Did you ever root for the bad guy?

[Reverend Conehead]

When I was in high school, the third Star Wars movie, Return of the Jedi, came out. My good friend, Mark, and I were fascinated by Darth Vadar. We watched the first two Star Wars movies on VHS tape, rooting for Darth Vadar; then we went to see the Return of the Jedi on opening day in Honolulu, of course rooting for our man, Darth Vadar.

I know you're supposed to boo and hiss at the villain, but we loved Darth Vadar. Then I took a liking to The Emperor. When Vader kept the Emperor for killing Luke by picking him up and throwing him down that deep pitt on the pace ship, killing him, I nudged Mark in the theater and said, "Bummer, I liked that guy." And he laughed.

We went around at school saying, "We love Darth Vadar, the Emperor, and the EMPIRE!" Other kids would get POed at us for that. The villains are often the most interesting characters. So sometimes I end up kind of liking them.

 

[DasTex]

Wanted the Cowboys to beat the Little Giants

 

[timb2]

I kinda of like Hans Gruber and his crew in the original Die Hard. They looked so bada#$ when they took over the Nakatomi Building. I like John McClain too ,but several of the bad crew were so cool. ...Really shooting that coked up sleaze salesguy Lyle was a bad thing?....


Bank robber and Heist movies I'm rooting for the Bad guys," Heat"," Dead Presidents"," Set It Off"," Reservoir Dogs".

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

When I was in high school, the third Star Wars movie, Return of the Jedi, came out. My good friend, Mark, and I were fascinated by Darth Vadar. We watched the first two Star Wars movies on VHS tape, rooting for Darth Vadar; then we went to see the Return of the Jedi on opening day in Honolulu, of course rooting for our man, Darth Vadar.

I know you're supposed to boo and hiss at the villain, but we loved Darth Vadar. Then I took a liking to The Emperor. When Vader kept the Emperor for killing Luke by picking him up and throwing him down that deep pitt on the pace ship, killing him, I nudged Mark in the theater and said, "Bummer, I liked that guy." And he laughed.

We went around at school saying, "We love Darth Vadar, the Emperor, and the EMPIRE!" Other kids would get POed at us for that. The villains are often the most interesting characters. So sometimes I end up kind of liking them.

For me, vllians aren't interesting to me. Anyone can hate, the ones who strive for something other than that (which takes more effort within) is more interesting.

 

[BigStar]

For me, vllians aren't interesting to me. Anyone can hate, the ones who strive for something other than that (which takes more effort within) is more interesting.

I was the opposite, basically rooting for anarchy to win. I think it matters where you are in life tbh, if you're in an unstable situation, you like to see the comfortable become unsettled. Very petty and immature tbh.

I'm not like that anymore for the most part outside of heist movies where we are half tricked to root for the thieves, etc (Den of Thieves/Heat comes to mind and just saw Timb's post on the same thing with heist films)

Tommy on Goodfellas wasn't a villain in the classic sense, but was easy to like even with all his bad tendencies. Same with Anton on No Country for Old Men but wo the personality/charm, just rooted for him the whole movie. Killmonger a little bit but he was overboard in Black Panther but empathized with his angle.

 

[BigStar]

Wanted the Cowboys to beat the Little Giants

Loved that movie! Me too... (screw hard work and determination, those silver and blues are still looking pretttttty sharp....)

 

[timb2]

I was the opposite, basically rooting for anarchy to win. I think it matters where you are in life tbh, if you're in an unstable situation, you like to see the comfortable become unsettled. Very petty and immature tbh.

I'm not like that anymore for the most part outside of heist movies where we are half tricked to root for the thieves, etc (Den of Thieves/Heat comes to mind and just saw Timb's post on the same thing with heist films)

Tommy on Goodfellas wasn't a villain in the classic sense, but was easy to like even with all his bad tendencies. Same with Anton on No Country for Old Men but wo the personality/charm, just rooted for him the whole movie. Killmonger a little bit but he was overboard in Black Panther but empathized with his angle.

Yeah liked Tommy from Good Fellas

 

[CouchCoach]

Depends on my mood and my desire for justice or kill'em all and sort it out later.

I am more into actors playing the bad guy and I love Christopher Walken as a bad guy, the man loves being the bad guy and plays it with such flair.

Alan Rickman and Jason Isaacs are also two of my favorites because they play the polar opposite of their real personalities. Although Daniel Radcliffe ruined the effect of Lucius Malfoy when he said Isaacs is the nicest man he ever met but he really pulled it off in "The Patriot". Love seeing him get his in the end every time.

 

[rags747]

Walter White otherwise known as Heisenberg.

 

[Turk]

The main reason that quite often villains seem more appealing is the laziness of the writers. Its easy to make a bad guy interesting; a lot harder to make the good guy interesting.

And all too often the good guys are written as either boring or unsympathetic.

One stupid trend is to make the good guy so screwed up that the bad guy looks better in comparison.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Ocean's Eleven is a movie where everyone rooted for the bad guys.

But on a personal note, I orginally rooted for Thanos to win. Because the world is over populated and resources are thin. But then I thought...Thanos you're so powerful with those rings why not create more worlds to ease the problems caused by over population.

The Universe is designed to last forever. Every galaxy is designed to last forever. Earth's circle of life is designed to last forever. But we as human beings have to carry Earth's circle of life with us when we leave. So Earth's circle of life lasting forever is contingent on mankind inventing advance space travel.

I also rooted for the ghost in Poltergeist 3. I mean, take them to the light Carrol Anne and get it over with. Sheesh!

 

[Reverend Conehead]

The main reason that quite often villains seem more appealing is the laziness of the writers. Its easy to make a bad guy interesting; a lot harder to make the good guy interesting.

And all too often the good guys are written as either boring or unsympathetic.

One stupid trend is to make the good guy so screwed up that the bad guy looks better in comparison.

IMO, many writers write their good guys as too good. The key to making them interesting is to give them human flaws that we can identify with. In the verdict, Paul Newman plays a struggling, down-and-out lawyer who gets a case with merit, but one that's hard to prove. He was once at the top of his field, but got disbarred due to a frame-up, but eventually got his law license back, but now struggles to get by. We can relate to him because he's so flawed and has so many obstacles. If they had made him a super wealthy attorney who graduated from Harvard Law School, is admired by everyone in his profession, and has never lost a case, that would be boring. We're more sympathetic when we root for the underdog.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Wanted the Cowboys to beat the Little Giants

Hey Numnuts, he's talking about movies.



Sorry. Just wanted to use your name in a manner in which it was intended.

 

[HungryLion]

The Sopranos is my favorite television series ever.

I think it’s pretty common for fans of the series to find themselves “rooting” for Tony or Christopher or Paulie, Silvio, etc.


even though they are ALL bad guys.

actually I believe the creator David Chase. Purposefully wrote the episode where Ralph beats The young dancer, Tracee to death.

he specifically wrote that episode because he felt too many fans were starting to like
Characters like Ralph, etc and he wanted to make it clear they are the bad guys.

 

[HungryLion]

Walter White otherwise known as Heisenberg.

This is a really good choice.

 

[Vtwin]

The Sopranos is my favorite television series ever.

I think it’s pretty common for fans of the series to find themselves “rooting” for Tony or Christopher or Paulie, Silvio, etc.


even though they are ALL bad guys.

actually I believe the creator David Chase. Purposefully wrote the episode where Ralph beats The young dancer, Tracee to death.

he specifically wrote that episode because he felt too many fans were starting to like
Characters like Ralph, etc and he wanted to make it clear they are the bad guys.

That was one of the most brutal scenes of the series for me. I think Tony became more likeable as a result as he showed what appeared to be real empathy for the girl. Made me root for Tony to take out Ralph. lol

 

[Creeper]

When the "good guy" is either a terrible acting job, or just really stupid I sometimes hope he meets his demise.

 

[HungryLion]

That was one of the most brutal scenes of the series for me. I think Tony became more likeable as a result as he showed what appeared to be real empathy for the girl. Made me root for Tony to take out Ralph. lol

Good points. Tony smacking Ralph around actually did show he had some empathy.

You’re right that it showed he has empathy in some situations. empathy for her, he had empathy for animals..... we know what happens when Pie O My dies.... and empathy for babies and young children.

I think it was also interesting because Ralphie was a generally funny character. He had really funny one liners and jokes he would make. Which at sometimes I think overshadowed how horrible a person he was.

so seeing him treat tracee that way. Really drove the point home how sick and psychopathic he really was.

though even HE softens and seems to actually change in some serious ways when his son gets hit with the arrow and is permanently disabled.

the show was so great at showing the depth of characters and how overall horrible people can do good things and how overall good people can do bad things.....

just incredible.

 

[Turk]

IMO, many writers write their good guys as too good. The key to making them interesting is to give them human flaws that we can identify with. In the verdict, Paul Newman plays a struggling, down-and-out lawyer who gets a case with merit, but one that's hard to prove. He was once at the top of his field, but got disbarred due to a frame-up, but eventually got his law license back, but now struggles to get by. We can relate to him because he's so flawed and has so many obstacles. If they had made him a super wealthy attorney who graduated from Harvard Law School, is admired by everyone in his profession, and has never lost a case, that would be boring. We're more sympathetic when we root for the underdog.

Wrong. I have seen very little to indicate they are making the good guys too good for like 30 years. Tell me a recent example of a too good good guy. I am waiting.

No, the problem is they take a character and make him so flawed its ridiculous. THAT is what I see way too much of.

Its like in the remake of the BSG series; with the exception of Adama every major character was so screwed up they never would have been able to fight their way out of a paper bag.

 

[timb2]

I root againist Ben Affleck and for the villian because Ben Affleck sucks so bad in movies.