Underrated - Blofeld as portrayed by Telly Savalas. Not only is he the best incarnation of Blofeld, but I think he is among the best villains in the entire Bond series. He projects a fascinating mix of intelligence, arrogance and menace, with just a hint of madness (his allergy speech to his "patients" is a hoot!) Definitely one of my favorites.
Overrated - Eliot Carver. I respect Jonathan Pryce as an actor, but he couldn't save the silly, pompous character the writers cooked up as the villain for TND. To me he isn't interesting, threatening or amusing, just annoying.
Overrated for me is Blofeld. To me, Waltz was the best incarnation of Blofeld and not because he did a fantastic job, because he wasn't all that... But because we simply never really had a brilliant Blofeld in the past to begin with. The bar wasn't "that" high. (At least for me) Telly Savalas came closest, and was the one who did it the best prior to Waltz. Donald Pleasance is iconic and memorable, but also cartoony and with zero menace. And don't get me started on Charles Grey, the worst villian in the series...
If I have to name an underrated villian is has to be General Orlov from Octopussy. I hardly ever see him get mentioned. He's portrayed terrifically by Steven Berkoff, his sceam is realistic and completely up to date with the current times of the film's release. Berkoff would have made a great Blofeld too actually!
This is hard, because "overrated" and "underrated" suggest views outside of the "normal" range of opinion (whatever that is). Math geeks would call this two standard deviations from the mean. This is different than just plain old good or bad. My two selections below are neither the best or worst in the series, but they are mis-rated IMO. Here goes:
OVERRATED VILLAIN -- Alec Trevalyan. I have a theory that GE as a whole is overrated because, after the 6-year legal hiatus, many long-time fans would have settled for just about anything, and it was the first new Bond film for a whole generation of fans. Trevalyan just isn't very interesting -- his plan is pedestrian (Bond's "bank robber" putdown is spot-on), his mannerisms are showy yet random (licking Natalya -- WTF?) and his speechifying is nauseating (like all speechifying in the film). To me, Sean Bean is better as a revenge-driven thug (Patriot Games) or a slightly off-the-hook phony (Ronin) than as a generic sneering nefarious type (GE, National Treasure). HENCHMAN -- Stamper. What does this guy bring to the table except massive biceps? He's like Dolph Lundgren in Rocky IV. Kaufman was his mentor? Whatever.
UNDERRATED VILLAIN -- Kamal Khan. Louis Jourdan's portrayal of Kamal as a spoiled, amoral worm is just about perfect. Yes, he's effete. Yes, he poses no physical threat to anyone. Yes, the film is OTT absurd in many ways. But his slimy cowardice (cheating at backgammon, ordering Gobinda out of the plane) are perfect for the film -- and very funny. You get the palpable sense that Kamal craps his pants at the thought of any confrontation with someone like Bond, who is both smarter and tougher than he is. So he hides behind his henchman, his curare cocktail, his fake gems and a group of female circus performers/smugglers. Great fun. HENCHMAN -- Necros. The difference between him and Stamper (aside from Stamper being able to bench-press way more) is that Necros actually has to use his brain. He should be highly-rated for the safehouse raid alone -- one of the most inventive one-man shows we've ever seen in a Bond film. In a movie with too many bland characters (good guys and bad) he stands out.
Overrated for me is Blofeld. To me, Waltz was the best incarnation of Blofeld and not because he did a fantastic job, because he wasn't all that... But because we simply never really had a brilliant Blofeld in the past to begin with. The bar wasn't "that" high. (At least for me) Telly Savalas came closest, and was the one who did it the best prior to Waltz. Donald Pleasance is iconic and memorable, but also cartoony and with zero menace. And don't get me started on Charles Grey, the worst villian in the series...
If I have to name an underrated villian is has to be General Orlov from Octopussy. I hardly ever see him get mentioned. He's portrayed terrifically by Steven Berkoff, his sceam is realistic and completely up to date with the current times of the film's release. Berkoff would have made a great Blofeld too actually!
Berkoff would have made a great Blofeld. I always thought that Christopher Lee would have made a brilliant Blofeld too, especially in the OHMSS novel: He has the menacing black as coal eyes, he was thin, great voice and commanding presence.
Agree that Blofeld has never had a great portrayal. Still prefer Savalas over Waltz though ;-)
This is hard, because "overrated" and "underrated" suggest views outside of the "normal" range of opinion (whatever that is). Math geeks would call this two standard deviations from the mean. This is different than just plain old good or bad. My two selections below are neither the best or worst in the series, but they are mis-rated IMO. Here goes:
OVERRATED VILLAIN -- Alec Trevalyan. I have a theory that GE as a whole is overrated because, after the 6-year legal hiatus, many long-time fans would have settled for just about anything, and it was the first new Bond film for a whole generation of fans. Trevalyan just isn't very interesting -- his plan is pedestrian (Bond's "bank robber" putdown is spot-on), his mannerisms are showy yet random (licking Natalya -- WTF?) and his speechifying is nauseating (like all speechifying in the film). To me, Sean Bean is better as a revenge-driven thug (Patriot Games) or a slightly off-the-hook phony (Ronin) than as a generic sneering nefarious type (GE, National Treasure). HENCHMAN -- Stamper. What does this guy bring to the table except massive biceps? He's like Dolph Lundgren in Rocky IV. Kaufman was his mentor? Whatever.
UNDERRATED VILLAIN -- Kamal Khan. Louis Jourdan's portrayal of Kamal as a spoiled, amoral worm is just about perfect. Yes, he's effete. Yes, he poses no physical threat to anyone. Yes, the film is OTT absurd in many ways. But his slimy cowardice (cheating at backgammon, ordering Gobinda out of the plane) are perfect for the film -- and very funny. You get the palpable sense that Kamal craps his pants at the thought of any confrontation with someone like Bond, who is both smarter and tougher than he is. So he hides behind his henchman, his curare cocktail, his fake gems and a group of female circus performers/smugglers. Great fun. HENCHMAN -- Necros. The difference between him and Stamper (aside from Stamper being able to bench-press way more) is that Necros actually has to use his brain. He should be highly-rated for the safehouse raid alone -- one of the most inventive one-man shows we've ever seen in a Bond film. In a movie with too many bland characters (good guys and bad) he stands out.
Great write up, 100% agree. Although I will say that Stamper would win the best dressed henchman prize.
This is hard, because "overrated" and "underrated" suggest views outside of the "normal" range of opinion (whatever that is). Math geeks would call this two standard deviations from the mean. This is different than just plain old good or bad. My two selections below are neither the best or worst in the series, but they are mis-rated IMO. Here goes:
OVERRATED VILLAIN -- Alec Trevalyan. I have a theory that GE as a whole is overrated because, after the 6-year legal hiatus, many long-time fans would have settled for just about anything, and it was the first new Bond film for a whole generation of fans. Trevalyan just isn't very interesting -- his plan is pedestrian (Bond's "bank robber" putdown is spot-on), his mannerisms are showy yet random (licking Natalya -- WTF?) and his speechifying is nauseating (like all speechifying in the film). To me, Sean Bean is better as a revenge-driven thug (Patriot Games) or a slightly off-the-hook phony (Ronin) than as a generic sneering nefarious type (GE, National Treasure). HENCHMAN -- Stamper. What does this guy bring to the table except massive biceps? He's like Dolph Lundgren in Rocky IV. Kaufman was his mentor? Whatever.
UNDERRATED VILLAIN -- Kamal Khan. Louis Jourdan's portrayal of Kamal as a spoiled, amoral worm is just about perfect. Yes, he's effete. Yes, he poses no physical threat to anyone. Yes, the film is OTT absurd in many ways. But his slimy cowardice (cheating at backgammon, ordering Gobinda out of the plane) are perfect for the film -- and very funny. You get the palpable sense that Kamal craps his pants at the thought of any confrontation with someone like Bond, who is both smarter and tougher than he is. So he hides behind his henchman, his curare cocktail, his fake gems and a group of female circus performers/smugglers. Great fun. HENCHMAN -- Necros. The difference between him and Stamper (aside from Stamper being able to bench-press way more) is that Necros actually has to use his brain. He should be highly-rated for the safehouse raid alone -- one of the most inventive one-man shows we've ever seen in a Bond film. In a movie with too many bland characters (good guys and bad) he stands out.
I totally agree about Necros. Now THAT'S what I call a henchman!
I completely agree about Necros. Of all the big blonde henchmen throughout the series, he's the only one that has matched Grant. I think for Bond 25 we need Craig to face off against a blonde henchman, one that is similar to Necros. Although I still like Stamper, and he certainly fits the film he's in - Necros is in a spy thriller, and it makes sense for him to be a smart villain. Stamper is in a fun, OTT action film, where all that's needed from him is to look imposing and put up a good fight (and have an awesome death).
Mr. Osato seems fairly underrated, he could have been given more to do in the film, but the office scene between him and Connery is gold.
-{
Overrated
- Gustav Graves. Simply because he is awful. Any praise for him makes him overrated
- Renoir. An interesting idea became truly useless in the movie.
- Elliot Carver. Never felt any menace from him
- Greene. So forgettable this guy. His henchman Elvis was the worst also.
- Cristatos. Another very dull villain.
- Blofeld. For some reason, the ubervillain of Bond never really got a great performance. Savalas was my favorite still.
Underrated
- Largo (TB) based on what I see here. I think he is criminally underrated. He was cool and collected and was not afraid to make his hands dirty. Plus he had a great presence.
- Kamal Khan. Thought he was pretty good
- Drax. The villain with the best oneliners and coolest performance. Plus his plan was the most menacing of all.
- Kananga. Hardly see him, but think he is one of the most iconic villains.
Having reviewed, I feel sorry for Brosnan. His movies never really saw a great villain. My favorite is probably Electra King. Also he never really had an iconic Bond girl at his side. Such a shame, because I think he made a great Bond himself.
ELVIS and why he changed the Bond franchise forever
In 2008 Marc Forster, the Swiss director, knew he had to do something truly spectacular, something daring, something never done before. He thought long and hard and then it hit him like an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.
Cast a Swiss guy from Zurich as a henchman. It just happened Anatole was Marc's friend so it was a natural choice.
Furthermore, the Piz Gloria wasn't free for filming, but Anatole Taubman really is the next best thing that came to mind.
Forster immediately recognised Taubman's vast talent. Not dissimilar in handling a gun like Craig does, Forster made sure Anatole will have his "Bond" moment as can be seen nicely in below pictures.
The Swiss-German touch.
But that wasn't enough of course, so Mr. Forster and Mr. Taubman sat together for a while to make a master plan on how to change the Bond franchise forever.
While drinking some milk and reading the "Blick" (Switzerland's version of The Sun) Anatole received a call by his mother who told him to get a half pound of white bread and some cheese, preferably Emmentaler, on the way back to home.
When he put the phone down he and Forster just looked at each other, deep into each other's eyes. No words were needed, everything was becoming clear and Forster and Taubman just left with the knowledge something truly spectacular had just occurred.
So it happened that Elvis does speak Swiss-German in his very first scene. He is on the phone with his mother asking her if she needs anything that he could bring back home.
Of course he gets distracted and has to tell his mother that he will call her back.
This daring short but memorable scene has written history. Not only is it the first time ever that Swiss-German actually gets spoken in an MGM Movie but of course it never happened in a Bond movie before and probably never will again.
Elvis calling his mother back was filmed as well. The five minute conversation is rumoured to be the most daring film experiment ever but sadly in the editing process it had to go because Forster and the producers realised it would disrupt the non-stop action theme of the movie and also the audience would never recover from the hilarity of it.
That it had to go because the movie would have gotten too lengthy is a nasty rumour by the way.
The Toupee.
One could think Elvis wearing a toupee was just meant as a joke. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In fact it is one of the greatest homages ever made in a Bond movie.
A homage to the incomparable, unforgettable, one and only Sir Sean "The Toupee" Connery.
The human behind the henchman.
There is a lot more to Elvis' few scenes than meets the eye at first.
The character is very complex and it's Marc Forster's and Anatole Taubman's way to underline the cruelty of feeling and being useless, being treated as a doormat by your boss and colleagues and being the "odd" guy, unpopular and unwanted.
Elvis feels utterly worthless, underused, or belittled and it's the theme of his life.
It's a really great touch to the movie that is fast paced and relentlessly action driven.
When Elvis smiles at the guy at Tosca he just flashes him a dirty look back. How many times had this happened to you as well, it's not a good feeling and the drama in this little instant of the movie elevated Quantum Of Solace to a true classic.
And the other deeply dramatic moment in the film when Elvis is on the plane with the CIA. He asks about the flight time and he just gets ignored. Worse than that Felix Leiter stares at him like he was invisible.
Another milestone in dramatic story telling without words.
But there is even more in store for the cinephile that likes subtle nuanced drama.
Losing his toupee after he falls down the stairs at the hand of a woman, well leg really, is deeply disturbing and equivalent to losing his manhood.
As if that wasn't enough, the poor soul even gets used as a human shield in the desert hotel by his boss.
A great deal of money went into that very short scene when Forster made sure that the latest and best special effects would be used to show Elvis standing there, first getting his pants and toupee blown away by the explosion which makes him literally standing naked in front of the world up and down there and furthermore this humiliation is the last thing he experiences as he then gets incinerated in the flames.
This is heavy stuff, that only a superior director like Marc Forster can do.
You could be Elvis.
With Elvis they created the ultimate underdog henchman, a man who just wants to be loved or at least feeling appreciated for the hard work he's doing for his boss.
Seeing him talking to his mom on the phone in the first scene makes him human immediately, a guy next door that could be you or me who just happens to be working for the wrong guy and company.
This is so much better than those totally unrealistic, sometimes almost comic book style henchman like Oddjob, Stamper, Hinx, Jaws and so many more of them.
Furthermore Mr. Forster made sure, Elvis would always be there on the screen wherever Dominic Greene would go. There is this deep sense of loyalty in Elvis for Mr. Greene, it's admiration and maybe even some kind of love. The way Elvis gazes at Dominic speaks volumes but yet is a subtle way to bring some human element into a film that is heavily pumped by hard on action.
Never ever does Elvis realise that this is an unrequited love and that he will always feel empty inside.
Look at those pictures below and see how incredibly fine acting can bring something special to a movie that at first sight seems to rely solely on its main star, the 00 agent with a licence to kill.
My favourite shot. Elvis seemingly adjusting his tie by chance, but this is not a man just wanting to be dressed properly, this is a man wanting to please his boss, maybe even getting a nice compliment by him, how lovely he looks in that tux. The expression on his face shows us a naive, but yet, lovable man, that just chose the wrong path, a path that will eventually have him go up in flames.
The franchise has been changed. It has the human element now, thanks to the daring director and actor that made it all possible.
It's easy to see who is the secret star in that picture below. Olga realises it of course. It is said they had quite a romp together when filming QoS and that Craig was quite a bit jealous of Anatole.
So please, my dear friends, do not just dismiss this fabulous character that enriches the franchise so much when you will view Quantum Of Solace the next time.
Watch out for Elvis, see how he cares about his mother on the phone, how he wants to be appreciated, how he is loyal to his cruel boss. How he will rather lose his pants than letting come some harm to Mr. Greene.
In the end it kills him and that is commendable. Let's celebrate his death by cheering and clapping the next time you see that scene.
Elvis has left the building, but he hasn't left our hearts.
Whittaker and Koskov. While they're not menacing and do lack overall a level of oomph I do find their amateur style interesting - they're in over their heads. Death to spies is serious enough to MI6 and so too is the idea of defection - but everyone in play is aware that these guys are total muppets. Whittaker is a stupid salesman, Koskov is desperate. Bond just figures it all out and plays it all in great style. They work for the film well.
I've left Necros out because he's adequately rated and I find delivers a great performance.
BJB006, the комитет (Comrade Chairman Barbel and defector from the British, Comrade Chairman Sir Miles) will agree that we have a runner up for one of the best posts of 2017.
This is one of the funniest posts I've ever read.
A character with so much depth being dismissed by so many people.
That doesn't change the fact that Greene looks like an emotionless puppy in the opera scenes.
BJB006, the комитет (Comrade Chairman Barbel and defector from the British, Comrade Chairman Sir Miles) will agree that we have a runner up for one of the best posts of 2017.
This is one of the funniest posts I've ever read.
Of the villains in the Daniel Craig era I find Le Chiffre seems to be underrated. Obviously the man has a tremendous poker face but when he looks at Bond after he drinks the poisoned martini without a trace of emotion he reminded me of Largo's (also underrated) similar non reaction to the guy getting electrocuted. Cold stuff indeed. Le Chiffre may not get the big build up of say Silva or Blofeld but Mikkelsen's performance is brilliant - understated but with the growing feeling of desperation when things start to unravel for him.
BJB006, the комитет (Comrade Chairman Barbel and defector from the British, Comrade Chairman Sir Miles) will agree that we have a runner up for one of the best posts of 2017.
This is one of the funniest posts I've ever read.
{[] Agreed, great post- glad you're here, BJB!
He has brought some color to AJB since he's been here.
Drax is another runner up after the ones I have already mentioned. I don't know why they saved most of the best quotes for him but Michael's delivery brings much to the impact of the lines. Even if some people think that he's a discount Blofeld, I really like him and his truly diabolical plan.
Quote(s): ...such good sport.
You missed Mr Bond.
...see that some harm comes to him.
Desolated, Mr Bond?
Scaramanga deserves a place in the best Bond villains and assassins of all time. I don't think Nick Nack counts as a henchman which makes Scaramanga all the more dangerous. Bond and he are two of a kind but with very different tastes.
Quote(s): You see Mr Bond, like every great artist, I want to create an indisputable masterpiece ONCE in my lifetime.
I like a girl in a bikini, no concealed weapons. (Well except for those knockers/bazookas)
I only neeed one.
Come to think of it, there are very few villains who actually have a major impact or impression within the films:
Goldfinger - he's the best villain by a mile. Nothing more to say.
Blofeld in OHMSS - while he might be a bit crazy, he's not a freak. An interesting villain and a great foil for Bond who holds interest.
Drax - as many call out his scheme is diabolical, he's psycho, yet with Wood's script, delivers excellent lines that are funny and as Mooresflares calls out above "genuinely sinister".
Zorin - I'll be honest, I do forget him as Bond villain, but within the film he really does play the psychotic brilliantly and like Blofeld, holds your interest. Present nicely throughout.
Sanchez - greasy, excellent delivery of lines, frightening, naive. He's a damn good villain.
Carver - I don't totally agree with Pryce's OTT portrayal (it's a bit much at times) but he's still original and very 90s. Suits the film well.
Elektra - Female villain, Bond's lover, sexy and well played - interesting/original concept too.
La Chiffre - while he isn't the villain in the end, damn it he's good. Iconic and memorable amongst non-fans. Always a good sign.
Comments
Yes. I pointed this out last month. Anyone who likes Renard could consider him underrated.
Overrated - Eliot Carver. I respect Jonathan Pryce as an actor, but he couldn't save the silly, pompous character the writers cooked up as the villain for TND. To me he isn't interesting, threatening or amusing, just annoying.
"Spare me the techno babble"
"Better make that two."
If I have to name an underrated villian is has to be General Orlov from Octopussy. I hardly ever see him get mentioned. He's portrayed terrifically by Steven Berkoff, his sceam is realistic and completely up to date with the current times of the film's release. Berkoff would have made a great Blofeld too actually!
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OVERRATED
VILLAIN -- Alec Trevalyan. I have a theory that GE as a whole is overrated because, after the 6-year legal hiatus, many long-time fans would have settled for just about anything, and it was the first new Bond film for a whole generation of fans. Trevalyan just isn't very interesting -- his plan is pedestrian (Bond's "bank robber" putdown is spot-on), his mannerisms are showy yet random (licking Natalya -- WTF?) and his speechifying is nauseating (like all speechifying in the film). To me, Sean Bean is better as a revenge-driven thug (Patriot Games) or a slightly off-the-hook phony (Ronin) than as a generic sneering nefarious type (GE, National Treasure).
HENCHMAN -- Stamper. What does this guy bring to the table except massive biceps? He's like Dolph Lundgren in Rocky IV. Kaufman was his mentor? Whatever.
UNDERRATED
VILLAIN -- Kamal Khan. Louis Jourdan's portrayal of Kamal as a spoiled, amoral worm is just about perfect. Yes, he's effete. Yes, he poses no physical threat to anyone. Yes, the film is OTT absurd in many ways. But his slimy cowardice (cheating at backgammon, ordering Gobinda out of the plane) are perfect for the film -- and very funny. You get the palpable sense that Kamal craps his pants at the thought of any confrontation with someone like Bond, who is both smarter and tougher than he is. So he hides behind his henchman, his curare cocktail, his fake gems and a group of female circus performers/smugglers. Great fun.
HENCHMAN -- Necros. The difference between him and Stamper (aside from Stamper being able to bench-press way more) is that Necros actually has to use his brain. He should be highly-rated for the safehouse raid alone -- one of the most inventive one-man shows we've ever seen in a Bond film. In a movie with too many bland characters (good guys and bad) he stands out.
Berkoff would have made a great Blofeld. I always thought that Christopher Lee would have made a brilliant Blofeld too, especially in the OHMSS novel: He has the menacing black as coal eyes, he was thin, great voice and commanding presence.
Agree that Blofeld has never had a great portrayal. Still prefer Savalas over Waltz though ;-)
1. Connery 2. Craig 3. Brosnan 4. Dalton 5. Lazenby 6. Moore
Great write up, 100% agree. Although I will say that Stamper would win the best dressed henchman prize.
"Better make that two."
I totally agree about Necros. Now THAT'S what I call a henchman!
Why do you like Osato, Mr. Osato?
No, I lived in Japan when I signed up for AJB. Tanaka was a bit too obvious for a username. So decided between Mr Osato and Ning Po
and YOLT is my guilty pleasure Bond movie, the soundtrack is probably my favorite with OHMSS.
1. Connery 2. Craig 3. Brosnan 4. Dalton 5. Lazenby 6. Moore
In 2008 Marc Forster, the Swiss director, knew he had to do something truly spectacular, something daring, something never done before. He thought long and hard and then it hit him like an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.
Cast a Swiss guy from Zurich as a henchman. It just happened Anatole was Marc's friend so it was a natural choice.
Furthermore, the Piz Gloria wasn't free for filming, but Anatole Taubman really is the next best thing that came to mind.
Forster immediately recognised Taubman's vast talent. Not dissimilar in handling a gun like Craig does, Forster made sure Anatole will have his "Bond" moment as can be seen nicely in below pictures.
The Swiss-German touch.
But that wasn't enough of course, so Mr. Forster and Mr. Taubman sat together for a while to make a master plan on how to change the Bond franchise forever.
While drinking some milk and reading the "Blick" (Switzerland's version of The Sun) Anatole received a call by his mother who told him to get a half pound of white bread and some cheese, preferably Emmentaler, on the way back to home.
When he put the phone down he and Forster just looked at each other, deep into each other's eyes. No words were needed, everything was becoming clear and Forster and Taubman just left with the knowledge something truly spectacular had just occurred.
So it happened that Elvis does speak Swiss-German in his very first scene. He is on the phone with his mother asking her if she needs anything that he could bring back home.
Of course he gets distracted and has to tell his mother that he will call her back.
This daring short but memorable scene has written history. Not only is it the first time ever that Swiss-German actually gets spoken in an MGM Movie but of course it never happened in a Bond movie before and probably never will again.
Elvis calling his mother back was filmed as well. The five minute conversation is rumoured to be the most daring film experiment ever but sadly in the editing process it had to go because Forster and the producers realised it would disrupt the non-stop action theme of the movie and also the audience would never recover from the hilarity of it.
That it had to go because the movie would have gotten too lengthy is a nasty rumour by the way.
The Toupee.
One could think Elvis wearing a toupee was just meant as a joke. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In fact it is one of the greatest homages ever made in a Bond movie.
A homage to the incomparable, unforgettable, one and only Sir Sean "The Toupee" Connery.
The human behind the henchman.
There is a lot more to Elvis' few scenes than meets the eye at first.
The character is very complex and it's Marc Forster's and Anatole Taubman's way to underline the cruelty of feeling and being useless, being treated as a doormat by your boss and colleagues and being the "odd" guy, unpopular and unwanted.
Elvis feels utterly worthless, underused, or belittled and it's the theme of his life.
It's a really great touch to the movie that is fast paced and relentlessly action driven.
When Elvis smiles at the guy at Tosca he just flashes him a dirty look back. How many times had this happened to you as well, it's not a good feeling and the drama in this little instant of the movie elevated Quantum Of Solace to a true classic.
And the other deeply dramatic moment in the film when Elvis is on the plane with the CIA. He asks about the flight time and he just gets ignored. Worse than that Felix Leiter stares at him like he was invisible.
Another milestone in dramatic story telling without words.
But there is even more in store for the cinephile that likes subtle nuanced drama.
Losing his toupee after he falls down the stairs at the hand of a woman, well leg really, is deeply disturbing and equivalent to losing his manhood.
As if that wasn't enough, the poor soul even gets used as a human shield in the desert hotel by his boss.
A great deal of money went into that very short scene when Forster made sure that the latest and best special effects would be used to show Elvis standing there, first getting his pants and toupee blown away by the explosion which makes him literally standing naked in front of the world up and down there and furthermore this humiliation is the last thing he experiences as he then gets incinerated in the flames.
This is heavy stuff, that only a superior director like Marc Forster can do.
You could be Elvis.
With Elvis they created the ultimate underdog henchman, a man who just wants to be loved or at least feeling appreciated for the hard work he's doing for his boss.
Seeing him talking to his mom on the phone in the first scene makes him human immediately, a guy next door that could be you or me who just happens to be working for the wrong guy and company.
This is so much better than those totally unrealistic, sometimes almost comic book style henchman like Oddjob, Stamper, Hinx, Jaws and so many more of them.
Furthermore Mr. Forster made sure, Elvis would always be there on the screen wherever Dominic Greene would go. There is this deep sense of loyalty in Elvis for Mr. Greene, it's admiration and maybe even some kind of love. The way Elvis gazes at Dominic speaks volumes but yet is a subtle way to bring some human element into a film that is heavily pumped by hard on action.
Never ever does Elvis realise that this is an unrequited love and that he will always feel empty inside.
Look at those pictures below and see how incredibly fine acting can bring something special to a movie that at first sight seems to rely solely on its main star, the 00 agent with a licence to kill.
My favourite shot. Elvis seemingly adjusting his tie by chance, but this is not a man just wanting to be dressed properly, this is a man wanting to please his boss, maybe even getting a nice compliment by him, how lovely he looks in that tux. The expression on his face shows us a naive, but yet, lovable man, that just chose the wrong path, a path that will eventually have him go up in flames.
The franchise has been changed. It has the human element now, thanks to the daring director and actor that made it all possible.
It's easy to see who is the secret star in that picture below. Olga realises it of course. It is said they had quite a romp together when filming QoS and that Craig was quite a bit jealous of Anatole.
So please, my dear friends, do not just dismiss this fabulous character that enriches the franchise so much when you will view Quantum Of Solace the next time.
Watch out for Elvis, see how he cares about his mother on the phone, how he wants to be appreciated, how he is loyal to his cruel boss. How he will rather lose his pants than letting come some harm to Mr. Greene.
In the end it kills him and that is commendable. Let's celebrate his death by cheering and clapping the next time you see that scene.
Elvis has left the building, but he hasn't left our hearts.
Goldeneye villain ensemble. Weak, hammy, whiney, lame.
Underrated:
Whittaker and Koskov. While they're not menacing and do lack overall a level of oomph I do find their amateur style interesting - they're in over their heads. Death to spies is serious enough to MI6 and so too is the idea of defection - but everyone in play is aware that these guys are total muppets. Whittaker is a stupid salesman, Koskov is desperate. Bond just figures it all out and plays it all in great style. They work for the film well.
I've left Necros out because he's adequately rated and I find delivers a great performance.
"Better make that two."
This is one of the funniest posts I've ever read.
A character with so much depth being dismissed by so many people.
That doesn't change the fact that Greene looks like an emotionless puppy in the opera scenes.
{[] Agreed, great post- glad you're here, BJB!
Drax is another runner up after the ones I have already mentioned. I don't know why they saved most of the best quotes for him but Michael's delivery brings much to the impact of the lines. Even if some people think that he's a discount Blofeld, I really like him and his truly diabolical plan.
Quote(s): ...such good sport.
You missed Mr Bond.
...see that some harm comes to him.
Desolated, Mr Bond?
Scaramanga deserves a place in the best Bond villains and assassins of all time. I don't think Nick Nack counts as a henchman which makes Scaramanga all the more dangerous. Bond and he are two of a kind but with very different tastes.
Quote(s): You see Mr Bond, like every great artist, I want to create an indisputable masterpiece ONCE in my lifetime.
I like a girl in a bikini, no concealed weapons. (Well except for those knockers/bazookas)
I only neeed one.
Agreed, though he has the enormous advantage of being played by Sir Christopher Lee which automatically gains him several million points.
{[]
I think he likes your comment, Barbel.
...and her...
Either that or he's just spotted Van Helsing falling off a cliff.
He isn't - but Toby Stephens' performance is underrated. IMO it's better that Pryce's Carver.
"Better make that two."
Under rated Huge Drax, wonderfully played by the superb Michael Lonsdale, with some fantastic lines, genuinely sinister
Goldfinger - he's the best villain by a mile. Nothing more to say.
Blofeld in OHMSS - while he might be a bit crazy, he's not a freak. An interesting villain and a great foil for Bond who holds interest.
Drax - as many call out his scheme is diabolical, he's psycho, yet with Wood's script, delivers excellent lines that are funny and as Mooresflares calls out above "genuinely sinister".
Khan - total dandy nutter prince, excellent portrayal that's nuanced - memorable.
Zorin - I'll be honest, I do forget him as Bond villain, but within the film he really does play the psychotic brilliantly and like Blofeld, holds your interest. Present nicely throughout.
Sanchez - greasy, excellent delivery of lines, frightening, naive. He's a damn good villain.
Carver - I don't totally agree with Pryce's OTT portrayal (it's a bit much at times) but he's still original and very 90s. Suits the film well.
Elektra - Female villain, Bond's lover, sexy and well played - interesting/original concept too.
La Chiffre - while he isn't the villain in the end, damn it he's good. Iconic and memorable amongst non-fans. Always a good sign.
"Better make that two."