3. Silva (Skyfall)
Javier Bardem by now is a household name for the film buff. With such achievements under his belt as 'Vicky Christina Barcelona, No Country For Old Men, and Biutiful, it seems that not only is he a success but also has an almost blemish free career. It seems he's rather selective with his desire for roles meaning that the movies he does bless with his talent are ones he can be truly proud of. So when we learned he was to be the new Bond villain? Well, personally, this teamed with the fact that Mendes was the director, excitement would be an understatement. As could be expected of a Mendes Bond adaptation there was of course certain elements that went against the grain and made this movie an enjoyable picture in its own right. Much like Nolan's adaptation of Batman this movie was more down to earth and gritty than other takes on the tale and Skyfall didn't disappoint in this area. Our villain was no exception. With the character not only being more realistic but also his history with Bond's allies makes for a nail biting movie but also leaves the audience, much like after Dark Knight, feeling slightly unnerved by their own empathy for the villain of the movie. Silva is a past agent who was betrayed and disposed of easily by M herself and rather than seeking material wealthy, world dominance or other typical desires of a movie baddy, he merely seeks revenge. A mind twisted by anguish and a lust for vengeance but uncompromised by material greed was a breath of fresh air for a villain. At fear of sounding like a broken record I won't explain yet another Batman comparison but needless to say the mirroring between Silva and The Joker is something we won't degrade by saying it's a mimicking, but merely a skill both directors possess when creating a more down to earth villain, that challenges our preconceptions of a movie enemy.