I've been wondering about something ever since I saw FF:ROTSS, and it is about Dr. Doom. Even though I've been reading comics for most of my life, including Fantastic Four, and have seen all the cartoons and other versions, I think I've somehow forgotten what it is that makes Dr. Doom such an awesome villain, that is if I ever really knew in the first place.
Now the consensus is that the Doc in the movies was severely disappointing to say the least, and never managed to live up to his potential in 2 whole films.
So my question is this: What should Doom have done in the movies to accurately demonstrate his status as one of the coolest villains ever?
1). Firstly, Dr. Doom needs a regal presence. This means not only the costume needs to portray this, but the way the actor walks, the music, the camera angles, and so on. Think of the way Darth Vader walks into a scene the first time; everything is done to show you this is the villain, the villain of all villains.
2). In connection to 1, this means his dialogue never has any sort of wisecracks. He doesn't say, "Everyone going for a spin!" or something like that. At best he has a dry and biting barb that enhances his own sense of superiority. I'm partisan on the third person thing (because it can easily be seen to sound like "Karl Moline" or so forth), but Dr. Doom sees himself as above meer mortals, and the dialogue needs to portray this.
3). Thirdly, running a corporation is beneathe Doom. He runs an entire country that was ruled by unsuccessful and far worse dictators for generations and manages to bring some sort of peace to the people, so long as they obey his rule. It also allows him all the capitial he needs for his arsenal.
4). Dr. Doom doesn't need superpowers, and in a way it is beneathe him. He is the anti-Batman. A brilliant youth whose loss of a parent, namely his mother, became the initial drive for all that he had done. What gives him a lot of appeal is the fact that he can challenge not only the Fantastic Four, but any sort of superhero, magical being or cosmic force yet at heart is a human with no powers. Naturally magic would be a bit much and the movies cover the science angle, which is where Dr. Doom is best. Why can't someone other than Iron Man or Batman rely on body armor? He also has endless deadly machines, lines of various robots, and so on. "Doombot" sounds a little cheesy but it always could have been a given nickname from Thing or Torch and Dr. Doom didn't give his robot servants specific titles ("Doom-Troopers"? "Doomoids"?). His armor also allows him enhanced strength, energy beams, forcefields, electrical-shocks, and various other tricks. Powers are SO limiting.
5). Metallic voice. So important it gets a seperate number. It enhances the effect and makes him sound more menacing. He relies on machines, he may as well sound like one. For my money, the best VA for Dr. Doom was Ralph James, who voiced Dr. Doom in the syndicated SPIDER-MAN cartoon circa 1981 (which was good enough to convince NBC to make SPIDER-FRIENDS a year or two later).
Dr. Doom overall is not the easiest villain to portray. But what doesn't work is making him more pedestrian, more common, more "down to Earth". Could you imagine Vader making dull wisecracks? Conducting board meetings? Doom was the inspiration for Vader, and it is a shame that wasn't at least made apparent.
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