No disrespect to E.B., the amusing cotton-tailed star (voiced by Russell Brand) of the live action/computer-animated hit, Hop, but when it comes to the screen's most memorable rabbits, Hop doesn't rank anywhere near the top.This being Easter weekend -- not to mention the Chinese Year of the Rabbit what better time than the present to present our 10 Favourite Floppy-Eared Movie Characters.
It was originally going to be just a Top 5 list, but you know how bunnies are.
10. Br'er Rabbit
The Uncle Remus character was brought to movin' picture life courtesy of Uncle Walt in 1946's, Song of the South, and while not as endearing as some other Disney bunnies (see below), we prefer his Laughing Place segment to those of Br'er Bear and Br'er Fox.
9. Watership Down
It might have been a bit of a downer at times, but this 1978, non-Disney British film hit a chord with its tender take on the Richard Adams story of a family of rabbits searching for a new home and that darned affecting, sappy Art Garfunkel song, Bright Eyes.
8. Rabbit from the Winnie the Pooh movies
More smug and cantankerous than cute and cuddly, the A.A. Milne character (originally voiced by Junius Matthews, followed by several others) is sort of like the Frasier Crane of the Hundred Acre Wood.
7. Bunny Lake is Missing
OK, so there's no actual bunny in this haunting 1965 Otto Preminger psychological thriller about a single mother (Carol Lynley) whose mental well being is questioned when she claims her (unseen) daughter didn't return home from her first day of school.
6. The White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland
All together now,"I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date!"We prefer the one voiced by Bill Thompson in the 1951 Disney version than the Michael Sheen rendition in last year's Tim Burton edition.
5. That poor rabbit in Fatal Attraction
Can't remember if it had a name, but the unfortunate fate met by Michael Douglas' daughter's pet gave Fatal Attraction its most indelible scene and established Glenn Close's Alex Forrest as one the screen's most memorable psychos.
4. Elwood P. Dowd's Pooka pal in Harvey
So we never got to see Jimmy Stewart's invisible, 6-foot-3 1/2"best buddy in 1950's Harvey, but that didn't make him any less enchanting. In subsequent years, Stewart would often sketch his personal, whimsical interpretation for charities, with Harvey sporting a large striped bowtie.
3. Bambi's Thumper
Awwwwwwwwww"¦"¦"¦..!
2. Jessica Rabbit
While we always found Roger Rabbit to be on the gratingly obnoxious side, Jessica, on the other hand -- va-va-va-voom! Especially when combined with Kathleen Turner's impossibly sultry,"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way."
1. Bugs Bunny
In our book, no bunny beats that wascally wabbit when it comes to sheer force of personality. And it's hard to describe the feeling of pure, unadulterated Looney Tunes bliss that comes with watching the 1949 classic, Long-Haired Hare (set in the Hollywood Bowl) at the actual Hollywood Bowl, some 60 years later, accompanied by a live orchestra. Leopold!
