Is Blofeld really the best Bond villain ever?
MilleniumForce
LondonPosts: 1,214MI6 Agent
He's the Bond villain everybody knows (helped a lot by Dr Evil), and he's easily the most iconic Bond villain of all time. He's the only villai who has had a major hand in multiple films, being somehow behind the plot to eight official and unofficial Bond films, and is ranked highly on many people's villains list. But, is he really that good of a villain?
Firstly, despite appearing in many different incarnations, only one is really well known (until Spectre). If you ask any casual viewer who Blofeld is, they'd describe Donald Pleasence. Because that's probably the only incarnation they know. I bet a lot of people would be stumped if they discovered he also featured in FRWL and TB, and many probably wouldn't even know that he was the villain in DAF, despite the fact it's one of the most well known Bond films (although mostly down to the theme song and the fact it's Connery's last official appearance).
Secondly, whilst iconic, he's little more than a cliche world domination villain. I don't know if he was ever explored further in the books, but in the films, he has very little motivation behind his actions. This works well enough when SPECTRE was more prominent than Blofeld himself, but in OHMSS and DAF, it's just a bit weird.
Thirdly, the villain plots in his films aren't too evil, or nothing much really gets done. Blofeld, considered the best Bond villain ever, has done very little in his time. In later films we see villains actually do evil things, such as Carver actually sinking a warship, or Zorin actually gunning down his own men. But Blofled has achieved very little of his schemes, and there never feels like there is any real threat to Bond from Blofeld.
Finally. The big misconception. Blofeld didn't kill Tracy. It was Irma. Even if Blofeld ordered Irma to kill her, it was Irma that took the shot. If we use that logic, then M is the true hero of these movies because he/she orders Bond to investigate and stop the villain. And anyway, it's highly unlikely that Blofled would want to kill Tracy and keep Bond alive.
Anyway, it's just my opinion that Blofeld is a pretty weak villain, despite being iconic. I'd be interested to hear of anyone els shares this opinion.
Firstly, despite appearing in many different incarnations, only one is really well known (until Spectre). If you ask any casual viewer who Blofeld is, they'd describe Donald Pleasence. Because that's probably the only incarnation they know. I bet a lot of people would be stumped if they discovered he also featured in FRWL and TB, and many probably wouldn't even know that he was the villain in DAF, despite the fact it's one of the most well known Bond films (although mostly down to the theme song and the fact it's Connery's last official appearance).
Secondly, whilst iconic, he's little more than a cliche world domination villain. I don't know if he was ever explored further in the books, but in the films, he has very little motivation behind his actions. This works well enough when SPECTRE was more prominent than Blofeld himself, but in OHMSS and DAF, it's just a bit weird.
Thirdly, the villain plots in his films aren't too evil, or nothing much really gets done. Blofeld, considered the best Bond villain ever, has done very little in his time. In later films we see villains actually do evil things, such as Carver actually sinking a warship, or Zorin actually gunning down his own men. But Blofled has achieved very little of his schemes, and there never feels like there is any real threat to Bond from Blofeld.
Finally. The big misconception. Blofeld didn't kill Tracy. It was Irma. Even if Blofeld ordered Irma to kill her, it was Irma that took the shot. If we use that logic, then M is the true hero of these movies because he/she orders Bond to investigate and stop the villain. And anyway, it's highly unlikely that Blofled would want to kill Tracy and keep Bond alive.
Anyway, it's just my opinion that Blofeld is a pretty weak villain, despite being iconic. I'd be interested to hear of anyone els shares this opinion.
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Comments
http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/44014/who-is-the-the-best-written-acted-villain-in-a-bond-movie/
http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/29030/emilio-largo-the-best-villain/
http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/26296/why-zorin-is-the-best-villain/
http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/10254/best-villain-of-the-moore-era/
http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/37020/best-villain-in-moore-era/
There's no right or wrong in a topic like this. It's all a matter of perspective. -{
Agreed. Blofeld hasn't really excited me as a villain in any of the films. OHMSS would probably be my favourite of the lot because Blofeld isn't as cliche as the other films.
Goldfinger is the best villain by a mile - "Oh, nothing, Mr. Bond... I own the club."
"Better make that two."
I really liked Blofeld in OHMSS, and contrary to popular belief, SP.
DAF Blofeld was ok too, I just don't think he's as bad as many make out.
Then there's the mysterious FRWL/TB Blofeld that works well.
But YOLT Blofeld? Very weak IMO.
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
The Craig era has had both two very good villains (Le Chiffre and Silva ) and two very weak ones. For me the films with the better nemeseses are the better Bond films.
I agree that Greene had more personality than Mikkelsen's Le Chiffre, though I didn't find either of them so strong. Silva is by far the strongest of the villains in Craig's films.
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Anthony Dawson already did! I think his Blofeld is by far the best.
Occasional glimpse of a deranged mind -{ , but I still think Telly Savalas was my favourite Blofeld.
Although never say never, perhaps on a second outing Waltz might get even better !
Another criteria is a villain's overall package in terms of character and qualities that just makes him or her a formidable opponent to Bond, or someone who's just plain nasty. This could be subjective among fans, but I for one would even include henchmen like Grant and Fiona Volpe. For "main" villains, I'd consider Le Chiffre or Graves for the venom they've especially reserved for Bond. In terms of muted gravitas, I consider Drax and Kamal Khan among "the best," though as I said, it's subjective.
On the other hand if value is based on reach, depth or significance, then yes, it would be Blofeld. However, pre and post-reboot must be considered because in the DC era, by means of how SP was written Blofeld suddenly became the progenitor of all the evil committed since CR, which I think is no different from the cheap plot ploys used for TV dramas and soap operas. In contrast, SPECTRE/Blofeld has been involved in the plots of most of the Connery films and it was taken to a personal level of course in OHMSS. This mirrors (esp. Blofeld's role in Tracy's death) the significance of Blofeld in print that spans 3 of Fleming's books, climaxing with probably the most satisfying death in the canon. So, yes, based on this criteria Blofeld is the best Bond villain ever.
Alec Trevelyan was also an interesting villain. Silvia certainly borrowed quite a bit from him.
Spend the money quickly, Mr. Bond. -{
"Better make that two."
-{
Christopher Wood wrote Drax with such verbose panache and it brilliantly matches Lonsdale's muted performance. He's like a non-childish, non-attention seeking Carver who is just quietly and secretly going on with the most horrible villain plots of them all. Both Bond and Drax (initially of course) play the roles with such quiet disdain for each other not to show too much hand. If they do, neither reaction is over-the-top - taking the gas masks and pheasant shooting as examples...
"Better make that two."
Yes, there was the fear of the unknown there. Ironic that the film Blofeld seemed to lose some of his menace when we actually saw him on screen. The imagination goes into overdrive I suppose.
That would more or less be my take on things too, Jarvio.
I like how Drax is unnervingly calm throughout the film. Every time he's thwarted by Bond, he doesn't raise his voice, but he seethes with bubbling rage. It's only when he tells Jaws to put Bond and Goodhead in the airlock, Jaws doesn't move and Drax explodes with the pent-up rage, that has built up in him.
Back on topic, Blofeld isn't the best villain ever, but i like some portrayals, more than others.
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
1. Dalton 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Lazenby 5. Craig 6. Brosnan
Telly was the best portrayal. Smooth, refined and not afraid to get his hands dirty. Pleasence's portrayal is akin to a child having a tantrum when he doesn't get his own way.
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
Very much agreed on that. Telly Savalas is the best Blofeld of them all by a country mile but that was due in no small part to the faithfulness of the OHMSS film to its Fleming source novel. It helps that Savalas is a great actor, too. -{
Pleasance's Blofeld is a lightweight in comparison, a stereotypical villain in comparison and since discredited further by comparisons with Dr Evil from the Austin Powers films.