Christoph Waltz as Blofeld - Hit or miss?

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  • dandan wrote: »
    Gettler wrote: »
    A little over the top, that Carver. Though I think his role was interesting as a media mogul manipulator. But that's about it.

    That ridiculous tapping on his keyboard thing somehow really annoyed me every time.
    I just think he was awful in that. Totally rubbish parody-like Bond baddie.

    I think Carver's tapping on his ancient-pre-iPod-era-device looked even more fake.
  • SeveSeve The island of Lemoy
    edited December 2015 Posts: 358
    I enjoyed SP but I found Waltz performance to be underwhelming, which was surprising after he had been so good in "Inglorious Basterds" and "Django Unchained"

    Ironical to see a Bond movie borrowing a back story from a Bond spoof?
    Dr Evil having been revealed to be Austin Powers brother in Goldmember...

    Aside from that it needed much more development during the movie to have been effective
  • Seve wrote: »
    I enjoyed SP but I found Waltz performance to be underwhelming, which was surprising after he had been so good in "Inglorious Basterds" and "Django Unchained"

    Ironical to see a Bond movie borrowing a back story from a Bond spoof?
    Dr Evil having been revealed to be Austin Powers brother in Goldmember...

    I think your disappointment mainly lies in the actual character of Blofeld. Blofeld isn't a Silva, a Joker or...Hans Landa. He's way more subtle in the way he acts.
  • SeveSeve The island of Lemoy
    Posts: 358
    Seve wrote: »
    I enjoyed SP but I found Waltz performance to be underwhelming, which was surprising after he had been so good in "Inglorious Basterds" and "Django Unchained"

    Ironical to see a Bond movie borrowing a back story from a Bond spoof?
    Dr Evil having been revealed to be Austin Powers brother in Goldmember...

    I think your disappointment mainly lies in the actual character of Blofeld. Blofeld isn't a Silva, a Joker or...Hans Landa. He's way more subtle in the way he acts.

    Either way, he came across as rather ineffectual
    Le Chiffre wasn't over the top, but he was effective in creating a menacing presence
    For whatever reason Waltz Blofeld doesn't do it for me
    I found Fiennes M in his opening SP scene with Bond more nasty than anything Waltz manages
  • Posts: 1,680
    Waltz was good if your paying attention, he comes across menacing IMO in the Rome meeting, meteorite scene, while playing the White video, & when he admitted he killed his father & bond being a cuckoo.
  • GettlerGettler USA
    Posts: 326
    When I think of Blofeld, I think of his silhouette (i.e. Rome Meeting). I think they should have worked this more into the film, making his character sit or stand in dark places that hid his face or body, limiting his illumination very carefully and constructively.
  • Posts: 7,507
    I have taken the liberty of changing the name of the thread and removing the spoiler warnings. I can't imagine any Bond fan serious enough to read this forum would have yet to see the film by now, and if those people exist, I bet they would have been spoiled by this point anyway.
  • ForYourEyesOnlyForYourEyesOnly In the untained cradle of the heavens
    Posts: 1,984
    I'd say Christoph Waltz's performance as Blofeld matched Joseph Wiseman's performance as Dr No.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    There is very much in Spectre that reminds me of Dr No. Maybe the book more than the film.
  • SeveSeve The island of Lemoy
    edited December 2015 Posts: 358
    Tuck91 wrote: »
    Waltz was good if your paying attention, he comes across menacing IMO in the Rome meeting, meteorite scene, while playing the White video, & when he admitted he killed his father & bond being a cuckoo.

    Really?
    That’s it of course, I should have been paying attention rather than playing with my mobile phone all through the movie!
    Thanks for pointing that out…

    IMO from the moment the spotlight hit him in Rome I felt my heart sink
    For me a great villain starts with his appearance and it takes some awfully good acting to overcome that deficiency.

    For example, I watched Saboteur by Alfred Hitchcock last night, which is a master class in casting villains. They make you uneasy from the moment you first lay eyes on them, without the need for any strange scars or deformities

    Thinking back to Inglorious Basterds I guess Waltz has more screen time to reveal his characters insidious evil, which is concealed beneath a veneer of civility, and the story gives him opportunities to demonstrate his true nature. However Bond villains don’t get that sort of screen time so they need to be able to rely on their appearance to establish their credentials IMO


  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    edited December 2015 Posts: 28,694
    I thought Waltz was absolutely wasted during my first viewing of SP, but during my second watch, I really got inside the head of his Blofeld and discovered that he was in fact put to great use in the short time we got him.

    So much of what is great about Waltz's Blofeld is subtle; he's not overtly evil or "out there" in his maniacal aims. Because of this, it's easy to miss what's so interesting about this version of the character if you aren't looking. He's got to stay hidden as the head of SPECTRE, and therefore, it makes perfect sense that he's been able to reign in the evil and anger that is set to burst clean from him. As @Gustav_Graves has been saying for a while now, he isn't the expected overt, loud and crazy villain. He's far more composed in his villainy and I think that adds to his creep factor. His insanity is completely in check, and all his acts are beyond justified inside his head.

    The main things I enjoyed most about Waltz's Blofeld were his origins and his thirst for absolute control. The whole of his life beyond boyhood was predicated upon his uber-sensitive nature as a lad, when the slight hint of his father being more attentive to someone other than himself set him off. From that point in time it's no wonder his ambitions carry him to lead SPECTRE. He thirsts for power over others, for everyone to see what he can do. His work within SPECTRE, to gain control and spread fear through his power is a manifestation of his long-held urges to impress his father and others, to make them see how fantastic he is. This then creates in him a well cultivated smugness; a smugness that is so at ease inside of him that it goes beyond self-confidence and instead becomes natural, as if he was born with it.

    Blofeld's need to have power and control over others is demonstrated in how he operates as well. One of the things that sent tingles up my spine was how all his SPECTRE agents stand at attention whenever he is around, as if they are drones programmed to follow. One minute these men and women are doing their work and conducting discussions amongst themselves, then Blofeld appears and they snap into a detached, hyper-alert state that cuts off all of the world around them but him. While we got the sense of fear SPECTRE agents had for Blofeld in the Connery films, here this is much more evident and far more unsettling by how much control and attention he commands from them without even speaking a word.

    The meteorite at his base and his use of torture techniques also serves to color Waltz's Blofeld as a proud and narcissistic control freak. The meteorite being portrayed as an unstoppable force and presence that had created momentum for years in isolation before making its impactful mark on the world is an obvious parallel to what Blofeld perceives as his great effect on the world through the ominous SPECTRE, and later, on Bond's personal life in association with 007's then unbeknownst run-ins with the organization and how it has shaken his mind and body. This better than anything paints him as an unapologetic narcissist that thinks he's the best thing going, and more capable than any of making a mark on the world. It's like he's constantly shouting out, "Look at what your boy has done, daddy! Little old James couldn't do this!" He's a grown man but obviously still yearning for attention from a father long dead and gone. In many ways, his inner life is childlike, while his outward appearance is deceitful, as it makes him appear as a matured, in check adult. In many ways, he is far from this, still that same lost boy robbed of attention and approval at an age during which those scars never had a chance to properly heal, and as a result, they remain long after they left their mark.

    In much the same way, the torture technique Blofeld uses characterizes him as a control freak better than anything in the film. His device's main purpose is to gradually make the victim lose control of bodily functions as a drill to a specific part of the body removes or disrupts things like human memory, movement and sensory solidarity. He sits in his chair, gleefully watching with great interest as his victims lose all control, forfeiting it to him against their will. They die knowing that he has taken their function away from them with an almost methodical, acute and surgical proficiency, nothing but an insignificant pawn or glorified guinea pig in comparison to him, the king on his spinny throne.

    With all this in light, Bond's unwillingness to waste a bullet on him at the end of the London finale is the biggest insult, and the anger in his eyes is clear as James once again walks off standing tall and happy while he is once again left choking on his dust, Dr. Swann acting as an insert for his father this time around. I don't think it's over between he and Bond yet, and I'm interested to see what Blofeld does next, as he won't just lay down and die or go quiet. His voice must be heard.

    Some aspects of Blofeld's character, like what he means by creating beauty out of horror and why he feels this mission is justified through his role in SPECTRE are things I look forward to examining in the future as my study of Waltz's portrayal continues.
  • GettlerGettler USA
    Posts: 326
    Excellent post!
  • Posts: 825
    Well i can say it was right he was Blofield all the time. I just hope in future Bond movies It only Christop Waltz. No recasting like in the Sean Connery Era.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Very good post, Brady. And it is fantastic that Blofeld is back at last.
  • Posts: 15,051
    Yes great post Brady.
  • ShardlakeShardlake Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 4,043
    Waltz wasn't the problem he did fine it was the material he was given was the problem.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,176
    I posted this in another thread but it fits here.

    I would have preferred had there been no connection between Bond And Blofeld other than one that evolved starting with the events of Casino Royale; Then, at some point in SPECTRE Blofeld would have said something to the effect:

    'You were nothing to me but you kept getting in my way; then you became a distraction and now Mr. Bond I'm afraid you've become a threat. Over these years, without even trying, I became the author of all your pain and now I shall put you out of my misery.'

    Or something like that ;)
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    I'd say Christoph Waltz's performance as Blofeld matched Joseph Wiseman's performance as Dr No.

    Not even close. There were a number of scenes that harkened back to Dr.No and some of Blofeld's character portrayals definitely paralleled Wiseman's DN but Wiseman did a whole more and was far more menacing with shorter screen time compared to what we got with Waltz.
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    Miss
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,120
    I think Waltz didn't come off as menacing. He did though in Inglorious Bastards but IMO only because of what he said, not because of how he said it. The man is just naturally too charming. Tarantino gave him lengthy dialogues and a uniform that needs no further explanation. As Blofeld, he remains a charmer even when he's literally in the shadow or threatening Bond. I feel like every performance he gives - and I've only seen three of his movies, mind - is very polished, perhaps too polished for the part of a truly scary Blofeld. That said, I'm not criticising the man. This is a different kind of Blofeld and it's more of a Blofeld for the modern age I think.
  • Posts: 15,051
    @DarthDimi it depends of what you consider menacing. I find amicable villains menacing when played right, often far more than loud/openly angry ones. Waltz's Blofeld is made in the mold of Shakespeare's Richard III: he can smile and kill at the same time. His smile is cold and sardonic, he never raises his voice but can be just as cruel and ruthless giving orders or explaining what he does/did with an even tone. His "author of all your pain" line for instance was said with such disdain yet it has a strong weight in itself.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    The one scene where he seems very menacing is in the surveillance room in his HQ.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited December 2015 Posts: 23,883
    I didn't personally find him menacing when he opened his mouth. He was most menacing to me when he said nothing (at the funeral - with the quick glance back at Bond, and in the SPECTRE meeting before he actually spoke). Of course, they gave him the torture scene and that was suitably menacing I suppose, even with the Omega waiting on the arm to save the day.

    That's why in retrospect, I would have preferred a more substantial actor physically for this film.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,120
    @Ludovico, you've convinced me. ;-) Remembering that line, I'm seeing your point. :)
  • Posts: 7,507
    bondjames wrote: »
    I didn't personally find him menacing when he opened his mouth. He was most menacing to me when he said nothing (at the funeral - with the quick glance back at Bond, and in the SPECTRE meeting before he actually spoke). Of course, they gave him the torture scene and that was suitably menacing I suppose, even with the Omega waiting on the arm to save the day.

    That's why in retrospect, I would have preferred a more substantial actor physically for this film.

    Why is physical menace so important? The guy is a clever manipulator, an evil mastermind of the most powerfull criminal organiztion you could ever imagine and is on top of that completely mad. If there is one character who doesn't need a powerfull physical appearance its Blofeld.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    I have nothing to back this up, but I think Waltz played Blofeld as evil but
    not mad. In his next outing ( only a guess on my part) we may see a slightly
    more unhinged portrayal of our favourite Baddie. ;)
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited December 2015 Posts: 23,883
    jobo wrote: »
    bondjames wrote: »
    I didn't personally find him menacing when he opened his mouth. He was most menacing to me when he said nothing (at the funeral - with the quick glance back at Bond, and in the SPECTRE meeting before he actually spoke). Of course, they gave him the torture scene and that was suitably menacing I suppose, even with the Omega waiting on the arm to save the day.

    That's why in retrospect, I would have preferred a more substantial actor physically for this film.

    Why is physical menace so important? The guy is a clever manipulator, an evil mastermind of the most powerfull criminal organiztion you could ever imagine and is on top of that completely mad. If there is one character who doesn't need a powerfull physical appearance its Blofeld.
    It's only important for me in this particular instance and film because I found the words that he spoke to be dull, uninspired and unintimidating. It's a function of the script.

    When he didn't speak (in the aforementioned cases) he was more intimidating to me, because Waltz was able to convey the necessary menace convincingly in those cases.

    However, in every instance where he was speaking, I personally found nothing terrifying about anything he said, particularly given the contrived situations they put him in during his short time on screen and the relative lack of tension in those scenes (for me at least). Even a great actor like Waltz can only do so much with what he's given.

    At least a more physically intimidating actor could have conveyed the necessary menace tangibly, which I could have focused on.

    As an example, I did find him slightly more terrifying when he had the scar at the end (which is not to say I am advocating for the scarring - I didn't like that shoehorned element either).
  • Posts: 503
    For me, he's my second-least favorite Blofeld actor so far, just above 1981's cameo. He didn't convince me as Blofeld, even allowing for a non-traditional interpretation of the character. He just seemed like Christoph Waltz being Christoph Waltz, I'd have much rathered an unknown actor take the role and make it his own. My rankings:

    1. Blofeld in FRWL (1963)
    2. Blofeld in TB (1965)
    3. Blofeld in OHMSS (1969)
    4. Blofeld in YOLT (1967)
    5. Blofeld in DAF (1971)
    8. Blofeld in Spectre (2015)
    7. Blofeld in FYEO (1981)

    I don't consider Never Say Never Again a Bond film, so I'm not even considering it here.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,120
    @Bond, interesting that you give Charles Gray a much deserved compliment by not placing him last.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,120
    That's interesting, @Birdleson. :-) I always thought of Pleansance as a qualified actor. I like him in THX-1138, Halloween, Fantastic Voyage, The Great Escape, Prince Of Darkness, Escape From New York and many more movies, but I'm much less enthusiastic about him as Blofeld. Don't get me wrong, his stoic, menacing introduction is phenomenal and he fits the fairy tale Bond film that is YOLT rather well. However, having read Fleming's novels, I find him a bit too cartoonish as Blofeld. There's no way this is the guy we "see" in FRWL and TB.
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