ST Carrie Fisher (Leia) in Episode VII (Sad News posted on Page 269)

I remember all those (likely bogus)rumors back in the day that Lucas was so dissatisfied with Portman's performance in TPM, that he at one point considered firing her and letting Keira Knightley take over as Padme for AOTC and ROTS. Looking back on it now... God I wish it had been true.

 

Natalie Portman problem wasn't her acting, but the dialogue she was given was just awful.

 

i think its well known Lucas treated the actors like puppets in the PT. He gave them line reads and they were forced to follow his bad scripts and act mostly surrounded by green screens. Their performances certainly cant be judged.

 

I don't know. I think even the acting was horrible. Not enough takes.

 

I thought Natalie was good in TPM, especially when she was pretending to be a handmaiden. She had some good moments in AOTC, but unfortunately, most of them ended up on the cutting room floor. Likewise with ROTS. And this is coming from someone who doesn't much care for her; I think she's dreadfully overrated.

I like both of Hayden's performances. I think his best moment is when Padmé tells Anakin she's pregnant, and his reaction runs the gamut from "how did THAT happen?" (I'm sure he knew where babies come from, but it just never occurred to him that he'd get one), to "Wow!" to "That's great!" to "Damn I'm scared."

Carrie's most nuanced performance was in ESB. She had some awkward moments in ANH, mostly due to her "floating British accent," as she described it, but her feistiness makes up for it. In ROTJ, she mostly looked bored, and we know she was high on coke practically the whole time. That sounds like a contradiction -- cocaine is a huge stimulant, so it follows that she'd be hyper, not tranquilized -- but for someone who's bipolar as she is, it can actually have the same effect as Ritalin (another huge stimulant) can have on a kid with ADD or ADHD: it calms them down.

 

Meh, don't agree with ROTS. I thought she was on point, much more connected to her co-stars, and generally did a great job conveying the unease and sadness laced throughout that film. I downright loved her work in the silent Anakin/Padme montage, the scene where Obi Wan reveals the depth of Anakin's fall, the crowning of Palpatine (her thunderous applause moments is one of my favorites the entire saga over) Padme's confrontation with Anakin on Mustafar, and her death. It was the first time I actually truly felt something for Padme. I think she did sensitive, moving work in most of ROTS (still cringe though at the scene posted above on the balcony).

I thought she was downright awful as Padme in TPM, but decent as Amidala, and horrible in AOTC (save her cut scenes).

As far as Carrie I never thought she was terrible in any of the films. She gave a much more even performance overall than Portman, but I think Portman's lows were much lower than hers, but her acting peaks higher.

What the OT cast has over the PT cast overall, IMO, was cast chemistry, personality and charisma.

I'm also one who doesn't feel Carrie was bad in ROTJ. There just wasn't much in ROTJ for Leia to do, emotionally, outside of being a pinup girl-meets-soldier. I do think the sibling reveal scene wasn't well played by Fisher.

 

Careful, jaqen. People have been executed for being less complimentary toward Lucas, not to mention for implying/saying that ESB is not the best at EVERYTHING.

 

Apparently Hayden is quite a capable actor (seeing he got good reviews for his performance in some movie called 'Shattered Glass'). It might've been lazy directing that's responsible for his stilted performance in the PT.

 

Carrie seemed to phone it in with ESB and ROTJ. I mean, she looked so bored most of the time.

 

Hayden was really good in Life As A House and he was great in AOTC but I thought he lost a step in ROTS ...

Natalie Portman is an Oscar nominated Actress no complaints from me about anything she does including Star Wars. I loved Natalie in Garden State and The Black Swan !!!

 

I have never liked a Natalie Portman performance. Something about her... annoys me. And, besides Star Wars, I've disliked the other movies she's been in (that I've seen).

After reading the TPM novel, I now understand that the queen was supposed to be like that (stiff upper lip), but it came across as a wooden acting job/poor script in-film. I think she got better in RotS compared to her completely emotionless first two movies. Like maychild pointed out, a lot of her scenes got chopped in AotC and RotS, which didn't help. However, she had little to no chemistry with Hayden, which is pretty important to a romantic subplot...

It's safe to say that Carrie's worst performances in the OT are comparable to Natalie's best, IMHO. I know I'm biased, but this is a forum and that's my opinion.

 

Oh then don't get me started on how I think the original Star Wars is a better film than The Empire Strikes Back.

Hayden is a mixed bag. Yes he was effective in Shattered Glass and Life As a House, but he was awful in Jumper. He actually seems to only do well in smaller pictures with more individualized direction.
He flounders a lot in bigger, more action or special effects laden films.

 

I've liked a handful of Portman performances, but overall, something about her annoys me too. She's vastly overrated, but then, so are many other actresses in their 20s or 30s who don't annoy me, at least not to the extent she does.

Blasphemer!! I happen to think ESB is the better film, but I like it when someone says otherwise, if only because the notion that ESB is not only THE BEST EVAH but the only SW movie that's worth anything, is so widespread -- at least on the Internet -- and I find it very wearisome.

As for Hayden being a mixed bag, well, the same can be said of all the SW actors, OT and PT. Even Sam Jackson, if only because he's been in so many movies that there's bound to be a lousy performance in there someplace. As much as I love Carrie, I can admit that there have been more than a few movies in which she's been bland, or downright dreadful. Likewise for Mark and Harrison ("Random Hearts," anyone?).

 

And see I always got that, from my first viewing of TPM. That Amidala was suppose to be less human and more literal figurehead. I really enjoyed Natalie as this ice cold Kabuki queen, who would let just enough emotion shine through to see her underlying humanity, like in the "no confidence" and the scenes where her despair over here people is apparent. Amidala made such a striking visual.

Yet I expected Padme, the "real" person, to be much more full of life and for Portman to show a distinct difference. All I got was...dead space. I HATE her Padme scenes during most of TPM. She's so damn awful.

Carrie was abysmal in The Time Guardian. But to be honest I like most of Carrie's acting work elsewhere. She's also one, like Mark, who just got better as time marched on.

Natalie Portman doesn't annoy me and I find her good in the majority of her performances. Which is why her overall showing in Star Wars shocked the hell out of me. Nobody in the PT were at their absolute best, save perhaps IM, but Portman's performance, especially in AOTC and parts of TPM, was downright unconscionable.

TESB wankfest annoys me because I hate how ubiquitous the love for it many diehard Empire fans assume exist. I'm not sure I believe most of the general public, or even lots of Star Wars fans, look at the saga as TESB...and everything else. I think that's just a vocal internet aberration.
TESB is a great popcorn film, one of the best ever made. I can even see why it's considered by some to be the best made Star Wars film. But it's amazingness has become, IMO, vastly overblown to the point of absurdity. Hell I've seen fans call it a "dark" film, not just a dark SW film. Also I've run into people who feel like it's actually the best film...ever made.
My favorite film, of all time, is Return of the Jedi. It's neither the best film of all time nor even the best made Star Wars film. I wish some TESB enthusiast would recognize how to differentiate "my favorite" from "the best...ever".

 

I liked ESB the most, and I *do* think it's "the best" SW film. You don't have to agree with me, but I wish people would stop feeling so threatened by that opinion. You guys say you're sick of all the "ESB love", but hearing people continuously gripe about said "love" is almost just as tiring.

 

To each his own, I Love Natalie Portman Always have. What do you guys think of her performance in The Professional? Mind you in the Professional she was only 12 years old, may be I can Relate to Natalie as a person because we were born 4 days apart in the same year I was born June 5, 1981 she was born June 9, 1981, because I can relate and we have something in common I love her as an Actor and I think she is a great person based on what I have read and she backed Obama I love Obama, sorry I brought up politics but I believe it is relevant to the conversation. again I am sorry if it is against the rules on here I wont bring it up again ....

 

I don't follow reviews. I don't need others opinions to make my own. After seeing him in most of his films, in my opinion, he's a B level actor.

 

I'm going to re hijack this thread.

So, here's an article about Carrie. It's from last summer, but it's still great. And love love love the picture of her and Anthony Daniels.

Each Star Wars Celebration is different for a variety of reasons. This rings true in everything from the guests and panels to the exclusives and special events. These differences are why fans keep coming back again and again, to experience a new and exciting time every few years all while celebrating something we all hold so dear to our hearts…Star Wars.
At Official Pix, we have the unique and challenging task of bringing cast and crew from the live-action films and The Clone Wars animated series to each Celebration. It’s a job, yes, but one that has some very rewarding moments mixed throughout the weekend. For example: Escorting Ian McDiarmid across the Exhibit Hall floor to browse the vendors, Artists’ Alley, and the Rancho Obi-Wan Experience, or spending 45 minutes to an hour with each autograph guest to do massive signings for our customers on a variety of items. Though in Germany, there was one instance that stood out above the rest and it has everything to do with a princess from Alderaan.

On the last day of Celebration Europe, Carrie Fisher’s now famous dog, Gary, was at the veterinarian being vaccinated for a trip to London as is required when traveling with a pet. Since he wasn’t around, she decided that instead of going through the motions of the usual situation where a fan asks if they can have a photo with her, Carrie wanted to do the exact opposite! She asked Brian Wachhaus, Mark Barbian, and I to escort her away from the confines of her table in the autograph area and out onto the Exhibit Hall floor amongst thousands of Star Wars fans to ask them if she could take a picture with them. This both confused and shocked many who fumbled and struggled to try and get their own camera out quick enough to take a photo of themselves with Carrie, who was having us use her own camera to snap photos. A fan would ask, “Carrie, Carrie! Could I get a photo with you?” She would reply, “No…But can I take a photo with you?”

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This went on for a good half hour until we made our way up some steps into a cafeteria where Carrie stopped, looked around and said, “Can I buy you guys lunch?” Who were we to decline this rare offer? Five minutes later, the four of us sat in a quiet, dark, and practically empty section away from the still confused crowds of people for another half hour. So, it was three men and a princess that dined together discussing everything except Star Wars…naturally. About every two minutes a different employee would stick their head through the kitchen door and smile as they realized who was sitting at the table and finally, one of them, a woman, gathered up the courage to ask for a photo. The answer was the same: “No…But can I take a photo with you?” This lady didn’t speak a word of English and looked as confused as Captain Needa when he lost track of theMillennium Falcon in The Empire Strikes Back! Luckily, she understood the universal language of a smile and finally realized what was going on. Lunch was followed by a delicious cherry flavored desert as you can see below. After we finished our meal, it was a quick dash down the side of the Exhibit area and back to the Autograph Hall.

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Just before we arrived at her table, Carrie literally grabbed Anthony Daniels for a quick photo. Then, I witnessed a fascinating reunion between her and Ben Burtt. It had obviously been a very long time since they had seen each other. He reminisced of how he used to take her to get her hair done during filming. They spoke for a few moments and then parted ways. Carrie sat back down, began to sign again and fell in love with a pink paint pen that one fan had her use on their item. She kept the pen and then proceeded to use it on just about every fan’s item in her line, which you just had to smile at. The best part about Carrie’s table was the free cookie that was offered to each fan as they had their item signed.

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What was it that I was saying about new and exciting experiences again? Right, it’s not every day that you can say Carrie Fisher ran up asking if she could have a photo with you! Movies are a dime a dozen, but Star Wars is the most popular franchise in the history of film. How lucky we are as fans to be so passionate about something with such accessibility by way of these conventions.

 

Music in that scene gets a 11/10 from me, however.

 

If you think we're griping about people who enjoy and love TESB, I think you missed the point.

Why would anybody feel "threatened" by what somebody else thinks about a movie anyway? Noting that some fans can be terribly annoying in their approach to expressing said "love", to the extent of belittling other fans, isn't being "threatened". It's expressing an annoyance.

 

Well, I disagree with you about Natalie in TPM, but to each their own. And no, none of the actors in the PT are at their best, but none of the actors in the OT were either.

I love ESB to bits but I'm sick of how it's used as a bludgeon against the other movies. It is my favorite of the SW saga but even it isn't in my Top Ten Favorite Movies. Top 20, maybe, insofar as I have such a list, but not Top 10. And TPM is my second favorite SW movie -- not by that wide a margin, either. And no, I am not crazy, senile or stupid, though I've been accused of all three for making that statement.

I've encountered many people offline who name ROTJ as their favorite of the saga. It's just online that that is not "permitted" to say so.

The pics of Carrie that yogacat posted are great. I'm not looking forward to Episode VII in general, but I am looking forward to seeing the Big Three onscreen together again.

 

It's funny, before I started typing that none of the OT three had their best performance in the those films either. But I erased it.

TPM isn't in my top three favorite films, but I do think it's underrated. I also think it's a visual masterpiece. And here's the rub, one of my favorite parts of TPM? The political talk. There is a lot I like about TPM, and that's been the cast since the first viewing. I've defended the film a couple times in real life and have managed to even have one or two people concede some points to me. But I don't generally do that with any movie anymore. No point.

ROTJ is a lot of people's favorite, in my experience.

 

ROTJ is my favorite.

 

i think carrie will get the short end of the stick when it comes to screentime. han and luke will be featured more.

 

Like RotJ except everything that happens on Endor. Only good scene there is between Vader & Luke IMO.

Any news from CF lately? Haven't heard anything or seen any photos recently.