Ranking Every Major MCU Villain From Worst To Best
1. The Mandarin/Trevor Slattery (Iron Man 3)
In the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, no move has been as controversial as Shane Black's portrayal of The Mandarin in Iron Man 3.
The Mandarin is not like Doctor Doom and Magneto - he's not a fascinating villain with a story that makes him as interesting as any hero. He's also not like the Green Goblin, a villain so maniacal that seeing him on screen is a joy for the senses. The Mandarin is simply an offensive stereotype.
With that in mind, Shane Black completely revamped the character. He's a terrorist who hates the United States and Western excesses, but also manages to be an ultra-charismatic rallying point for a movement. He's only seen in carefully edited videos until Tony Stark and James Rhodes find his secret lair - at which point they discover that he's a total patsy.
The Mandarin is actual Trevor Slattery, a failed, drug-addicted English actor who is recruited by Aldrich Killian (the film's real evil mastermind) to stir up fear en route to Killian's coup of the U.S. government. Of course, the cowardly Slattery quickly rolls over when confronted.
Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley makes both The Mandarin and Slattery come alive, portraying the terrorist leader with an unnerving diction and intimidating posture and the actor as scared, weak-minded, and hilariously inept. The smokescreen is executed perfectly and the twist stays with the viewer long after the movie is over.
Many hated it, but those who loved it really, really loved it.
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