and ultimately breaks your heart -- see Kelly Parra's Graffiti Girl for an example of that guy! And, seriously -- stay away from him, P.S.!
So what do you think? Do you go for the bad boy who'll be redeemed, or the bad boy who shows you he's not the one for you in the end. And why, oh why, do we lust after these jokers, anyway?
Hugs,
Heather
Never Cry Werewolf - HarperTeen June 2009
The Clearing - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Spring 2010

6 comments:

Dona Sarkar-Mishra said...

I am SUCH a fan of the bad boy who redeems himself...he's the character is so many romance/YA novels that I love to read over and over again...aka Rhett Butler!

I am so excited for the Daniel Craig movie...I saw a preview last night and it looks AWESOME.

sunnynikki said...

While ultimately I would like to end up with a bad boy who redeems himself I seem to manage to either date or fall for the other type. I'm not sure what this says about me but if the tides don't turn soon I might have to find a plain good guy instead, there goes my dreams of marrying a sweet bad ass.

TinaFerraro said...

I loved the bad boys, but married a good one. So I guess that means I liked the types who redeemed themselves...

Anonymous said...

I think we all like bad boys who redeem himself at the end. Being in a relationship with a bad boy is like going on a journey you have no idea of, it's too risky yet too awesome to miss. And when a bad boy comes to the good side, he's always better, sweeter, nicer than the already good ones =D

Kelly (Lynn) Parra said...

I'm a sucker for the bad boy who redeems himself--love him! haha!

Thanks for the GG Bad Boy mention, Heather! Yes, he's one guy you want to run away from. ;)

*hugs*

Nancy said...

Why oh why do I love the BAD boy? The buttmunch that I know will break my heart, leave me for a hoochie, take my moola and hair products too? Who knows.

Utimately I believe it is the fact that he can redeem himself, become the man that he can be and that I would be his saint, savior and angel goddess. NOT!!!

I girl can dream...