I started a list of movies that I thought I was sufficiently pleased with such that I wouldn't complain about the money I spent to watch it at the cinema. D and Seeker were disappointed with my addition of Underworld and Van Helsing.
I recall when I left the cinema after both movies and I gave them their props but was disappointed with certain elements. However, in both I was quite pleased with the characterisation of the villians. They represented a return to the haaaarrd vampire of the past who beat the crap out of whomever was in his way and stopped the love story telling/romanticising that has crippled the genre over the past 2 decades.
When I watch a horror or action movie that villian had better be harder than me. I compare that villian to the one from Passenger 57. It had been quite a while before that I had seen a true villian. He didn't talk alot he just did. Who can forget the scene when he asked the pilot:
"Who's in charge of this plane?"
"I am." the Captain said.
(shot heard and captain slumps in seat; brains on floor)
"Who's in charge of this plane?" he asked the co-pilot.
"You are." he answered.
"Very good." he said.
Straight!! No F'in around!!
10 seconds of reel and my faith in hollywood to portray a villian was restored. That faith has been dashed several times since but I know its possible. Unfortunately not many of the haaard villians got good movies to go with them. Fault of the actor or the script? Some actors are too good for the script and they bring to that character more than the script intended. Some actors waste my money by not delivering that performance that makes you understand that they are a villian through and through. I don't want villians who are who they are because they have been misunderstood! I don't care that mommy beat their little bottoms too hard!!
Gimme a mad villian who does whatever he feels like and wreaks wonton violence. Make me hate him, not pity him. Take me into a world where Good wins by defeating a worthy opponent, not by pseudo-evil repenting. Not very Christian like I know. But for my horror movies and action movies I want to be transported into another world.
That's why Lord of the Rings rules. Different world. Ents rule!!!
The story is important!! But there are times when I can have fun if there are memorable characters or elements.
More time folks!
6 comments:
007 villains.
Where as I agree, purely evil villains have their appeal, I must say that in the real world villains a rarely ever so, which is why Training Day, to me is one of the greatest movies ever. In fact I must honestly say that Denzel Washington is one of the best action figures I have ever seen, ranking right up their with Harrison Ford. Where as I like my Arnold, Vin, and Bruce. Its nice to see a villain that can have a complete dialogue not totally made up of catch phrases.
I will have to agree with both Mark and Hayden here. While I can do without the catch phrase ridden dialogue of a lot of modern villains, the whole psychobabble on-the-couch analysis is definitely ridiculous. So basically what we need is a purely evil villain who is just evil because it's fun, who hasn't read "How to be a Villain" for Dummies.
Ok, now I completely agree with you in that the guy from Passenger 57 made a good villian; I mean he makes a great villian in any movie he comes in (from "Warlock" straight down) but I don't understand who exactly it is that you're comparing him to... it cold not be that sissy-ass Dracula in Van Helsing?! I liked "Underworld" because it looked at vampirism from a different angle and Viktor proved to be a good villian... but "Van Helsing"?!
Im wondering the same thing about Van Helsing myself Nicki...Everyone's talking about villains. Want a TRUE villain? Hannibal Lector. Nuff said.
I love Van Helsing. It was a nice comedy with a loveable vampire who didn't run away at any point, the way they been portraying them in the past few decades. He didn't see any light and allow himself to be killed. He didn't run from any crosses. He was killed. He was damned. He didn't give...
I also love the old black and white Vampire movies where all the dog was a vampire. No long talking just turn up and kill you.
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