tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post2260088084370939812..comments2024-03-28T16:20:46.168-04:00Comments on Alex J. Cavanaugh: Misunderstood VillainsAlex J. Cavanaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-54166063786315488882010-12-14T19:11:07.758-05:002010-12-14T19:11:07.758-05:00So right! To me, these folks aren't bad guys b...So right! To me, these folks aren't bad guys by any stretch of the imagination...<br />Great post!Pat Tilletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17699973774273291205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-55013329235769501332010-12-12T22:58:16.918-05:002010-12-12T22:58:16.918-05:00Those are not even villans as far as I am conceren...Those are not even villans as far as I am concerened. To want to protect yours is but human nature, and if you have to make a choice between what is yours and what is someone else's why should you choose as others would have you choose?Natashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00481081735923606868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-8167381078505069122010-12-12T17:29:36.128-05:002010-12-12T17:29:36.128-05:00Excellent take on the villian. It works best when...Excellent take on the villian. It works best when we have some connection to the bad guy. It raises the emotions. I popped in to let you both know that I ordered your books for my sons for Christmas. Goes to show you that a web presence/promotion DOES work. Happy Holidays and Happy Writing!Mary Aalgaardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08051735579638637382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-39973916082083230912010-12-12T15:02:02.001-05:002010-12-12T15:02:02.001-05:00I guess I have a slightly different take on villai...I guess I have a slightly different take on villains. To me, they are bad guys, even if they may have some redeeming qualities. The guy who is faced with either his daughter being killed or his killing someone else doesn't necessarily make him a villain. He is someone in a desperate situation, but his underlying character could be either good or bad.<br /><br />Interesting post, Steve and Alex.Bob Sanchezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08350825385315155962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-13804350625133968332010-12-12T13:10:02.597-05:002010-12-12T13:10:02.597-05:00Thanks Alex for hosting me! And thanks to everyone...Thanks Alex for hosting me! And thanks to everyone who stoped by. Its always a great experience to stop here. You have an awesome army of followers and commenters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-3983723923222835222010-12-12T10:54:47.730-05:002010-12-12T10:54:47.730-05:00Great post! I love the hamburger scene in Falling...Great post! I love the hamburger scene in Falling Down! hahaha...<br /><br />I also like Luc in French Kiss. Essentially he's a thief. He stole a necklace, his brother's credit cards, and cars/motorcycles....but in the end we just wanted him to get his vineyard...Vicki Rochohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07381089434014961076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-74158920013140725692010-12-11T17:57:42.531-05:002010-12-11T17:57:42.531-05:00I always love finding out the reason the villain i...I always love finding out the reason the villain is a villain. Nine times out of ten it seems to be something deeper than just being mean.Abby Minardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963640263845561309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-67177668141349394382010-12-11T12:12:36.721-05:002010-12-11T12:12:36.721-05:00Stephen, such great points. I learned this import...Stephen, such great points. I learned this important lesson when I read "Plot & Structure" by James Scott Bell. He even refers to the villain as the opposition just for this reason. Great stuff! And you mentioned some old movies I'd love to see again.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-20495433381487494152010-12-11T09:41:13.390-05:002010-12-11T09:41:13.390-05:00I really need to see Falling Down; I've only s...I really need to see Falling Down; I've only seen a single clip but it looks like a great movie. I'm one for having villains that are just as complicated as the heroes, since whether 'good' or 'evil' they're still only human (well, in most cases anyways).Jamie Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168603412367448706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-81900713961507518292010-12-11T09:13:22.084-05:002010-12-11T09:13:22.084-05:00I agree that the villan needs to be complex, just ...I agree that the villan needs to be complex, just like the hero. Great post!Laura Enohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09982794146667832204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-377823067816038832010-12-11T08:59:32.986-05:002010-12-11T08:59:32.986-05:00Thanks everyone for stopping by and supporting Ste...Thanks everyone for stopping by and supporting Stephen!Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-77005633203712593322010-12-11T07:45:37.035-05:002010-12-11T07:45:37.035-05:00Well done article, Stephen! John Q was a perfect e...Well done article, Stephen! John Q was a perfect example of a 'good' bad guy, as well as all the other situational villians you brought up. And I agree, many 'bad guys' do not think of themselves as bad guys. For example, Islamic 'terrorists' do not think of themselves as terrorists at all ... they think they are the good guys, 'freedom fighters' for Allah's deliverence of justice against the unbelieving persecuters of their people and religion.The Old Sillyhttp://theoldsilly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-74833402138673618462010-12-11T00:17:54.419-05:002010-12-11T00:17:54.419-05:00Jai, I like the way you stated that. Nicely done.
...Jai, I like the way you stated that. Nicely done.<br /><br />Dempsey, life throws us a curveball sometimes and a great story emerges that we never expected.<br /><br />Jeffrey, can you believe I have yet to read a Harry Pooter book or see one of the movies. No particular reason. I just haven't.<br /><br />Jemi, the more real the better. Just look at real life dictators over the past 100 years.<br /><br /><br />Cuck, I have both Kill Bill DVDs. Been a while seen I seen them. Now I want to watch them again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-45221348253232461772010-12-10T23:59:51.829-05:002010-12-10T23:59:51.829-05:00Great look at villains who sometimes think of them...Great look at villains who sometimes think of themselves as victims. Some of those you can't help but pull for.<br /><br />Mason<br /><a href="http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Thoughts in Progress</a>Mason Canyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10935307400882363560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-46591550397005566522010-12-10T22:56:39.942-05:002010-12-10T22:56:39.942-05:00Uma Thurman was so badass in the Kill Bill series....Uma Thurman was so badass in the Kill Bill series. I'm gonna have to watch them again this weekend.Chuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13676928110297819368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-22610939777951469442010-12-10T21:35:09.591-05:002010-12-10T21:35:09.591-05:00Hart, I'm sure you give your villains a good t...Hart, I'm sure you give your villains a good twist!<br /><br />And V from V For Vendetta is a great example of a 'villain' one roots for - although to me, he wasn't a villain.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-19971351250022846072010-12-10T21:29:52.833-05:002010-12-10T21:29:52.833-05:00Realistic villains are so much fun - to read and ...Realistic villains are so much fun - to read and to write about! :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-33325826060804969872010-12-10T20:05:01.756-05:002010-12-10T20:05:01.756-05:00One of my favorite villains is Professor Umbridge ...One of my favorite villains is Professor Umbridge from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. She does not see herself as a villain, which supports your point beautifully, but she is a villain all the same. Draco Malfoy is another villain in this same ilk.Jeff Beeslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17935580053176710609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-76309531924895754652010-12-10T19:50:07.347-05:002010-12-10T19:50:07.347-05:00Really enjoyed ths post, John Q and Falling Down a...Really enjoyed ths post, John Q and Falling Down are both movies I really enjoyed because the villain wasn't intending to be villain, it just happened that way. Great observations here.Dempsey Sandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03842133437455945602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-84617579068127453492010-12-10T18:23:44.939-05:002010-12-10T18:23:44.939-05:00MPax, nice to meet you and thanks for stopping by....MPax, nice to meet you and thanks for stopping by.<br /><br />Samuel, an astute observation. Seems like these come and go in cycles. <br /><br />Lydia, I agree about the cookie-cutter villain. Hollywood and authors understand they have to keep coming up with something with a different slant when it comes to villainy.<br /><br />Copyboy, nice Shakesperean comment. We haven't talked about Shakespeare's villains. This would be a blog series all its own.<br /><br />Susan, villains like the Joker had little depth. They were pure evil and that was enough to develop the character. <br /><br />notesfromnadir, I love these themed villains like Kill Bill and Falling Down. Like Susan stated about depth, these characters have plenty of that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-75023968913662036352010-12-10T18:06:20.788-05:002010-12-10T18:06:20.788-05:00That's when I find villains most interesting -...That's when I find villains most interesting - when they have their own sense of right and wrong and their following that. It may be warped or twisted or different but it is a code.<br /><br />Dexter's my obsession.<br /><br />JaiJai Joshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04858987106548357551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-20760408913121870142010-12-10T18:06:00.292-05:002010-12-10T18:06:00.292-05:00Glad to see more Falling Down fans here! I liked t...Glad to see more Falling Down fans here! I liked that movie a lot, as I did both Kill Bill movies. <br /><br />Really an excellent post as your point out that villains don't see themselves as villains.notesfromnadirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09904500676081267972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-22226807355003626362010-12-10T18:02:12.436-05:002010-12-10T18:02:12.436-05:00Stephen always has interesting things to say. I li...Stephen always has interesting things to say. I like to see depth in bad guys instead of pure evil.Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-75545798581514474142010-12-10T17:59:06.004-05:002010-12-10T17:59:06.004-05:00I agree. The best villains are forced into it. To ...I agree. The best villains are forced into it. To me it just makes the story more interesting. And the villain takes on that MacBethian quality.Copyboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00339752422561039109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-76420046451230363302010-12-10T17:55:18.948-05:002010-12-10T17:55:18.948-05:00Nice post guys! I also like villains that aren'...Nice post guys! I also like villains that aren't cookie cutter and straightforward.Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.com