User blog:Lover of the Muse/Judging the Marvel movie villains


 * Disclaimer: potential spoilers for every Marvel Movie

This is a follow-up to my previous blog "why people think Marvel villains suck?". This blog is dedicated to examining the marvel movie villains who have only appeared in one movie and giving my judgements on these characters. I think a lot of these characters have been unfairly judged.

I have a few criteria for judging villains. A good villain needs to:
 * be entertaining
 * feel like a threat: someone who could actual defeat the hero
 * have easy to understand motivations
 * motivations need to be made clear in the actual movie, if we need supplementary material like comics to understand their motivations that doesn't count.
 * have clearly defined characteristics: they shouldn't be interchangable
 * have consistant characterization
 * the characters action and development need to make sense given their characterization, motives, and what's happening in the story.

Phase 1
Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger: this is a character from the very start of the MCU. Obadiah claims that what he does keeps the world from falling into chaos but he is clearly motivated by greed and jealousy. Stane originally creates the Iron Monger armor as a weapon to revolutionize the arms race, and only puts on the Iron Monger armor once it becomes clear that his criminal activities have been uncovered and SHIELD is onto him. I'd give Obadiah Stane a grade C

Emil Blonsky/Abombination this is a very simple character but he isn't a poorly written character. Emil Blonsly is a blood knight. Emil Blonsky held off being promoted out of the battlefield, despite his aging body (looking 45 when he's 39) for the sheer joy of being a "fighter", and when the opportunity to fight a foe as formidable as the Hulk arose, was willing to have himself transformed into a Super Soldier and later into the Abomination to be able to have a "real fight". I'd give Emil Blonsky a B

Ivan Vanko/Whiplash: Doesn't want to rule or destroy the world he only wants to make Tony Stark suffer. Ivan Vanko is unflappable; after he's defeated at the race track and dragged away he's just laughing, cuz he made a god bleed! Unlike Obadiah, Vanko is just as mechancically gifted as Tony Stark. I'd give Ivan Vanko a grade C

Red Skull: Red Skull is a pretty basic "take over the world" type of antagonist but he fits well into the world that "Captain America: the First Avenger" was trying to build. If Obediah Stane was a breakway from the cliches people were sick of then Red Skull embodied the tropes that are classic for a reason. Red Skull is a vile and pompous windbag. There's no depth or moral ambiguity to this character but the scenery chewing preformance of Hugo Weaving easily makes up for that. I give Red Skull a B+

Phase 2
Aldrich Killian: Killian is my favorite of the Iron Man villains. Aldrich Killian's motivations are straightforeward but his evil plan has a lot more thought put into it; he misdirects the characters as well as the audiance. Unlike the previous two Iron Man villains he does't wear a suit and instead he uses Extremis.Aldrich Killian puts Tony Stark through hell and throughout the movie Tony is losing access to his friends and his resources. This makes it all the more satisfying when he finally defeated. I give Aldrich Killian an A

Malakith the Accursed: Malakith has no personality and his motivations are difficult to understand; he wants to plunge the universe into eternal darkness just because. Malakith get's a D. At least Malakith comes off as as a legit threat and is consistant in his blandness,otherwise I'd give him an even lower grade.

Ronan the Accuser: Ronan isn't sympathetic or relatable in any way but his motivations are simple and easy to follow. Ronan is a fanatic who doesn't want to accept peace with the Nova Empire just because his government signed a treaty. This character's uber-serious attitude makes him a good foil for the heroes. The scene where Star-Lord challenges Ronan to a dance off would not have been nearly as funny if Ronan wasn't such a stoic character. I give Ronan the Accuser a B

Alexander Pierce: Alexander Piece is a "utopia justifies the means" type villain. He wants to bring Project Insight online and have a gun pointed at everyone on the planet because he believes that's the only way that the world can be safe. I think what makes this character so interesting is that his villainous actions were inspired by the anti-hero Nick Fury. Alexander Pierce represents the slippery slope of moral compromises and the consequences of disregarding freedom in the name of security. I give Alexander Pierce an A

Ultron: Ultron was better written and acted than he had any right to be. Ultron has access to all the information in the world so he thinks he knows better than everyone else; he's convinced the only way to have 'peace in our time' is to restart human civilization. Ultron's personality reflects his creator Tony Stark; they have the same wit, ego, sarcasim and ability to make light of situations. Despite his warped view of peace and his god-complex Ultron can come across as thoughtful and empathic, he also has a lonely side. I give Ultron an A

Darren Cross: feels like a watered down Iron Man villain. I give this character a C- because while he isn't boring and still feels like a threat, he isn't very unique.

Phase 3
Helmut Zemo: Helmut Zemo is the only villain on this list who actually succeeds in his plan. This is impressive considering he's just a normal human. Helmut Zemo's family died in Sokovia and he wants revenge. "I knew I could never kill them, more powerful men than me have tried but maybe I could get them to kill each other". While Obediah Stane broke a lot of conventions for pre-MCU superhero movies, Helmut Zemo decontructed the conventions of the MCU itself. By the end of the movie the Avengers are still divided, and I think it's only a matter of time before they clash again. I give Helmut Zemo an A+.

Kaecilius: I've only seen Doctor Strange once so I can't do a proper analysis of this character yet.