India, June 3 -- A hero is not truly a hero until he has a worthy adversary. Similarly, James Bond wouldn't be 007 without the brilliantly sinister villains who challenge his intellect, strength and willpower. From the classic Bond antagonists to the modern ones, the franchise has always hit the bullseye when it comes to casting, characterisation and villainous motivations.

The James Bond movies have always been classics, with thrilling sequences, high stakes, and nail-biting climaxes - credit for which goes equally to 007 and his enemies. As products of their time, both the James Bond films and their villains have been influenced by the socio-political and economic climate of the period in which they were produced.

For instance, the e...