Is Koskov the most underrated Bond villain?

LPFilms

I personally think so. I agree that Whitaker is a generic villain (even though Joe Don Baker did his job well), but Koskov is very underrated IMHO. He has a lot of energy and is extremely entertaining whenever he's on screen. His plan is one of the more inelegant and more realistic Bond stories. And once Saunders dies, we really begin to hate Georgi. He's completely in it to fill his greed. He doesn't mind killing innocents (004, Saunders, Pushkin, and even Kara) just so he can profit. Sure, Blofeld held the world ransom a few times, but it went towards SPECTRE, to fund the group and to gain power over governments. Georgi does it just for his own pockets, instead of trying to fund a larger cause he has (I understand that Whitaker is doing it for the same reason, but he really is a bland villain and just sits in the background while Georgi calls the shots).

Am I the only one?

Gassy Man

He's a good villain, but he's a weasel, which is one of the reasons he doesn't register as a particularly strong villain. There have been other weasels in Bond films, and his is probably the most interesting.

Thunderpussy

He was very good at being a charming, likeable but sleazy villain.

broadshoulder

Koskov is damned as not being a Blofeld type villain but he is far more slippery then that.He instigates a collusion with Whitaker to be sprung from the British and literally disappears from the British, Russian and even American hands.He also intends when reaching the Russians to hand Bond over to them as he can pretend to be on an 'undercover assignment' while doing the deal with the Mujadeen.

He twists and turns every step. Staying one jump ahead..

Thunderbird 2

I agree too. Bond villains usually fall into one of four categories, the kingpins like Blofeld, Drax, Electra King. Second level leftenants, Rosa Klebb, Mr Osato, Scophine, Krest, Renard. The Henchmen, Oddjob, Jaws, Necros, Zao. Finally, the unmentionables. The careless wonders who usually ineptly fail to bump off Bond and usually gets killed without a thought. (far too many to list, but Bob Simmons played a few of them!)

The problem with Koskov & Whitickar (and some might apply this argument to Kamal Khan & General Orlov, or Electra & Renard too) is which one is the kingpin, and which is the second leftenant? Unlike Electra and Renanrd though where at the critical moment it's revealed Electra has gone bad and bewitched Renard, it is not as clear who is the kingpin in TLD. In the end I always feel it is Whittikar since he is bumped off first, and Koskov has run to him for sanctuary. He had nowhere else he could go.

Jeroen Krabb'e does a brilliant job of making Koskov charming and funny, while also a slimy untrustworthy sod. In some ways the tone of the character is similar to Silva in SF, but he is doing small scale manipulation, rather than all out revenge or a Blofeld/Drax/Carver world domination scale evil plan. I think it's effective but as the story is convoluted, we never get a real endgame from him. Bond asks him directly what he hopes to achieve - he evades the question.
It's interesting - although the Kingpin of the story, Dominic Greene suffers from a similar problem in QoS. No clear endgame. Koskov is more memorable though, and had Mr Dalton lead more films Koskov could have returned in a larger capacity.

Firemass

LPFilms wrote:

I agree that Whitaker is a generic villain (even though Joe Don Baker did his job well)

Agree with whom? Whitaker is one of my top villains and practically steals the show from the whiny weasel Koskov. I like Whitaker's wax museum of famous military leaders (that all slightly resemble his face) and his diorama battle sets and weapons.

"Surgeons who removed society's dead flesh."

AlphaOmegaSin

Koskov and Sanchez are the most underrated Bond Villains -{

Sir Hillary Bray

Koskov is the same sort of amoral worm as Kamal Khan. Both pose no physical threat, but are slimy to their core. That said, while Kamal is one of my favorites, Koskov is not. Can't put my finger on why exactly, but I think it's that Krabbe's performance is just a little too flamboyant and showy. The menace never really comes through.

LPFilms

Sir Hillary Bray wrote:

Koskov is the same sort of amoral worm as Kamal Khan. Both pose no physical threat, but are slimy to their core. That said, while Kamal is one of my favorites, Koskov is not. Can't put my finger on why exactly, but I think it's that Krabbe's performance is just a little too flamboyant and showy. The menace never really comes through.

I see what you're saying about a lack of menace. The only two spots he shows any sort of menacing feature are when he's having Kara arrested with Bond and when he drives the jeep with Necros firing at Kara. Besides that, his methods really show off his more "slimy" side as a villain. Also a fan of Kamal Khan!

LPFilms

Firemass wrote:

LPFilms wrote:

I agree that Whitaker is a generic villain (even though Joe Don Baker did his job well)

Agree with whom? Whitaker is one of my top villains and practically steals the show from the whiny weasel Koskov. I like Whitaker's wax museum of famous military leaders (that all slightly resemble his face) and his diorama battle sets and weapons.

"Surgeons who removed society's dead flesh."

His lair is very memorable, but something about Whitaker feels a bit off. He's filled with energy and exerts that in some scenes, but I don't know. Something about him just feels a bit off, like he's there and then he's gone. The psychotic laugh he gives off during his fight with Bond is fun but feels a bit forced. Joe Don Baker really is the only man who could play the character, though.

Blackleiter

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

Koskov and Sanchez are the most underrated Bond Villains -{

Not so sure Sanchez is underrated. Most of the comments I've seen indicate that Sanchez is viewed as one of the top Bond villains, and I agree with that sentiment.

Thunderpussy

Agreed I think most people think
Sanchez was a great villain. I know I
do. -{

chrisisall

Sanchez is topps. The one-two punch of Koskov & Whitaker is entertaining yet, again to quote Carver, lacks punch. Thank the Lords Of Kobol for Necros providing the real menace in TLD!

James Suzuki

chrisisall wrote:

Sanchez is topps. The one-two punch of Koskov & Whitaker is entertaining yet, again to quote Carver, lacks punch. Thank the Lords Of Kobol for Necros providing the real menace in TLD!

I must admit. I love the Necros-Milk Bottle scene. Thats so BADASS!

chrisisall

James Suzuki wrote:

I love the Necros-Milk Bottle scene. Thats so BADASS!

But when he gets the boot is even better IMO! -{

James Suzuki

chrisisall wrote:

James Suzuki wrote:

I love the Necros-Milk Bottle scene. Thats so BADASS!

But when he gets the boot is even better IMO! -{

People forget how good he is. They always slag him off as a Red Grant clone.

MooseWithFleas

I agree Koskov is underrated as his character is a bit more complex than the normal bond villain. I also find Drax to be underrated. Love his dry line delivery. Some of his lines are genius.