What is it about Baron Samedi?

MilleniumForce

Don't get me wrong, I love the character, but how is he so popular? He doesn't do much in the film, but his prescence is so memorable, it's so....good. You remember him instantly. He had the top hat, face paint, blah blah blah. So why does everyone else love him?

Absolutely_Cart

Because he laughs hysterically and appears at the most random unexpected times.

AlphaOmegaSin

He's a very unsettling Henchman, and he sticks out as a rather unique one because of the Aura of the Supernatural that surrounds him -{

Gassy Man

You may also have to be of a certain age. Jeffrey Holder later became very popular in a series of commercials for soda.

Thunderpussy

He is the man who cannot die, and he does keep popping up.

hehadlotsofguts

His lines and that deep booming laugh are what make him a memorable character. His introduction is pretty memorable too.

Barbel

For more of the gentleman in question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB86UzewPdo

Hardyboy

One word: iconicity. He's tall, bizarre, creepy. . .and we see comparatively little of him in the film, so he's always intriguing.

Jellyfish

As far as I recall, Baron Samedi is the only instance in the series where there is an element of complete fantasy/unreality. There are plenty of examples of things being pushed to the point where you struggle to suspend your disbelief (Moonraker space battle, most of DAD etc) but possibly could still actually happen. Baron Samedi, however, seems to be immortal and/or capable of resurrection.

Spoff

Baron Samedi is the Boba Fett of the Bond franchise )

AlphaOmegaSin

In the Novel, Baron Semedi is an Avatar for Mr Big. Who also uses it to instill Fear in his Followers.

Spoff

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

In the Novel, Baron Semedi is an Avatar for Mr Big. Who also uses it to instill Fear in his Followers.

Yeah, from what I gathered in the book he is just an effigy? made of straw and stuff with a hat on?

Kinda like the coconut scary-things that she screams at in the film, and shoot poison darts and stuff?

Thunderpussy

... Or Boris Johnson ! )

AlphaOmegaSin

Spoff wrote:

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

In the Novel, Baron Semedi is an Avatar for Mr Big. Who also uses it to instill Fear in his Followers.

Yeah, from what I gathered in the book he is just an effigy? made of straw and stuff with a hat on?

Kinda like the coconut scary-things that she screams at in the film, and shoot poison darts and stuff?

Yes, very similar

Thunderpussy

Watched a great travel documentary on Haiti last night ( BBC 2) In which it stated
Haiti was 70% Catholic, 30% Protestant but 100% Voodoo. )
On a side note, it seems much of the money promised to help the people has not
Come through, and they're still living in terrible conditions.

Spoff

Thunderpussy wrote:

On a side note, it seems much of the money promised to help the people has not come through, and they're still living in terrible conditions. 

Makes you wonder how this even happens in this day and age. There is so much money in the world and people can't even get help to rebuild their lives

When you look at what some people have (and hold onto) it's incredible, Billions and Billions that they will never be able to spend, just sat in bank accounts as numbers.

superado

Spoff wrote:

Baron Samedi is the Boba Fett of the Bond franchise )

+1, less is more! ( ...but not "Moore," sorry couldn't resist )

Blackleiter

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

He's a very unsettling Henchman, and he sticks out as a rather unique one because of the Aura of the Supernatural that surrounds him -{

Plus it helps that he is portrayed by the very elegant and impressive Mr. Holder! -{

AlphaOmegaSin

Of course -{

Thunderpussy

Just watcher Jeffrey Holder in the Celebrity Apprentice ( 2011, by the time we got it )
At that point still full of life, the voice strong and deep, and to hear that laugh again. :x

002

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

In the Novel, Baron Semedi is an Avatar for Mr Big. Who also uses it to instill Fear in his Followers.

Yes, one of my favourite novels, Live and Let Die: the Voodoo aspect is nicely underplayed in that one, just festering away in the background and justifies its use as an explanation over just effectively Mr Big keeps his henchmen under control.

AlphaOmegaSin

It's a brilliant Novel -{

CmdrAtticus

The Baron is a very spooky character in Haitian Vodou folklore. He is rather like a version of the Grim Reaper, as it is only he who can accept an individual into the realm of the dead. However, he is also the Loa (spirit) of resurrection, often called upon for healing by those near or approaching death. He in a way also has some characteristics of Loki - that infamous spirit of mischief, as he is notorious for his outrageous behavior, swearing continuously and making filthy jokes to the other spirits. He's usually found at the crossroad between the worlds of the living and the dead. When someone dies, he digs their grave and greets their soul after they have been buried, leading them to the underworld. He also ensures that all corpses rot in the ground to stop any soul from being brought back as a brainless zombie. He demands certain things for this in return (such as a ritural or gifts).

One can see why Mr. Big would claim to be such a spirit and how it would instill respect from those who practice Vodou. Unfortunately in the EON version they made him into just another one of Mr. Big's henchman, then threw in the last scene of Holder on the front of the train as a visual wink to the audience.