I think you’ve partially misinterpreted my views on this subject. Yes, some of Anakin’s reactions in the Prequel Trilogy do come off as exaggerated, even over-the-top, especially in Attack of the Clones. There are moments where he should use more restraint, and I do think some of his reactions should be toned down. I won’t deny that; in fact, in the Prequel edits I’m planning to create, I intend to remove certain moments that are simply too over-the-top. However, I still believe it’s fitting for Anakin to be more emotionally expressive in the Prequels than he is in the Original Trilogy. Anakin’s heightened expressiveness doesn’t feel out of character to me. After all, he’s still young, still learning to navigate his immense power and the emotions that come with being the Chosen One. So, while I plan to moderate some of his more exaggerated reactions in these fan edits, I also intend to keep his character a bit more openly expressive than Vader in the Original Trilogy. This intensity, even if occasionally dramatic, reflects his inner conflicts.
As you pointed out, in the Original Trilogy we can certainly see Darth Vader as a character who appears far more controlled and repressive. I won’t deny that. (Just to be clear, when I asked you to give me some examples, I wasn’t trying to be sarcastic. I genuinely wanted you to give me some examples, because I didn’t remember them.) Yet, there are still moments in which the Original Trilogy’s Vader recalls that same passionate Anakin from the Prequels. For instance, in A New Hope, when Vader captures Leia and accuses her of being a spy and a traitor. His line, “You are part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor. Take her away!” has a fierceness that feels very much like Prequel-era Anakin, revealing the passionate core that’s always been a part of him. Both trilogies show these two sides of Anakin’s character, his struggle to suppress his emotions and his inability to do so at times. In the Prequels, while he may seem overly expressive, there are also instances where he tries to hold back. Take, for example, when he tells Padmé, “Jedi do not have nightmares.” In this moment, he’s suppressing his vulnerability, trying to project the calm and control that a Jedi should embody. I haven’t watched the films in quite some time, but I’m certain there are other moments in the Original Trilogy where Vader’s reactions are similarly spontaneous, as well as other moments in the Prequel Trilogy where Anakin tries to deny his own emotions.
In my opinion, both of these aspects, sometimes repressing his emotions and sometimes failing to contain them, are part of Anakin’s character arc. It would be unrealistic to expect him to behave consistently in one way across every situation, especially given the intense, conflicting pressures he faces. So yes, while I do plan to reduce some of Anakin’s more exaggerated reactions in my fan edits, I believe his expressive nature as a young man adds depth to his character. It shows us the raw conflict within him, a conflict that defines both Anakin and Vader in different ways across the trilogies.
PS: I apologize if my previous response was brief and didn’t address all your points as thoroughly as this one. Last time, I responded a bit too quickly and without much thought. I tend to fixate on certain things, and having unread messages or unresolved responses really bothers me. So sometimes, just to ease that feeling, I end up sending answers that aren’t fully thought-out, simply to get it off my chest.