The top five female action heroes of film
The female action heroes of the film “Sucker Punch” — which opens Friday — are unusual in Hollywood, but not altogether new. Here are five of moviedom’s toughest ladies:
• Sigourney Weaver: As Ripley in 1979’s “Alien,” she turned a distressed-damsel role into a tough-as-nails character who survived through three more films.
• Bridget Fonda: She starred as a deceptively pretty assassin in 1993’s “Point of No Return,” though Luc Besson’s original 1990 French version, “Nikita,” remains a landmark among action chick flicks.
• Milla Jovovich: The cat-eyed actress has helped make the pulpy “Resident Evil” franchise, based on a video game, a dependable seller at the box office since 2002.
• Uma Thurman: Her otherworldly beauty made her an odd but surprisingly effective choice in Quentin Tarantino’s ultraviolent “Kill Bill” movies (2003-’04).
• Angelina Jolie: One of the few widely successful female action stars, Jolie recently took the lead in the CIA thriller “Salt,” a role originally written for a man. Her “Lara Croft” franchise is set for a relaunch; her replacement has not been announced.