Who is the greatest movie villain of all time?

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  1. theageofcake profile image60
    theageofcakeposted 14 years ago

    You can't have heroes without villains, so who are the best at being bad? 

    Here's a few starters:

    HAL 9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey)
    Norman Bates (Psycho)
    Daniel Plainview (There Will Be Blood)
    Amon Goeth (Schindler's List)

    1. Friendlyword profile image61
      Friendlywordposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Heath Ledger (The Joker in Batman)

    2. rhamson profile image70
      rhamsonposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Heath Ledger in Batman. Hands down.

      Although the devil in the Exorcist was pretty good smile

  2. profile image0
    lynnechandlerposted 14 years ago

    Bela Lugosi in Dracula

  3. Bovine Currency profile image60
    Bovine Currencyposted 14 years ago

    The Blob, The Blob lol

  4. profile image0
    lyricsingrayposted 14 years ago

    Clint Eastwood

  5. profile image0
    PrettyPantherposted 14 years ago

    Hannibal Lecter

    1. rebekahELLE profile image86
      rebekahELLEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I think so.... creepy.

      1. pay2cEM profile image81
        pay2cEMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        I'm gonna have to agree with Heath Ledger's Joker. Most movie villains have a reason for their villainy, but Ledger's Joker was completely and totally anarchic. There was no rhyme or reason to his madness. He was simply pure, unadulterated mayhem.

  6. wesleyacarter profile image58
    wesleyacarterposted 14 years ago

    The Joker - specifically from the Dark Knight. Heath Ledger's take on the Joker is what i believe encapsulates a true villain. More concerned with sending messages and thoroughly capable of controlling the actions of the hero.

  7. theageofcake profile image60
    theageofcakeposted 14 years ago

    Great choices all round so far.

    Wesley - I especially like the reason behind your choice.  Heroes and villains are often motivated by a similar passion or sense of disillusionment but happen to channel it in different ways.  This, along with what you've pointed out, are why antagonists are so fascinating.

  8. wesleyacarter profile image58
    wesleyacarterposted 14 years ago

    thanks ageofcake.

    but you did not tell us who YOUR best villain of all time was?

    1. theageofcake profile image60
      theageofcakeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I couldn't possibly choose just one.  The few I've mentioned previously are up there, and Heath Ledger's Joker is absolutely one of the all time best in my eyes.

      I will tell you that my favorite villain in fiction (encompassing all mediums) is almost undoubtedly Ozymandias in the graphic novel of Watchmen (who's not rendered nearly as well in the movie version).  His motives are almost honorable, but his actions are absolutely heinous.

  9. bojanglesk8 profile image61
    bojanglesk8posted 14 years ago

    Alonzo Harris.

  10. Cagsil profile image70
    Cagsilposted 14 years ago

    Lex Luther

  11. Happyontheinside profile image73
    Happyontheinsideposted 14 years ago

    That's easy...Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth...She drives the whole play and is the epitome of a woman you never, ever want to meet...or maybe Leobin in the Battlestar seasons. You can't help but like him no matter how many times he's bad.

  12. dfunzy profile image59
    dfunzyposted 14 years ago

    The Terminator
    The Terminator (1984)
    Arnold Schwarzenegge

  13. camlo profile image84
    camloposted 14 years ago

    Robert De Niro as Al Capone

    1. Friendlyword profile image61
      Friendlywordposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      And let's not forget him in Cape Fear!

  14. theageofcake profile image60
    theageofcakeposted 14 years ago

    How about childhood villains?

    Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty
    Hexxus (voiced by Tim Curry) in Fern Gully

  15. Mrvoodoo profile image56
    Mrvoodooposted 14 years ago

    http://michellemalkin.cachefly.net/michellemalkin.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/1ratched.jpg

    Nurse Ratched

    1. theageofcake profile image60
      theageofcakeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      AH!

  16. G Miah profile image78
    G Miahposted 14 years ago

    Mugambo - Amrish Puri film Mr.INDIA!

  17. profile image0
    baconmidgetposted 14 years ago

    the JOKER and not just heath ledger in the dark knight either (even though that is my favorite joker and i LOVE that movie). the joker is the greatest because he doesn't want to eliminate the hero (batman obviously) but he wants to control the hero... don't really  have time to really give all the reasons  why (but i might come back later and explain) but maybe if you read the comic books too you would understand.
    http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/07/mkvsdc.joker.490.jpg
    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wvyYwvMMcAM/SIaL_BaTxLI/AAAAAAAABLg/r_fjrgxo3Vk/s320/Joker%2BCartoon.jpg

    1. theageofcake profile image60
      theageofcakeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Not only is there a need to control, but an acute awareness that without a hero, the villain cannot exist, and vice versa.  Heath Ledger's Joker sums it up pretty nicely when he tells Batman, "You complete me."

      1. profile image0
        baconmidgetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        yea like i said tons of reasons don't have time to give them all but people who just watch the dark knight and don't read the comic books might not understand what you and i see in him

  18. profile image0
    Justine76posted 14 years ago

    Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) .....no country for old men

  19. profile image0
    cosetteposted 14 years ago
  20. getitrite profile image72
    getitriteposted 14 years ago

    http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac226/aropro100/austin_powers_mike_myers_as_dr_evil.jpg


             DR. E V I L

  21. dyonder profile image71
    dyonderposted 14 years ago

    Mr. Glass

  22. sabrebIade profile image79
    sabrebIadeposted 14 years ago

    Wow...not one Darth Vader?
    The man could "force choke" you through a view screen!
    He didn't even have to be in the same room!

    1. jellydonut25 profile image60
      jellydonut25posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      i was gonna say...it took FOREVER for SOMEBODY to say Vader...

      how about Agent Smith from The Matrix Trilogy?
      Damien from the Omen Trilogy?
      Count Orlock in Nosferatu?

      Let's also not forget that nefarious evil-doer Dark Helmet!

      I'm a bit surprised that nobody has said Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees either

  23. adamareangere profile image66
    adamareangereposted 14 years ago

    I have to go with Robert DeNiro and Val Kilmer in Heat. Not only do they play the villains brilliantly, they are also able to portray their "bad boy" characters and make the audience feel compassionate for them simultaneously!

  24. profile image0
    Stevennix2001posted 14 years ago

    i agree with rhamson.  heath ledger is definitely the best villain i've ever seen in a movie, "dark knight."  followed closely by daniel plainview in "there will be blood", played by daniel day lewis.

  25. AnythingArtzy profile image66
    AnythingArtzyposted 14 years ago

    Vincent Price was the best ever.

  26. chambersgirl21 profile image61
    chambersgirl21posted 14 years ago

    John Travolta in "The Punisher"

  27. sooner than later profile image62
    sooner than laterposted 14 years ago

    Ben Stiller- dodgeball.

  28. Mr blues 2 jazz profile image60
    Mr blues 2 jazzposted 14 years ago

    It is very hard to only have one, but here is a dose of some very "hard" villains;(not necessarily in order)

    1.Laurence Olivier-Szell- Marathon Man-1976

    2.Javier Bardem- Anton Chigurh- No Country for Old Men-2007

    3.Robert Blake- Perry Smith-In Cold Blood-1967

    4.Daniel Day Lewis-Daniel Plainview -There will be Blood-2007

    5.James Cagney- Cody Jarrett -White Heat- 1949

  29. dave272727 profile image61
    dave272727posted 14 years ago

    1. Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker
    2. Brad Pitt's character in Fight Club
    3. Jaws
    4. Darth Vader
    5. Kahn from Star Trek

  30. bat115 profile image80
    bat115posted 14 years ago

    Does Darth Maul qualify? He certainly was the baddest dude in the prequel trilogy as well as being the one of the better things to come from them.

 
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