Interesting point. Now I'm sitting here ticking off all the movies I've ever seen where the hero is motivated to revenge by some Tragic Past...like in "Lethal Weapon 2"..."A Man Apart"..."Collateral Damage"..."The Last Boy Scout"...(my husband is spouting these off, he's an action movie buff). Contrast someone like John McClane in "Die Hard" or Keanu in "Speed" - your typical wrong place, wrong time hero, who just does what he has to do.

So do we like Mel Gibson or Ah-nold more than Bruce Willis because they're avenging their family? I really don't feel that way. I can see how it makes for a compelling story, but I don't NEED that revenge motivation to connect with/approve of a hero.

Then again, do they make so many movies like that because it's cathartic for us to watch someone kick the crap out of/take down someone who's done their family wrong (which is something that people in the real world can't really do and get away with)?

Wow, you made me think on a Sunday night.