Anxious About Russia and the Possible Outbreak of World War III? Here Are 5 Iconic Russian Villains + One Bonus Villain for Your Viewing Pleasure
With everything that's going on with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it's easy to fall back on the existential terror that stems from the world possibly erupting into World War III. However, even as we're unable to look away from news coverage of the conflict, it's still important to unplug every once in a while.
Here are five films that you can watch to channel yourfear and anger at the Russia-Ukraine situation, and one extra just for fun.
5 Films with Russian Villains and A Bonus Film for You to Watch
1. Ivan Drago ("Rocky IV")
When we think of Russian movie villains, it's hard not to think of Rocky's towering opponent Ivan Drago from "Rocky IV." Though played by Swedish actor Dolph Lundgren, this Soviet boxer proves himself to be a worthy opponent to Sylvester Stallone's Rocky. In fact, Lundgren might have done too good a job of embedding himself deep into the American pop culture consciousness, with Drago's role leading Lundgren to take on numerous other Russian roles, including the 1988 film "Red Scorpion."
2. Xenia Onatopp ("GoldenEye")
Is it that much of a surprise that a Russian ends up as a Bond villain? In "GoldenEye," the British spy, played by Pierce Brosnan, faces off against Famke Janssen's Xenia Onatopp, a military-trained operative working under former British agent Alex Trevelyan, played by Sean Bean. In case you're wondering, Janssen is a Dutch actress, probably best known in the U.S. for playing Jean Grey in the original "X-Men" trilogy, and her accent is a bit questionable. Despite this, Onatopp still reads as a fun and memorable Bond villain that you shouldn't miss.
3. Yuri Komarov ("A Good Day To Die Hard")
If you're a fan of the "Die Hard" franchise, you might remember that the most recent entry, "A Good Day To Die Hard," has Bruce Willis' John McClane traveling to Moscow to rescue his son Jack, played by Jai Courtney. In this film, McClane faces off against Sebastian Koch's Yuri Komarov, a Russian oligarch. Interestingly, Koch is a German actor. I'm beginning to sense a theme here...
4. Viggo Tarasov ("John Wick")
One of the most memorable Russian villains in recent action movie memory is Michael Nyqvist's Viggo Tarasov from the first "John Wick" film. You remember him. He's the Russian dad whose idiot son stole John Wick's car and killed his dog, kicking off the events of this Keanu Reeves action franchise that now spans four films, with a fifth in development. He's the guy who calls John the "Baba Yaga," and looks filled with genuine dread once he learns what his son Iosef, played by Alfie Allen, has done. Yet again, neither Nyqvist nor Allen are Russian, with Nyqvist being Swedish and Allen English respectively. But hey, this is our second Swede playing a scary Russian.
5. Ivan Vanko / Whiplash ("Iron Man 2")
The second Ivan on this list, Ivan Vanko, also known as Whiplash, is the villain in "Iron Man 2." He's played by Mickey Rourke, an American actor and former boxer. Believing that Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark stole his technology to make his Iron Man suit, Vanko sets off to prove that Iron Man isn't invincible. Despite "Iron Man 2" being possibly one of the most maligned Marvel films, Rourke's turn as Vanko is still iconic, and anyone who sees his electrified whips immediately knows who he is.
BONUS. Egor Korshunov ("Air Force One")
Finally, we have a bonus entry: Gary Oldman's Egor Korshunov from "Air Force One." In this 90's patriotic action flick, Harrison Ford plays an American president who needs to rescue the passenger and crew of Air Force One after a group of Soviet sympathizing terrorists hijack the plane. The terrorists are led by Korshunov, and Oldman is in top form in this role, with a performance that's simultaneously campy yet terrifying. Maybe it's because "Air Force One" was constantly playing in my childhood - my mother had a massive crush on Ford as president at the time - but Oldman's Kazakh(?) villain, though not technically Russian, is highly memorable and a fun watch.
So, what do you think? Are there any other iconic Russian villains you'd add to this list? For more enterainment news and commentary, please follow Enstarz! We bring you the latest on your favorite celebrities, TV shows, and films.
