I’m not sure if you’d classify him as a villian, but I loved Kevin Kline as Otto in A Fish Called Wanda. He was so mean to poor Ken, but he was still somewhat likeable even as a jerk. And when he beats up Archie in his (Archie’s) house - beats Archie, apologises to him, kicks and beats him a bit more, apologises again - was classic.
When prehistoric monster Eega smacked uber-annoying Arch Hall, Jr. square in the face … well, I admit that I cheered right along with Joel and the Bots.
I thought that Charles Dance was quite dashing when he played Sardo Numska in “The Golden Child”, starring Eddie Murphy. I loved the leather coat he had on.
I loved the drakon [beating forehead]must think of her name, will look like easy target for mocking[stop beating forehead] [remembering name]Gwen! in S. M. Stirling’s Drakon. She was a great character, despite the fact that she was trying to take over the world and control the world’s population. I she was much more likable than the Samothracian, since all of her abilities were part of her biological makeup, like super-speed/strengh and super-senses, intelligence (they both had this), and resourcefulness (she had to makle do with what she could find, whereas he was equipped for the mission. It was a great book, only slightly better than the others before it in the series.
I also loved Sephiroth in FFVII. He was great!!
Jeremy Irons is another actor whose bad guys I always root for. I really wanted him to get away with the gold in Die Hard 3.
Hmmm… Alan Rickman, Jeremy Irons, Samuel L. Jackson, The Asteroid… How about “whoever’s opposite Bruce Willis?”
'Cept Sam was Bruce’s partner (sort of) in DH3.
I think sublight is referring to Samuel L Jackson in Unbreakable as opposed to Die Hard 3.
I second the nomination for Gul Dukat.
Also…
Sorry, the coolest character in the series was Boba Fett. Someday I want to make a Special Special Edition that shows Fett not only not get eaten by the Sarlacc, but he then goes on to kill Luke, Han, Chewie, and Lando, and then kills Jabba for being a twit (just for the heck of it).
Hell, maybe we should just make an entire trilogy that surrounds Fett.
Other cool villains…
Thrawn was also amazing. It’s a pity he had to be killed.
Todd Spango. Now he was a funny guy. Sure, he was an idiot (maybe that’s what made him so loveable), but he had ambition… he wanted to destroy Earth!
Dark Helmet, Colonel Sandurz, and President Scroob… 'nuff said.
Alex from Clockwork Orange. Evil evil person. The look on his face in one of the last scenes, when he says “Yes, I was cured” is a visage of Evil itself.