Natalie's death looks...

Now I know alot has been made of Natalie Portman's acting in the prequels, but I think the best bit of acting she does in AOTC are when she is doing nothing at all but staring. I know it sounds like Im flaming but hear me out...
The first time is when she is speaking with Mace after he says to her something like "You know my lady Count Dooku was once a jedi, he couldn't assasinate anyone, its not in his character". Padme gives him this stare for a few seconds as if to say "Mace, I dont believe that for a second", instead of nodding in agreeance with the jedi master.

The second of these cold stares is when she is speaking with Anakin on Naboo in front of Queen Jamilla after they argued about where she should hide on Naboo. After Anakin conceded and says sorry to her, we hear Jamilla say "perfect then, its settled...", at which point Padme stares intensily at Anakin to say "and dont ever question my judgement again you little piece of..."

I just think she does very well in these scenes, where she is literally doing nothing...how ironic.

YJ edit: This is too far off topic now. I regret that I have to lock this.

 

What I don't get is why no one complains about the blank express on Darth Vader's face in the OT?

 

EP-3 need more scenes of Natalie staring and not talking and maybe EP-3 will be her finest hours. she looks hotter anyway

 

Mobart Im not complaining, I LIKE Natalie in those scenes.

 

I was just trying to make a joke. I know you're not complaining. Besides, I think everyone has questioned Natalie's acting skills in Star Wars once or twice.

 

Thats cool Mobart, no problems mate

 

Her expression were actually very well done. The way she looks at Anakin in the field after his dictator speech and in the garage after his confession were very realistic.

 

Well the girl looks good.

 

"Well the girl looks good."

That's the only thing Natalie's got going in the PT'S. It's too bad

 

Well, she look so good all she has to do is stare at you....

 

Carrie Fisher had about the same.

 

you know what they say:

If you stay quiet, nobody will know exactly how stupid you are.


therefore, I agree that Portman acts better when she shuts up. Maybe she should have acted in silent movies? Take that back. acting in silent movies was actually more expressive in some cases...(she wouldn't have lasted a day)

 

I didn't think Natalie was bad in AOTC. Carrie Fisher is a better actor IMO, but that's just me.

Now, on to Hayden's acting...

 

Natalie Portman is HOTT!!!!!!!!!and that is that.

 

I always find those cold stares too intense, and as if she's not really got her head in the ballgame. As she's said, she doesn't take acting in Star Wars seriously. So I find the stares as just...bad.

 

I think Natalie acts better when she is allowed to be a bit more natural and free, given room to react as well as to be more in control of a scene. In AOTC she spends so much time listening to Anakin give his big speeches and she has to stay in the background.

I was more impressed with her after TPM, in "Anywhere But Here", because she was given a lot of freedom.

Also, GL didn't exactly give Padme the same sense of humour and attitude that Leia had.

I don't think she is so bad in TPM and AOTC, but I am hoping that III gives her the chance to show off her acting skills. It should because there is a lot of heartbreak, separation and sacrifice. Plus she'll be more mature and her role as leader will be more important in the scheme of things.

 

She also gave Anakin a pretty good look after he said "Well...if it works," in response to her "That sounds like a dictatorship to me," comment.
You're right though, she is very good with stares.

 

I've never seen her act badly in any other film, I think she's just having trouble with the blue screen acting. Like Danny Torrance said she's at her best when shes given more freedom. She's great in the meadow scenes for example.

 

Natalie is one of the most photographed women in America. And I think that's chiefly what she's best at - being photographed. She has a voice that's not terribly alluring, and whatever acting talent she has is kind of locked up behind this sort of unflappable dignity and elegance. Audrey Hepburn had the same dignity and elegance, but Hepburn was able to turn it into a vulnerability and play to it. Natalie doesn't have that talent.

 

C'mon, she's not bad an actress. i really enjoyed her acting in AOTC.

 

damn right merkel. one critic complains about acting and everyone jumps on the bandwagon. there isn't any problems with her lines its just that shes young if dooku delivered her lines they would have went over better. early 20s people talking about the government never "sounds" right.

 

She's bad. I don't care how "hot" she is...

Kill Padme!!! Pleeeeeze!

 

I like Natalie's cold stares too. It makes her seem intimidating and powerful in a way that Leia's wise-cracking doesn't. (Not that I'm complaining about Leia. Her style works for her).

I also don't see how Portman is a horrible actress. Padmé doesn't act like the girl next door most of the time, but then she's not supposed too.

 

Having watched the OT on video again (DAMN YOU, LUCAS! It wouldn't kill you to put out a basic OT DVD!!! ), I have to admit that part of Carrie Fisher's sexiness comes from her deeper voice... I think that is one reason why I'm not as enamored with Natalie, besides I think Carrie was a lot better looking at that age.
Having seen interviews with both of them, Carrie seems more real, Natalie seems to come off as being a bit stuck-up mixed with a kind of dingy-ness. In a way, GL seems to pick actors that are like the characters... I don't think I'd get along with Natalie Portman very much.

Characterwise, Padme seems to be more of a aristocratic brat, Leia has an attitude. Padme's out of her controlled environment in both films, whereas Leia is much more adaptable. I think that Anakin & Padme's kids have their act together better than their parents. In the end, I think GL is going to make more fans of the OT characters because of their "active" parts in the story.

Natalie's good at staring and shooting blasters... and looking good, with the right support , but I think she did a better acting job in The Professional (Leon).
I have to admit, I haven't seen many other of her films, I'm not a "chick-flick" kinda guy.

 

It's true, most of Natalie's films outside of Star Wars are "chick-flicks", which kind of culminated in "Where the Heart Is" and aren't huge box office. On the other hand, SW is kind of the opposite of that, a very Boy's Own adventure. I think when she gets older she will play leading roles that will make her the biggest female movie star, taking over the mantle of Julia Roberts in terms of biggest Hollywood actress (I know people think there are better actresses in better films). She's a bit too young now to tackle leading adult roles.

Her look in the meadow scene/dictatorship is very telling, there weren't a lot of opportunities for quiet moments in a Star Wars film (so far).

[Edit: Typo]