A Delectation of Evil -- HMSS Celebrates the Bond Film VillainsHer Majesty's Secret Servant
The HMSS Editor's Survey of the Bond Film Villains

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "femme fatale" as:
   1  :  a seductive woman who lures men into dangerous or compromising situations
   2  :  a woman who attracts men by an aura of charm and mystery

HMSS defines the James Bond movie femme fatale as... Yummy! Cooool! Woof-woof! RRrraaaaorrr! Hummanahummana! (and other Tex Avery sound effects.) They're the bad girls that Bond hates to love, except that he can't help himself.

And neither can we. Played by some of the screen's most beautiful women, and written so that they have all the fun (until, sadly, they meet their comeuppance), they reign as the most fantastical characters in the canon of 007's nemeses.

Acting almost as female mirror images of Bond, they're simultaneously sexy and deadly; luscious and lethal. And we say, Hooray for the distaff side!

They're the rara avis of the series, but here's how we rank these birds of prey:

The Femmes Fatale

Publisher Paul BaackSenior Editor Robert CottonSenior Editor Bill KoenigSpecial Guest Editor Deborah LippSenior Editor James McMahonSenior Editor Ed WernerPublisher Tom Zelinskiaverage grade with average points out of maximum 5.00
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FOR EDITOR'S COMMENTS
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3.81 points
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4.83 points
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2.99 points
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4.13 points
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4.33 points
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4.38 points

4.37
4.02
3.75
4.75
4.08
3.60
3.98
4.08 points

FEMMES FATALE RANKED IN DESCENDING ORDER

1.   Fiona Volpe    Grade A-
                4.83 points
       Film:  THUNDERBALL  4.67 points    Grade B+

2.   Xenia Onattop    Grade B+
                4.33 points
       Film:  GOLDENEYE   4.09 points    Grade B

3.   Miranda Frost    Grade  B+
                4.38 points
       Film:  DIE ANOTHER DAY   3.90 points    Grade B-

4.   Fatima Blush    Grade  B
                4.13 points
       Film: NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN   3.00 points    Grade C

5.   Miss Taro    Grade B-
                3.81 points
       Film:  DR. NO   4.51 points    Grade B+

6.   Helga Brandt    Grade  D+
                2.99 points
       Film:  YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE   3.14 points    Grade C

FEMME FATALE / MOVIE RATIO

BEST FEMME IN BEST MOVIE
   Fiona Volpe (A-) in THUNDERBALL (B+)
WORST FEMME IN WORST MOVIE
   Helga Brandt (D+) in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (C)
BEST FEMME IN WORST MOVIE
   Fatima Blush (B) in NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (C)
WORST FEMME IN BEST MOVIE
   Miss Taro (B-) in DR. NO (B+)


EDITORIAL DIFFERENCES

MOST CRITICAL
   Ed Werner  (3.60 avg.)  Grade C+
MOST FAVORABLE
   Deborah Lipp  (4.75 avg.)  Grade A-
CLOSEST TO 4.08 AVERAGE
   James McMahon  (4.08)
FURTHEST FROM 4.08 AVERAGE
   Deborah Lipp  (4.75)
WIDEST VARIANCE
   Lipp / McMahon  (Helga Brandt)  (3.47)



Previously... The HENCHMEN
The PRINCIPAL VILLAINS
Or, return to...A DELECTATION OF EVIL
SPECIAL VILLAINS FEATURE
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