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Ian McDiarmid's performance in the PT (also the OT) is memorable and absolutely enthralling

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Can we at least all agree on that? =D

Cause in my own experience whenever I'm watching the PT or parts of it I'm always looking forward to scenes with Ian McDiarmid as either the chancellor or sith. He definately rises above the given material and creates a character that fascinates endlessly. We can be thankful George Lucas has at least written some pretty to very good dialogue for him to act with! He is very subtle in the first two prequels and in revenge of the sith he really brings all to the table ( is that a good expression? : $)!

'I can feel your anger. It gives you focus. It makes you stronger.'

'Use my knowledge, I beg you.'

'The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural.'

'It's ironic he could save others from death, but not himself.' ( definately my favorite line he's uttered throughout the entire saga, heh )
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Yes I think he's ace too. Not sure I like his scarring scene and choice of undergarments, but when he's just talking he's superb.
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He was definitly the best thing about the series--until the last 30 minutes of ROTS when he became a maniacal clown of sorts. But otherwise he had the most believably portrayed part in the series. It's kind of a shame that his talents were tied up in these films and not in something that is more worthy of them. He's mostly a stage actor but i think the film world would benefit from more of him in it.
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McDiarmid (Palpatine) A
McDiarmid (The Emperor) D
McGregor A-
Christopher Lee A-
Liam Neeson B+
Pernilia August B+
Hayden Christenson D
Natalie Portman C
Jake Lloyd D (I give him a D cause he is only 10 years old, and I can't give a kid an F)

Overall, I think the great actors stepped up in their roles, but the problem is the main characters are Lloyd/Portman/Christenson and the bulk of the drama/chemistry comes from them, and that is why the great actors in the cast couldnt save it.
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Overall, I think the great actors stepped up in their roles, but the problem is the main characters are Lloyd/Portman/Christenson and the bulk of the drama/chemistry comes from them, and that is why the great actors in the cast couldnt save it.


True. But I don't think any woman could have stepped up in the role of Padme with the stupidly embarrassing and uncomfortable dialogue. It would have been C-material, regardless. And I didn't think Christenson was that bad really, just a little uninformed. Christian Bale anyone? lol

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You're really giving P.August a B+? Did you see the death scene in AOTC!?!
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Originally posted by: solo21
You're really giving P.August a B+? Did you see the death scene in AOTC!?!


Ouch! I was only thinking of TPM, so I may have to rethink her grade, maybe I was grading on a curve since the PT was so bad!

That death scene in AOTC is cringeworthy.......sometimes I wonder if Lucas was even watching these scenes in the editing room and wondering if they are as bad as they come off to the public?
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Urghhh.

The thing I hated (well many things) about ROTS was Mcdiarmid's performance.

It's surprising because in Ep 1 + 2 we was great as Palpatine and even Sidious as limited as that role was. But come Ep3 he was off the charts in regards to hamming it up.

And how ironic the guy who invented the Emperor we know and love 20 years earlier totally missed the mark reprising that role. Terrible make-up (not Ian's fault one would guess) over the top acting and terrible voice work (post-production voice modulation?).

I remember sitting there during the Mace/Emperor duel all WTF?? His facial expressions and grunting during the fight were laughable. Like stumbling upon and outtake or parody.

One thing I thing about the PT that they got right was Palpatines arc and really enjoyed that until Ep3. He was slowly becoming more an more evil being twisted by the dark side both figuratively and literally into presumably what we see in ROTJ an old and twisted evil man who is possibly living beyond his years because of the dark side and then with Ep3 that did a 180 and Papatine becomes the Emperor we know because of a fight with a Jedi and his lightning being reflected back at him

Although I must point out that my dislike of McDiarmid's performance has nothing to do with the direction that his character took in Ep3. I hardly think Ian would of had very little input into that at all. The cackling idiot of a jester I think is all McDiarmid's fault. Regardless of any direction George may have given him that's not the character he portrayed in ROTJ and he should be responsible for the performance.

No offence to anyone who enjoys the performance in Ep3 as everyone is allowed an opinion it's just one I can't agree with. Ep1 and 2 I very much agree with though.

Unlimited POWWWEEEEEEERRRR!!!!!!!!!!

"Well here's a big bag of rock salt" - Patton Oswalt

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Originally posted by: see you auntie


Although I must point out that my dislike of McDiarmid's performance has nothing to do with the direction that his character took in Ep3. I hardly think Ian would of had very little input into that at all. The cackling idiot of a jester I think is all McDiarmid's fault. Regardless of any direction George may have given him that's not the character he portrayed in ROTJ and he should be responsible for the performance.



This is true, and Lucas even says it in the ROTS Commentary when The Emperor is throwing Senate Pods, "I just let Ian go, and let him do his thing." I am paraphrasing of course, but when we walked out of the theater after Episode III everyone of my friends said, "Man ROTS just ruined the Emperors character from ROTJ!"

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You run with a good crowd CO

"Well here's a big bag of rock salt" - Patton Oswalt

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Yeah, I might have agreed with McDiarmid's preformance being good as far as TPM goes, and even a good degree in AOTC, but from start to finish I thought he was one of the absolute worst parts of ROTS. Straight from the boot he was way over the top, I was cringing all throught the mock throne room scene the first time I saw it. That scene had so much potential, but then again by that point between the imaginative buzz droids and the CG clone pilots and Oddball, the movie had already blantantly admited that it wasn't going to try too hard to impress.

Just for fun, here is how I would rate them,

McDiarmid (Palpatine) B
McDiarmid (The Emperor) F- (and that is only because I can't give him anything lower than an F. And yes, I know there is no such thing as an F minus)
McGregor B- (Excellent from start to finish in TPM, wasn't as great in AOTC or ROTS, way too any dumb lines which isn't his fault, but he had moments. Felt kind of like he had given up on the series and was just fullfilling his contract. He was the only good thing about the end of ROTS though, that is one moment when he really shines.)
Christopher Lee A (Still proving himself to be the perfect villian. Man, what I wouldn't give to see him play in a good SW movie, it would be a dream.
Liam Neeson A (The poor guy carried a good deal of TMP by himself, I would hate to see what the movie would be like without him. Plus the poor guy had to put up with having the most interaction with Jar Jar, the worlds first 100% CG character. The fact that he, being a serious actor, had to humiliate himself so much to do this film should be enough to earn him an A right there.)
Pernilia August C- (Good in TPM, horrible in AOTC, but then again she wasn't given much to work with)
Hayden Christenson D-
Natalie Portman F (just because she has proven elsewhere that she can do better)
Jake Lloyd --- E for effort.

"Every time Warb sighs, an angel falls into a vat of mapel syrup." - Gaffer Tape

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I refuse to believe all the pulled faces and over-the-top antics were IMD's fault. McDiarmid will give a director exactly what he asks for - but George Lucas was his director. Therefore, Lord Silliness was the fault of Lucas, not IMD.

Want to book yourself or a guest on THE VFP Show? PM me!

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Refer to CO's post and George's remarks in the commentary.

George's standard dirction is "Faster, and more intense!"

Nowhere is he reputed for "Act like a fucking idiot"

....well there is Jar Jar.

"Well here's a big bag of rock salt" - Patton Oswalt

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Originally posted by: Major fatal Moebius
Can we at least all agree on that? =D

Cause in my own experience whenever I'm watching the PT or parts of it I'm always looking forward to scenes with Ian McDiarmid as either the chancellor or sith. He definately rises above the given material and creates a character that fascinates endlessly. We can be thankful George Lucas has at least written some pretty to very good dialogue for him to act with! He is very subtle in the first two prequels and in revenge of the sith he really brings all to the table ( is that a good expression? : $)!

'I can feel your anger. It gives you focus. It makes you stronger.'

'Use my knowledge, I beg you.'

'The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural.'

'It's ironic he could save others from death, but not himself.' ( definately my favorite line he's uttered throughout the entire saga, heh )


Never cared for McDiarmid to be honest with you. Sure he had some genuine creepiness going for him at times, but he always came off as effeminate & annoying most of the time.
I'd like a qui-gon jinn please with an Obi-Wan to go.

Red heads ROCK. Blondes do not rock. Nuff said.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/greencapt/hansolovsindy.jpg
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http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/0Cryogenic0/silly_palps.jpg

Wow, I can just hear the sound of Ian ripping a big one when I see that picture.

"Every time Warb sighs, an angel falls into a vat of mapel syrup." - Gaffer Tape

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Funny thing, I recall that I waited for McDiarmid scenes all the time I watched TPM the first time, because I've felt this to be the only link with OT... as the movie seemed... err... quite different ("is that it? is this what I was waiting for all those years?"). It was like "I'm watching some sci-fi movie with a Emperor from 'Star Wars' it it".

Although I would also say that ROTS Emperor is ...an overkill. But is wasn't up to McDiarmid to choose what to say or whether to use saber or not.
I saw the original theatrical release of the Old Trilogy on the big screen and I'm proud of it...
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...
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Its the director's job to guide the actors--to say "Ian, tone down the expressions, just play it straight." Its as much a directors job to weed out what is wrong as it is to include what is right--now, true there are some things you simply cannot control, but alas this is not one of them. Lucas allowed McDiarmid to fuck it up, because he is the director and could have directed the performance differently.
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Originally posted by: Major fatal Moebius
Okay, so maybe I was a little bit drunk when I created this thread :

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/0Cryogenic0/silly_palps.jpg


If only this could be my avatar.
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Originally posted by: zombie84
Its the director's job to guide the actors--to say "Ian, tone down the expressions, just play it straight." Its as much a directors job to weed out what is wrong as it is to include what is right--now, true there are some things you simply cannot control, but alas this is not one of them. Lucas allowed McDiarmid to fuck it up, because he is the director and could have directed the performance differently.


Even with the stories of the PT as screwed up as they were, imagine how different it might have been had someone other than George been directing. And even with George directing, how in the world did he let things deteriorate so much? Did he really think people would take these kinds of things seriously?

"Every time Warb sighs, an angel falls into a vat of mapel syrup." - Gaffer Tape

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Originally posted by: C3PX
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/0Cryogenic0/silly_palps.jpg

Wow, I can just hear the sound of Ian ripping a big one when I see that picture.


I just cannot stop laughing my ass of at this picture. LOL!!!

Anyways, I'll stick by my assertion that McGregor was the best part of the entire Prequel. As far as Ian, I liked his Palpatine, but like many here, I loath his Jokerish representation of the Emperor.
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Originally posted by: C3PX
Originally posted by: zombie84
Its the director's job to guide the actors--to say "Ian, tone down the expressions, just play it straight." Its as much a directors job to weed out what is wrong as it is to include what is right--now, true there are some things you simply cannot control, but alas this is not one of them. Lucas allowed McDiarmid to fuck it up, because he is the director and could have directed the performance differently.


Even with the stories of the PT as screwed up as they were, imagine how different it might have been had someone other than George been directing. And even with George directing, how in the world did he let things deteriorate so much? Did he really think people would take these kinds of things seriously?


I was really disappointed that George directed all three, because his plan in 1995 was not to direct any of them. At most, he said, he would direct Episode I. Too bad it didn't actually happen like that.
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Originally posted by: Davis

I was really disappointed that George directed all three, because his plan in 1995 was not to direct any of them. At most, he said, he would direct Episode I. Too bad it didn't actually happen like that.


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Originally posted by: see you auntie
One thing I thing about the PT that they got right was Palpatines arc and really enjoyed that until Ep3. He was slowly becoming more an more evil being twisted by the dark side both figuratively and literally into presumably what we see in ROTJ an old and twisted evil man who is possibly living beyond his years because of the dark side and then with Ep3 that did a 180 and Papatine becomes the Emperor we know because of a fight with a Jedi and his lightning being reflected back at him



I always took it as he was losing the power to conceal himself and just let go. So the Face we saw - the Emporers face - was his true identity. He was just masking it from the others. I mean, are you going to trust the fucked up looking evil dude or the kind faced old man to run the senate? In the fight he did keep going on about not being able to hold it any longer...weak, I'm so weak an' all that jazz.
For me he didn't get burned...Luke never got burned...Anakin never got burned, so why did Palps? If he was burning so bad, why is his hair still ok. That's the first thing to go. Also, after Mace flew out of the window, Palps got up brushed himself off, put his cloak on and went about his business. Not bad for someone who just had their whole face burnt to a crisp by lightning.
Like I said, I think it was all a mask to hide his true appearance.

Or it could just be another balls up by George.







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I always imagined that Palpatine in ROTJ was not necessarily consumed by the dark side or whatever, but rather just a really old man. I certianly didn't need to see him ending up looking identical in the end of ROTS to the way he looks in ROTJ some 25 or so years later. Did that lightning turn his skin to plastic? Why wasn't he aging?