it's not saving the princess that makes you a hero, it's slaying the dragon... if you catch my meaning. saving people alone does not make one a hero. you have to do something out of the ordinary, inspiring and grandiose. that's why I think 4w3s are heroic sometimes, we're all about drama
PS:
1st clip: michael jackson (4w3 sx/so), smooth criminal
2nd clip: O Don Fatale, from Verdi's Don Carlo, sung by Maria Callas (4w3 sx/sp)
3rd: Gandalf vs the Balrog (Ian McKellen is a 4 and virtually all of his characters are heroic and bad ass)