Shakespeare Challenge: Four Villains

4. Villain [1] Iago

(wjsolha)

I don’t think there’s a greater, more malevolent, unrepentant, intelligent, repulsive, inscrutable, or fascinating villain in Shakespeare or in fiction than Iago. It’s not what he does to his enemies but to his friends that is so frightening. He destroys others from the inside out, using their flaws or virtues against them. A devil figure and a textbook psychopath, Iago is both endlessly cunning and mundane. The audience never witnesses his death or gets a satisfying explanation for why he led his comrades into spectacular disaster.

4. Villain [2] Richard III

Scholars consider Richard III to be one of the most maligned figures in history, thanks in large part to Shakespeare’s dynamic creation. This Richard III ruthlessly kills his way to the throne, playing with victims as he goes. He is despicable, yet he seduces audiences with his brilliance and wicked sense of humor. Unfortunately, we eventually realize that he has also duped us. Once king, Richard becomes a paranoid despot, revealing himself as nothing more than an empty, lonely mad man.

4. Villain [3] Aaron

In a play filled with heinous individuals, Aaron the Moor stands out as the most cunning and sadistic. Though he refuses to repent and delivers epic speeches about reveling in depravity, his position as a slave and his love for his infant son are points of sympathy. Aaron is one of Shakespeare’s most charismatic and evil characters.

4. Villain [4] Shylock

Shylock is one of Shakespeare’s most written about and most controversial characters. Both an antisemitic charicature and a sympathetic figure, Shylock craves money and blood and gives stirring speeches about the mistreatment of Jews. He has been used in arguments defending and condemning bigotry. Ultimately a bitter, sad, and vengeful man, ill-treatment has warped Shylock’s humanity. He is a reminder of prejudices present in Shakespeare’s time and now.

Firefly: The Place to Go for Villains (Spoilers for Dollhouse)

I just want to point out that a large percentage of actors from Joss Whedon's television show 'Firefly' feature as villains in other shows. Five of the nine central characters are adversaries in other Whedon shows (more than half - that's a lot), and one more is a baddie in a new science fiction show (2/3).

Nathan Fillion, the hilarious and rebellious Captain Mal Reynolds on 'Firefly.'


On 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' as as Caleb, a misogynistic former priest and serial killer (I never actually saw him on this).


And extra points as the reprehensibly arrogant Captain Hammer, both the antagonist and "hero" of 'Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.'


Gina Torres on 'Firefly' as the badass Zoe Washburne.


On 'Angel' as the creepily serene and lovey-dovey goddess Jasmine.


Adam Baldwin plays the ignorant, amoral, and extraordinarily macho Jayne Cobb on 'Firefly.'


Still large, but much more polished as the sinister 'Angel' character Marcus Hamilton.

Morena Baccarin is 'Firefly's' classy courtesan Inara Serra.


So far I haven't seen anything too drastic on the new scifi show 'V' (though I have only seen parts of it, so I don't know for sure), but the alien Anna's eerie smile hides plans for world domination.


Summer Glau is 'Firefly's' River Tam, resident brilliant crazy and a potential weapon of mass destruction.

She plays Bennett Halverson, another genius, far more terrifying, psychotic, and sadistic, on Whedon's 'Dollhouse.' (There was a very appropriate picture with the signs "danger" and "caution" behind her.)


And finally, (SPOILER, I guess, even though it's not much of one anymore) Alan Tudyk's 'Firefly' persona is the wise-cracking, vaguely insecure hotshot pilot Wash.

Still funny, but about 1,000x crazier and more violent, Tudyk plays Alpha, a once-wanna-be serial killer who is imprinted with about 40 different entire personalities (not split personalities, though one of them is). This grants him serial killer status, since he now has mad brain power and reflexes. Probably one of the best villains ever. Plus, I guess Tudyk was bad on V along with Baccarin.


I just find this Firefly=evil stuff funny. And cool.

Quizzes: Which 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' gang member are you? and Which Shakespearean villain are you?

A couple of my quizzes, just for fun:

Which 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' gang member are you?

http://quizilla.teennick.com/quizzes/8469330/which-its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia-gang-member-are-you

Which Shakespearean villain are you?

http://quizilla.teennick.com/quizzes/9902765/which-shakespearean-villain-are-you

Bloodcurdling Baddies

Here is a list of film villains who actually scared me. Some creep me out. Some vastly amuse me. These ones were just plain scary. (In alphabetical order by movie.)

The Joker, played by Heath Ledger, in 'The Dark Knight'
Always amused, the nightmarishly hideous Joker can't be scared, only briefly disappointed. He bounces back with resounding resilience. We've all seen mad dogs before in cinema, but such an unbridled portrayal of self-awareness and incoherence has rarely been seen in Hollywood. The Joker is most in his element when his feral nature is unleashed to delight in pain and corruption.

Young Gangster, played by Paul Bettany, in 'Gangster No. 1'
The detached, viciously sadistic Gangster is a demonic figure who bears Paul Bettany's symmetrical, pale face. His vulnerability (glimpsed on very rare occasions) displays that he is not quite a demon, but rather a fellow human being, thus inspiring further fear instead of sympathy.

Chad, played by Aaron Eckhart, in 'In the Company of Men'
















At first, this psychopathic businessman seems to deeply hate women. This is sickening. It is gradually revealed that he loathes people in general. This is very frightening. Then it is shown that he doesn't really hate anybody. His feelings don't run that deep. This final realization is chilling.

Anton Chigurh, played by Javier Bardem, in 'No Country for Old Men'
"That terminator is out there. It can't be bargained with! It can't be reasoned with! It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead!" That quote is about a murderous robot, but it almost perfectly describes Anton. Add a touch of fatalistic humor and ability to feel pain and that's him.

Capitán Vidal, played by Sergi López, in 'Pan's Labyrinth'
At one point, Vidal says to a servant, "You must think I'm a monster." That was when I realized that he doesn't see himself the way the audience does. In his mind, he's a dutiful, brave soldier. To the main characters, including a little girl, he is a grave danger, who brutally tortures and murders his perceived enemies.

Jack Torrance, played by Jack Nicholson, in 'The Shining'

Mr. Torrence isn't a psycho from the beginning. He is a good guy working through his own share of demons. By the end of the film he is driven mad by isolation, or rather the evil influences of a hotel. To wife: "I said, I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm just gonna bash your brains in. I'm gonna bash 'em right the !@#$ in!" Rude, yes. Worse yet - he means it.