Actors who could be the Bond 25 Villain.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/surprise-acting-legend-throws-hat-11753268 

Thoughts? Admittedly I don't think I've seen much of his work, but I've always found him to be rather vanilla. I didn't mind him as Poirot, but I always thought he was trying his best to emulate David Suchet. I vaguely remember him in other roles, which I think isn't a good thing for a villain candidate. Perhaps he'd be more suited to playing an ally.

I imagine he'd want to direct the Bond film too. After seeing MOTOE, he definitely has the visual style. So long as it doesn't venture into Jack Ryan territory. What a laboured, forgettable film that was.

Jon Bernthal.

Purvis and Wade...

Though admittedly Branagh could do a credible job he has an awful tendency to overact in the wrong places in a good number of films. (And I quite like him as an actor but Bond villains only really work when controlled and intelligent-thus allowing the madness to seep onto the audience.) The best moment in Shadow Recruit was his scene in the restaurant which could have been even more Bondian and less cartoonish-not to mention the film SHOULD have been his Russian adversary vs. Costner as Ryan...but wait that would have been a spy film for adults...that's not allowed in this day and age...

Branagh as a more Fleming-ly styled villain could work but I doubt it being done so properly.

I agree. The overacting was prevalent in MOTOE also, for example, the egg scenes at the beginning needed to be toned down, from memory. Very showy performance. 

I vaguely remember Shadow Recruit so can't comment there, though I imagine that says enough. 

Off the top of my head, I'd like Anthony Hopkins and Ed Harris to have a crack. Hopkins of course was cast as Augustus Trevelyan and Elliot Carver, leaving both because of rewrites. Ed Harris could give us something like Walken's psychotic Zorin or Savalas' athletic Blofeld and his look, especially as he ages, is becoming much more distinguished. Willem Dafoe's another who screams James Bond villain, even if he came into contact with Eon for Everything or Nothing. Gary Oldman could be an option, though his over saturation in Nolan's films makes me a little enthusiastic about it.

There's a myriad of lesser known European actors I'd love to see as a villain, but it's too late here in Oz to search them up now.

Sigourney Weaver.

Your link doesn't work, Fields.

Try this.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-5215763/Kenneth-Branagh-wants-play-James-Bond-villain.html

Cheers.

I don't think he'd be a terrible choice.

It's unlikely now but I maintain Ciaran Hinds could do a turn as a villain or could've done the 'C' role well. Then again, he could be a 'M' type either

Don't jump at me...Javier Bardem.

I mean, we never really see Silva die, do we? I was watching Skyfall twice this week (couldn't make it to see the TV broadcast in full length, so I decided in favour of my DVD the day after) and it actually made me wonder that he should die of a stabbing in the back. Yes, it is Bond and he knows of course which organs to stab. But still...Silva just collapses as if he had lost consciousness. No-one actually bothers to check his pulse. Blofeld shows his picture in SP, but that does not prove that Silva is actually dead at all. It only proves that SPECTRE and Silva want Bond to believe that Silva was dead. It strikes me as curious that he gets ignored so quickly. They are all so distracted by the death of M, that they might have forgetten an unconscious Silva in the chapel.

Charlize Theron.

And bring back Hinx

I'd rather see Charlize Theron as a Bond girl, but even then, there are a myriad of other actors who I'd prefer in the Bond series. 

As for Silva's death - he's dead. Please don't let the writers see that post, Kath! They'll take that and run with it, using SF's success as a model. 

I was watching Dunkirk last night, and the biggest acting standout is Mark Rylance. And after his brilliant turn in Bridge of Spies, I've always thought he'd pop up in a Bond film soon, much like I thought Waltz and Seydoux would eventually - let's just hope it's better than their efforts.

FieldsMan wrote:

Mark Rylance

Good choice.

FieldsMan wrote:

I'd rather see Charlize Theron as a Bond girl, but even then, there are a myriad of other actors who I'd prefer in the Bond series. 

As for Silva's death - he's dead. Please don't let the writers see that post, Kath! They'll take that and run with it, using SF's success as a model.

Charlize Theron has been a MI 6 agent herself. And she's so much more skilled than Monneypenny. That was pretty much like "Let a woman be a field agent and another operative gets shot". If Lourraine Broughton kills a MI 6 agent, it is because she wants to.
I'd suggest Sofia Boutella for a Bond girl (Kingsman: Secret Service, Atomic Blonde).

Actually, there is more to Raoul Silva than the success of SF. I am ready to defend this: he was partly revived via role-memory into Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales under the name of capitan Almando Salazar. If I tell you that the alternative title is "Salazar's Revenge"...
He has lost half of his face (and yes, it is the same spot) and then he hunts Sparrow down to tell him that it was all his fault. Kind of. I cannot help but see him as Silva. Javier Bardem playing two characters with such a similar story is just inviting to do so. And Salazar has a lot of admirers as well. If anyone is aware of this connection (and I am sure that someone is) they may take these box office accounts into consideration as well.
I am actually telling two fandoms that this character must come back, because Salazar dies just as well.
I would be very delighted if they brought Silva back. I still recall when I saw him in the trailer for PotC...The moment when a beloved character of one franchise shows up in the other franchise you love.
So, don't ask me, I totally want Silva back!! After the Blofeld disappointment we need him just the more.

Help! I cannot edit my own texts anymore. Neither can I delete the hereby produced duplicate.

Kath wrote:

Help! I cannot edit my own texts anymore. Neither can I delete the hereby produced duplicate.

the edit function goes walkies hereabouts for some reason but I took care of the duplicate.

Hilly KCMG wrote:

Kath wrote:

Help! I cannot edit my own texts anymore. Neither can I delete the hereby produced duplicate.

the edit function goes walkies hereabouts for some reason but I took care of the duplicate.

Thank you!

I have to ask Kath: have you watched other Bond films outside of the Craig era? Moneypenny was merely a secretary for forty years, and so comparing Charlize Theron's character from Atomic Blonde to Moneypenny seems a bit naive. Wai Lin might have been a better option, or Camille - if we're going the Craig era. Or even Jinx. 

Not to mention that the Bond series has survived longer than the run of Craig's films, which means they have been able to conjure up some very good villains (aside from those adapted from Fleming). Drax,  Zorin, Sanchez, Alec, Carver, Elektra... All exceptional villains which ensured the longevity of the series - and all these I'd rate more highly than Silva if it came down to it. I think creating Silva is what lured them into a trap into creating the Oberhauser/Blofeld abomination in SP, by means of giving Bond and the villain a shard history because Butterhack writer decided in his shallow wisdom that Bond fans want more personal stories. 

A final question: do you really think that Bond would not have checked the body if he doubted he died before returning to London?

FieldsMan wrote:

I have to ask Kath: have you watched other Bond films outside of the Craig era? Moneypenny was merely a secretary for forty years, and so comparing Charlize Theron's character from Atomic Blonde to Moneypenny seems a bit naive. Wai Lin might have been a better option, or Camille - if we're going the Craig era. Or even Jinx. 

Not to mention that the Bond series has survived longer than the run of Craig's films, which means they have been able to conjure up some very good villains (aside from those adapted from Fleming). Drax,  Zorin, Sanchez, Alec, Carver, Elektra... All exceptional villains which ensured the longevity of the series - and all these I'd rate more highly than Silva if it came down to it. I think creating Silva is what lured them into a trap into creating the Oberhauser/Blofeld abomination in SP, by means of giving Bond and the villain a shard history because Butterhack writer decided in his shallow wisdom that Bond fans want more personal stories. 

A final question: do you really think that Bond would not have checked the body if he doubted he died before returning to London?

Do you think that I have given you a bogus ranking? Seriously? Why do you imply such a thing only because I do not share your preferences?

CR is a reboot of the Bond-universe which means that Monneypenny was a field agent before she became M's secretary. Judging her age, most likely for the next forty years to come. So it is actually the other way round; Monneypenny has been an operative before she became a secretary for forty years or whatever.
If I am not mistaken, Monneypenny is the only female MI 6 field agent working alongside Bond. Jinx is a NSA agent, Wai Lin is a Chinese agent, Kamille is Bolivian. Monneypenny is the only female MI 6 field agent and thus the only one who is Bond's co-worker. They do not co-operate because they have decided to do so; they are colleagues. This is an entirely different situation, and, so I conclude, only Monneypenny can be compared to MI 6 agent Lourraine Broughten.
So, why is it naive to compare the two female British field agents?
Only those two are direct competitors for Bond's abilities. After all they might be doing his job better. All others are allies of one sort or another. The female MI 6 agents may be offered a knighthood before Bond. They are competitors in a way. And Moneypenny is doing such a poor job by taking Bond's advice that not everyone was meant to be a field agent. If you see it in this light you may understand why I criticized the portrayal of Moneypenny.

Ok, you will dislike this. As I have said earlier about DAF, these extremely absurd scenarios are too far away from Fleming for me. Drax and his Brave New World in space, Zorin with his artificially created super-genes. Janus and Elektra just have personal issues as well. Alec has decided to take revenge on a whole nation because his parents had been betrayed instead of "only" taking revenge on M as Silva does. And I honestly have no appreciation for Elektra's Stockholm syndrome. This was a cheap trick to change the story-line and turn the damsel-in distress into the femme fatale. And all this caused by a Stockholm syndrome!
Nothing of this is Fleming. Drax was an escaped Nazi who wanted to blow up London. The Drax of the novel is an entirely different character. The original plot-line of MR is much more realistic than this extremely fantastic scenario in space. So I do not consider the filmic Drax as "invented by Fleming". Fleming gave us great villains and most of them have been distorted. There are characters who qualify better for "abominations" than Oberhauser Jr., such as Mr BIG. Oberhauser Jr is a combination of two Fleming-characters, which is fine with me considering that they have to come up with new material after 23 movies. Why not combine elements of Fleming's novels to create something new?

Sorry, the "edit"-function has gone again...

You always say by yourself that the Craig Bond is reckless. Which means I am sure he might also be careless enough not to check upon Silva's body.

If you'll forgive my pride in a fellow Belfast man ... I wouldn't mind seeing Branagh do a villain turn at all. Come to think of it, he'd have made a decent M too.

Kath wrote:

FieldsMan wrote:

I have to ask Kath: have you watched other Bond films outside of the Craig era? Moneypenny was merely a secretary for forty years, and so comparing Charlize Theron's character from Atomic Blonde to Moneypenny seems a bit naive. Wai Lin might have been a better option, or Camille - if we're going the Craig era. Or even Jinx. 

Not to mention that the Bond series has survived longer than the run of Craig's films, which means they have been able to conjure up some very good villains (aside from those adapted from Fleming). Drax,  Zorin, Sanchez, Alec, Carver, Elektra... All exceptional villains which ensured the longevity of the series - and all these I'd rate more highly than Silva if it came down to it. I think creating Silva is what lured them into a trap into creating the Oberhauser/Blofeld abomination in SP, by means of giving Bond and the villain a shard history because Butterhack writer decided in his shallow wisdom that Bond fans want more personal stories. 

A final question: do you really think that Bond would not have checked the body if he doubted he died before returning to London?

Do you think that I have given you a bogus ranking? Seriously? Why do you imply such a thing only because I do not share your preferences?

CR is a reboot of the Bond-universe which means that Monneypenny was a field agent before she became M's secretary. Judging her age, most likely for the next forty years to come. So it is actually the other way round; Monneypenny has been an operative before she became a secretary for forty years or whatever.
If I am not mistaken, Monneypenny is the only female MI 6 field agent working alongside Bond. Jinx is a NSA agent, Wai Lin is a Chinese agent, Kamille is Bolivian. Monneypenny is the only female MI 6 field agent and thus the only one who is Bond's co-worker. They do not co-operate because they have decided to do so; they are colleagues. This is an entirely different situation, and, so I conclude, only Monneypenny can be compared to MI 6 agent Lourraine Broughten.
So, why is it naive to compare the two female British field agents?
Only those two are direct competitors for Bond's abilities. After all they might be doing his job better. All others are allies of one sort or another. The female MI 6 agents may be offered a knighthood before Bond. They are competitors in a way. And Moneypenny is doing such a poor job by taking Bond's advice that not everyone was meant to be a field agent. If you see it in this light you may understand why I criticized the portrayal of Moneypenny.

Ok, you will dislike this. As I have said earlier about DAF, these extremely absurd scenarios are too far away from Fleming for me. Drax and his Brave New World in space, Zorin with his artificially created super-genes. Janus and Elektra just have personal issues as well. Alec has decided to take revenge on a whole nation because his parents had been betrayed instead of "only" taking revenge on M as Silva does. And I honestly have no appreciation for Elektra's Stockholm syndrome. This was a cheap trick to change the story-line and turn the damsel-in distress into the femme fatale. And all this caused by a Stockholm syndrome!
Nothing of this is Fleming. Drax was an escaped Nazi who wanted to blow up London. The Drax of the novel is an entirely different character. The original plot-line of MR is much more realistic than this extremely fantastic scenario in space. So I do not consider the filmic Drax as "invented by Fleming". Fleming gave us great villains and most of them have been distorted. There are characters who qualify better for "abominations" than Oberhauser Jr., such as Mr BIG. Oberhauser Jr is a combination of two Fleming-characters, which is fine with me considering that they have to come up with new material after 23 movies. Why not combine elements of Fleming's novels to create something new?

It's not because you don't share my preferences. It seems that in most (if not all) of your responses seem to revolve around the Craig Bond films, as if you take what they present to you as gospel. Apologies if that came across a little strong... I had forgotten you posted a ranking. 

The issue is that I don't think Moneypenny should have been a field agent. I don't buy into the whole timeline rubbish, simply because there was never a timeline to begin with, anyway. I actually think it's rather backward to the feminist cause to have a 'Bond equal' relegated to a desk job because she's not cut out of it (and then relegated to slave girl having her shave Bond - but that's another topic!   ). The reason I referred to Wai Lin or Camille is because of their competence in the job, not because of job title. They are much more proficient, just as Lorraine is. 

Regarding the Stockholm syndrome - no. Bond thinks it might be Stockholm syndrome, but it's not. Elektra is the one pulling the strings. She's the one manipulating Renard. So it's proven rather quickly that it's not Stockholm Syndrome. This may not be directly link to Fleming, but it alludes with Fleming's bizarre ideas, as well as some of his very best female characters being a 'bird with a wing down'. This is why Severine works so well too. She wasn't a character lifted from any of Fleming's novels, but she could very well have been. This creation captures the world and tone of Fleming's work more than what CR06 did, even with the novel as a basis for the plot. Ironic, no?

When I referred to the cinematic Drax, Zorin, etc., I was referring to the series ability to create their own excellent villains outside of those adapted from Fleming's novels (such as Rosa Klebb or Goldfinger). Say what you will of the film, but Michael Lonsdale's Drax is a huge improvement on Stromberg, and the actor provides a suitably chilling, droll performance. Of course, the Drax of the novel is brilliant, but that's not what we're talking about right now. We're talking about if Bardem should return as Silva, which is a laughable idea, and one that was considered for Frobe and Goldfinger for DAF, but was tossed aside because of said ridiculousness. 

And come to think of it, the Le Chiffre of the 06 film is nothing like Fleming's character beyond his name and goal. In an alternate universe, Michael Lonsdale - circa 1979 - would have knocked it out of the park. Instead, we're left with a vanilla interpretation of the character, and no amount of blood in the eye or asthma pumps will improve it.

And on the topic of Le Chiffre, Romain Duris was considered for the role back in '06. I'm glad his talent wasn't wasted for that film. And after a robust performance in All The Money In The World, I'd wager he's on Eon's radar again, and wouldn't be surprised if he turns up in a Bond film at some point. 

FieldsMan wrote:

Kath wrote:

FieldsMan wrote:

I have to ask Kath: have you watched other Bond films outside of the Craig era? Moneypenny was merely a secretary for forty years, and so comparing Charlize Theron's character from Atomic Blonde to Moneypenny seems a bit naive. Wai Lin might have been a better option, or Camille - if we're going the Craig era. Or even Jinx. 

Not to mention that the Bond series has survived longer than the run of Craig's films, which means they have been able to conjure up some very good villains (aside from those adapted from Fleming). Drax,  Zorin, Sanchez, Alec, Carver, Elektra... All exceptional villains which ensured the longevity of the series - and all these I'd rate more highly than Silva if it came down to it. I think creating Silva is what lured them into a trap into creating the Oberhauser/Blofeld abomination in SP, by means of giving Bond and the villain a shard history because Butterhack writer decided in his shallow wisdom that Bond fans want more personal stories. 

A final question: do you really think that Bond would not have checked the body if he doubted he died before returning to London?

Do you think that I have given you a bogus ranking? Seriously? Why do you imply such a thing only because I do not share your preferences?

CR is a reboot of the Bond-universe which means that Monneypenny was a field agent before she became M's secretary. Judging her age, most likely for the next forty years to come. So it is actually the other way round; Monneypenny has been an operative before she became a secretary for forty years or whatever.
If I am not mistaken, Monneypenny is the only female MI 6 field agent working alongside Bond. Jinx is a NSA agent, Wai Lin is a Chinese agent, Kamille is Bolivian. Monneypenny is the only female MI 6 field agent and thus the only one who is Bond's co-worker. They do not co-operate because they have decided to do so; they are colleagues. This is an entirely different situation, and, so I conclude, only Monneypenny can be compared to MI 6 agent Lourraine Broughten.
So, why is it naive to compare the two female British field agents?
Only those two are direct competitors for Bond's abilities. After all they might be doing his job better. All others are allies of one sort or another. The female MI 6 agents may be offered a knighthood before Bond. They are competitors in a way. And Moneypenny is doing such a poor job by taking Bond's advice that not everyone was meant to be a field agent. If you see it in this light you may understand why I criticized the portrayal of Moneypenny.

Ok, you will dislike this. As I have said earlier about DAF, these extremely absurd scenarios are too far away from Fleming for me. Drax and his Brave New World in space, Zorin with his artificially created super-genes. Janus and Elektra just have personal issues as well. Alec has decided to take revenge on a whole nation because his parents had been betrayed instead of "only" taking revenge on M as Silva does. And I honestly have no appreciation for Elektra's Stockholm syndrome. This was a cheap trick to change the story-line and turn the damsel-in distress into the femme fatale. And all this caused by a Stockholm syndrome!
Nothing of this is Fleming. Drax was an escaped Nazi who wanted to blow up London. The Drax of the novel is an entirely different character. The original plot-line of MR is much more realistic than this extremely fantastic scenario in space. So I do not consider the filmic Drax as "invented by Fleming". Fleming gave us great villains and most of them have been distorted. There are characters who qualify better for "abominations" than Oberhauser Jr., such as Mr BIG. Oberhauser Jr is a combination of two Fleming-characters, which is fine with me considering that they have to come up with new material after 23 movies. Why not combine elements of Fleming's novels to create something new?

It's not because you don't share my preferences. It seems that in most (if not all) of your responses seem to revolve around the Craig Bond films, as if you take what they present to you as gospel. Apologies if that came across a little strong... I had forgotten you posted a ranking. 

The issue is that I don't think Moneypenny should have been a field agent. I don't buy into the whole timeline rubbish, simply because there was never a timeline to begin with, anyway. I actually think it's rather backward to the feminist cause to have a 'Bond equal' relegated to a desk job because she's not cut out of it (and then relegated to slave girl having her shave Bond - but that's another topic!   ). The reason I referred to Wai Lin or Camille is because of their competence in the job, not because of job title. They are much more proficient, just as Lorraine is. 

Regarding the Stockholm syndrome - no. Bond thinks it might be Stockholm syndrome, but it's not. Elektra is the one pulling the strings. She's the one manipulating Renard. So it's proven rather quickly that it's not Stockholm Syndrome. This may not be directly link to Fleming, but it alludes with Fleming's bizarre ideas, as well as some of his very best female characters being a 'bird with a wing down'. This is why Severine works so well too. She wasn't a character lifted from any of Fleming's novels, but she could very well have been. This creation captures the world and tone of Fleming's work more than what CR06 did, even with the novel as a basis for the plot. Ironic, no?

When I referred to the cinematic Drax, Zorin, etc., I was referring to the series ability to create their own excellent villains outside of those adapted from Fleming's novels (such as Rosa Klebb or Goldfinger). Say what you will of the film, but Michael Lonsdale's Drax is a huge improvement on Stromberg, and the actor provides a suitably chilling, droll performance. Of course, the Drax of the novel is brilliant, but that's not what we're talking about right now. We're talking about if Bardem should return as Silva, which is a laughable idea, and one that was considered for Frobe and Goldfinger for DAF, but was tossed aside because of said ridiculousness. 

And come to think of it, the Le Chiffre of the 06 film is nothing like Fleming's character beyond his name and goal. In an alternate universe, Michael Lonsdale - circa 1979 - would have knocked it out of the park. Instead, we're left with a vanilla interpretation of the character, and no amount of blood in the eye or asthma pumps will improve it.

Apology accepted. :-)
I am a Fleming purist. I first thought that we were a minority in the world of Bond, but I am happy to say that I have found out that we are quite a handful. To me, most of the films form the monument under which, to my huge chagrin, lies a genius author buried at whom people scoff because they only know the films. That is largely the fault of Umberto Eco who helped to shape the idea of a "Bond formula". When I am asked "Is that the man who invented James Bond?" I nod; but I am unhappy with that. He's so much more than that.
I can see / feel Fleming's work in the new films, so, yes, I mostly focus on them. My ranking shows that. And for this simple reason I am not impressed by villains who helped to keep the franchise going. The franchise is not Fleming. The Bond phenomenon and Fleming's novels are two different things.

Of course it is a backlash at a feminist movement to have Moneypenny removed to a desk job. That's why I criticized it. This is not about job titles, it is a question of positioning. Give the same job to Broughton and to Bond and you'll see.
I have read an article where the shaving scene is interpreted as female empowerment. Considering that she might just cut his throat and that she even hints at it by "Do your put your life in my hands again?" strongly supports this. I will look for it online. It goes back over the decades and investigates the portrayals of Moneypenny in a feminist view.
But we did agree that Vesper is the ghost in Bond's life so we need the timeline for that. That's the main reason why I love the Craig cycle. It is a cycle in the first place and it has a timeline. And that timeline follows Fleming. They have finally broken the Bond formula! Bond has been freed from his chains of a schematic plot-line that has to follow a fixed pattern and set rules. He can finally tell his story. Yes, he becomes a person in a way and we have to agree that you dislike the films for the very reason I like them for. I think removing the Bond theme from the soundrack to a large part, if I buy into that, might just mean the same. The freedom of a character who was chained into his own marketing system.
Cut him some slack, let him breathe.

I do not agree with you at all. Fleming's novel are slow-paced and, how was this quote, kind of "filled with unnecessary extra stuff and information no-one needs". Very charming. Someone must re-read the books I say, well.
CR is exactly as slow-paces as its original. How much screen-time is used to show that game of cards? That's what you get in the novel, too. Again, we say good-bye to conventional action scenes which are "Bond" in favour of something Fleming has done.
I am not sure if it is not a form of inverted Stockholm Syndrome. There is an episode in Elementary where a serial killer abducts children and in the end, [spoiler], one of the children has taken over the role of the killer and is manipulating the original killer. I am not sure how they call it. But Stockholm Syndrome means that the victim identifies with the abductor an that is still what is happening.
As for the girls with a wing down. They hurt. They all hurt very deeply (we are talking about Tracy and Vivienne). Sévérine is hold hostage, which does not quite fit for my taste. And so is Elektra in the first place. The girls with a wing down hurt because they have been mistreated or violated, they hurt psychologically. I would add Tiffany Case (the novel version) and Honeychild Rider. Their prisons are in their heads. They are not kept prisoner by three big man of Silva. Or Renard's men.

Why is it laughable to have Bardem return? Everyone expected Waltz and he declined. These films move up a ladder, so Le Chiffre is only the first and weakest villain to be encountered. The lowest rank of SPECTRE, the hands to acquire money. At least this is what I see in the cycle. Bond moves up the ladder of SPECTRE and problem being that the head of SPECTRE does not work as head of SPECTRE at all. Someone suggested that the real head might have been C, which I would love, had Andrew Scott not happened to do the Reichenbach Fall again. They have to fix this weak performance of Waltz somehow; he was not convincing as the boss opponent you meet at the end of a computer game. They have to find a clever solution now for this SPECTRE dilemma.

Benedict Cumberbatch has done a very decent job as Khan (and his Hamlet is downright adorable), but I am still undecided if I would like to see him next to a much older Daniel Craig...