Do you prefer being the bad guy or the good guy in a film?

[CottonBolus]

If you were given a chance to be in a film and given the choice between being the good guy and the bad guy in a film, which one would you choose? What's your reason behind this choice?

Personally, I'd choose to be the bad guy. Even today, most good guys are portrayed as being perfect. Being a villain, on the other hand, allows more room for flaws and plus I find villains more interesting than good guys especially bad guys like the Joker in the Dark Knight. Now that's some fine acting right there.


I'd definitely choose to be the bad guy...

[reone]

Good guy, for sure. I wouldn't do well in jail.

[CottonBolus]

Good guy, for sure. I wouldn't do well in jail.

But what if it was pretend. There would be no consequences if you were a bad guy. Would you want to be him:


or him:



I've always found the character of batman to be depressing.

[CupidBoy]

Good question. It would depend on the role ultimately. Although I'd probably pick the good guy, I think I'd fit the role of the hero quite well.


Where are the flaws tho?

[pat grimshaw]

But how come kids flock to these new "Dark" movies and aspire to be "BAD-ass"?

[eastofeden]

Definitely the bad guy...way more fun.

[Hard-up1]

I'm not sure it is requires more talent in acting to play the villain. It is rather difficult to pull off a convincing portrayal of innocent or naive or good when one has already lived through the experiences that most aspiring actors endure.

[CottonBolus]

Definitely the bad guy...way more fun.

I agree! I wish I could play the Joker from the Dark knight.

[CottonBolus]

I'm not sure it is requires more talent in acting to play the villain. It is rather difficult to pull off a convincing portrayal of innocent or naive or good when one has already lived through the experiences that most aspiring actors endure.

That's a good point but I think many bad guys have to act like they have mental illnesses which very hard to pull off because it could easily end up looking corny. Here's a clip from dark knight:



This is my favorite clip; and I think it's the most technically challenging.

[refujiunderground]

either is fine with me. i can be a hero or a villian. i think i could play the perfect big bird in a film or be the perfect oscar the grouch in a garbage can. more so oscar the grouch than big bird since i'm not tall enough to be big bird in a suit. i wouldn't have any problem fitting into a garbage can though as long as i can kneel down in it. one of those tall trash cans too.

[CottonBolus]

But how come kids flock to these new "Dark" movies and aspire to be "BAD-ass"?

I think it's only North American kids that are like that. I used to watch a lot of anime and they did a survey on one particular anime called "Beyblade" and found that most kids in North America gravitated toward the bad guy Kai while Japanese viewers gravitated toward the good guy (I can't remember the name). I personally always liked Kai; he was more flawed and he wasn't always so happy which I can relate to.

[GregKII]

Growing up I always loved the bad guys in movies, I found them intriguing, and interesting. I feel this way today, I would love to play a bad guy, especially in a supernatural-like film--something with magic or the like. It would fun!

[CottonBolus]

either is fine with me. i can be a hero or a villian. i think i could play the perfect big bird in a film or be the perfect oscar the grouch in a garbage can. more so oscar the grouch than big bird since i'm not tall enough to be big bird in a suit. i wouldn't have any problem fitting into a garbage can though as long as i can kneel down in it. one of those tall trash cans too.

But which one do you prefer more? Which one would you think you'd have more fun playing?

[CottonBolus]

Growing up I always loved the bad guys in movies, I found them intriguing, and interesting. I feel this way today, I would love to play a bad guy, especially in a supernatural-like film--something with magic or the like. It would fun!

Me too

10 characters

[refujiunderground]

But which one do you prefer more? Which one would you think you'd have more fun playing?

oscar the grouch because i would be basically playing myself. playing big bird would probably be harder because of the voice being all high pitched and being in that hot stuffy suit. after awhile, it might make my anxiety go up with all the happy go lucky scenes that i might catch a panic attack or something.

[thatgirl]

I always find the villains more fascinating than the good guys.

So, I'd prefer to play the villian preferably with a really sad/weird back story as to why I turned to the dark side. Gotta be psychologically complex and not just a one-dimensional baddie.

[reone]

But what if it was pretend. There would be no consequences if you were a bad guy. Would you want to be him:


or him:



I've always found the character of batman to be depressing.

Superman is the only character that I feel is 'perfect' enough to actually bother me. I have always been a fan of Batman, though. In some ways I feel like I can relate to his character. I suppose I feel empathetic for him since I haven't necessarily shared his experiences. He's risen so far and yet he still seems alone and his life still seems tragic. He's a dark knight, but it seems like he needs to be rescued as well. He's an imaginary character, I realize, but whenever I see his movies or tv shows I wish he could...be happy? It's weird.

Anyway, if I had to choose, I would want to be the good guy. I would want to be the person that fights to prove that good triumphs over evil in a world where people are constantly in doubt. Being evil is easy.

[thatgirl]

I would want to be the person that fights to prove that good triumphs over evil in a world where people are constantly in doubt. Being evil is easy.

[BENDERBOY]

The baddie of course.

[reone]

You know how emotional I get...*pulls my mask back over my face and continues crying*

[Harke the Boeotarch]

Bad guys in movies tend to be played by experienced actors (large ham) such as Vincent Price, whereas the heroes are played by young 'fresh' guys with far inferior acting ability.

[Hard-up1]

That's a good point but I think many bad guys have to act like they have mental illnesses which very hard to pull off because it could easily end up looking like Corny. Here's a clip from dark knight:

This is my favorite clip; and I think it's the most technically challenging.

I have no disagreement with your example, but not the underlying premise. You cite an extreme case, hardly the norm.

The current penchant for empathy with the villain is a product of a director's bias in modern cinema, especially American cinema, to use the villain as a sort of countercultural statement.

But, by definition, the protagonist in the vast majority of stories is a character with whom the audience can empathize, either for his redemption, vindication or the like. The antagonist is the foil and/or obstacle in the protagonist's way. The modern expansion of character development for both has resulted in personas that are less simplistic and therefore more complex.

That more young viewers would empathize with the opposition, the rebel, or now, the villain, is an obvious tendency that correlates with the universal frustrations of youth as it makes its way in the world of the established power of the status quo.

[thatgirl]

Superman is the only character that I feel is 'perfect' enough to actually bother me.

I agree, tbh. But will still see Man of Steel. For Henry Cavill.

Bad guys in movies tend to be played by experienced actors (large ham) such as Vincent Price, whereas the heroes are played by young 'fresh' guys with far inferior acting ability.

This is pretty true in cases where the hero has to be like a sex symbol and protagonist. It's easier to market a hot actor so they cast more for that than whether or not they have a good range. But for the villains, they have more to work with and they usually don't have to worry about their sex appeal.

It is a really boring trope, though, the whole good = very attractive and youthful while evil is associated with being ugly or physically unappealing in some way. What about fugly good people and pretty, sweet-faced evil people. I started picking up on this fairly early from Disney cartoons, the villains always have crazy chins and eyebrows and permanent stankface. :/

[Sparky-Sparky-Boom-Boom]

I want to be the "grey" guy, not good nor bad. The one that you just cant trust and know whats he's up to yet he still has a element of good.

[Hard-up1]

That trope is a result of mass-marketing.

There has been a long tradition of beauty being evil.

In tales like those in Grimm's Fairy Tales, the evil queen is often beautiful.

In complex novels like The Hunchback of Notre Dame, beautiful souls have been trapped in disfigured bodies.

As Disney reaches first to children, of course the portrayals are simplistic, and predictable.

[reone]

It is a really boring trope, though, the whole good = very attractive and youthful while evil is associated with being ugly or physically unappealing in some way. What about fugly good people and pretty, sweet-faced evil people. I started picking up on this fairly early from Disney cartoons, the villains always have crazy chins and eyebrows and permanent stankface. :/

I dunno, Aladdin's dad from Aladdin and the King of Thieves was pretty sexy for a cartoon character, as was the jerk from Beauty and the Beast. I also thought the hunter from Tarzan wasn't so bad looking either . Those are just three of the many, though.

[thatgirl]

Beauty is evil trope, when it does occur, seems to mainly involve female characters, no? But it's never a "pure" kind of beauty that is portrayed as innocent and sweet-faced which is usually reserved for the female protagonist. It stems more from sexist fears about female sexuality, women as evil seductresses leading men into temptation.

And, yes, Disney films and other cartoons/shows targeted at children do have very simplistic and stereotypical portrayals of villains but I think they do leave a lasting impression on people. Like, if you were tell someone "make an evil face" or "do an evil laugh" they'd most likely draw from those early portrayals. lol

[BrianPGH]

Superman is the only character that I feel is 'perfect' enough to actually bother me.

Superman and Wonder Woman have always been my favorite super-heroes, because they (while fictional) are something to aspire to and look up to.

A lot of people respond to characters who are majorly flawed or damaged, because they feel they can "relate." I have plenty of flaws of my own, but I prefer characters who represent an ideal that we can all strive for.

So, yeah, I'd want to play the good guy in a film.

[thatgirl]

I dunno, Aladdin's dad from Aladdin and the King of Thieves was pretty sexy for a cartoon character, as was the jerk from Beauty and the Beast. I also thought the hunter from Tarzan wasn't so bad looking either . Those are just three of the many, though.

I Googled for Aladdin's dad to refresh my memory...



OK then. Tumblr confessions crack me up.

[Sparky-Sparky-Boom-Boom]

Good guy, for sure. I wouldn't do well in jail.

thats why you have to be the bad guy you get to kill with no mercy lol

[xbuzzerx]

If you were given a chance to be in a film and given the choice between being the good guy and the bad guy in a film, which one would you choose? What's your reason behind this choice?

Personally, I'd choose to be the bad guy. Even today, most good guys are portrayed as being perfect. Being a villain, on the other hand, allows more room for flaws and plus I find villains more interesting than good guys especially bad guys like the Joker in the Dark Knight. Now that's some fine acting right there.


I'd definitely choose to be the bad guy...

Are there spaceships? If there's spaceships I wanna be a good guy. Bad guys always get their spaceship blown up.

If there are no spaceships, bad guy.

[Hard-up1]

Agreed that many people never choose to progress from their childhood impressions of evil.

As for evil to appear sweet and innocent, I would aver from that from experience. Although horror movies love to portray some cherubic child with Satanic intent, in my experience, that is not something I have encountered. Malevolent children rarely seem innocent, and adults who are further into the grip of evil, seem even less likely to appear as clear-faced innocents.

When's the last time you met a car dealer who came across as innocent?

[xbuzzerx]

^ Implying all children aren't malevolent.

[reone]

Superman and Wonder Woman have always been my favorite super-heroes, because they (while fictional) are something to aspire to and look up to.

A lot of people respond to characters who are majorly flawed or damaged, because they feel they can "relate." I have plenty of flaws of my own, but I prefer characters who represent an ideal that we can all strive for.

So, yeah, I'd want to play the good guy in a film.

That's understandable. Part of my issue with the character might be how he's been presented? I would love a more psychological take on his story and him dealing with the destruction of his planet. Mostly it just seems like he struggles with dealing with his powers more than anything and of course fighting off villains. This might be why I enjoy Batman more. He just seems to me to be a more thoughtful and thought-provoking character. It's ironic because he lost only his two parents and Superman lost his entire planet. Maybe the comics go more into detail on how Superman 'thinks', though. I've never read them, but only watched shows and movies.

I'm not trying to down the character at all. How could I with how immensely successful he's been? I think he is a great character for people to look up to.

I Googled for Aladdin's dad to refresh my memory...



OK then. Tumblr confessions crack me up.

That's not really his best angle ..and, yeah, he could use a haircut, but I'd take the black and gray, though . He's probably more toned than Aladdin too from riding that horse and plundering all day . Marriage material for sure.

thats why you have to be the bad guy you get to kill with no mercy lol

I can't get married to my true love in jail .

[Hard-up1]

^ Implying all children aren't malevolent.

No, would never argue that.

I meant those that are distinguished in their malevolence, like the murderess in The Bad Seed.

[maxpowr9]

Bad guy totally. The problem with the whole good vs evil mantra is that there is this incessant need for good to conquer evil making the story listless and the hero being a Mary Sue with no real flaws.

I will take the William Faulkner's quote that: "the human heart in conflict with itself is the only thing worth writing about."

[xbuzzerx]

Bad guy totally. The problem with the whole good vs evil mantra is that there is this incessant need for good to conquer evil making the story listless and the hero being a Mary Sue with no real flaws.

I will take the William Faulkner's quote that: "the human heart in conflict with itself is the only thing worth writing about."

What makes me want to strangle most protagonists in most movies or stories is that too often they spend 75% of the plot agonizing over some past regret that wasn't actually their fault at all and wishing they could make up for it and thinking they're horrible and bad and it's just like STOP WHINING AND STOP THE FRIGGIN EVIL GUY.

[Críostóir]

I'm not going to have an opportunity to play the lead hero in a movie. That's OK with me, since they're usually boring.

I will play the villain if he's complex and has more to him than "now, young Skywalker, you will die!" (Lamest villain until they made the prequels, at which point he looked like Macbeth.) Some depth; backstory, even if I invent it, that gives him good reason to be the way he is, even noble (if corrupted) aims. I remember a Marvel villain in the 60s who proclaimed "Mankind is a blemish upon Nature, and I shall remove it!" Bad, BAD guy, but not entirely unjustified in his beliefs!

I more often play the goofy friend, the crazy space case with the weird accent ("Creepy German Guy," my specialty), or (my most recent role) the drunk who witnesses the car accident.* I'm OK with those. I make them vivid and real and they help the film work.

*Though in that case I also appeared as an apparition saying incomprehensible things...the injured guy's half-dreaming interpretation of the drunk. That was FUN.

[Axxess]

I've never been in a film, so I don't know which role I'd prefer to be.

[borg69unimatrix]

That's understandable. Part of my issue with the character might be how he's been presented? I would love a more psychological take on his story and him dealing with the destruction of his planet. Mostly it just seems like he struggles with dealing with his powers more than anything and of course fighting off villains. This might be why I enjoy Batman more. He just seems to me to be a more thoughtful and thought-provoking character. It's ironic because he lost only his two parents and Superman lost his entire planet. Maybe the comics go more into detail on how Superman 'thinks', though. I've never read them, but only watched shows and movies.

Superman left Krypton as a baby, and pretty much has no recollection of the planet other then what he was told later in life about it. Yet he IS vastly different from humans with his powers, and has a hard time fitting in.

Batman witnessed his parents death as a young child (8-12 yrs old), helpless to do anything to stop their murder, and remembers the scene in great detail.

[ixthrock]

I'd much rather be the bed guy.

Superguy DOES have his Fortress of Whimpering like a Bitchboy Existential Angst Solitude

[braex27]

It depends on the film.