Meet Anakin Skywalker

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

I know everyone has something bad to say about TPM and most Jake Lloyd's performence of Anakin in TPM, so just right now no bashing in this thread....I just want to hear what people liked about not just Jake's performence in TPM but also the general Anakin story/character development in TPM? Thoughts?

Ghent_the_Slicer · Padawan Joined: Sep 03, 2005 Posts: 649

Slave boy Anakin was an excellent character, but I don't see how this innocent little boy could become the ruthless bad guy we see in ROTS and the trilogy. The idea of an innocent little boy becoming a Jedi was great, but there should have been a different background for Anakin. Overall, I think Jake did a great job.

Jedi_ObiKin · Jedi Knight Joined: Aug 29, 2005 Posts: 196

I think the idea that Anakin being released from servitude at 9 or 10 y.o. and keeping that strong memory of that life with his mother is realistic. I think that insecurity (of having his new life as a Jedi, but not with his mother) was ultimately his downfall. He probably envisioned great things for himself, but I don't think he ever imagined them without his mom, hence the continued strong connection.

Being insecure can lead to many poor choices and crazy behavior, of course---that, combined with the devilish Palpatine whispering in your ear for a decade can obviously make someone change. Just thought of something. Remember learning how to spell "principle" vs "principal"? The school principal is your "pal"? Well, not the case with PALpatine. Wink

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

Ghent_the_Slicer wrote:

Slave boy Anakin was an excellent character, but I don't see how this innocent little boy could become the ruthless bad guy we see in ROTS and the trilogy.

I think the best answer to that I've read in a while is...

Jedi_ObiKin wrote:

I think that insecurity (of having his new life as a Jedi, but not with his mother) was ultimately his downfall. He probably envisioned great things for himself...

...Being insecure can lead to many poor choices and crazy behavior, of course---that, combined with the devilish Palpatine whispering in your ear for a decade can obviously make someone change. Just thought of something. Remember learning how to spell "principle" vs "principal"? The school principal is your "pal"? Well, not the case with PALpatine. Wink

Besides envisioning himself doing great things, there is the added pressure knowing that the entire jedi order thinks you may be "the chosen one." I've seen this dozens of times in youth athletics, kids (regardless of how talented they are) just want to play..it's often when the coaches and parents start to single 1 kid out as the "superstar" that you start to have problems. If you want a real-life example, are you familiar with the story of Maurice Clarett? (OSU running back who tried to enter the NFL draft after 1 year and 1 national title)

I'm just trying to picture Jim Brown in Palpatine's red robes? Very Happy

JediKnightPasJoDacle · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 31, 2004 Posts: 1223

Not bash an actor's performance in a Star Wars film???? What kind of fan are you? lol...j/k

Ok, here it goes, I liked the sensitivity that Jake showed twords the idea of being forced to be a slave. Like when Pademe says "Your a slave?" and Ani says "I'm a person, and my name's Anakin." Jake really hit it home with that one.

I was also surprised at the ability to convay, what I would term "innocent wisdom". For example, when they were at the dinner table and Ani says that "problem with this universe is that no one helps each other...". Little moments like that can sometimes feel VERY scripted, but Jake made it believable.

TheRandomMenace · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 1886

I'd have to agree with Jon about Jake's ability to convey "innocent wisdom," that was good. Most of my problems with the TPM version of Anakin's character are partly physical and partly due to Lucas's writing. What I mean by seeing a physical problem with Anakin is that Jake Lloyd has really light straight hair and doesn't really look like Hayden Christensen (who has dark curly hair) at all in the face. My dad, while not a hardcore fan like us by any means, respects my enthusiasm for the saga and went with me to see AOTC. I remember him watching it for the first time, seeing Anakin and Obi-Wan in the elevator (where Anakin is "on edge") and asking me, who is that guy? I told him it was Anakin, and I distinctly remember him saying "THAT'S ANAKIN?!" He knew who the character was, he just didn't realize that the little boy in TPM was now this Hayden guy. Granted both actors have blondish hair and blue eyes, but their physical attributes don't mesh together well to produce one character. But I would have to say that I think Sebastian Shaw could pass for an older Hayden. As far as Lucas's writing, cheesy lines like "This is Podracing!," and "Yippee!" were just plain dumb. So was the fact that Anakin was supposed to be amazingly strong in the Force at this age despite his quite obvious ineptitude at operating and flying an N1 Starfighter. But overall, I like how Lucas kept him completely pure in this movie to show how drastic his transformation by ROTS is.

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

He could have had sun-bleached hair from the Tatooine suns.

JediKnightPasJoDacle · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 31, 2004 Posts: 1223

R2lass wrote:

He could have had sun-bleached hair from the Tatooine suns.

Good point.