# Villians . . you root for. (warning: BRUCE WILLIS MOVIE SPOILERS) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 26, 2001, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764 "2001-10-26T13:44:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Vinnie\_Virginslayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/53a042/32.png) [@Vinnie\_Virginslayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vinnie_Virginslayer)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/1 "2001-10-26T13:44:28Z")
Any fictional villians you ever found yourself rooting for? I just got done polishing two episodes of “Smallville” and I LOVE the teenage Lex Luthor character. He’s not overtly evil on the show, yet, but you actually feel sorry for him as no one in town likes him because of his dad, and he is constantly scheming to make Clarke Kent his friend. For me a good villian is someone who is both charismatic, and has actually legit reasons for falling to the darkside. Other villians I really felt bad for when they lost or were offed: KHAN from Star Trek. I’d be pissed too if I had to live on that damn planet. MR. GLASS from Unbreakable. ---
**Author:** ![poohpah\_chalupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/2 "2001-10-26T15:06:33Z")
In the Hitchcock film **Frenzy** , the villain is a somewhat charming guy, while the “good guy” is a jerk. In one particular scene, the villain is trying to retrieve a tie pin that will link him to his most recent murder. You kind of sweat it out with him as he tries to beat the police to the evidence. OTOH, his crimes were pretty heinous and the good guy was, as standard in Hitch films, an innocent bystander who didn’t deserve the crap being flung his way. ---
**Author:** ![poohpah\_chalupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/3 "2001-10-26T15:08:07Z")
…and, of course, the Joker was an infinitely more interesting character in the movie than **Batman** was. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/4 "2001-10-26T15:19:35Z")
I’m always rooting for Tony Soprano, and I guess he’s a villain. I also rooted for Riddick in Pitch Black, such a sexy bad ass. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/5 "2001-10-26T15:33:51Z")
Gul Dukat ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/6 "2001-10-26T15:36:42Z")
Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham in **Robin Hood–Prince of Thieves.** [to a wench] You! My room. 10:30 tonight. [to another wench] You! 10:45… And bring a friend. Wait a minute. Robin Hood steals money from my pocket, forcing me to hurt the public, and they love him for it? [Scribe nods] That’s it then. Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings, and call off Christmas! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/7 "2001-10-26T15:39:00Z")
Edward Fox as **the Jackal** in Fred Zinneman’s 1972 film of Frederick Forsythe’s **The Day of the Jackal**. If you’re not familiar with it (or you’re only familiar with the Bruce Willis/Richard Gere monstrosity), the plot is about a hired assassin, hired by the OAS to kill Charles de Gaulle in 1962. The Jackal makes meticulous and careful preparations, including alternate identities. When he finally enters France, he learns from the OAS (who have a spy in the French government) that his operation has been “blown”. In a crucial scene, he drives his hired Alfa Romeo and halts at a fork in the road – Italia or Paris? He pauses, pulls up the roof on the convertible, and heads into Paris, taking on the French police under commisair Claude Lebel, confident in his abilities and preparations to see the operation through. The Audience often breaks into applause at this point. By the end of the film, you’re rooting for both sides – For The Jackal to succeed, after all that work, and for Lebel (played by Michael Lonsdale) to somehow catch him and prevent the assassination. Great flick. Great book. ---
**Author:** ![Survey1215](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Survey1215](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Survey1215)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/8 "2001-10-26T15:49:05Z")
On the Simpsons: Sideshow Bob, especially the episode when he marries Selma. A close second: Bob’s brother Cecil. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/9 "2001-10-26T17:06:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham in **Robin Hood–Prince of Thieves.** > > [to a wench] You! My room. 10:30 tonight. > [to another wench] You! 10:45… And bring a friend. > > Wait a minute. Robin Hood steals money from my pocket, forcing me to hurt the public, and they love him for it? [Scribe nods] That’s it then. Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings, and call off Christmas! \*\* I heard that Rickman made up the ‘and bring a friend’ on the spot (can’t prove it, though). I thought Rickman also was fine in the Bruce Willis ‘John McClain’ film (my memory’s going!)- the one set in a building. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/10 "2001-10-26T19:43:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Survey1215 \* > \*\*On the Simpsons: Sideshow Bob, especially the episode when he marries Selma. > > A close second: Bob’s brother Cecil. \*\* Even moreso than the Zwelliger boys, you have to root for Hank Scorpio! ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/11 "2001-10-26T20:21:37Z")
The ghost in **The Blair Witch Project** and Darth Vader. ---
**Author:** ![Eternal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@Eternal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eternal)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/12 "2001-10-26T21:40:51Z")
Dr. Evil. Especially in _The Spy Who Shagged Mw_, which was really more about him anyway (Being evil and silly is just funnier than being horny and silly). ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/13 "2001-10-26T21:51:19Z")
Iago in Othello. He really did deserve the promotion. ---
**Author:** ![poohpah\_chalupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/14 "2001-10-26T22:08:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by slortar \* > **The ghost in The Blair Witch Project…** ::raises **slortar** ’s arm in the air:: We have a winner! ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/15 "2001-10-26T22:40:25Z")
**Hank Scorpio** , absolutely. “Homer, on your way out, if you want to kill somebody, it would help me a lot.” Scorpio! He’ll thrill you with his dreams of power and wealth. Scorpio! His twisted twin obsessions are his plot to rule the world and his employee’s health. He’ll welcome you into his lair as the hmmhmmhmm welcomes its guest–with free dental care and a stock plan to help you invessssst. I was rooting for the crazed dead(?) guy in I Know What You Did Last Summer, not because he was sympathetic, but because I couldn’t stand any of the awful teenagers. ---
**Author:** ![Winnowill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4491bb/32.png) [@Winnowill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnowill)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/16 "2001-10-26T22:53:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glee \* > \*\*I thought Rickman also was fine in the Bruce Willis ‘John McClain’ film (my memory’s going!)- the one set in a building. \*\* **Die Hard**. I love Alan Rickman in anything. I’ve always rooted for the Wicked Queen in Snow White. Every time I see it, I get bummed that she gets crushed by a rock. ---
**Author:** ![Chocobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Chocobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chocobo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/17 "2001-10-27T01:58:43Z")
Darth Vader, Wile E. Coyote and Sephiroth in FF7. (Hey, _I_ rooted for him…) ---
**Author:** ![Yondan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/278dde/32.png) [@Yondan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yondan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/18 "2001-10-27T01:59:14Z")
Alan Rickman is very cool to watch. Did anyone see him in _Quigley Down Under_? As far as I’m concerned, the only reason to watch _Episode one_ was **Darth Maul** , the coolest villain in the series, and by far the worst served with the most inane death I’ve ever seen. Then there’s the character Wes Studi played in _Last of the Mohicans_. Hannibal Lector in _Silence of the Lambs._, but definitely **NOT** in _Manhunter_. If you haven’t seen it, (it’s the prequel to SotL), the character of Hannibal Lector is not someone you would _ever_ want to see get out of his cell, ever, ever, ever. A long time ago, in the James Bond film _Live and Let Die_, Roger Moore was totally outclassed by the evil Yaphet Kotto, and his main henchman, the voodoo witch doctor played by the 7 Up guy…does anyone remember who I’m talking about or his name? ---
**Author:** ![lenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3bc359/32.png) [@lenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lenin)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/19 "2001-10-27T02:20:09Z")
Speaking of Bruce Willis movies… Who here liked the Asteroid from **Armegeddon**? ---
**Author:** ![Limerick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Limerick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limerick)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764/20 "2001-10-28T02:15:28Z")
Alan Rickman-- oh YES!!! I am so happy to see that this has turned into an Alan Rickman appreciation thread. He is _so_ good in everything I’ve seen him in. However, in answer to Yondon’s question, I did see him in _Quigley Down Under_, and I did not root for his character in that film. He was cool to watch though. I wanted to smack Kate Winslet in _Sense and Sensibility_ for making him feel bad. Heh. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/villians-you-root-for-warning-bruce-willis-movie-spoilers/89764.md?page=2)