Action/Adventure
This week: Villains: Beyond Greed & Power Edited by: Cinn More Newsletters By This Editor
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In my last newsletter ("Action/Adventure Newsletter (July 20, 2016)" ), I talked about motivation for the heroes of our stories. This week, I thought it might be interesting to flip the coin and discuss motivation for the villain. I suppose that, in part, I'm just getting bored with antagonists who devise elaborate schemes for the same two reasons... money and power. Surely, there are other possibilities?
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Greed & Power
These seem to be the most popular and villainous of all motivations. Adventure stories have their buried treasure and ancient artifacts, which usually have a knowledge-seeking main character and a power or money hungry antagonist. Power in adventure stories may be anything from eternal youth or other mystical gift to political aspirations.
The villains in slick action stories (espionage, mobsters, and crimes of all types) also tend to be motivated by money and power. Money is obvious for criminals, but power takes many forms. How often does a criminal want to increase their territory, protect their turf, or overthrow their boss? And of course, protagonists in these types of stories are often protectors of law and justice (police officers).
In either type, the main character may have motivation beyond the stereotypes. Revenge... protecting their community or family... there are many possibilities. Why can't villains have varied motivation as well? I can think of very few examples in which antagonist motivations is something other than greed or power (feel free to submit your examples if you can think of any).
Resentment & Revenge
A shift in motivation might be a good idea. First, it might differentiate your story from countless others. Second, it might help you prevent that "Mary Sue/Gary Stu" condition that plagues many stories. For those who aren't familiar with it, you can think of it as over-idealizing your characters. Too perfect. Too unrealistic.
If the villain wants revenge for a past wrong, then the hero must not be perfect. He or she did something wrong at some point. This is sometimes used in conjunction with greed or power, but I can think of very few instances where revenge was the primary motive for an antagonist in the action/adventure genre.
Honestly though, I think that resentment could be an amazing choice, especially for you character-driven writers. Maybe the hero was a cocky. Maybe the antagonist was too sensitive or a little off-kilter. Either way, the past relationship and character flaws on both sides could make for some interesting stories. This is often used for a "surprise" accomplice (i.e. the cop's partner is working for the villain... that sort of thing), but the idea of using it for the primary motive of the antagonist... there is just something appealing about that. I wouldn't mind feeling a little bit bad for the villain or blaming the hero a little bit for all the wrongdoings. After all, no one is 100% good or 100% bad.
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What motivations have you used for your antagonists? Which motivations are you sick of seeing?
In the last Action/Adventure newsletter I edited, the topic was revenge as a primary motivation for heroes. Here are a few interesting responses:
Hello, Cinn ! I've read your wonderful edition of the Action/Adventure newsletter and I wanted to thank you for including my writing amongst those you've highlighted most recently.
I thought about your thoughts as to writing and revenge, the timing, the issues lying beneath, the thought processes involved AND...ultimately...how would the reader accept all of these scenarios.
And oh - by the way - loveLoveLOVE Steven Seagal's fighting techniques as per cinematography and such. I can honestly see your points involving timing, with so many POV involved, sub-plots available, etc. etc.
Just how much would an audience be willing to swallow is key here; just how much is believable?
For some of us, merely seeing the crumbs get brushed off the table of Life makes for a good scene - but plenty of folks wish to feel what other characters are feeling too. A dislocated transmandibular joint with a crushed windpipe will only go so far, yes?
I really liked your thought process on revenge as a whole in this month's Newsletter. Thank you for all of your points of reference! From papadoc1
Quite welcome, my dear! I do love action movies! I'm still working my way through some later Seagal movies. I ended up taking a break to delve into plague films (Outbreak (1995), The Cassandra Crossing (1976), etc). At any rate, believability is the key. I suppose that is one of those 'know your audience' situations. Some audiences just want a romp. Others expect more. Thanks for writing in!
My favorite "Revenge" movie has to be "A Man Apart" with Vin Diesel. I like the way it was set up, but what really brings the story together is the fact that he had to go through a prolonged rehab/recovery period in which he distilled his grief into an anger that fed his need for revenge.
The Punisher character also does a great job with it in a similar manner. The hero is "left for dead", eventually recovers over time, but goes on a spree to get the people responsible for the deaths of his loved ones. He then translates that personal need for revenge into a desire to find justice for others and a hero is born.
The one book I've read that does an excellent job with the "revenge" theme is Without Remorse by Tom Clancy. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend the book. It is one of Tom Clancy's first, and personally I think it's his best. From mikemac789
I have to admit that The Punisher came to mind for me while writing the newsletter too. I haven't read the source material, but I looooove he 1989 film starring Dolph Lundgren. So good. That casino scene? Perfection. I've seen the remake as well. That is a very classic example of the revenge motivation. He goes a bit nuts after the loss of his family, discovers the villain is at it again, and sets out to win. Anyway, nice recommendations, love! Thanks for writing in!
A fine News Letter, great points made but whenever the revenge occurs is OK with me. I liked Charles Bronson in every Death Wish. From Monty
Death Wish... classic. I enjoyed the first film, but being the 'terrible movie' junkie that I am (epic Troma fan over here!), I loved them more and more as the sequels went on. Another great revenge example... and one that is pretty justified. Hurting your wife and child? No one cried over what happened to that antagonist!
Let me just start with this. My new favorite movies are NOW YOU SEE ME 1 & 2. #2 is about revenge but if you go see it think like a writer! he script is amazing. I didn't eat my popcorn. I will see it again. What writers, they should get an award! There again is SHOOTER I love the movie, now its a TV series. Subtle revenge if well written is a must read in my books. From Quick-Quill
For those who were about to say "Geez, has she seen EVERY movie?", nope... I haven't. I haven't see the Now You See Me movies. Or rather... I didn't know that I had seen either of them until I looked it up just now. I did watch the first, apparently (a rare "new movie" watching for me). At any rate, you bring up a good point. I watch movies and visualize a script. I do the same with TV. To some degree, I see the words in my head when people speak to me in general. It enhances some movies and ruins others, but it helps just as a review does... especially if you edit their writing as you go along. Some movies don't need it... others really really do!
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