Zeus Carver
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Zeus Carver is a fictional character and a protagonist in the film Die Hard with a Vengeance. He is played by actor Samuel L. Jackson.
Carver owns, and works at an electronic shop in a residential area of Harlem, appears to be strongly influenced by the teachings of black activists such as Malcolm X, and is generally suspicious of white people, although his demeanour is an offset of his experiences rather than any genuine hatred. He is also an exponent of good education, encouraging his nephew to stay out of trouble and go to school.
In the film, Carver helps John McClane escape from an angered mob, after McClane walks into Harlem wearing a sign which reads "I hate niggers". As he explains to McClane, Carver does this, not out of concern for McClane's well being but rather because he wants to avoid the inevitable fallout which would be caused by a white man being murdered in the middle of Harlem, and the wrath of white cops that may follow. When asked by McClane as to why he came to his aid, Carver replies:
I didn't. I stopped a white cop from getting killed in Harlem. One white cop gets killed today, tomorrow, we've got a thousand white cops. All of them with itchy trigger fingers. Got it?
Against his will, Carver is forced to join McClane in completing Simon Gruber's "Simon says" requests. Unlike McClane, Carver is adept at solving the riddles, and on a number of occasions, saves the lives of himself, McClane and innocent bystanders by using wit rather than brawn. McClane and Carver bicker relentlessly but McClane acknowledges and appreciates the help Carver is able to offer, and nearing the end of the film, they've developed a bond and manage to escape another elaborate death trap set up by the flamboyant Gruber.
[edit] Trivia
- Zeus Carver is named after the mythical Greek god of the sky and thunder.
- In the original script for Die Hard with a Vengeance, entitled Simon Says, Zeus Carver is a woman.[1]
- Actor Laurence Fishburne, was first to be offered the part of Zeus but initially declined. He changed his mind afterwards, but by then Jackson had already been cast in the part.[2]
- Jackson modeled Zeus' appearance on Muslim activist Malcolm X.[3]
- Die Hard with a Vengeance is the third film to feature both Bruce Willis and Jackson (the other instances being Loaded Weapon 1, and Pulp Fiction), however it marks the first occasion where both actors share screen time. They also went on to star in M. Night Shyamalan's fantasy adventure, Unbreakable.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112864/trivia
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112864/trivia
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112864/trivia
| The Die Hard films | |
|---|---|
| Die Hard | Die Hard 2 | Die Hard with a Vengeance | Live Free or Die Hard | |
| Characters | |
| Heroes: John McClane | Sgt. Al Powell | Zeus Carver | Matt Foster | |
| Villains: Hans Gruber | Colonel Stuart | Simon Gruber | |
| Recurring: Holly Gennero McClane | Richard Thornburg | |
| Crew | |
| Directors: John McTiernan | Renny Harlin | Len Wiseman | |
| Producers: Joel Silver | Lawrence Gordon | John McTiernan | Bruce Willis | |
| Writers: Steven E. de Souza | Doug Richardson | Jonathan Hensleigh | |
| Video games | |
| Die Hard | Die Hard Arcade | Die Hard Trilogy | Die Hard Trilogy 2 | Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza | Die Hard: Vendetta | |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Fox Plaza | Glock 7 | Nothing Lasts Forever |
