I think that the fact that Ewan McGregor was rather good and was working from the same scripts disproves the notion that it's all on the quality of the script. The quality of the actor is as important, if not even more so.
Alec Guinness complained about the script for the original Star Wars (also written by Lucas) and the ridiculous lines that he had to speak, yet I can't think of a single cringe-worthy line from him. He managed to figure out how to deliver every line almost as though Shakespeare, himself, had written it.
Let people have their fun. It's much more entertaining all around this way.
I can certainly agree with many specific points about the script and acting issues with the prequels, but one thing does occur to me:
People always state that Hayden's acting was "wooden" but consider who he is portraying--the guy who becomes Vader. Is Vader vivacious and charismatic? No. He's a brooding, stoic half-machine who rarely speaks unless he needs to threaten or terrify someone. It wasn't fun to watch it on screen, but maybe this is how Hayden felt pre-Vader should be done.
That's the best excuse I can come up with, anyway.
People always state that Hayden's acting was "wooden" but consider who he is portraying--the guy who becomes Vader. Is Vader vivacious and charismatic? No. He's a brooding, stoic half-machine who rarely speaks unless he needs to threaten or terrify someone. It wasn't fun to watch it on screen, but maybe this is how Hayden felt pre-Vader should be done.
That's the best excuse I can come up with, anyway.
There were moments where Hayden was very good, but mainly that was around the physical parts of the script. The scene where he slaughtered the seperatists was really well done.
His looks and facial expressions were very good.
The problem was that some of the script phrase wise was really clumsy, beyond the sand thing, the Sith deals in absolutes wasn't good. But I think part of the problem was that he didn't have the voice of Vader when he turned. The book was great in its description that when Anakin lost his temper in front of the council and was denied mastership that his voice became deeper and more menacing and oily.
We got so used to Vader with a mask that it was hard to imagine him without, but I expected more menace and vindictiveness.
It would have also been nice to see Anakin offering Obi-Wan a chance to flee and go into hiding, at that point in the duel he didn't have a real reason to hate Obi as much as the rest of the Jedi.
His looks and facial expressions were very good.
The problem was that some of the script phrase wise was really clumsy, beyond the sand thing, the Sith deals in absolutes wasn't good. But I think part of the problem was that he didn't have the voice of Vader when he turned. The book was great in its description that when Anakin lost his temper in front of the council and was denied mastership that his voice became deeper and more menacing and oily.
We got so used to Vader with a mask that it was hard to imagine him without, but I expected more menace and vindictiveness.
It would have also been nice to see Anakin offering Obi-Wan a chance to flee and go into hiding, at that point in the duel he didn't have a real reason to hate Obi as much as the rest of the Jedi.
BonMorrison
Registered User
Player big P
no more striptease no more flashes
I liked the part in Attack of the Clones where Natalie Portman is like "You're not all powerful!" and he goes "WELL I SHOULD BE" and throws something that sounds like an empty soda can into the background.
Cole Caulifield
Registered User
- Apr 22, 2004
- 27,967
- 2,465
Christensen was dealt a horrible hand by George "The hack" Lucas. You can't turn **** into gold.
It's not like delivering garbage was new for the guy. Wasn't he pulled right out of day time television?
And when I saw that scene my gf at the time burst out laughing turned to me and said "He totally throws like a girl"
Power Man
Grrrr
Clone Wars Anakin is what we should have had in the prequels.
Yes, Hayden's perf wasn't the best, but his character was poorly written.
Yes, Hayden's perf wasn't the best, but his character was poorly written.
- Aug 24, 2011
- 27,506
- 11,901
ProstheticConscience
Check dein Limit
This. I'm hard pressed to think of an actor who can make a George Lucas script sound like something a human being would say to another.
Mind you, I have yet to see any evidence Hayden Christensen can act. At all. In anything.
Haven't watched that one but have seen it on Netflix. So it is worth a watch then?
I thought Natalie Portman was equally terrible and she's typically a great actress. Sometimes the script just isn't salvageable.
- Aug 24, 2011
- 27,506
- 11,901
Definitely. If you liked "Mud" you'll like "Joe", it's a really similar style of movie
CantHaveTkachev
Legends
tough to act good when you got a horrible to work with and your standing in front of a bright green-screen for 8 hours a day
Do Make Say Think
& Yet & Yet
- Jun 26, 2007
- 51,167
- 9,909
Christensen was fine
All the actors were fine, it's the writing that was abysmal. Even Portman couldn't pull it off.
All the actors were fine, it's the writing that was abysmal. Even Portman couldn't pull it off.
Siamese Dream
Registered User
Oh yes, the "so love has blinded you?" conversation is some of the worst dialogue I've ever witnessed in film and television
Mansfield
possession obsession
Yeah I agree. As far as that trilogy goes, liam neeson was good, ewan mcgregor was okay, and most of the other actors were bad.
Portman in particular has always struct me as an actor who's as good as the script. She was fantastic in leon and black swan, but awful in star wars and thor.
Buckets and Gloves
klaatu barada nikto
- Aug 14, 2011
- 7,578
- 175
Blame the writing.
I remember reading Ford made a lot of his lines up for Star Wars, Lucas asked him and Ford said "George, no body talks like this in real life."
I remember reading Ford made a lot of his lines up for Star Wars, Lucas asked him and Ford said "George, no body talks like this in real life."
Blender
Registered User
- Dec 2, 2009
- 51,399
- 45,290
People telling George when he was wrong was pretty much the biggest difference between the originals and prequels.
GlassesJacketShirt
Registered User
I think Portman is a notch above Christensen, but I believe both of them need the script and direction to be on point. They aren't actors that can salvage a role like Ewan McGregor did as Obi Wan.
Eh, I don't think this is fair. Samuel L Jackson is an actor that imbues every bad role he has ever done with charisma and likability, but was terrible and bland in the prequel trilogy. Does he need the script and direction to be on point?
You can't tell actors to deliver the worst, lovey dialogue in existence, in front of a green screen, with AWFUL direction and expect it to come out well.
And I actually agree with the Nostalgia Critic's take on the Hayden Christensen performance. He actually delivers a pretty good physical performance in Sith, it just falls apart when he delivers the dialogue.
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