Luke Skywalker or Anakin Skywalker...

Padme92 · Treasury Councillor Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 2123

Ok...since the Padme vs Leia was a little more one sided then I imagine I decided to try another one as well...if you can't get the message: its Anakin vs Luke.

Also for anyone who wanted to know I came up with both of these to see what your thoughts were because of a story I came across in the May 13, 2005 paper of USA today. It was called "Generation flap" and talked about the clashing of the OT vs the Prequels so they tested 6 roles (young hero, plucky heroine, wise mentor, villian, sidekick, and comic relief). The other four are not that interesting but these two were.

So let the thoughts begin!

DWH · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 31, 2004 Posts: 509

Okay, I'll bite. Now, I'll specify first that Darth Vader is my favourite character overall. But there's a world of difference between him and the Anakin Skywalker we see portrayed in at least Episodes I and II. III's a little closer (minus that ridiculous NOOOOOOO at the end), but I can't help but think of him as different. Anakin's pretty well buried once Vader hits the OT.

Now, you ask, why do I choose the person who whines over going to the Tosche Station to pick up some power converters over the person who whines about Obi-Wan? Well, I guess it's because I like his flaws better than Anakin's flaws. Luke Skywalker is impetuous and impatient, net result he loses his hand and learns that the big bad guy is his daddy. Anakin Skywalker is impetuous and impatient, net result a whole camp of Tusken Raiders are dead. They have a lot of similar traits, to be sure... I just like the way Luke deals with them better.

Secondly, and this could possibly be due to the fact that Lucas elected to put 60% of his plot into the third film, I felt Anakin's fall to be, well... kinda unconvincing. "Oh no, what have I done? Woe is me, I shall become a Sith Lord to ease my pain." Yeah, I have my own ideas about ways it could've been dramatic, but I didn't make the film. Razz

I'll grant it was a bit better in the book, but still, could've been better. Luke, on the other hand, had a real, tangible strugle with the Dark Side. He stood over his father's defeated form, poised for victory. And he walked away, because it was just the right thing to do. He had nothing to gain from doing so, besides knowing his own integrity was in tact, making the decision even more significant.

So yeah, I'm an OT girl through and through. 'Cept for possibly Obi-Wan, he rocked supremely.

Padme92 · Treasury Councillor Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 2123

DWH wrote:

But there's a world of difference between him and the Anakin Skywalker we see portrayed in at least Episodes I and II. III's a little closer (minus that ridiculous NOOOOOOO at the end), but I can't help but think of him as different. Anakin's pretty well buried once Vader hits the OT.

Yes, I know in Episode 3 that all the bad stuff that happens is really VADER, so I don't count that as Anakin. I mean just plain Anakin before the dark side stuff...I will go into my thoughts after a few more people bite... Twisted Evil

Beltayn · Jedi Knight Joined: Apr 18, 2004 Posts: 1712

Luke Skywalker- 'nuff said Cool

DWH · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 31, 2004 Posts: 509

Padme92 wrote:

DWH wrote:

But there's a world of difference between him and the Anakin Skywalker we see portrayed in at least Episodes I and II. III's a little closer (minus that ridiculous NOOOOOOO at the end), but I can't help but think of him as different. Anakin's pretty well buried once Vader hits the OT.

Yes, I know in Episode 3 that all the bad stuff that happens is really VADER, so I don't count that as Anakin. I mean just plain Anakin before the dark side stuff...I will go into my thoughts after a few more people bite... Twisted Evil

I may be in denial, but gosh darn it, Hayden Christensen ain't Vader. Never has been, and never will be, in spite of his efforts. Lucas may have intended it to be that way, but I just can't see it. So I'm going to put my fingers in my ears and sing 'LALALALA', just because.

And if Anakin is Vader in Episode III, then Episode III Anakin doesn't count, either. Razz

jedi_bmack · Communication Councillor Joined: Feb 08, 2004 Posts: 1248

DWH wrote:

Luke, on the other hand...

BOOOOOOOOOO!!!! bad pun!!!

*runs*

-b-

DWH · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 31, 2004 Posts: 509

*blinks*

I so totally didn't even notice I did that.

R2lass · Jedi Knight Joined: Aug 17, 2005 Posts: 357

I voted for Luke. (note: most of my thinking is based on Luke in ROTJ)Sure he had his problems with impatience, but I think he was more humble and attuned to his feelings; Anakin was always too headstrong and sure of himself.
Luke may have been whiny, but that was before he was told about the force and trained in the Jedi arts; Anakin was still whining after being an apprentice for ten years.
I like Luke cause he's more mellow and thought things out (like Obi-Wan); whereas Anakin always has to take action and jump the gun into things without thinking it through first. Luke was willing to TRY to turn Vader back to the goodside; Anakin was GOING to save Padme from death. When Luke failed with Vader at the docking platform on Endor he willingly accepted his fate to be sent to the Emperor; when Anakin was not given his mastership (being a Master would grant him entrance to the Jedi Archives), he didn't accept it, he gave in to anger and it was a downward spiral from there.

DarkMara · Jedi Knight Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 485

R2lass wrote:

Luke may have been whiny, but that was before he was told about the force and trained in the Jedi arts; Anakin was still whining after being an apprentice for ten years.

I SO COMPLETELY agree with that statement. Luke was whiny & inexperienced at the BEGINNING in ANH. Anakin, however, was MOST annoying with his whining at the beginning of ATOC about "Obi-Wan is holding me back" wah wah. It was Anakin's arrogance that turned me off. Luke was many things, but not arrogant.

jediwarrior3 · Jedi Knight Joined: Aug 07, 2004 Posts: 403

I chose luke because he isn't like his father, Anakin. Not poer hungry, more mellow and want what is right.

Beltayn · Jedi Knight Joined: Apr 18, 2004 Posts: 1712

jediwarrior3 wrote:

Not poer hungry

Being one usually results in the other...unless you stock up on Raman Noodles or go to soup kitchens Wink

DarkMara · Jedi Knight Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 485

Beltayn wrote:

jediwarrior3 wrote:

Not poer hungry

Being one usually results in the other...unless you stock up on Raman Noodles or go to soup kitchens Wink

Man are we LITERAL around here. Laughing

The sad part is, I actually understood what Beltayn meant! Shocked

Krash · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 20, 2004 Posts: 3495

In terms of the overall character, despite my being a fan of Luke Skywalker from my childhood...I think Anakin is the more complicated character, hence the more interesting.

They say, the good guys are only as good...as the bad guys are bad. I think this applies nowhere more significantly then in Luke Skywalker. When GL created the character of Luke, he meant for him to represent us...the audience, in this morality tale set in the stars. Everything Luke experiences is new to us, so his journey is really OUR journey.

I've been reading The Dharma of Star Wars and one of the best comments that sums up Luke's role in the saga is:

Quote:

Luke at this moment does what his father could not do, he transcends suffering. His wisdom parts the shroud of ignorance and shows him that the dark side cannot give him the power to "rule the galaxy" or to "save his friends," it can only lead to the misery his father suffered.

Luke's evolution from whining kid, to someone wise and mature enough to know fighting isn't always the answer make him the modern mythical representation of the good in all of us...and a great character. What makes Anakin Skywalker an even better character is that he had all those same tools for greatness...and failed (just like we all do sometimes).

DarkMara wrote:

Anakin was still whining after being an apprentice for ten years

Look at the arrogance of someone like Tiger Woods. Sure, the man is one of the greatest golf players of his generation, but listen to his in interviews and he could have his ego caddy and carry his bag for himself!

Anakin has gone from a good kid, living a simple life (of a slave, but uncomplicated) to being built up as "the chosen one." It's only natural that all the same human emotions we all deal with would get in the way, and leave him open to the kinda manipulation Palpatine used to "bring" him (he made the choice) to the dark side.

Again, we didn't grow up living under the same guidelines the padawans of the jedi order...neither did Anakin. What makes his struggle (even the whinning) is that had we (the audience) been placed in that same situation, we could of had the same thing happen to us.

According to The Dharma of Star Wars:

Quote:

Anakin may have told Luke that he "saved" him, but it is Anakin's own choice to finally face the dark side within him with the courage and honesty that frees him from it and opens his heart to compassion.

From a character standpoint, this act of "saving" himself is the part that makes Anakin more interesting. On another thread, we had some discussion over whether Anakin could fully redeem himself...after the terrible things he'd done as Darth Vader. Personally, I think the effort can sometimes be more valuable then the end result.

DWH · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 31, 2004 Posts: 509

Am I some sort of freak of nature for not being able to mentally reconcile Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker as the same person? Because I definitely have them filed away in my head as two different people. I don't know why, I can do it with other characters, like Darth Revan... weird.

See, I can think of Vader as an infinitely interesting and complex character. Anakin just annoys me. I suspect it may have something to do with the performance, or maybe the script, but there's not much I can do about that, unless Lucas lets Lauren, Liz, and myself take over and use our rewrites as the real version. Rolling Eyes

So, in short, I don't find the Anakin of the prequels to be a particularly interesting or endearing character. In fact, I might like Jar Jar more than I like him. Something must have seriously been lost between trilogies, because he ought to have been interesting.

I like our AU version of Anakin, though. But he doesn't count for this discussion. Razz

Krash · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 20, 2004 Posts: 3495

DWH wrote:

Am I some sort of freak of nature for not being able to mentally reconcile Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker as the same person? Because I definitely have them filed away in my head as two different people.

Yeah...but, you know I still luv ya regardless. Wink

It's not THAT unusual, even Obi-Wan was convinced the person he knew as Anakin "died" (both literally and emotionally) after their fight on Mustafar. I'd be interested to read something about how Obi-Wan learns that Anakin survived, and was rebuilt into Darth Vader.

DWH wrote:

I can think of Vader as an infinitely interesting and complex character.

See...that's part of the reason I like the (now infamous) "Noooooo" scene in ROTS. While it does differ from the audience's original perception of Darth Vader as the ultimate villian: cold-blooded and vicious, I think now having the backstory of Anakin's tradgic life just makes the whole character (Anakin/Vader) so much more meaningful. This could be a whole topic by itself...so I'll leave it at that for now.

Luke is great, because he's the classic hero character. He's Arthur, mixed with Flash Gordon, and all the the heroes of Grek mythology all rolled up into one. And anyone who was fortunate enough to see The Magic of Myth exhibit knows that was deliberatly done.