Quick Big Mi6 Main Villain Ranking Game

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  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    My #17
  • goldenswissroyalegoldenswissroyale Switzerland
    Posts: 4,483
    Birdleson wrote: »
    I'm the one that had him at 22. Charismatic, engaging enough, but nothing special. Basically it's Louis Jordan in every role I've ever seen him in.

    I have only seen him in Columbo and I was surprised to see Kamal vs. Columbo. He really played it in a very similiar way. Nevertheless, I like Jourdan in both of them.
    pachazo wrote: »
    He just cracked my top 10 as well. What a memorable performance. He's arrogant, a bit eccentric, and completely sadistic and vile. And a charmer to boot. He's trying to play all sides against each other in order to further his own interests. What more can you ask for?
    Nicely put. I have him ranked at 13 for these reasons.
    My favourite Khan scene by far is the Backgammon duel.
  • Slazenger7Slazenger7 Gothenburg, Sweden
    edited September 2021 Posts: 1,344
    The bidding war at Sothebys is great aswell. Kamal looks really hard set, and the way he looks at Bond when leaving. Menacing without saying a word.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Birdleson wrote: »
    I'm the one that had him at 22. Charismatic, engaging enough, but nothing special. Basically it's Louis Jordan in every role I've ever seen him in.

    I have only seen him in Columbo and I was surprised to see Kamal vs. Columbo. He really played it in a very similiar way. Nevertheless, I like Jourdan in both of them.
    pachazo wrote: »
    He just cracked my top 10 as well. What a memorable performance. He's arrogant, a bit eccentric, and completely sadistic and vile. And a charmer to boot. He's trying to play all sides against each other in order to further his own interests. What more can you ask for?
    Nicely put. I have him ranked at 13 for these reasons.
    My favourite Khan scene by far is the Backgammon duel.

    +1
  • edited September 2021 Posts: 1,398
    I had Khan at #15, one of the better villains but not top tier!
  • Posts: 2,402
    I have no idea how a villain with the greatest line of dialogue in the entire series doesn't make the top 10, but okay.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,183
    I have no idea how a villain with the greatest line of dialogue in the entire series doesn't make the top 10, but okay.

    Which is? 😊
  • zebrafishzebrafish <°)))< in Octopussy's garden in the shade
    Posts: 4,341
    "Do you expect me to talk?"
    "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!"

    That is arguably the greatest line in the entire series.
  • R1s1ngs0nR1s1ngs0n France
    Posts: 2,148
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    I have no idea how a villain with the greatest line of dialogue in the entire series doesn't make the top 10, but okay.

    Which is? 😊
    My guess is he's referring to "you have a nasty habit of surviving", which is a great line indeed but I'd hardly qualify it as the greatest line of dialogue in the series.
    Jourdan's delivery is wonderful, almost filled with glee. In that regard, he reminds me very much of Drax... both seem to react to Bond's 'petulance' with what can be described as amused exasperation and their wittisicms are a perfect experession of that.
  • ProfJoeButcherProfJoeButcher Bless your heart
    Posts: 1,711
    R1s1ngs0n wrote: »
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    I have no idea how a villain with the greatest line of dialogue in the entire series doesn't make the top 10, but okay.

    Which is? 😊
    My guess is he's referring to "you have a nasty habit of surviving", which is a great line indeed but I'd hardly qualify it as the greatest line of dialogue in the series.
    Jourdan's delivery is wonderful, almost filled with glee. In that regard, he reminds me very much of Drax... both seem to react to Bond's 'petulance' with what can be described as amused exasperation and their wittisicms are a perfect experession of that.

    "Nasty habit" is pretty good, but it's totally overshadowed by "Well you know what they say about the fittest..." Love that line.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,134
    Another great one is:
    “Spend the money quickly Mr. Bond.”

    And on that witticism, let’s have a look at our number 14:

    ADOLFO CELI
    as Emilio Largo
    in THUNDERBALL

    thunderball+us+lobby+card+number+7+james+bond+007+US+original+1965.jpg

    Our winner as far as Largo’s are concerned.

    Emilio received two 5th places, one 6th place, two 7th places, three 8th places, one 9th place and one 10th place.

    Two bottom 5’s were also noted: one 23rd place and, his lowest score, one 24th place.

    Emilio Largo obtained 120 points in total.
  • R1s1ngs0nR1s1ngs0n France
    edited September 2021 Posts: 2,148
    Largo is #8 for me. While he might not be considered an iconic villain, due to him being preceded by such an exceptional rogue gallery (followed by EST himself), I enjoy him immensly.
    The fact that the title song's lyrics could allude both to him and Bond in equal measure, speaks volumes.
    He is truly the first main villain who can be seen as Bond's mirror image - charming, ruthless, a man who appreciates the fine things in life (aka beautiful women) and also a man of action who's not afraid to get his hands dirty.
    Best dressed villain in the series and as I've stated before, I love the dynamic between him, Domino and Bond. The casino scene is easily one of my favorites in the series and Bond's visit to Palmyra is another classic moment.
    Oh, and the eye patch doesn't hurt either :)
  • ProfJoeButcherProfJoeButcher Bless your heart
    Posts: 1,711
    I love Thunderball and Celi, but I had him at 16.

    I really love Largo, and he has the potential to be a top five villain, but the script never gives him the upper hand against Bond. It's one of about two Bond films where 007 is never in the custody of the villain. And Bond constantly shows him up in games and quips.

    Not complaining though, as this makes the James Bond of Thunderball one of the coolest portrayals in the series. But Largo does suffer as a result.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    Largo came in at 17 for me. He has a commanding presence but TB is one of my lesser favorites of the series and he doesn't always make the greatest impact for me.
  • R1s1ngs0nR1s1ngs0n France
    edited September 2021 Posts: 2,148
    I love Thunderball and Celi, but I had him at 16.

    I really love Largo, and he has the potential to be a top five villain, but the script never gives him the upper hand against Bond. It's one of about two Bond films where 007 is never in the custody of the villain. And Bond constantly shows him up in games and quips.

    Not complaining though, as this makes the James Bond of Thunderball one of the coolest portrayals in the series. But Largo does suffer as a result.
    Technically, he doesn't hold Bond captive but he does have him at his mercy when Bond falls into the swimming pool with one of his henchmen. I only think he decides to send his sharks after him out of mere convenience (and sadistic pleasure, obviously) rather than being a result of an elaborate plan to dispose of Bond.
    And don't forget that if it weren't for Domino planting a harpoon in his back, Largo had the drop on Bond and was about to shoot him... but like so many other Bond villains, he seemed to suffer from the 'relish the moment a bit too long' syndrome.
  • I had him at 16. He definitely cuts a striking figure with that eye-patch of his (love how he’s revealed in the movie!) and his shark pool and super yacht are cool villain accessories…but how he’s written is definitely a little less colorful than the villains that came before. I wish he had been written, and cast, more like in the novel as a powerful threat who is physically imposing and just as much of a womanizer as Bond — a true piratical mirror to Bond himself. As it stands he mostly just feels impotent, a man past his prime that can’t hope to compete with Bond on any level. I had a bit higher hopes for Blofeld’s number 2.
  • goldenswissroyalegoldenswissroyale Switzerland
    edited September 2021 Posts: 4,483
    Very interesting thoughts about Largo. You guys know what you are talking about ;)
    The points made by @R1s1ngs0n and @ProfJoeButcher are both fully comprehensible and still very different.
    Largo definitely has somevillainous moments (Quist feeded to the sharks) and other very good moments but it is usually to Bond's pleasure (clay pigeon, Casino...).

    However, none of the Largos is an outstanding highlight for me. Emilio is my #19.
  • I've had him in at #10, I think he is one of the iconic villains... though my love of Thunderball may be overestimating him a bit.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,134
    Personally I always liked Both Largo’s for different reasons, I also like both actors a lot outside the franchise. Being a big giallo fan I have seen quite a few non-Bond films with Adolfo Celi and I’ve grown rather fond of him as an actor. If you ever feel the need to watch experimental Italian stuff, which I think everyone should ;), give They Have Changed Their Face (aka … hanno cambiato faccia) a go.
  • I ranked Largo in 5th place - he's one of my favourite villains and forms an iconic trio opposite Connery's Bond at his most dangerous and the gorgeous Domino. He's also the first villain with lifestyle tastes similar to Bond and Adolfo Celi sells that aspect of the character really well.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    No. 7 for me. Love his introduction at the very start of the film. Also love the scene where he feeds his shark with one of his underlings, one of the coolest in the series. That shot of him from beneath the water is amazing.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    edited September 2021 Posts: 24,183
    I really like him. Kissing his ring while his thug is thrown in a shark pool is AWESOME! Celi is great. Too bad we never hear him talk.
  • ProfJoeButcherProfJoeButcher Bless your heart
    edited September 2021 Posts: 1,711
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    I really like him. Kissing his ring while his thug is thrown in a shark pool is AWESOME! Celi is great. Too bad we never hear him talk.

    When I realized (or more likely had it pointed out to me) that his voice is also that of Tiger Tanaka and FYEO Blofeld, things were never quite the same....!
  • Posts: 7,430
    Largo was no. 16 for me! Pretty much for reasons stated elsewhere!
    He does have the unique position, as the lead villain who nearly meets his end at the very start of the movie, when he narrowly avoids being run over by a car crossing the road!
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    Posts: 7,314
    He registered in the 24th spot for me. Somehow, I just knew I would have him ranked the lowest. It's not that I don't like him. I can appreciate his understated aggression and menace. I don't want every villain to be over the top, but let's face it, he's just a little bland compared to the competition.
  • goldenswissroyalegoldenswissroyale Switzerland
    Posts: 4,483
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    Largo was no. 16 for me! Pretty much for reasons stated elsewhere!
    He does have the unique position, as the lead villain who nearly meets his end at the very start of the movie, when he narrowly avoids being run over by a car crossing the road!

    Yeah, I also wondered once if this car was there intentional and if Celi was aware of this car! Most dangerous stunt of the series!
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,134
    Up next, at number 13, we have:

    DONALD PLEASENCE
    as Ernst Stavro Blofeld
    in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE

    You-Only-Live-Twice-lobby-card-with-villain.jpg

    The first non-faceless Blofeld appearance of the series collected one silver medal and two bronzes.

    Six more top 10’s were noted: one 5th place, two 6th places, one 7th place, one 8th place and one 9th place.

    His most frequent placement was 14th, on four occasions, while there was also one bottom 5, a single 24th spot.

    YOLT’s Ernst Stavro Blofeld received a total of 133 points.

    Only one Blofeld remains in the contest.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    22nd for me. The worst Blofeld except for FYEO, and one of the weak points in an otherwise fine film.
  • ProfJoeButcherProfJoeButcher Bless your heart
    Posts: 1,711
    I had him at 24. He's obviously as iconic as they come, but he's never worked for me.

    He's certainly not any kind of physical threat to anyone, and I don't really see how he's much of an intellectual threat either. He's just kind of a little weirdo who I can't imagine actually creating and/or leading an organization like Spectre. He looks like he doesn't belong onscreen as an opponent to Connery's Bond, and his incompetence/disinterest in killing James Bond reaches farcical levels.

    Tom Sears on James Bond Radio (in a more positive appraisal) said Pleasence's Blofeld looks like he'd be into golden showers or something, and I think that sums it up pretty well.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    He was my 14 the as well....
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