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Big Mi6 James Bond henchperson ranking game - NUMBER 7

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  • Mathis1Mathis1
    Posts: 8,275
    I had Dario at 5! I find him extremely threatening, and the finale when he recognises Bond is a tense moment! The only downside is tat he and 007 don't have a good fight scene! And of course, he has that chilling line "We gave her a nice honeymooooooon!"
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,418
    Dario came in at 12th spot for me.
    He's memorable and menacing, very violent and a true threat for Bond.
    But sadly underutilized. Good henchman though.
  • goldenswissroyalegoldenswissroyale Switzerland
    edited May 20 Posts: 4,579
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    I had Dario at 5! I find him extremely threatening, and the finale when he recognises Bond is a tense moment! The only downside is tat he and 007 don't have a good fight scene! And of course, he has that chilling line "We gave her a nice honeymooooooon!"

    Same feelings here. I have him at 7.
    When he returns in the laboratory, you feel the danger. Bond is in big trouble there. Lucky for Bond that the whole (!) facility burns down without no reason. (Why did they think in SP that this was plausible in LTK and they repeated that??) Anyway, the tension is great there and Dario is a character I love to hate. Great casting.
    Ah, and I like the very brutal death. LTK really isn't the light fun movie for the whole family.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    edited May 23 Posts: 7,538
    Continuing our countdown with our #8:

    XENIA ONATOPP
    by Famke Janssen
    in GoldenEye

    goldeneye-french-lobby-card-6-9x12-1995-martin-campbell-pierce-brosnan.jpg

    By very very far the most popular henchman/woman of the post-1990 Bond films, outranking the second favourite, Primo, by no less than 10 spots.

    Xenia is also one of only two candidates that finished in each of the top 5 slots. She did so on one occasion for all of them. Which means she obtained one gold, one silver and one bronze medal, in addition to one 4th and one 5th place.

    Four other members ranked her in the lower half of their top 10, while one member ranked her as low as penultimate. She is however not the highest-ranked sidekick with a bottom 3 finish, since one other entry beat her to that.

    In total Xenia Onatopp collected 98 points.

    P.S. it's noteworthy that she's meant to be Georgian, while the countrycode for Georgia is GE, exactly the same lettrecode us fans use for GoldenEye.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,676
    Welcome, Xenia. I had you at number 5, but I didn't have you otherwise. Yet I always enjoy a good squeeze, and I don't need a gun either, whatever your definition of safe sex. Not losing any sleep over this number 8 spot, I want you to know that you hold a warm spot in my Bond heart. So why don’t you ventilate someone at the barracks, and then let me derail you. We share the same passions, after all.

    Yours truly,
    An admiral
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    edited May 23 Posts: 7,538
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    Welcome, Xenia. I had you at number 5, but I didn't have you otherwise. Yet I always enjoy a good squeeze, and I don't need a gun either, whatever your definition of safe sex. Not losing any sleep over this number 8 spot, I want you to know that you hold a warm spot in my Bond heart. So why don’t you ventilate someone at the barracks, and then let me derail you. We share the same passions, after all.

    Yours truly,
    An admiral

    You win the price for most eloquent analysis of the contest, my friend.

    I have nothing to add to all that, though I must warn you that it won't be easy to quit while you still hit :p

    Personally I even ranked her one spot higher, in 4th.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,676
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    Welcome, Xenia. I had you at number 5, but I didn't have you otherwise. Yet I always enjoy a good squeeze, and I don't need a gun either, whatever your definition of safe sex. Not losing any sleep over this number 8 spot, I want you to know that you hold a warm spot in my Bond heart. So why don’t you ventilate someone at the barracks, and then let me derail you. We share the same passions, after all.

    Yours truly,
    An admiral

    You win the price for most eloquent analysis of the contest, my friend.

    I have nothing to add to all that, though I must warn you that it won't be easy to quit while you still hit :p

    Personally I even ranked her one spot higher, in 4th.

    We are not going to apologize, are we, @GoldenGun? Famke is a delight.

    That said, wait for your turn, brother.
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,264
    I can't join in the raving about Xenia. For me she is far too cartoonish, i.e. "Xenia Overthetopp". I consider the "killing by thighs" method more an adolescent masochistic wet dream than a real menace, and her pretended orgasms when killing the Severnaya crew et al. are rather cringe-inducing. A couple of minor points: The name the writers gave her is plain stupid and clearly designed to make a bad pun about it only, about on the level of "Christmas Jones" and "Mr. Kil", and it also doesn't look and sound either Russian or Georgian. And even supposing that Bond could tell from a few words uttered in English that she was Georgian (unlikely, with Famke actually doing her best fake Russian accent), why would she respond with "You've been to Russia?" After the fall of the Soviet Union, Georgia had been an independent country. But the script is not Famke's fault, and she is of course a gorgeous woman, which is why I upgraded her a few notches to end up as my No. 16 rather than in the bottom five.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,418
    Xenia came in at number 6 for me.
    She’s a truly classic Bond villain. Easily the best female villain since Fiona Volpe.
    Sexy, unhinged, exotic and dangerous. She’s perfect in GE and a true highlight of not only the film, but also the series.
  • 007HallY007HallY
    Posts: 5,333
    Oh yeah, one of the best Bond villains in my opinion. Despite how bizarre and sexual the character is, she genuinely comes off as dangerous and even dark at points. It's that perfect mixture of outlandishness and legitimate danger that the best henchmen (and in this case henchwoman) have in Bond.
  • R1s1ngs0nR1s1ngs0n France
    edited May 23 Posts: 2,240
    I very much like Famke Janssen in pretty much every role… except this one. 24th for me.
    I find her character to be nothing more than a poorly executed rehash of Fatima Blush, who in my opinion, is a much better villainess.
    I love quirky, ‘slightly’ over-the-top baddies but this character is straight out of a cartoon.
    She’s just one of the many aspects of this film that I find irritating.
  • 007HallY007HallY
    edited May 23 Posts: 5,333
    I always feel the comparisons to Fatima Blush are a bit unfair. For sure, Blush is one of the better things about NSNA, but I think that's more due to Carrera's dynamic performance than it is how well executed the character is on paper (in truth I'd say the character's ok in this sense, although a bit underbaked if anything. I don't find her anymore interesting than Fiona Volpe, again Carrera's performance aside. Honestly, I'd say Onnatop is a lot more vivid and memorable, and Janssen's performance certainly stands up as well).
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 15,114
    Great villain and a lot of fun. One wonders how things were behind closed doors between Xenia and Alec. Of course, her legacy would have a lasting impact partly due to her inclusion in the video game, dual-wielding RC-P90 and grenade launcher in the jungle level - and even had her own adrenaline-pumping music signalling her arrival on the rope bridge.

    Xenia would have one extra line of dialogue in the unfinished comic, during the shooting on the frigate. After the sailor says, "I think I've gone to heaven", she responds, "Not yet." (shoots) "Maybe now." The same pistol fired in this scene (and I think same prop) being previously used by Octopussy when confronting Kamal Khan.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 18,137
    007HallY wrote: »
    I always feel the comparisons to Fatima Blush are a bit unfair. For sure, Blush is one of the better things about NSNA, but I think that's more due to Carrera's dynamic performance than it is how well executed the character is on paper (in truth I'd say the character's ok in this sense, although a bit underbaked if anything. I don't find her anymore interesting than Fiona Volpe, again Carrera's performance aside. Honestly, I'd say Onnatop is a lot more vivid and memorable, and Janssen's performance certainly stands up as well).

    You're right, she's a lot more conceptually interesting, but Fatima kind of was the first properly psychotic Bond lady villain wasn't she? In fact there weren't even many other psychos in the henchmen stakes who took as much pleasure as she did in the killing: maybe Wint & Kidd and that's about it? Jaws to some extent maybe, but he's a bit more unknowable. Tee Hee? But she's on another level, and Xenia does kind of join her there.


    As we were talking about Necros, someone else just mentioned that did Eon miss a trick in not getting Dolph Lundgren back for that? Or was he maybe too well-known?
  • 007HallY007HallY
    edited May 23 Posts: 5,333
    mtm wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    I always feel the comparisons to Fatima Blush are a bit unfair. For sure, Blush is one of the better things about NSNA, but I think that's more due to Carrera's dynamic performance than it is how well executed the character is on paper (in truth I'd say the character's ok in this sense, although a bit underbaked if anything. I don't find her anymore interesting than Fiona Volpe, again Carrera's performance aside. Honestly, I'd say Onnatop is a lot more vivid and memorable, and Janssen's performance certainly stands up as well).

    You're right, she's a lot more conceptually interesting, but Fatima kind of was the first properly psychotic Bond lady villain wasn't she? In fact there weren't even many other psychos in the henchmen stakes who took as much pleasure as she did in the killing: maybe Wint & Kidd and that's about it? Jaws to some extent maybe, but he's a bit more unknowable. Tee Hee? But she's on another level, and Xenia does kind of join her there.

    I suppose (although Blush is a bit of a twist on Volpe, albeit more overtly psychotic and flamboyant). Onnatop also has traces of May Day in her in terms of her strength, capability and even sexuality, although obviously May Day has some semblance of a conscience where Onnatop has none.

    Anyway, for me Onnatop is by far the more interesting, menacing character. I’d have loved to have seen them do a bit more with Blush - the scene where she makes Bond write out a letter saying she was the best shag he’s ever had is… a bit meh honestly, if not for how good Carrera is. Something about a psychopath crushing men with her thighs is on a whole other level I’d say!
    mtm wrote: »
    As we were talking about Necros, someone else just mentioned that did Eon miss a trick in not getting Dolph Lundgren back for that? Or was he maybe too well-known?

    That could have been cool. I guess that would have been not long after he did Rocky?
  • Mathis1Mathis1
    Posts: 8,275
    I ranked Xenia at 25, agree with @R1s1ngs0n , I also find her irritating in a host of irritating characters in GE! Also concur that Barbara Carreras Fatima was far more interesting, psychotic AND sexier than Onatopp....., Onabottom more like!
  • R1s1ngs0nR1s1ngs0n France
    edited May 23 Posts: 2,240
    Seven left and all of them are in my top 10 :
    Red Grant
    Oddjob
    Fiona Volpe
    Mr. Wint & Mr. Kidd
    Tee Hee
    Jaws (TSWLM)
    Fatima Blush
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,264
    At least of those seven, five form my top five...but Tee Hee (my No. 14 - which isn't bad, I think) and Jaws/TSWLM (my No. 20) are no longer in the race for me. My nos. 6 and 7 are Irma Bunt and Professor Dent, which have already been ranked lower by the community.
  • goldenswissroyalegoldenswissroyale Switzerland
    edited May 23 Posts: 4,579
    Xenia got the silver medal in my ranking. I totally like this over the top hench(wo)man. I was around 12 when I've seen GE the first time and she definitly stuck in my brain...sexy, very violent, crazy... it's somehow funny and shocking at the same time. Onatopp always remained one of my favourite baddies and I'm one the few fans even preferring her to Volpe and Blush (but they are also both great and easily one of the best parts in their films)
    Even Ourumov is shocked when he sees how much joy she has in killing all these people in Severnaya.
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    edited May 23 Posts: 9,264
    goldenswissroyale wrote: »
    ...how mucb joy she ŵffq
    I can see you getting quite mixed up in your 12-year old mind at the time, but you can't find the words to describe the feeling even now? 😁😁😁
  • goldenswissroyalegoldenswissroyale Switzerland
    Posts: 4,579
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    goldenswissroyale wrote: »
    ...how mucb joy she ŵffq
    I can see you getting quite mixed up in your 12-year old mind at the time, but you can't find the words to describe the feeling even now? 😁😁😁

    Oops. I fixed it. Yes, very difficult to describe this feeling :P
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,538
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    goldenswissroyale wrote: »
    ...how mucb joy she ŵffq
    I can see you getting quite mixed up in your 12-year old mind at the time, but you can't find the words to describe the feeling even now? 😁😁😁

    Definitely also in line with my reaction to the poor admiral's death when I first saw that as an 11-year old lad :))
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    edited June 1 Posts: 7,538
    Moving onwards with our #7:

    FATIMA BLUSH
    by Barbara Carrera
    in Never Say Never Again

    7_1_68.jpg

    Well if NSNA was ever going to crack a top 10-spot it was always going to be this one, wasn't it?

    Nicaraguan actress Carrera brings such a memorable performance to this unofficial Bond film that EON themselves went on to be inspired by it for Xenia years later.

    Fatima obtained one bronze medal in addition of one 4th and two 5th places. On top of that she scored six more top 10's, collecting a total of ten top 10's.

    Only twice she landed outside the top 20, of which one 24th spot was her lowest finish.

    In total Fatima Blush scored exactly 100 points, making her the first in this contest to mark the 100-point mark.
  • R1s1ngs0nR1s1ngs0n France
    Posts: 2,240
    #10 for me. Carrera is terrific and has great chemistry with Connery and Brandauer.
    Easily one of NSNA’s best aspects.
  • Mathis1Mathis1
    Posts: 8,275
    I gave Fatima the bronze!! Wonderful villain. Gorgeously sexy and mad as a bag of badgers! I always loved Barbara Carrera, and she delivers a great character here! Flamboyant outfits, giggling with pleasure at her badness ( love the part where she dances down the stairs with delight having been given permission to kill Bond!) and an explosive exit! Best thing about NSNA!
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,264
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    Well if NSNA was ever going to crack a top 10-spot it was always going to be this one, wasn't it?

    Don't forget that Bernie Casey was voted "Best Felix Leiter" by this board (albeit in an elimination game)! https://mi6community.com/discussion/21398/the-quick-and-fun-felix-leiter-elimination-game/p6
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    Fatima obtained one bronze medal in addition of one 4th and two 5th places. On top of that she scored six more top 10's, collecting a total of ten top 10's.

    I'm one of those who voted her No. 5, but the difference is sort of negligible. And four of the remaining six are also my top four.

  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,676
    It's no secret that I have issues with NSNA, a film that should have been much better considering who worked on it, and how much resentful, vengeful little Kevin McClory wanted to destroy Fleming's legacy and, while he was at it, Broccoli's as well. With some of the worst image and sound quality, a terrifyingly inadequate score, and a complete lack of charm, NSNA continues to disappoint me every time I give it another go.

    But... I put Fatima in the 4th place! Barbara Carrera is the needle in the haystack, the one glorious bit of fun in NSNA worthy of a proud spot amid all those EON counterparts. She's hot as hell, a sexy bag of fun as a crazy vixen, and just a joy in every possible way. She lusts after Bond as a trophy screw before leaving him for the sharks. That's cold and hot at the same time. Her feelings seem genuinely hurt when Bond, still alive, hits the sheets with another woman. She wants him to write down exactly how unforgettable his horizontal adventure with her had been before trying to kill him again. And when the pen fires a clear message into her, she gives us a maniacal laugh not unlike Joker's at the end of Mask Of The Phantasm. I love how she oozes psychotic danger and a dark hunger for 007's flesh. A risqué performance, this, in a film that aspired to TV quality at best.

    Fatima is wonderful, hands-down one of the most colorful, intriguing creations in the Bond series, and -- credit where credit is due -- not by EON this time.
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 15,114
    Nice to see Fatima rank so highly. Love that close-up of her eyes when she turns to see Bond on the boat in dock. Great actress and character and she even has some cool gadgetry.

    https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54560309520_20c89dbc12_o.png
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,538
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    Well if NSNA was ever going to crack a top 10-spot it was always going to be this one, wasn't it?

    Don't forget that Bernie Casey was voted "Best Felix Leiter" by this board (albeit in an elimination game)! https://mi6community.com/discussion/21398/the-quick-and-fun-felix-leiter-elimination-game/p6

    Definitely, I also consider him my favourite Felix. Maybe we should do a Felix Leiter game next.

    As for Fatima, I absolutely love her too and even though she barely missed my top 10 I am happy she managed to crack the overall one nonetheless. Deserved!

  • goldenswissroyalegoldenswissroyale Switzerland
    edited June 1 Posts: 4,579
    I ranked her #6.
    I'm also an EON fan without much love for the other Bond movies. I prefer all EON Bond movies to NSNA but there are a few things I like (fight against Lippe, motorcycle chase, several stunning women) and there is one thing I love: Barbara Carrera is super hot in this movie (honestly, I don't know any other movies with her) and she is crazy. My english isn't good enough to describe it but @DarthDimi mentions almost everything :)

    She deserved a better movie! Without her, I would maybe never rewatch NSNA. But hey, nsna.
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