History AdaptationalBadass / LiveActionFilms

* ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014''. The eponymous Ninja Turtles were previously meant to be mostly human-level in strength despite being mutants, as their main skill was their {{ninja}} abilities. The movie gives them some very impressive ''humvee-crushing'' super strength and in general are extremely acrobatic compared to previous incarnations.

* Combined with AdaptationDistillation and CompositeCharacter; in the [[ComicBook/IronMan comic]], Whiplash was just a guy with a ridiculous costume and two lashes. ''Film/IronMan2'' mixed him with another villain called Crimson Dynamo and revised him as a GeniusBruiser and MagnificentBastard who could actually hurt Iron Man.
* ''Film/IronMan3'' does this to Aldrich Killian. [[spoiler: In the comic book storyline ''Extremis'', Killian commits suicide at the start of the comic after being spurned by Tony. In the movie, Killian initially looks like he will follow his comic counterpart, but does not go through with it and becomes the main villain of the movie. He is revealed to be the real Mandarin, orchestrating terrorist attacks using the Extremis formula and posing a very large threat throughout the movie]].

* In ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'', Georges Batroc, known in the Marvel Comics as JokeCharacter Batroc the Leaper, is a BadassNormal who goes toe to toe with [[SuperSoldier Cap]] and puts up a pretty impressive fight. He's played by MixedMartialArts champion Georges St-Pierre.

** In the comics, Toad was originally conceived as a deformed, sniveling hunchback who served as TheIgor to Magneto. His super power was [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway he could hop... really high]] because of having very low-grade super-strength, concentrated in his legs. However in ''Film/XMen1'', stuntman Ray Park played him as a wisecracking martial artist with wall-crawling abilities and a tongue that he could use as a whip, thus making him more capable of holding his own in a fight with other heroes. Also, he could spit slime projectiles.

** Hermione is also a borderline example. Because she is the token girl of the franchise, she is given more ActionGirl moments than in the books, and she even gets some of Ron's [[MomentOfAwesome moments of awesome]]. The books also show that while Hermione knows more spells than Harry and especially Ron, she is not as good at keeping her cool in battle as they are, which makes Harry a better duelist than her and Ron almost as proficient as her. In the films, she is generally much more {{Badass}} than Ron and seems to be on Harry's level when dueling.

* Bilbo Baggins apparently TookALevelInBadass between the [[Literature/TheHobbit original novel "The Hobbit"]] and the [[Film/TheHobbit 2012 movie]]. While the story is basically the same, Bilbo a lot more quick-witted, competent and takes the initiative in the movie, and on several occasions--most notably the encounter with the Trolls--manages to accomplish more in moments where he was saved by someone else in the book. In the book, he doesn't really start pulling his weight until he saves the Company from the spiders, while the movie gives him a BigDamnHeroes moment saving Thorin from Azog immediately following the Goblin encounter.
** The entire Company is more badass than they were in the book. All armed to the teeth, they are raking in high kill-counts in many scenes where they simply slipped away unnoticed or with minimal trouble, like Goblin Town and the Barrel Ride.

** ''Film/IronMan3'' does this to Aldrich Killian. [[spoiler: In the comic book storyline ''Extremis'', Killian commits suicide at the start of the comic after being spurned by Tony. In the movie, Killian initially looks like he will follow his comic counterpart, but does not go through with it and becomes the main villain of the movie. He is revealed to be the real Mandarin, orchestrating terrorist attacks using the Extremis formula and posing a very large threat throughout the movie]].

* In ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz'', Glinda is a relatively tame character that does help the heroes, though through indirect means, which translated into the [[Film/TheWizardOfOz 1939 film adaptation]]. In ''Film/OzTheGreatAndPowerful'', Glinda is a much more active character [[spoiler: seeking to avenge the death of her father, the previous wizard]] who uses her magic to battle the Wicked Witch of the West and play a large part in getting the people of Oz to revolt against the Wicked Witch.
** Also applies to the Wicked Witch of the West herself. In the book and the 1939 film, she does have spells that can help her accomplish her goals, (including poppies and an enchanted hourglass that ends a person's life when the sand runs through it); but both are foiled (by Glinda's snow and The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion rescuing Dorothy) and she ultimately meets her end by being splashed with water. Now, she has [[PlayingWithFire fire-based magic]] and actively tries to harm the people of Oz [[spoiler: in part for being manipulated into becoming the Wicked Witch of the West]].

* Holmes and Watson's portrayal in the 2009 ''Film/SherlockHolmes'', although not nearly to the degree that some viewers accused it. Watson was a veteran Army doctor in the books, while Holmes was a martial artist and bare knuckle boxer with surprising strength. The movie turns them both into outright action heroes who take on multiple opponents at once in hand-to-hand combat and defeat all manner of armed attackers.

* [[KidAppealCharacter Bumblebee's]] main role in [[TransformersGeneration1 the original cartoon]] was evacuating the humans to safety while the bigger, tougher Autobots went into action, and that was about it. In the ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' film series, he has a Decepticon kill count second only to Optimus Prime himself, and he's the go-to guy for being a {{Big Damn Hero|es}}, and is quite {{Badass}} in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' as well.

** In ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'', Georges Batroc, known in the Marvel Comics as JokeCharacter Batroc the Leaper, is a BadassNormal who goes toe to toe with [[SuperSoldier Cap]] and puts up a pretty impressive fight.

* Much like the Peggy Carter example from ''Captain America'', Mariko Yashida is a much more capable and physical badass in ''Film/TheWolverine''.

** In ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'', Georges Batroc, known in the Marvel Comics as JokeCharacter Batroc the Leaper, is a BadassNormal who goes toe to toe with [[SuperSoldier Cap]].

** In the comics, the Sentinels are just HumongousMecha, and mutants with strong powers [[note]]the X-Men in the comics are much stronger than in the movies with Storm, Magneto, Iceman, and Xavier being planetary threats; and it doesn't help that they're made of metal[[/note]] usually take them down by the dozen. They are portrayed as such in the 70s of ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'' as well. The future Sentinels, however, with their ability to duplicate mutant powers to counter their opponents, are so overwhelmingly powerful that any fight with them is considered outright hopeless.

* Holmes and Watson's portrayal in the 2009 ''Film/SherlockHolmes'', although not nearly to the degree that some viewers accused it. Watson was a veteran Army doctor in the books, while Holmes was a martial artist and bare knuckle boxer with surprising strength. The movie turns them both into outright action heroes who take on multiple opponents at once in hand-to-hand combat and defeat all manner of armed attackers.

** Longtime ''ComicBook/{{X-Men}}'' villain Toad was originally conceived as a deformed, sniveling hunchback who served as TheIgor to Magneto. His super power was [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway he could hop... really high]] because of having very low-grade super-strength, concentrated in his legs. However, after [[Film/XMen1 the first movie]], in which stuntman Ray Park played him as a wisecracking martial artist with wall-crawling abilities and a tongue that he could use as a whip, the comic book character [[RetCanon was re-imagined]] and upgraded to have the same powers, thus making him more capable of holding his own in a fight with other heroes. Also, he could spit slime projectiles.

* [[KidAppealCharacter Bumblebee's]] main role in [[TransformersGeneration1 the original cartoon]] was evacuating the humans to safety while the bigger, tougher Autobots went into action, and that was about it. In the ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' film series, he has a Decepticon kill count second only to Optimus Prime himself, and he's the go-to guy for being a {{Big Damn Hero|es}}], and is quite {{Badass}} in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' as well.

** Hermione is also a borderline example. Because she is the token girl of the franchise, she is given more than ActionGirl moments than in the books, and she even gets some of Ron's [[MomentOfAwesome moments of awesome]]. The books also show that while Hermione knows more spells than Harry and especially Ron, she is not as good at keeping her cool in battle as they are, which makes Harry a better duelist than her and Ron almost as proficient as her. In the films, she is generally much more {{Badass}} than Ron and seems to be on Harry's level when dueling.

* In ''MirrorMirror'' Snow White becomes a tough action girl.

* Longtime ''ComicBook/{{X-Men}}'' villain Toad was originally conceived as a deformed, sniveling hunchback who served as TheIgor to Magneto. His super power was [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway he could hop... really high]] because of having very low-grade super-strength, concentrated in his legs. However, after [[Film/XMen1 the first movie]], in which stuntman Ray Park played him as a wisecracking martial artist with wall-crawling abilities and a tongue that he could use as a whip, the comic book character [[RetCanon was re-imagined]] and upgraded to have the same powers, thus making him more capable of holding his own in a fight with other heroes. Also, he could spit slime projectiles.

* Bilbo Baggins apparently TookALevelInBadass between the [[Literature/TheHobbit original novel "The Hobbit"]] and the [[Film/TheHobbit 2012 movie]]. While the story is basically the same, Bilbo is in general a lot more quick-witted and competent in the movie, and on several occasions--most notably the encounter with the Trolls--manages to accomplish more in moments where he was saved by someone else in the book.
** In the book in fact, he doesn't really start pulling his weight until he saves the Company from the spiders. Which may mean he becomes badass ''faster'' in the movie than in the book.
** In fact, the entire Company is more badass than they were in the book. All armed to the teeth from the very beginning and are raking in high kill-counts in many scenes where they did not in the original book (like Goblin Town and the Barrel Ride).

* The core cast of ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' is subject to this in the 2009 ContinuityReboot ''Film/StarTrek''. Some characters ([[TheKirk Kirk]], [[TheSpock Spock]], and Sulu) have their fighting prowess amplified. Others ([[TheMcCoy McCoy]], Uhura, Chekov, Scotty) have their technical skills amplified. All of them have become considerably smarter and craftier as well.
** The [[Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness sequel]] gives this treatment to [[spoiler:Khan]]. [[spoiler:Not that Khan wasn't always a badass, but in addition to Prime Khan's charisma and intelligence, this version of Khan is shown to be ''much'' more physically powerful, going straight into OneManArmy levels.]]
* In the ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' comics, General Zod was one of Krytpon's top military advisors, but often relied more on his planning skills than doing actual fighting. The character's film portrayals have helped make him a much bigger threat. ''Film/SupermanII'' portrayed Zod as a charismatic leader that took full advantage of the fact that the gained powers from Earth's yellow sun; as displayed in the film's fight scenes. It proved to be so successful that it was integrated into the comics and became a key factor in every subsequent adaptation that featured Zod. In ''Film/ManOfSteel'', Zod is even genetically bred and trained for war; and proves to be more than a match for Superman.
* Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014 takes the eponymous Ninja Turtles and gives them all car-crushing super strength to go along with their ninja skills.

** In ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'', Mirage was a good fighter, but often tried to avoid doing so by relying on his invisibility powers. In ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon'', Mirage, now named Dino, is a badass Ferrari with a thick Italian accent and knives coming from chains on his arms and is much more active in combat; ripping apart one of the Dreads during the car chase on the DC Parkway and playing a large part in the final battle in Chicago that takes up the bulk of the film's third act.
** Another example would be Sideswipe. While still a good fighter in ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'', his DynamicEntry in ''Film/TransformersRevengeOfTheFallen'' has him zooming in and slicing Sideways in half. He goes on to be a powerful fighter throughout the rest of the movie and ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon''. His introductory line after his first scene says it all: "[[BadassBoast Damn,]] [[MemeticMutation I'm good!]]"

* ''Film/{{Skyfall}}'' does this to Miss Eve [[spoiler:Moneypenny]] and to lesser extent, Ralph Fiennes' Gareth Mallory, [[spoiler:new M after the death of Judy Dench's M]].

* Jaws in ''Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe''. He is loosely based on the villain Sol "Horror" Horowitz from Creator/IanFleming's [[Literature/TheSpyWhoLovedMe novel of the same name]], who is a thug with a metal-capped teeth who roughs up a woman, and later gets unceremoniously killed as he tries to make a getaway on a car (and is outlived by his partner, who became Sandor in the same film). Jaws, however, is a man who ''[[ImplacableMan just won't die]]'', and is one of the most remembered aspects of the film, and its [[Film/{{Moonraker}} subsequent sequel]].

* In the movie ''TheAfricanQueen'', the titular ship actually succeeds in destroying the German warship "Louisa" (actually ''Königin Luise'') even after capsizing herself in a storm, as the "Louisa" happens to run into the overturned ''African Queen'', striking the detonators of Charlie Alnutt's home-made "torpedos". In C. S. Forester's novel the ''Queen'' anticlimactically sinks in a storm and the "Louisa" is finally sunk by two modern British gunboats transported piece by piece overland and then assembled on the west coast of the East African lake. (In the film the captain of the "Louisa" also receives a villain upgrade, condemning Charlie and Rosie to be hanged. In the novel he decides it would be uncivilised to have the two executed as spies so he hands them over to the British under a flag of truce).

* ''SnowWhiteAndTheHuntsman'': In this movie, Snow White becomes LadyOfWar.
* The core cast of ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' is subject to this in the ContinuityReboot ''Film/StarTrek''. Some characters ([[TheKirk Kirk]], [[TheSpock Spock]], and Sulu) have their fighting prowess amplified. Others ([[TheMcCoy McCoy]], Uhura, Chekov, Scotty) have their technical skills amplified. All of them have become considerably smarter and craftier as well.

** In fact, the entire Company is more badass than they were in the book. All armed to the teeth from the very beginning and are raking in high kill-counts in many scenes where they did not in the original book (like Goblin Town and the Barrel Ride).

** In fact, the entire company is more badass than they were in the book.