j-e-f-f-e-r-s said:
The problem for me is that it never feels tragic. I never get a sense for his character, because all his character does is be jealous, whiney, and throwing tantrums. You never get to know who Anakin is as a person, only as an irritant.
That scene with his mother and the sand people would've had an impact if Anakin didn't already reveal himself to be a rather unstable and bratty individual. You would assume being trained in the Jedi arts means gaining a balance with one's self, but it seems Obi Wan only trained Anakin in the art of lightsaber, what with what he tells him at the club entrance and all.
As for it not being believable if he was too nice... Even with Anakin being a lunatic in
RotS, his transition from evil Anakin to evil Vader actually felt very forced itself. Or should I say, it felt like he had no say in it, like he was just following the instructions of whoever was talking at the moment. He kills Doku because Palpatine tells him to, and then he kills Mace because Palpatine again tells him to.
Not once does it feel like he's being led astray, except for maybe the same way a 5-year old gets lured by candy. Not once does it feel like this is an intelligent person getting seduced by something greater then he is. As an example of how this is done right I'll point to
Berserk. It too shows the rise, fall, and then evil resurrection of a character who coincedentally is also not the nicest person from the start. The difference being that this character is an extremely clever and methodical strategist, and that he forms a real intense emotional connection with someone, unlike Anakin and Padme. This creates a moment where his emotion overides his logic and he makes a mistake which sets in motion the events that will lead to his downfall and ultimately his resurrection. And here too you know from the start that this person is going to betray his loved ones and turn wholey evil.
Edgar Wright I would like to see handling something of this stature, too. Eventhough I have a bit of a bone to pick with
Scott Pilgrim, it's the movie that has cemented Wright in my mind as one of if not the best action director on the scene today. From a visual and editorial standpoint, that movie is flawless. It's poetry in motion.
The rumor that Brad Bird at one point was considered to direct also made my heart skip. The way he always creates these fun Rube Goldbergian action scenes, is something I think would be a pefect fit for
Star Wars.
