Amal Shukup said:
Knowing Creasy's nature, I don't think any other response was possible (the hallmark of a lawful personality): He took the job, was upfront with his employer about his limitations (which I think some of the chaos advocates may have overlooked), took his duties seriously, executed them well and faithfully, and clearly saw that his duty required him to exact revenge on those responsible for kidnapping/killing his charge.
We have to take Creasy's friend's speech to the Mexican version of the FBI into account. When Rayburn, played by Christopher Walken, is asked by the FBI guy, why Creasy is doing what he is doing,
Cop: What happened to him? What happened to Creasy?
Rayburn: [Pita] showed him that it was alright to live again.
Cop: And the kidnappers that took that away?
Rayburn: They're going to wish they never touched a haair on her head
Than, my favorite quote from the movie... it always sends chills down my spine:
Rayburn: "A man can be an artist... in anything, food, whatever. It depends on how good he is at it. Creasey's art is death. He's about to paint his masterpiece. "
If we take this at face value, plus what creasy tells the mother, when she asks him what he's going to do "What I do best... kill them all.", it isn't so clear that Creasy is doing this out of a sense of ongoing duty to Pita.
I agree with other posters who feel that all evidnce is that Creasy is, in general, Lawful. His approach to EVERYTHING is methodical. Planning routes to and from the school, training Pita for the swim meet, preparing and planning each stage of his hunt for those who (he thought) were responsible for Pita's death.
His disbelief in his abilities to be an effective bodyguard is balanced by the fact that he KNOWS he used to be one of the best professional assassins. As his friend and former co-assassin Rayburn puts it, "Even at your worst, your still pretty good" or something like that.
And keep in mind that he didn't demand top prices for his services, either. He tells his new employer, when asked why he'll work for so little, something to the effect that "service will be commensurate with pay". He doesn't seem to be implying that he sucks, just that he has little confidence in his abilities, and that the low fee he's collecting is about all he thinks he's worth. Samuel is Pita's father:
Samuel: Your resume is quite impressive. 16 years of miltary experience, extensive counter-terrorism work. I'm surprised anyone could afford you, what's the catch?
Creasy: I drink.
Samuel: How does that affect you?
Creasy: Coordination, reaction time. Top professionals try to kidnap your daughter I'll do the best I can but the service will be on par with the pay.
Samuel: What if amatuers try?
Creasy: I'd probably kill 'em. That likely?
Samuel: No. No one is to know about your drinking. That includes my wife.
Of course, when he takes out like 4 of the 6 kidnappers (and professionals at that) in the initial kidnapping attempt, we discover just how good a washed out prefessional assassin can be....
In any case, I thnk he is trying to be as fair as he can with his employers, which is definately not evil, nor chaotic, IMO... neutral at worst.
So, I'm totally on board with him being Lawful.
So, do I think he is Good, Evil, or Neutral?
SRD said:
“Good” implies altruism, respect for life, and a concern for the dignity of sentient beings. Good characters make personal sacrifices to help others.
“Evil” implies hurting, oppressing, and killing others. Some evil creatures simply have no compassion for others and kill without qualms if doing so is convenient. Others actively pursue evil, killing for sport or out of duty to some evil deity or master.
Is Creasy altruistic? No evidence for this until the end, when he trades his life for Pita's. I'll call this a maybe.
Does Creasy have respect for life? Definately... in fact, he is tortured by the lives he has taken and/or failed to save in the past. A Yes here.
Is Creasy concerned for the dignity of sentient beings? He's certainly polite, and mindful of others' feelings (witness his discussions with the nuns and Pita's mother). But he doesn't go out of his way, that we know of in this regard, so, I'll say maybe.
Does Creasy hurt, oppress, and kill other people? Yes, No, and Yes.
Does Creasy lack compassion for others? No. He isn't outwardly focussed at the beginning of the movie, having his own personal demons to drink into silence, but he isn't a cold fish, either... he cares, or used to, and wants to again, but can't, until Pita revives his 'spark'.
Does Creasy kill without qualms if doing so is convenient. No. He kills those invoved in the kidnapping, certainly, and no second thoughts. Does he have qualms about doing it? We don't really know. Is it because it is convenient? No, it is, in fact, often inconvenient, but he does it anyway, and goes out of his way to keep innocents safe.**
Does Creasy actively pursue evil, killing for sport or out of duty to some evil deity or master? Not a chance.
So, Id say he has both Good and Evil tendencies, more toward Good than evil. In the end, I'd say Lawful Neutral, with Good tendencies.
SRD said:
Lawful Neutral, “Judge”: A lawful neutral character acts as law, tradition, or a personal code directs her. Order and organization are paramount to her. She may believe in personal order and live by a code or standard, or she may believe in order for all and favor a strong, organized government.
Creasy is the Judge. He is a witness to an act he deems deserves the death penalty. He uses torture to find the next victim. He doesn't take any joy in these acts. In fact, he is merciful, when he can be: "Smoke it while you have time", "You have 30 seconds to Pray". One of the three in the night club he just turns over to the police.
Creasy: Forgiveness is between them and God. It's my job to arrange the meeting.
As someone else said: Creasy is the Punisher that the Punisher should have been.
Tiggs
** Some might argue that torching a nightclub full of Ecstasy wacked out freaks might be a disregard for public safety. He DID clear the building on his way out, trying to make sure everyone ELSE left before he got to safety, but a burning building is never safe. Also, firing an RPG rocket into downtown daytime traffic is bound to bring a small chance of injury or death to innocents. None occurred, but that doesn't matter... Thus, this is the part of the Evil that I think mostly sticks to him. He is willing to take a calculated risk of injuring innocents to accomplish his tasks.