50 Best Movie Mentors
Wise words in abundance
It's fair to say we've learnt more about life from the Mr Miyagi's of this world than we have from any classroom lecture. More important than us, though, they've selflessly imparted advice to inspire the hero of our favourite films.
No matter the situation, they've provided the right advice, the right book, the right line, the right encouragement or the right lightsaber. After all, who would Batman be without Alfred? Who would Luke be without Yoda? Who would Jerry Maguire be without Dicky Fox?
Here’s our pick of the 50 greatest masters of movie mentoring....
(Images: All Star, Rex Features, YouTube)
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Mr Miyagi (Karate Kid series)
Profession: Handyman cum martial arts guru
Most likely to… More details
Mr Miyagi (Karate Kid series)
Profession: Handyman cum martial arts guru
Most likely to say: “Man who catch fly with chopstick accomplish anything.”
Most likely not to say: “Let’s go and burn down that dojo”
Strengths: Karate, painting fences, supreme control of chopsticks, washing cars
Weaknesses: Tall fences, sake
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God (Bruce Almighty)
Profession: Creator of the universe
Most likely to say:… More details
God (Bruce Almighty)
Profession: Creator of the universe
Most likely to say: “Parting your soup is not a miracle – a single mom who's working two job is a miracle.”
Most likely not to say: “Have you seen this book by Charles Darwin? A must-read.”
Strengths: Unlimited white suits, miracles
Weaknesses: Food stains, global warming
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Walt Kowalski (Gran Torino)
Profession: Retired car factory worker
Most likely to say:… More details
Walt Kowalski (Gran Torino)
Profession: Retired car factory worker
Most likely to say: “Get off my lawn!”
Most likely not to say: “Gee, I’d love to have you over for dinner sometime.”
Strengths: Irking gang members, fixing cars, snarling
Weaknesses: Neighbourhood priests, the internet
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Dewey Finn (School of Rock)
Profession: Fraudulent supply teacher
Most likely to say:… More details
Dewey Finn (School of Rock)
Profession: Fraudulent supply teacher
Most likely to say: “If you wanna rock, you got to break the rules. You got to get mad at the man!”
Most likely not to say: “Anyone hear that latest Bruno Mars track? That man is on-fire.”
Strengths: Guitar solos, kidnapping children
Weaknesses: Stage diving, academic teaching
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Alex Hitchens (Hitch)
Profession: Date doctor
Most likely to say: “Any man has… More details
Alex Hitchens (Hitch)
Profession: Date doctor
Most likely to say: “Any man has a chance to sweep any woman off her feet. He just needs the right broom.”
Most likely not to say: “I just joined an online dating website.”
Strengths: Teaching clumsy men to dance, jet-skiing, seducing women
Weaknesses: Seafood allergies, feminists
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Tallahassee (Zombieland)
Profession: Urban cowboy
Most likely to say: “Time to nut… More details
Tallahassee (Zombieland)
Profession: Urban cowboy
Most likely to say: “Time to nut up or shut up.”
Most likely not to say: “Can’t we all just get along?”
Strengths: Zombie killing, banjo playing
Weaknesses: Twinkies, Bill Murray films
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Yoda (Star Wars series)
Profession: Jedi master
Most likely to say: "Fear is… More details
Yoda (Star Wars series)
Profession: Jedi master
Most likely to say: "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering."
Most likely not to say: “Pulled a muscle, I have”
Strengths: Lightsaber battles, politics
Weaknesses: Syntax, pattern baldness
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Tyler Durden (Fight Club)
Profession: Soap salesman
Most likely to say: “First rule… More details
Tyler Durden (Fight Club)
Profession: Soap salesman
Most likely to say: “First rule of Fight Club, do not talk about Fight Club.”
Most likely not to say: “Five hundred and eighty eighth rule of Fight Club, no towel whipping.”
Strengths: Brawling, anarchism
Weaknesses: Schizophrenia
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Patches O’Houlihan (Dodge…
Profession: Ex-dodge ball champion
Most likely to say:… More details
Patches O’Houlihan (Dodgeball)
Profession: Ex-dodge ball champion
Most likely to say: “If you can dodge traffic, you can dodge a ball.”
Most likely not to say: “Let’s play fair”
Strengths: Insults, wheelies
Weaknesses: Dodging balls, dodging cars
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Charles Xavier (X-Men I, II…
Profession: Professor of a mutant academy
Most likely to… More details
Charles Xavier (X-Men I, II & III, First Class )
Profession: Professor of a mutant academy
Most likely to say: ‘We have it in us to be the better men.’
Most likely not to say: ‘Watch me make these M&Ms float in the air.’
Strengths: Telepathy, righteousness, chess
Weaknesses: Bullets, headaches
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Alfred (Christopher Nolan…
Profession: Butler
Most likely to say: “Why do we fall… More details
Alfred (Christopher Nolan’s Batman series)
Profession: Butler
Most likely to say: “Why do we fall sir? So we might learn to pick ourselves up”
Most likely not to say: “Your dad was a bit of a tool, Master Wayne”
Strengths: Administrating first-aid, preparing the Batmobile
Weaknesses: Old age, poor vision
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Irv Blitzer (Cool Runnings)
Profession: Former bobsled champion turned bookmaker
Most… More details
Irv Blitzer (Cool Runnings)
Profession: Former bobsled champion turned bookmaker
Most likely to say: “Always remember, your bones will not break in a bobsled. No - they shatter.”
Most likely not to say: “I’ve still got it, let me in that bobsled.”
Strengths: Olympic knowledge, helping with undersized headgear
Weaknesses: Gambling, match-fixing
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Pai Mei (Kill Bill)
Profession: Kung-fu master
Most likely to say: “It's the… More details
Pai Mei (Kill Bill)
Profession: Kung-fu master
Most likely to say: “It's the wood that should fear your hand, not the other way around.”
Most likely not to say: "I’m promoting my new book on the five-point-palm-exploding-heart technique"
Strengths: Impervious white beard, gravity-defying balance
Weaknesses: Fish heads, foreign languages
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Doc Emmett Brown (Back to t…
Profession: Inventor
Most likely to say: “Roads? Where… More details
Doc Emmett Brown (Back to the Future series)
Profession: Inventor
Most likely to say: “Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.”
Most likely not to say: “What are next week’s lottery numbers?”
Strengths: Inventing, matchmaking
Weaknesses: Grooming, timekeeping
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Fast Eddie Felson (The Hust…
Profession: Pool conman
Most likely to say: “Money won is… More details
Fast Eddie Felson (The Hustler and The Colour Of Money)
Profession: Pool conman
Most likely to say: “Money won is twice as sweet as money earned.”
Most likely not to say: “Your money’s no good here”
Strengths: Pool, hustling
Weaknesses: Whiskey, other people’s girlfriends
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Agent K (Men In Black)
Profession: Man In Black
Most likely to say: “Don't ever,… More details
Agent K (Men In Black)
Profession: Man In Black
Most likely to say: “Don't ever, ever touch the red button.”
Most likely not to say: “I’ll let you drive.”
Strengths: Fraternising with aliens, deleting memory, defying gravity
Weaknesses: First names, casual Fridays
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William Hundert (The Empero…
Profession: Classics teacher
Most likely to say: “Follow… More details
William Hundert (The Emperor’s Club)
Profession: Classics teacher
Most likely to say: “Follow the path, Mr. Masoudi. Walk where the great men before you have walked.”
Most likely not to say: “I’m going on strike.”
Strengths: Hitting baseballs through windows, memory for quotes
Weaknesses: Flaunting library regulations, feeling sorry for underachieving students
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V (V for Vendetta)
Profession: Masked anarchist
Most likely to say: “I, like… More details
V (V for Vendetta)
Profession: Masked anarchist
Most likely to say: “I, like God, do not play with dice and do not believe in coincidence.”
Most likely not to say: “I’m not a massive fan of fireworks”
Strengths: Anonymity, quoting Shakespeare
Weaknesses: Eating, drinking, kissing
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Long John Silver (Treasure …
Profession: Pirate
Most likely to say: "What a… More details
Long John Silver (Treasure Island)
Profession: Pirate
Most likely to say: "What a splendid thing it is to be young and have ten toes."
Most likely not to say: “I’ll ask for directions.”
Strengths: Hostage situations, communicating with parrots
Weaknesses: Booty, plank walking
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Frankie Dunn (Million Dolla…
Profession: Boxing trainer
Most likely to say: “Protect… More details
Frankie Dunn (Million Dollar Baby)
Profession: Boxing trainer
Most likely to say: “Protect yourself at all times.”
Most likely not to say: “This is my happy face.”
Strengths: Muteness, can speak Gaelic, looks like Clint Eastwood
Weaknesses: Religion, being called ‘Boss’
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Brian Clough (The Damned Un…
Profession: Football manager
Most likely to say: “I… More details
Brian Clough (The Damned United)
Profession: Football manager
Most likely to say: “I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the country. But I'm in the top one.”
Most likely not to say: “My inferiority complex is crippling.”
Strengths: Winning matches, holding grudges
Weaknesses: Weight of head, seaside towns
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Proximo (Gladiator)
Profession: Gladiator trainer
Most likely to say: “Win… More details
Proximo (Gladiator)
Profession: Gladiator trainer
Most likely to say: “Win the crowd and you will win your freedom.”
Most likely not to say: “You will go on my first whistle.”
Strengths: Fighting, pep talks,
Weaknesses: Escape plans, lions
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Uncle Ben (Spiderman)
Profession: Ex-electrician
Most likely to say: “With… More details
Uncle Ben (Spiderman)
Profession: Ex-electrician
Most likely to say: “With great power comes great responsibility.”
Most likely not to say: “My nephew is a drain on my resources.”
Strengths: Being a father figure, changing light-bulbs
Weaknesses: Chauffeuring
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John McClane (Die Hard 4.0)
Profession: Detective
Most likely to say: “You know what… More details
John McClane (Die Hard 4.0)
Profession: Detective
Most likely to say: “You know what you get for being a hero? Nothin'. You get shot at.”
Most likely not to say: ‘I’m going to go to the coast and have some laughs.’
Strengths: Blowing things up, shooting, sarcasm
Weaknesses: technology, ex-wives
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Katsumoto (The Last Samurai)
Profession: Samurai
Most likely to say: “The perfect… More details
Katsumoto (The Last Samurai)
Profession: Samurai
Most likely to say: “The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life.”
Most likely not to say: “The pen is mightier than the sword.”
Strengths: Swordplay, determination for conversation
Weaknesses: Finding endings for poems
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Cutter (The Prestige)
Profession: Stage engineer of illusions
Most likely to say:… More details
Cutter (The Prestige)
Profession: Stage engineer of illusions
Most likely to say: “You want to be fooled.”
Most likely not to say: “And here’s Debbie McGee.”
Strengths: Designing magic tricks, child-minding
Weaknesses: Saws
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Coach (Blades of Glory)
Profession: Ice-skating coach
Most likely to say: “No one… More details
Coach (Blades of Glory)
Profession: Ice-skating coach
Most likely to say: “No one can lift your fat ass; you're on a diet starting now.”
Most likely not to say: “Ice skating is for pansies”
Strengths: Creating make-shift ice rinks, promoting togetherness
Weaknesses: Accidentally decapitating trainees
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Master Li Mu Bai (Crouching…
Profession: Swordsman
Most likely to say: “Real sharpness… More details
Master Li Mu Bai (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)
Profession: Swordsman
Most likely to say: “Real sharpness comes without effort.”
Most likely not to say: “I’m auctioning the Green Destiny Sword on eBay.”
Strengths: Swordplay, jumping amongst treetops
Weaknesses: Poison, lumberjacks
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Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Ingl…
Profession: Lieutenant, former bootlegger
Most likely to… More details
Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Inglourious Basterds)
Profession: Lieutenant, former bootlegger
Most likely to say: “You know how you get to Carnegie Hall, don't ya? Practice.”
Most likely not to say: “I reckon Hilter's moustache is better than mine."
Strengths: Ending World War II, fighting Nazis
Weaknesses: Fighting in basements, speaking Italian
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John Keating (Dead Poets So…
Profession: English teacher
Most likely to say: “Carpe… More details
John Keating (Dead Poets Society)
Profession: English teacher
Most likely to say: “Carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.”
''Most likely not to say: "Let's burn our books."
Strengths: Reciting poetry, going against the system, balance on tables
Weaknesses:'' Reading textbook introductions, giving detentions
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Gandalf (The Lord Of The Ri…
Profession: Wizard
Most likely to say: “A wizard is never… More details
Gandalf (The Lord Of The Rings)
Profession: Wizard
Most likely to say: “A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.”
Most likely not to say: “Harry Potter is nothing compared to me.”
Strengths: Coming back from the dead, dramatic entrances, fighting Sauron, talking to birds
Weaknesses: Hobbit sized architecture, grayscale colour palette
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Morpheus (The Matrix trilogy)
Profession: Captain of the Nebuchadnezzar
Most likely to… More details
Morpheus (The Matrix trilogy)
Profession: Captain of the Nebuchadnezzar
Most likely to say: “You have to let it all go, Neo. Fear, doubt, and disbelief. Free your mind.”
Most likely not to say: “You should have picked the other pill.”
Strengths: Martial arts, anything else that can be uploaded as a program, consulting oracles
Weaknesses: Not being the One, conspicuous clothing
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Danny Ocean (Ocean’s Eleven)
Profession: Con artist/ thief
Most likely to say: “The… More details
Danny Ocean (Ocean’s Eleven)
Profession: Con artist/ thief
Most likely to say: “The house always wins. Play long enough, you never change the stakes. The house takes you. Unless, when that perfect hand comes along, you bet and you bet big, then you take the house.”
Most likely not to say: “What’s yours is yours, what’s mine is mine.”
Strengths: Planning heists, details, lying
Weaknesses: Breaking parole, art history
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Ian Faith (This Is Spinal Tap)
Profession: Band manager
Most likely to say: “In the… More details
Ian Faith (This Is Spinal Tap)
Profession: Band manager
Most likely to say: “In the topsy-turvy world of heavy rock, having a good solid piece of wood in your hand is often useful.”
Most likely not to say: “Let’s play more charity concerts.”
Strengths: Going without sleep, luggage finding
Weaknesses: Winning arguments, overseeing the construction of prehistoric stage scenery
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Stinger (Top Gun)
Profession: Naval captain of the USS Enterprise
Most likely… More details
Stinger (Top Gun)
Profession: Naval captain of the USS Enterprise
Most likely to say: “Son, your ego is writing checks your body can't cash.”
Most likely not to say: “You’ve lost that loving feeling.”
Strengths: Shouting about things, teaching flying techniques
Weaknesses: Hair loss, similarity to another Enterprise captain
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Dicky Fox (Jerry Maguire)
Profession: Sports agent
Most likely to say: “If this… More details
Dicky Fox (Jerry Maguire)
Profession: Sports agent
Most likely to say: “If this [points to heart] is empty, this [points to head] doesn't matter.”
Most likely not to say: “Next step: corporate world domination.”
Strengths: Motivational speaking, clear mind
Weaknesses: Naivety
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Shogo Kawada (Battle Royale)
Profession: Transfer student
Most likely to say: “Don't… More details
Shogo Kawada (Battle Royale)
Profession: Transfer student
Most likely to say: “Don't trust anyone - just run.”
Most likely not to say: “I love Lord of the Flies.”
Strengths: Surviving, sailing
Weaknesses: Homework
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Chazz Reinhold (Wedding Cra…
Profession: Funeral crasher
Most likely to say: “Grief is… More details
Chazz Reinhold (Wedding Crashers)
Profession: Funeral crasher
Most likely to say: “Grief is nature's most powerful aphrodisiac.”
Most likely not to say: “We can’t go, we weren’t invited.”
Strengths: Freeloading, insensitivity, Nunchucks
Weaknesses: Lack of morals, still lives with his mother
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Mickey Goldmill (Rocky Series)
Profession: Boxing trainer and gym owner
Most likely to… More details
Mickey Goldmill (Rocky Series)
Profession: Boxing trainer and gym owner
Most likely to say: “Women weaken legs!”
Most likely not to say: “People say I’m like a nasty Columbo.”
Strengths: Disguising guidance as insults, the ‘lemon tasting’ face
Weaknesses: Steps, large crowds
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Jim Malone (The Untouchables)
Profession: Beat-cop in Chicago
Most likely to say: “He… More details
Jim Malone (The Untouchables)
Profession: Beat-cop in Chicago
Most likely to say: “He pulls a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue.”
Most likely not to say: “He kisses one of your guys, you send one of his some flowers.”
Strengths: Horse riding, riling up Mafiosos
Weaknesses: Irish accent, whiskey
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Andy Dufresne (The Shawshan…
Profession: Prison inmate
Most likely to say: “Get busy… More details
Andy Dufresne (The Shawshank Redemption)
Profession: Prison inmate
Most likely to say: “Get busy living, or get busy dying.”
Most likely not to say: “I’m guilty.”
Strengths: Digging tunnels, crawling through sewers, accounting
Weaknesses: Checkers
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Don Diego de la Vega (Mask …
Profession: Swordsman
Most likely to say: “Lesson number… More details
Don Diego de la Vega (Mask of Zorro)
Profession: Swordsman
Most likely to say: “Lesson number one: never attack in anger.”
Most likely not to say: “The townspeople can just go save themselves.”
Strengths: Swordplay, extinguishing candles, storytelling, carving initials
Weaknesses: Mask tan-lines
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Ellen Ripley (Alien series)
Profession: Warrant Officer/Lieutenant
Most likely to say:… More details
Ellen Ripley (Alien series)
Profession: Warrant Officer/Lieutenant
Most likely to say: "No human being is that humane."
Most likely not to say: "I'll leave it to you guys. I'm off to cower in the corner."
Strengths: Killing aliens
Weaknesses: Surviving
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Lieutenant Jean Razak (Star…
Profession: High school teacher/ Lieutenant
Most likely to… More details
Lieutenant Jean Razak (Starship Troopers)
Profession: High school teacher/ Lieutenant
Most likely to say: “Violence has resolved more conflicts than anything else.”
Most likely not to say: “I love the smell of bugspray in the morning.”
Strengths: Giving orders, rescuing people
Weaknesses: Giant warrior bugs
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Gordon Gekko (Wall Street)
Profession: Stockbroker
Most likely to say: “Greed, for… More details
Gordon Gekko (Wall Street)
Profession: Stockbroker
Most likely to say: “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.”
Most likely not to say: “Money can’t make you happy.”
Strengths: Breaking necks and cashing cheques, taste in power suits
Weaknesses: Insider trading, fraud, greed
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Eric Cantona (Looking for E…
Profession: Footballer
Most likely to say: “The noblest… More details
Eric Cantona (Looking for Eric)
Profession: Footballer
Most likely to say: “The noblest revenge is to forgive.”
Most likely not to say: “I hate seagulls.”
Strengths: Being philosophical, Being French,Karate
Weaknesses: Diving, bookings
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Don Michael Corleone (The G…
Profession: Retired Mafia boss
Most likely to say: “Never… More details
Don Michael Corleone (The Godfather: Part III)
Profession: Retired Mafia boss
Most likely to say: “Never let anyone know what you are thinking.”
Most likely not to say: “I’m aging gracefully.”
Strengths: Talking softly, throwing charity fundraisers
Weaknesses: Assassins, greying
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Sean Maguire (Good Will Hun…
Profession: Psychologist
Most likely to say: “Real loss… More details
Sean Maguire (Good Will Hunting)
Profession: Psychologist
Most likely to say: “Real loss is only possible when you love something more than you love yourself.”
Most likely not to say:I love them apples."
Strengths: Painting
Weaknesses:Baseball, love
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Splinter (Teenage Mutant Ni…
Profession: Master ninja
Most likely to say: “Ultimate… More details
Splinter (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
Profession: Master ninja
Most likely to say: “Ultimate mastering comes not from the body, but from the mind.”
Most likely not to say:
Strengths: Fighting crime
Weaknesses: Mousetraps, cheese
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Rooster Cogburn (True Grit)
Profession: US Marshal
Most likely to say: You go for a man… More details
Rooster Cogburn (True Grit)
Profession: US Marshal
Most likely to say: You go for a man hard enough and fast enough, he don't have time to think about how many's with him."
Most likely not to say:Is the safety on."
Strengths: Shooting, swearing, telling stories
Weaknesses: wearing 3D glasses, bourbon, investing
Tags: movies, films, list
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