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

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  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    telly savalas
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • hehadlotsofgutshehadlotsofguts Durham England Posts: 2,107MI6 Agent
    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.
    Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"

    " I don't listen to hip hop!"
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    And his Version has been yet to be ruined by a Parody -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Telly would be my choice too {[]
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Something about his Version of the Character that makes you want to have a few Brandies with him -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    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. {[]
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    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! -{
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • AdamOmegaAdamOmega Edmonton, AB, CanadaPosts: 297MI6 Agent
    chrisisall 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.)
    "The secret agent. The man who was only a silhouette..." -- Ian Fleming, Moonraker

    1) The Spy Who Loved Me 2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service 3) GoldenEye 4) Casino Royale 5) Goldfinger
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    AdamOmega wrote:
    chrisisall 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)
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • PDJamesBondPDJamesBond Posts: 180MI6 Agent
    AdamOmega wrote:
    chrisisall 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! -{
  • HardyboyHardyboy Posts: 5,882Chief of Staff
    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!
    Vox clamantis in deserto
  • JarvioJarvio EnglandPosts: 4,234MI6 Agent
    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.
    1 - LALD, 2 - AVTAK, 3 - LTK, 4 - OP, 5 - NTTD, 6 - FYEO, 7 - SF, 8 - DN, 9 - DAF, 10 - TSWLM, 11 - OHMSS, 12 - TMWTGG, 13 - GE, 14 - MR, 15 - TLD, 16 - YOLT, 17 - GF, 18 - DAD, 19 - TWINE, 20 - SP, 21 - TND, 22 - FRWL, 23 - TB, 24 - CR, 25 - QOS

    1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
  • hehadlotsofgutshehadlotsofguts Durham England Posts: 2,107MI6 Agent
    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.
    Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"

    " I don't listen to hip hop!"
  • AdamOmegaAdamOmega Edmonton, AB, CanadaPosts: 297MI6 Agent
    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.
    "The secret agent. The man who was only a silhouette..." -- Ian Fleming, Moonraker

    1) The Spy Who Loved Me 2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service 3) GoldenEye 4) Casino Royale 5) Goldfinger
  • AdamOmegaAdamOmega Edmonton, AB, CanadaPosts: 297MI6 Agent
    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.
    "The secret agent. The man who was only a silhouette..." -- Ian Fleming, Moonraker

    1) The Spy Who Loved Me 2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service 3) GoldenEye 4) Casino Royale 5) Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Agreed " Sometimes, the old ways are the best " Bond being
    An agent in the field is also part of that older traditional world.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    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 :))
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Bowie's No fool ! :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    telly savalas

    But of course! The other Blofelds pale in comparison.
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    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! -{
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    telly savalas

    But of course! The other Blofelds pale in comparison.

    Indeed they do. :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • samurai4114samurai4114 Alberta, CanadaPosts: 129MI6 Agent
    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. ;) :))
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    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."
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • SpoffSpoff Posts: 244MI6 Agent
    I think Max Zorin.

    Closely followed by Red Grant & Francisco Scaramanga.
  • LPFilmsLPFilms Posts: 31MI6 Agent
    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.
  • broadshoulderbroadshoulder Acton, London, UKPosts: 1,363MI6 Agent
    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..
    1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    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.
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    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. :)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
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