Sympathetic Villains

[Pelephant]

Have there been any villainous characters or antagonists (movies, video games, books, etc.) that you have felt particularly sympathetic towards?

I have a strong tendency to pity villains, but the most recent example I can think of for me would be Loki from the Thor movie. And since Harry Potter's coming out soon, Snape. Though he borders more on anti-hero than outright villain.

 

[Veldel]

This question has one true answer and that is The Boss from MGS3 Snake Eater

 

[JokerCrowe]

I really liked Suigintou in Rozen Maiden (an anime). She was a really complex and interesting character as well as being the bad guy in the first season.
Especially when you got to know her backstory, she turned out to be one of my favorite characters of that anime.
Also, don't really know of it counts, but Doctor Horrible.

 

[Flailing Escapist]

Andrew Ryan. He tried to create utopia but was flooded by scum who took advantage of freedom. And in the end he was drowned by the overwelming elements of human hypocasy.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Probably that villian group from the live action film Casshern. They were hunted down and kill for simply being alive. I felt even more sympathy when they play this piece of music, when the remaining group found that castle-
I don't blame them for wanting revenge.

 

[viking97]

Andrew Ryan. He tried to create utopia but was flooded by scum who took advantage of freedom. And in the end he was drowned by the overwelming elements of human hypocasy.

andrew ryan was blind to what was happening in his city until it was basically one big really wet warzone. also, his ideals that he stuck to with such determination weren't really thought through well.

 

[Kahunaburger]

Miyazaki has good sympathetic antagonists. Kushana and Lady Eboshi in particular stand out as doin it rite.

 

[Evil Top Hat]

Darth Vader. Hate and fear consumed him, despite being a good person.

The Joker. Again, he could well have been a good person, but his insanity twisted him into a psychopath and a villain.

 

[Brandon237]

Have there been any villainous characters or antagonists (movies, video games, books, etc.) that you have felt particularly sympathetic towards?

I have a strong tendency to pity villains, but the most recent example I can think of for me would be Loki from the Thor movie. And since Harry Potter's coming out soon, Snape. Though he borders more on anti-hero than outright villain.

Err, for the Snape one:

Spoiler: only if you have read the books

Snape is a GOOD guy, not even an anti-hero, but a full blown, Dumbledore following good guy, who is given a horrible role in plans by Dumbledore

And: Please observe my avatar for thread relevance Obi-wan is my favourite good character in SW. Darth Maul is my favourite character anywhere. Guess who I wanted to win...

 

[Gaiseric]

Big Boss. After playing Portable Ops, Peace Walker, and MG3 you see his slow change into a villain(some argue anti-hero). It is sad to see the things that start to break him and make him jaded. He always does what he thinks is best, but things just never turned out like he wanted.

 

[mortalkiller]

This question has one true answer and that is The Boss from MGS3 Snake Eater

i totally agree
i dont think there is someone like the big boss in game form

 

[Serving UpSmiles]

Darth Vader. Hate and fear consumed him, despite being a good person.

The Joker. Again, he could well have been a good person, but his insanity twisted him into a psychopath and a villain.

Half agree, He's actually not insane, He's just seen the worst in people throughout his childhood which made him think that all good people do is just to get leverage over the other.

 

[Auninteligentname]

Lord Malak from KOTOR.

Spoiler

He might have been an overly evil douche, but as he said on his dieing words, what would have happened if he got the second chance I got? What would have happened if I never led him down the path to the dark side?

 

[Katana314]

The Origami Killer from Heavy Rain (when you finally meet that person). Still, they drown young kids, so it's difficult to completely sympathize.

Zeus, from God of War; in a way, he was only trying to stop the rampaging madman, even if his methods were unfair.

Alma, from FEAR. Obviously, she was treated horribly even from her birth. Forced into pregnancy as a teenager, then had her baby taken away. Lots of horrible stuff from there....then her son tries to shoot her.

Spoiler: GTA: San Andreas

Big Smoke. He obviously seems frustrated with himself for what he did, but is pushed to do it anyway.

Spoiler: Hitman: Blood Money

The reporter during the interim cutscenes. He didn't do anything wrong, yet he's the last person you need to kill.

Spoiler: Max Payne 2

Vinnie Cogniti. No one likes to die that way...especially when your chance to live was to answer questions about the TV show you have spent the last few years of your life OBSESSING over.

 

[Quaxar]

In b4 Ozymandias

Stormtroopers. Somehow I always felt like they were portrayed as the "impersonation of evil" though they are actually really just doing their jobs. Not different from Roman soldiers or modern Armys.

 

[Flailing Escapist]

Andrew Ryan. He tried to create utopia but was flooded by scum who took advantage of freedom. And in the end he was drowned by the overwelming elements of human hypocasy.

andrew ryan was blind to what was happening in his city until it was basically one big really wet warzone. also, his ideals that he stuck to with such determination weren't really thought through well.

And that's why I like him, he seems like a normal guy that really fucked up.

 

[Sonicron]

The Wanderer (i.e. the main character from Shadow of the Colossus). The guy slew 16 unique, legendary creatures, and it was an exhiliarating tragedy to see these innocent giants brought low by a man unable to let go of his dead girlfriend. Yes, I see the player character as the villain in that game, but I can sympathise with the immense pain of losing a loved one.

 

[Dalek Caan]

Surprised no one has said this but I felt sorry for Wheatly, poor guy. I blame Glados body for corrupting it.

 

[Kahunaburger]

General Knoxx from the Borderlands DLC.

I felt so bad killing him.

Haha that guy was awesome. In case you haven't seen it yet, he has a twitter. [http://twitter.com/#!/GeneralKnoXX]