Creating Compelling Villian and Hero Final Moments

One of my favorite movies of all time is First Knight starring Richard Gere, Sean Connery and Julie Ormond. And as I was watching this movie a couple of weeks ago, I got to thinking about creating villains, and creating villains that perfectly compliment the hero. You might be scratching your head over that one, but read on and I will explain.

First let's look at the hero. We want a hero that is strong, moral, has his weaknesses, but in those weaknesses, he can find his strength.  He isn't perfect by any means, but usually has a bravado to cover for what he can't do. And he must be handsome (okay, maybe I just threw that in because I wanted to ; )

Now the villain, must posses the exact same qualities, but with exact opposite reason and intent. He needs to be everything the hero is, but with the obvious evil that sets him apart.

 In First Knight, Richard Gere plays Lancelot, a gypsy sword fighter that fights for money. He loves no one and is the best sword fighter within miles of his sword tip. In some ways he is reckless, merely living life with no apparent reason to live, one of his first lines in teaching a rookie about sword fighting is: "You have to not care whether you live or die." And that is Lancelot.

Malagant  is his arch enemy, though Lancelot has yet to know that. Malagant  wants Camelot, wants to defeat King Arthur and at first the viewer thinks that the movie will be about King Arthur defeating Malagant, but when Lancelot sets his sights on Lady Geneviere (Julia Ormond),  he suddenly has something to live for. Something to fight for. And Malagant, who wants Lady Geneviere's country, becomes the arch enemy of Lancelot

Malagant, to make him the perfect enemy to Lancelot, is his perfect match, if not better than Lancelot. He has the speed and ability of superb sword fighting. The determination and the reason to fight. He wants Camelot, that is his motivation. And every villain, like the hero needs a motivation and a reason to fight.

Lancelot has a motivation, to protect Lady Geneviere. And he does time and time again, putting his own life on the line to rescue her, going up against Malagant for her safety.

Now I could go on and on about the other reason that play into this movie, but for right now I want to just focus on the hero and villain's final fight.

This fight needs to be the strongest battle of the novel or movie. But before you can get to the final fight, you must see the villain and hero's tendencies. All throughout the movie we see Malagant and his vicious tactics at fighting. It is brutal and bloody, he cares not what harm he leaves in the swath of his path.

But we also see Lancelot and his fighting abilities. He fights with honor and purpose. He fights with the ability to beat everyone he comes into contact with strength and determination. No fight is left untouched by his abilities. But the one fight that is conspicuously absent is the clash between villain and hero and the viewer waits for it with baited breath. They have been set up through the entire movie and know that the fight between Lancelot and Malagant is inevitable.

And that is very important for the author to remember. To create a compelling villain/hero fight, you must show their tendencies, both weak and strong so the reader will be fulling prepared for that final moment.

Creating that final moment must be breathtaking. It must never slow on pace. It must never let the viewer or reader take a full breath until the villain has been vanquished.

So how do you create it? Here is what I observed from the First Knight.

A stunning beginning. Malagant rides in and threatens to kill Arther and burn down the city of Camelot. The fight ensues with Arther commanding his people to never surrender.

Lancelot grabs up a sword, but he does not rush at Malagant. That would be too soon. The final battle must be drawn out just a bit longer, or it will feel too rushed. He fights those around him, first with a flag pole and then a sword. Leaving a swath of destruction behind him. We see he is strong and in his prime.

But one glance to the right and so is Malagant. And then. Then they see each other and both instantly know that the moment has come. Their swords clang, but something comes between them, driving them apart.

Again prolong the fight a bit longer for dramatic effect, but too long and your reader will start to skim to reach the next turn. Malagant shoves someone aside and the two rush at each other again. They are even, exchanging blow for blow. Both dancing away from danger, only to lunge forward again.

Now here is another great moment in the hero/villain fight. The hero must be hurt. He must be rendered in pain is some way, but not life threatening. The reader can't breathe at this point, all is surely lost. The villain leaps forward to take the final plunge on the fallen victim. And then. Then this is the moment when the hero must dig deep and become stronger than the villain.

In First Knight, it is when Lancelot sees and grabs the King Arther sword, in Christian fiction, it is when the hero or heroine calls out to God and begs for help. The hero needs a salvation, the hero needs something stronger that the villain cannot beat, but it must be realistic to the reader or they will become frustrated. In First Knight the viewer cheers when Lancelot grabs up the sword and becomes invincible, we have seen the strength and power of Arther and Lancelots' respect for each other and their swords fighting.

In Christian fiction, the heroine or hero needs to have been led down the inevitable path that calling out to God is the only option, the most viable option.

This moment is the turning point. No matter what injury, the hero can prevail. Take the upper hand and defeat evil.

This moment is the moment the reader has been longing for, cheering for and it must be perfectly matched, so let's go back and do a quick revision.

~The hero and villain must share the same abilities and to a certain extent the same values, but don't take this too far. One for good, the other for evil.
~They both must have a compelling reason to fight later on, prolong that fight for as long as possible
~When that final moment reaches a head, don't jump right in. Throw in drama wherever you can during the fight, prolonging that clash, but don't take too long. Run on instinct here.
~The hero needs to be wounded by the villain, the moment where everything seems lost
~But the hero cries out, digs deep and comes out stronger, defeating the villain

This moment does not have to be just in action books or movies. It can be in the character driven novels, the battle between good and evil for a person's soul. That is the greatest fight of all.

But no matter the fight, these steps will need to be implemented to create that perfect clash that will leave your reader breathless. And by the way, it doesn't hurt to have two handsome heroes battling for the same heroine's affection, drives up the action and stakes even higher. : )

Okay, maybe I said that so I could include this picture, I just love it. : )

So, do you have a strong hero and villain conclusion? I would love to hear about it. : )