I've always thought Ian McDiarmid wasn't that great as the Emperor. Occasionally creepy with a few well delivered lines, but not really commanding or terrifying. Even when I was a little kid I thought he was more annoying and effeminate than actually scary and evil; I never believed he could boss Vader around, even with the lightning bolts shooting out of his hands ala Gozer in "Ghostbusters" (or should that be the other way around?). I would have rather seen someone like Christopher Lee or Frank Langella in the role.

What do you all think?