tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post4327417941321920211..comments2023-05-30T08:59:47.912-04:00Comments on Hello Ello old blog: winning captionEllo - Ellen Ohhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311917335471167591noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-61366107134893271742008-02-19T12:03:00.000-05:002008-02-19T12:03:00.000-05:00Oooh, Hannibal Lecter is a great example. Totally...Oooh, Hannibal Lecter is a great example. Totally evil, but brilliantly so. <BR/><BR/>I love highly intelligent villains. They don't always need to have a humane side...the villain in No Country for Old Men is, as far as I can tell, totally unredeemed...cold, calculating, determined. He has no pity. But his determination and thoroughness are, in their own way, virtues. <BR/><BR/>So I guess what I'm talking my way around is that I think a great villain tends to be one who excels in some way. Whether or not they're self-aware of their villainy, they go above and beyond what "normal" people would do or think in some way (even if it's in ways that aren't grandiose--the woman in Misery...people seeing her in town wouldn't guess what she's doing...but she clearly has an over-the-top mean streak).Preciehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05071233480999640713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-66723548999866434142008-02-19T11:18:00.000-05:002008-02-19T11:18:00.000-05:00Congrats Blogless Troll! Ello,Sometimes I like vil...Congrats Blogless Troll! <BR/><BR/>Ello,<BR/><BR/>Sometimes I like villians who are just plain evil, and other times, I like the ones who are evil, but still likeable, if that makes. sense. I think it depends on what you're going for in your story. Do you want people to hate them, sympathize with them, or like them. It depends.Tyhitia Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14070000168178880911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-31299819461514171952008-02-18T21:28:00.000-05:002008-02-18T21:28:00.000-05:00Ha! Missed the contest, but love the winning capti...Ha! Missed the contest, but love the winning caption.<BR/><BR/>Mike Myers' Dr Evil. Yes, he was a parody. But such a brilliantly quirky one, with so much attention to detail.McKoalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01457446171624585099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-19841803899367435832008-02-18T20:39:00.000-05:002008-02-18T20:39:00.000-05:00I think the key to a good villain is that they can...I think the key to a good villain is that they can't think of themselves as a villain. And now that I read the other comments, I see that's pretty much what everybody else is saying. Then again, I'm pretty sure Darth Vader thought he was the villain.robkroesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14731849693307953813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-83142356601522844502008-02-18T19:26:00.000-05:002008-02-18T19:26:00.000-05:00Yes, I agree: villains don't think of themselves a...Yes, I agree: villains don't think of themselves as villains. And to be interesting they shouldn't be 100% bad. Maybe only 99%. :)Carleen Bricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433203126527081458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-30814606138214504302008-02-18T17:27:00.000-05:002008-02-18T17:27:00.000-05:00A couple of my favourite baddies:Francis Dolarhyde...A couple of my favourite baddies:<BR/><BR/>Francis Dolarhyde in Red Dragon. Thomas Harris does such a wonderful job of showing how his villain became what he is that he entirely wins your sympathy, and when he finds love and starts fighting against his own urge to kill, you really end up rooting for him.<BR/><BR/>Another, albeit in a film rather than a book, is Roy Batty in Blade Runner. Again, he is almost entirely sympathetic; he didn't ask to be created, and now he doesn't want to die. He is driven by the basic urge of all living things - survival.Stuart Nevillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883631620345577504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-33792434631366921612008-02-18T15:29:00.000-05:002008-02-18T15:29:00.000-05:00Woo-hoo! But I'd like to share the prize with Lana...Woo-hoo! But I'd like to share the prize with Lana since it looks like the only difference was about five minutes. So, ello, please mail half the check to Lana. Thanks.Blogless Trollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03983848259551488867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-29987059417306789432008-02-18T14:22:00.000-05:002008-02-18T14:22:00.000-05:00He/she must be sympathetic in some way, although t...He/she must be sympathetic in some way, although that is sometimes hard to do. Another favorite villain of mine is Rickman's Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood.Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-25125029446882579682008-02-18T11:46:00.001-05:002008-02-18T11:46:00.001-05:00think of when jaws fell in love with that blonde b...think of when jaws fell in love with that blonde braided girl in moonraker. even jaws can fall in love! he's human.cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13911692378593865493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-42919477586774814222008-02-18T11:46:00.000-05:002008-02-18T11:46:00.000-05:00you need to sympathize with the villain just a lit...you need to sympathize with the villain just a little bit. there needs to facets of him or her that draws the reader, that makes her pause and think, hey, i sort of undrestand where he is coming from. or i sort of understand why he would do that, it's evil and demented, but sure.<BR/><BR/>you risk making them boring when you make them 100% bad.cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13911692378593865493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-85036142082510378682008-02-18T07:28:00.000-05:002008-02-18T07:28:00.000-05:00Great caption, Ello!What about an emotional villai...Great caption, Ello!<BR/><BR/>What about an emotional villain?Vesperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12417602625059442986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-26173102682996668122008-02-17T18:32:00.000-05:002008-02-17T18:32:00.000-05:00I like villains who I know so well and understand ...I like villains who I know so well and understand so well, that I almost want to root for them. Like Charles said, the villain who doesn't realize he's a villain is best. "Evil" is a weak motivator, in my mind. I prefer villain's who thing they're making the best choice in their situation.Spy Scribblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299551957327543491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-44043401087970331592008-02-17T17:26:00.000-05:002008-02-17T17:26:00.000-05:00I'm no help.My villian's just a shit.May depend on...I'm no help.<BR/>My villian's just a shit.<BR/>May depend on what stage the villiany is at.<BR/>If s/he's a developing villian or a completed villian.<BR/>But a villian with a sense of humor is scarier than any other kind.Bernitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05264585685253812090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-80765645900276255242008-02-17T14:47:00.000-05:002008-02-17T14:47:00.000-05:00A great villian who comes to mind is Evil Genius, ...A great villian who comes to mind is Evil Genius, played by David Warner in Time Bandits.<BR/><BR/>One of his classic lines:<BR/>Evil: If I were creating the world I wouldn't mess about with butterflies and daffodils. I would have started with lasers, eight o'clock, Day One!<BR/><BR/>[zaps one of his minions accidentally, minion screams]<BR/><BR/>Evil: Sorry.<BR/><BR/>He was also pretty nasty as Dillinger in TRON.<BR/><BR/>I agree with Charles that the villain must actually believe that he's doing the right thing.Sandra Cormierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00231342310371529022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-20194023750376274772008-02-17T12:31:00.000-05:002008-02-17T12:31:00.000-05:00This is great advice! Will keep in mind for my vil...This is great advice! Will keep in mind for my villains. And yes my trio of villains are all working together, in a heirarchy of evil!Ello - Ellen Ohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18311917335471167591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-61469886206404503372008-02-17T02:09:00.000-05:002008-02-17T02:09:00.000-05:00The advice from Brenda and Charles is great. When ...The advice from Brenda and Charles is great. When I read your question, I was thinking along the lines of what Brenda said. Then couple that with Charles' piece of advice, and that's a killer combo. <BR/><BR/>I'm intrigued by your trio. Are they to be allies, or working against each other?<BR/><BR/>(And thanks for the shout out!! I also can't wait for Jason's contest!)Chris Eldinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11794946908789120139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-46132665096696478922008-02-16T21:43:00.000-05:002008-02-16T21:43:00.000-05:00I snoozed and missed the caption contest, but hope...I snoozed and missed the caption contest, but hopefully I'll get in the next one you do.<BR/><BR/>My villains are never obviously bad until late in the book. I think all great villains have proper motivation, at least in their eyes, and have at least some good qualities. Sorry, I know that is pretty generic advice.Travis Erwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09420879160702098979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-14087842169516610102008-02-16T21:42:00.000-05:002008-02-16T21:42:00.000-05:001- Yeah- that Alan Rockman villain was hot as a fi...1- Yeah- that Alan Rockman villain was hot as a firecracker. He kicked Bruce Willis's ass on devsatatingly handsome and tasty.<BR/><BR/>2- Speaking of, um, tasty, looks like 'tasty' worked for you, BT!<BR/><BR/>Congrats! Tell EE, please, all about tasty.Robin S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03258459688300851984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-32175506066319377362008-02-16T18:34:00.000-05:002008-02-16T18:34:00.000-05:00Brenda is right: a villain who shows his or her hu...Brenda is right: a villain who shows his or her humanity is one who is truly compelling.<BR/><BR/>My all-time favorite villain is Fosco in Wilkie Collins' 'Woman in White.' He is particularly wonderful because he is quirky and talented and has a little pet mouse. I knew he was bad, but could hardly help rooting for him he was so much fun. I'm convinced that Wilkie Collins loved writing him up.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-88420503580013423702008-02-16T15:24:00.000-05:002008-02-16T15:24:00.000-05:00Thanks for the nod. ;) Unfortunately I can't help ...Thanks for the nod. ;) Unfortunately I can't help much with your villain, as I predominantly read non-fiction these days. Actually, I guess there've been plenty of non-fiction villains, too...and those are scarier 'cuz they're real...Lana Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06975996208260144558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-71475464371016770462008-02-16T14:19:00.000-05:002008-02-16T14:19:00.000-05:00Both Brenda's and Charles's examples are great, IM...Both Brenda's and Charles's examples are great, IMO. I like clever, intelligent villains (The Joker, Hannibal). One way to avoid unintended stereotypes might be to write up a "villain traits" list--all the things that first come to mind--and then for each trait you listed, try to come up with a more vivid or opposite alternative.Theresehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01915740239016736614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-4782817246826975932008-02-16T13:43:00.000-05:002008-02-16T13:43:00.000-05:00One thing I think is important for the villain is ...One thing I think is important for the villain is that he or she not believe they are the villain. At least for realistic villains as opposed to more melodramatic villains. We tend to develop characters more completely when they think of themselves as the "heroes" of their own personal story.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-25124435161456838802008-02-16T13:18:00.000-05:002008-02-16T13:18:00.000-05:00What makes a great villian? Ugh. So many things bu...What makes a great villian? Ugh. So many things but what comes immediately to mind is a quirk that shows humanity. Like the killer who is an animal lover. The sadist who honestly loves his old grandmother. Like in Misery - she was cruel, but never used swear words. <BR/><BR/>Leave it to BT to think up the perfect caption! Way to go!Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17083327647412477394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084311190804567808.post-33805258665443110422008-02-16T13:05:00.000-05:002008-02-16T13:05:00.000-05:00love the caption! sadly, i have no adice for you,...love the caption! sadly, i have no adice for you, but i am sure others will fill my void...Pattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05716215892504806470noreply@blogger.com