Who is the the best Written & Acted Villain in a Bond movie?

AlphaOmegaSin

telly savalas

hehadlotsofguts

I prefer Telly's portrayal as well. I liked that he participated in the action instead of sitting behind a desk, giving orders to lackeys.

AlphaOmegaSin

And his Version has been yet to be ruined by a Parody -{

Thunderpussy

Telly would be my choice too {[]

AlphaOmegaSin

Something about his Version of the Character that makes you want to have a few Brandies with him -{

Thunderpussy

Yes, Savalas for me always oozed, Sophistication and "Cool" in many of the roles he played, But
he could very convincingly give that an undercurrent of menace. -{ IMHO he is by Far the best
Blofeld, so Far. {[]

chrisisall

PDJamesBond wrote:

For me, the best villain of the series – both in terms of writing and performance – is Sean Bean’s Alec Trevalyan in GoldenEye. He has a depth and nuance rarely seen in any film villain, and his pathos is not only unmistakable but somewhat understandable. And the fact that he was a Double-Oh agent, and is therefore a shadowy version of Bond himself (Bond turned rogue, essentially), is fascinating, right down to little things like him knowing what buttons to push on Bond’s watch. And the “six minute” timer at the beginning is great, because it causes a very interesting debate: Did Bond betray him? Did ANYone betray him? Is he justified in his anger?

I also love that the traditional “Bond villain disfigurement” this time serves a dramatic and thematic purpose: this is a man who literally wears his scars, both on the inside and outside.

A lot of these ideas are revisited in Javier Bardem’s Raoul Silva in Skyfall, and I think it’s noteworthy that two of the most fascinating villains of the series are ex-MI6 agents.

I love this very thoughtful & insightful post. Well done! -{

AdamOmega

chrisisall wrote:

PDJamesBond wrote:

For me, the best villain of the series – both in terms of writing and performance – is Sean Bean’s Alec Trevalyan in GoldenEye. He has a depth and nuance rarely seen in any film villain, and his pathos is not only unmistakable but somewhat understandable. And the fact that he was a Double-Oh agent, and is therefore a shadowy version of Bond himself (Bond turned rogue, essentially), is fascinating, right down to little things like him knowing what buttons to push on Bond’s watch. And the “six minute” timer at the beginning is great, because it causes a very interesting debate: Did Bond betray him? Did ANYone betray him? Is he justified in his anger?

I also love that the traditional “Bond villain disfigurement” this time serves a dramatic and thematic purpose: this is a man who literally wears his scars, both on the inside and outside.

A lot of these ideas are revisited in Javier Bardem’s Raoul Silva in Skyfall, and I think it’s noteworthy that two of the most fascinating villains of the series are ex-MI6 agents.

I love this very thoughtful & insightful post. Well done! -{

Agreed! Trevelyan was always one of the very best Bond villains. Plus you couldn't pick another villain more deserving of such an epic death scene! (Silva deserved better, though.)

Silhouette Man

AdamOmega wrote:

chrisisall wrote:

PDJamesBond wrote:

For me, the best villain of the series – both in terms of writing and performance – is Sean Bean’s Alec Trevalyan in GoldenEye. He has a depth and nuance rarely seen in any film villain, and his pathos is not only unmistakable but somewhat understandable. And the fact that he was a Double-Oh agent, and is therefore a shadowy version of Bond himself (Bond turned rogue, essentially), is fascinating, right down to little things like him knowing what buttons to push on Bond’s watch. And the “six minute” timer at the beginning is great, because it causes a very interesting debate: Did Bond betray him? Did ANYone betray him? Is he justified in his anger?

I also love that the traditional “Bond villain disfigurement” this time serves a dramatic and thematic purpose: this is a man who literally wears his scars, both on the inside and outside.

A lot of these ideas are revisited in Javier Bardem’s Raoul Silva in Skyfall, and I think it’s noteworthy that two of the most fascinating villains of the series are ex-MI6 agents.

I love this very thoughtful & insightful post. Well done! -{

Agreed! Trevelyan was always one of the very best Bond villains. Plus you couldn't pick another villain more deserving of such an epic death scene! (Silva deserved better, though.)

Yes, but I think that Silva's low-key death (by a well-aimed Kristatos-esque knife in the back from Bond) fitted the second half of the picture where as Sam Mendes said he didn't want anything newer than 50 years when the picture hit Scotland, so I guess crashing satellite controllers were out of the question. :007)

PDJamesBond

AdamOmega wrote:

chrisisall wrote:

PDJamesBond wrote:

For me, the best villain of the series – both in terms of writing and performance – is Sean Bean’s Alec Trevalyan in GoldenEye. He has a depth and nuance rarely seen in any film villain, and his pathos is not only unmistakable but somewhat understandable. And the fact that he was a Double-Oh agent, and is therefore a shadowy version of Bond himself (Bond turned rogue, essentially), is fascinating, right down to little things like him knowing what buttons to push on Bond’s watch. And the “six minute” timer at the beginning is great, because it causes a very interesting debate: Did Bond betray him? Did ANYone betray him? Is he justified in his anger?

I also love that the traditional “Bond villain disfigurement” this time serves a dramatic and thematic purpose: this is a man who literally wears his scars, both on the inside and outside.

A lot of these ideas are revisited in Javier Bardem’s Raoul Silva in Skyfall, and I think it’s noteworthy that two of the most fascinating villains of the series are ex-MI6 agents.

I love this very thoughtful & insightful post. Well done! -{

Agreed! Trevelyan was always one of the very best Bond villains. Plus you couldn't pick another villain more deserving of such an epic death scene! (Silva deserved better, though.)

Thanks, gents! -{

Hardyboy

Rosa Klebb. The script and Lotte Lenya convey she's a lesbian entirely through touching Tatiana's knee. Then there's her horrified look when Kronsteen is killed in front of her, her vicious punch to Grant's solar plexus, her truly disturbing death scene. . .great stuff all the way around!

Jarvio

Scaramanga would have got my best written vote, but he knows so little about his solex operation.

Zorin as many of you know is my favourite hands down. And I'd also say he's the best acted.

But best written? I'd say Silva.

hehadlotsofguts

Hardyboy wrote:

Rosa Klebb.  The script and Lotte Lenya convey she's a lesbian entirely through touching Tatiana's knee.  Then there's her horrified look when Kronsteen is killed in front of her, her vicious punch to Grant's solar plexus, her truly disturbing death scene. . .great stuff all the way around!

I liked her reaction when Morzeny brushes her arm at SPECTRE island, like she seemed repulsed when it was just an innocent friendly gesture.

AdamOmega

Jarvio wrote:

Scaramanga would have got my best written vote, but he knows so little about his solex operation.

Zorin as many of you know is my favourite hands down. And I'd also say he's the best acted.

But best written? I'd say Silva.

Zorin is also my favourite. I agree with you on Silva, particularly with regards to his "rat" monologue. Perfect introduction for a memorable new villain.

AdamOmega

Silhouette Man wrote:

AdamOmega wrote:

chrisisall wrote:

I love this very thoughtful & insightful post. Well done! -{

Agreed! Trevelyan was always one of the very best Bond villains. Plus you couldn't pick another villain more deserving of such an epic death scene! (Silva deserved better, though.)

Yes, but I think that Silva's low-key death (by a well-aimed Kristatos-esque knife in the back from Bond) fitted the second half of the picture where as Sam Mendes said he didn't want anything newer than 50 years when the picture hit Scotland, so I guess crashing satellite controllers were out of the question. :007)

Interesting to think about the "low tech" aspect of the Skyfall finale. I suppose killing Silva via knife to the back was in keeping with Skyfall's overarching theme of traditionalism, albeit very on-the-nose.

Thunderpussy

Agreed " Sometimes, the old ways are the best " Bond being
An agent in the field is also part of that older traditional world.

AlphaOmegaSin

I can imagine if Bowie had played Zorin, how much more off the Wall the Character would be? He turned it down though so he could spend Time with an underage Jennifer Connelly )

Thunderpussy

Bowie's No fool ! )

Blackleiter

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

telly savalas

But of course! The other Blofelds pale in comparison.

Blackleiter

PDJamesBond wrote:

A lot of these ideas are revisited in Javier Bardem’s Raoul Silva in Skyfall, and I think it’s noteworthy that two of the most fascinating villains of the series are ex-MI6 agents.

That's a great point! -{

Silhouette Man

Blackleiter wrote:

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

telly savalas

But of course! The other Blofelds pale in comparison.

Indeed they do. -{

samurai4114

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

I can imagine if Bowie had played Zorin, how much more off the Wall the Character would be? He turned it down though so he could spend Time with an underage Jennifer Connelly )

Bowie is certainly a rebel rebel. )

Firemass

Came across a cool article on Christopher Lee: (Note- contains some crude language)

http://www.badassoftheweek.com/index.cgi?id=349769329893

"It doesn't get any better than when he played the ultimate Bond Villain in The Man with The Golden Gun -- a role he got thanks in no small part to the fact that Bond creator Ian Fleming was not only Lee's cousin, but the two men had fought together in the SOE during WWII. So Lee was basically part of the team that inspired James Bond, then he went on to play a Bond Villain who lives on an island surrounded by hot babes and Tattoo from Fantasy Island, drives a car that turns into an airplane, uses renewable solar energy to try and destroy the world, and revolutionizes the badassitude of carrying pimped-out firearms. So Awesome."

Spoff

I think Max Zorin.

Closely followed by Red Grant & Francisco Scaramanga.

LPFilms

For me it's Elektra. Her ability to manipulate, keep an act that fools everyone around her, her relationship with Bond, her hatred of her father as well as M etc. Sophie was a great actress and gave a great performance. Her character is mad with power, but there are some scenes that shows the possibility of a loving side, but then scenes showing a used-to-power and psychotic mind. Her scene with Renard where he blames her frustrated behavior on Bond's death as well as the line "If you'd stayed away then we could have become lovers once more" can be taken as adding insult to Bond or as her actually showing a possibility of settling down with a man.

Sanchez, Trevelyan and Silva are others I'd add.

broadshoulder

LPFilms wrote:

For me it's Elektra. Her ability to manipulate, keep an act that fools everyone around her, her relationship with Bond, her hatred of her father as well as M etc. Sophie was a great actress and gave a great performance. Her character is mad with power, but there are some scenes that shows the possibility of a loving side, but then scenes showing a used-to-power and psychotic mind. Her scene with Renard where he blames her frustrated behavior on Bond's death as well as the line "If you'd stayed away then we could have become lovers once more" can be taken as adding insult to Bond or as her actually showing a possibility of settling down with a man.

Sanchez, Trevelyan and Silva are others I'd add.

Don't you think she is written too erratically - she detracts from the film I'd say..

chrisisall

broadshoulder wrote:

Don't you think she is written too erratically - she detracts from the film I'd say..

You can't go wrong writing a psychotic erratically I always say.

Thunderpussy

I think kristatos from FYEO, is a very well written villain. Certainly a much
More three dimensional character than some other Bond villains. He has a
Great back story, and appears as a businessman rather than the villain
He really is.