Babes in Armor: Ten of our favorite action and fantasy movie heroines

*Note: This post originally ran on May 22nd, 2008

We love our fantasy/sci-fi women ... ladies who can wield a sword or rocket launcher as well as any man, but do it so much more stylishly and, in some cases, in much less clothing! Here are ten women we definitely want on our side in the heat of battle.

Jane Fonda as "Barbarella"
in Barbarella

"Queen of the Galaxy" is a tough moniker to live up to, but if anyone can do it, Barbarella can. She has to deal with murderous children and their killer dolls, horny aliens, a blind (albeit hot) angel, and Anita Pallenberg as an eyepatch wearing assassin who REALLY wants to get to know her. Best of all, she shows us the proper way to strip in zero gravity, and you can see it HERE, in one of the greatest (and mildly NSFW) openings in film history.

Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley
in Aliens

The grande dame of sci-fi action heroes, Ellen Ripley not only battled slimy aliens, but an even slimier Paul Reiser, as well as a couple of unworthy sequels (not even death could stop her!). I have to give a special shoutout to Jenette Goldstein in the memorable role of Vazquez, but no one can come close to the iconic status of Ripley.

Melanie Griffith as "E. Johnson"
in Cherry 2000

Before she let the river run in Working Girl, Melanie Griffith starred in this cult film as a post-apocalyptic mercenary (is there any other kind?). She's hired to find a computer chip for a futuristic sex doll, but teaches the man in search of it a lesson about how much better a real flesh & blood woman is (especially when that woman can snap your neck like a twig). You can view the trailer HERE.

You can see more favorite fantasy females after the break

Sandahl Bergman as "Valeria"
in Conan the Barbarian

It takes a hell of a woman to go chest to breastplate with Conan, but Valeria more than held her own against the overmuscled lug. Watching her reminds us of Ginger Roger's statement about dancing with Fred Astaire: "I did everything he did, but I did it backwards ... and in heels". You can see the trailer for Conan the Barbarian HERE.

Grace Jones as "Zula"
in Conan the Destroyer

Valeria didn't survive to appear in the sequel, but thankfully, Zula was there to take her place (well, not in all areas ... Conan didn't "pull up to her bumper"). This role was tailor made for the incomparable Grace Jones, she may not have been perfect for other roles, but she was perfect for this. You can see the trailer HERE.

Brigitte Nielsen as "Red Sonja"
in Red Sonja

Before she became a celebreality star (and one-time main squeeze of Flavor Flav), Brigitte Nielsen had an actual acting career, and this was her shining moment. As warrior Red Sonja, she sliced and diced her way through a land filled with mechanical creatures, comical sidekicks, and a predatory lesbian villain. You can see Red Sonja in action HERE.

Linda Hamilton as "Sarah Connor"
in Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Don't mess with mom! Sarah Connor went from a timid victim in the first Terminator to a fierce, pumped up warrior. Can you imagine her dropping you off at school, kissing you on the cheek, and reminding you that you're the future savior of all humanity? I asked my mother why she never did that for me, and she responded with "Isn't it enough that I left myself be seen with you?" You can the trailer HERE.

Angelina Jolie as "Lara Croft"
in Tomb Raider

I never liked the Tomb Raider games (why couldn't she just grab onto the ledge like I wanted her to?!), but the first movie was a hoot(ers). Before she was saving the world in real life, Angelina Jolie was saving the world in Tomb Raider, and future Bond Daniel Craig lent her a hand. Who else could shoot two guns at the same time, while shaking other, faker guns at the camera?

Caroline Munro as "Stella Star"
in Starcrash

Starcrash is a sci-fi epic from the late 70's, and also one of the greatest films ever made (despite what Brian Juergens says!). Caroline Munro, one of the greatest B-movie exploitation beauties ever, stars as Stella Star, who is obviously the heir apparent to Barbarella. Of course, Barbarella only had to deal with the advances of Anita Pallenberg, Stella had to cope with partnering with ... Marjoe Gortner. You can see the trailer for this classic slice of cheese HERE.

Karen Allen as "Marion Ravenwood"
in Raiders of the Lost Ark

To bring us full circle, we have the fierce and feisty Marion Ravenwood. Originally envisioned as a damsel in distress, Karen Allen insisted on making her into a tough, independent heroine, who could drink any man under the table. Raiders of the Lost Ark was all the better for it, and the good news is that Marion will finally be reunited with Indy in the new Jones adventure.

Of course, there are plenty of other kick ass fantasy/sci-fi heroines, like Carrie Ann Moss in the Matrix, Lori Petty in Tank Girl, Charlize Theron in Aeon Flux, Pam Anderson in Barb Wire ... and I suppose you could include Carrie Fisher from those Star Wars films ... but those are the most overrated pieces of junk ever made (There ... I said it).

Who's your favorite?