Home News
Reviews The List
NYTS Links
Dictionary Gallery
Heroes are only as good as the villains they face. However, it's not just a matter of creating some psychotic killer or horrible dictator now. Yes, you can jeer them, but characters like that are cliches, boring, old hat. The key to villains now is they have so much depth; some are so over the top you are amazed, some are so suave and smooth that they are almost likeable. Even so, all symbolize the dark-side of humanity at it's most frightening.
1. The Joker by Jack Nicholson, 'Batman.' An amazing interpretation of the Joker with all the insanity, chaos, and pure hell the Clown Prince of Crime deserves. This is also one of the few roles in years where Jack Nicholson has played an actual CHARACTER rather then an extension of himself. The one-liners alone are priceless. And where does he get such wonderful toys?
2. Hans Gruber by Alan Rickman, 'Die Hard.' Prior to this, villains were pretty generic; evil, nasty, sell your Mother for money types. However, Hans was a little different. Yes, he was a cruel, evil, cold blooded thief... oops, make that 'an exceptional thief.' However, he was also very intelligent, suave, charming, almost likeable... until he killed you in cold blood.
3. Hannibal Lector by Sir Anthony Hopkins, 'Silence of the Lambs.' Say hello to Satan... literally. Hopkins took the trend Rickman started, the cool, charming killer, and took it one step further. Lector would make Hitler shudder. However, he also possesed an odd sense of honor, which Clarise Sterling understood. However, like Gruber, everything is just fine... until he decides to kill you. Then he'll have you for dinner with fava beans and a nice Chianti.
4. Lex Luthor by Gene Hackman, 'Superman-the Movie.' Until Hackman came along, Luthor was the generic mad scientist; large bomb this, mucho sized robot that. Hackman's Luthor realized that the key was to out-think, not out muscle, the Man of Steel. In addition, Hackman's Luthor was surrounded by the most most hysterical and inept assitants any super-villain could hire.(Ned Beatty as Otis is priceless.'