Thursday, November 25, 2010

Classic Villains From The Movies Of The Past

By Marie Cook


We have an old adage saying the hero is only just good like his villain is evil, which best describes the literary role these mongers of fear, hatred, and curiosity play. In lots of ways, a villain represents the impulses and desires that many people ignore, the darker traits of human psychology and mental health that have to be suppressed. Some have backgrounds that are laughable, others have tragic pasts that may induce depression and anxiety, but all villains, in the end, serve as the twisted reflection of everything the hero should not become. With that in mind, listed here are several examples of great villains that have graced the planet in a single structure or another.

If the reader believes that the character was based on Vlad III Tepes or otherwise does not matter. What is relevant is how the Count is probably the most enduring, most powerful villains to have ever appeared in any format. Yes, he would be a monstrous fiend in the end, but his charming and stylish demeanor were a contrast towards the portrayal of villains during his time. Like real serial killers, Dracula did not look particularly out of place among normal people. Within the novel, many people found him odd only because he was not native to England and several things about him were foreign to others. He is probably one of the best examples of literature that implies that the villain can be just as human as the hero, and need not always be a fierce dragon or ancient, overwhelmingly disgusting devil.

Even when considering the disappointing nature from the prequel trilogy, it is not easy to deny that Darth Vader served as not just the villain, but also the core of the "Star Wars" mythology. His actions shattered a generations-old order and, later, helped shape the galaxy for generations in the future. His imposing presence, in his black armor and the distinct sound of his breathing, was enough to instill fear in the ones that stood before him. The fact that he was a lot more than prepared to do the dirty work, something most contemporary villains seldom do anymore, made him that much more convincing being an instrument of oppressive, dominating power. It is true that Luke Skywalker and also the other heroes from the "Star Wars" saga had the spotlight in it, but many critics would agree that the sheer presence of the character like Darth Vader was what made the films such successes.

It requires a very special mix of evil and insanity to make the image of the jester into one that instills fear even just in other villains. Within the universe of DC Comics, this was a feat achieved only through the notorious Joker. The Joker lacks the tragic background elements that made Vader and Dracula such sympathetic villains, but then, his is a character that wasn't designed to instill sympathy. The Joker's primary goal would be to kill as numerous people as he could, preferably within the most comedic (in his mind) manner possible. Some reason that his near single-minded obsession with that goal is really a dark mirror to Superman's own single-minded quest for good. However, in some ways, The Joker is still best served like a foil for Batman, with the former using objects designed to spread joy in murderous ways, while the latter uses criminal tactics to enforce the law.

Absolutely, Villains, by some unknown token, tend to be portrayed as brutish and rough. Most people would expect the villain to look hideous or monstrous, the greater to inspire the fear he uses so effectively like a tool. However, Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter deviates from that tradition, and that he does with such class and grace he makes his villainous activities look appealing. To make a man with activities as monstrous as Lecter's look appealing, noble, as well as admirable requires a special kind of personalty. Hannibal Lecter could well be among the greatest villains ever, with not many having any credible reason to compete against him.

Without a doubt, villainy is more than just being the "bad guy." Associated with the fiendish laughter and also the menacing outfits lurk a deeper, and not always scary, personality and objective.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment