Which Movie Villain Is Not Evil, Just Misunderstood?
There's a thin line between hero and villain.
Lately, Hollywood has been giving some of our favorite movie villains their own redemption arcs in the form of origin stories.
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We get to see them, not as the doers of all things awful, but as relatable and — dare I say — human. When I think of a villain that deserves redemption, Sgt. James Buchanan Barnes comes to mind.
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You know, the Winter Soldier? Bucky Barnes from the Captain America movies?
Bucky is not evil. Okay, yes, he assassinated a bunch of people.
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And caused millions of dollars worth of damage.
And almost killed Captain America...
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...more than once.
But in reality, poor Bucky is the victim. After years of mental "conditioning" and bionic "upgrades," our sweet, innocent Bucky was turned into a pawn used to do Hydra's bidding.
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You try being locked up, brainwashed, and experimented on and see how "heroic" you'd be.
In the end, the true Bucky came to the surface to prove that he's not a villain, but in fact a lovable and damaged human being that deserves a second chance.
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Then, there is Sharpay Evans, the so-called "mean girl" and main antagonist of High School Musical. While she is spoiled, rich, and has a bit of an attitude problem, she is more than just the villainous storyline that she was unjustly given.
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She was dedicated and worked hard on her audition for the spring musical, only to have her efforts thwarted by two people that only tried out for "fun.”
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Having the one thing that you spent countless hours on taken away from you would make anyone a little bitter.
It's true that she tried to steal Troy away from Gabriella, but she tried to help him realize his dreams. She got him a summer job, introduced him to University of Albuquerque basketball players, and tried to get him a full college scholarship.
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Sharpay Evans isn't perfect, but she’s far from the bad guy that everyone made her out to be. She was assertive, talented, diligent, and had a good heart beneath a tough exterior.
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