Lucas is to blame. It's not like there wouldn't have been people willing to write or direct for Lucas if he had stepped back and just admitted "I can't do this effectively alone." Jake Lloyd took a lot of crap for Ani but I thought he did a good job of portraying the character the way Lucas wanted it. By the way, I think his awkward line "It's working, it's working" was another E. T. reference, the scene in the forest after Elliot's midnight Halloween ride.
Hayden I thought sounded terrible. I've heard he was actually very good in "Life as a house" and "Shattered Glass." But when you're told to talk in stilted iambic pantameter like Shakespeare, (My heart is beating, praying this kiss does not become a star) what do you expect.
I thought Neeson, Portman and McGregor did a good job.

Edit: praying this kiss does not become a scar.