Even the toughest hombres have a soft side. Here's a few of those fleeting moments when those hardass exteriors start to show a few tiny cracks. By Eric Alt
10. Rocky- Badass: Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone)
"Awww" Moment: Rocky is a small time leg-breaker and professional bruise, but everyone knows that this lug gets weak in the knees around a mousy woman named Adrian. Hell, she can even convince a guy with all the grace of a recently-concussed hippo to go ice skating, er, shuffling.
9. The Incredible Hulk- Badass: The Hulk
"Awww" Moment: Moments after chucking around military hardware like tub toys, the Hulk gently cradles his love, Betty Ross, and shares a rare moment of calm in a sudden rainstorm. It's an awkward first date between woman and beast-of-pure-rage-that-also-happens-to-be-her-ex-boyfriend.
8. Hard Boiled- Badass: Inspector Yuen (Chow Yun Fat)
"Awww" Moment: Attempting to escape a hospital loaded with armed men, Inspector Yuen grabs an newborn accidentally left behind, tenderly puts cotton in its ears, and even sings it a gentle lullaby while filling bodies with hot lead.
7. X2: X-Men United- Badass: Wolverine (Hugh Jackman)
"Awww: Moment: You never
ever
sneak up on Wolverine. With a quick "snikt," you'll be on the business end of adamantium before you can say "Ouch." Unless you're a puddy tat. Awww, who's a pretty kitty? Yes, you are. Yes, you are
6. Gran Torino- Badass: Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood)
"Awww" Moment: Crusty Korean War vet Walt begrudgingly takes bullied Vietnamese teen Thao under his wing, helping him get a man's job in construction and, in this tender (well, tender for Walt anyway) scene, even lets the kid borrow some of his tools. Male bonding at its best.
5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day- Badass: T-800 class Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger)
"Awww" Moment: Programmed to protect rather than kill, the T-800 bonds with young John Connor over the time-honored tradition called "the high five." A touching moment between a fatherless boy and his pet unstoppable killing machine.
4. The Road Warrior- Badass: "Mad" Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson)
"Awww" Moment: The post-apocalyptic gearhead is a man of many weapons but few wordsluckily, he doesn't need any in this rare display of affection. Handing over a tiny music box mechanism to an enraptured Feral Kid shows his heart isn't entirely dead.
3. Gladiator- Badass: Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe)
"Awww" Moment: Despite, you know, barely escaping execution, having his family slaughtered, and being pressed into service as a killer-for-sport, ol' Maximus is still kid-friendly. Sure, he's locked up and facing almost certain death, but he'll take time out to crack jokes and swap stories with the wee ones.
2. Casino Royale- Badass: James Bond (Daniel Craig)
"Awww" Moment: The alias "007" has a long history of loving them and leaving them, until this version of Bond meets Vesper Lynd. Instead of cracking double entendres and leaping into bed, he gently holds her during an intense emotional breakdown. Meet the new, more sensitive Bond
1. Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back- Badass: Han Solo (Harrison Ford)
"Awww" Moment: All together now: "I love you." "I know." (sniffle)