PT Why Hayden Christensen Played Anakin PERFECTLY

Considering that I thought Driver was horrible in The Force Awakens, I dont think he would have done any better. Though I blame JJ Abrams mostly for Driver's performance. Because Driver is indeed a good actor. And the way Abrams framed his face didnt do him any favors. Hayden's Anakin displayed the sort of metaphysical high mindedness that a Jedi and Sith are supposed to have, and I didnt see that in Driver's performance in TFA.

 

I don't think Driver would have been an improvement. IMO he doesn't have the emotional range in his facial acting that Christensen does. Nor do I think there were any well written lines in the ST that Driver had that might ever be considered classics. "Ow" and "I can take what I want" definitely not.

 

Hayden gave a timeless performance. Will always stand by that.

 

I think Driver could have done well with the role, but I don't think his realization of Kylo Ren was ever as compelling as what Hayden did with Anakin. Some of that is down to writing, but I feel like Hayden just displays more range as well. I thought Driver played Kylo kinda one-note, never showing anything but petulance/resentment. Hayden displays the joy, fear, anger, charisma, all in one.

 

Driver as Anakin? No chance in hell.
Hayden IS Anakin, and no one could replace him, period.

 

In the year 2022 we saw Hayden as Anakin Skywalker again. What a time!

 

Those flashbacks and the lightsaber dueling just made my day.

 

Hayden is great portraying Darth Vader before the helmet at the end of Revenge of the Sith, he’s equally as great portraying 8 year old Anakin at age 18. Hayden doesn’t get enough credit for how well he bridges the gap between Episode 1 Anakin and Darth Vader.

 

Agree 100%. Unfortunately in the haters' days when the prequels were new they didn't give ANY credit to ANY aspect of Hayden's acting. It was bashing just for bashing's sake. Once again, I'M SO LUCKY I WAS IN CHINA during prequel times and there wasn't ONE SINGLE hater among anyone I knew. Man, it would have sucked to have been in the West during that time!! I actually enjoyed the movies in an a r s e h o l e -free environment, nobody bothered me and I didn't give a rat's ass what anyone else thought, especially not "fans" in Europe or America.

 

Yesterday during a USO webinar with Ewan and Hayden, Hayden was asked a couple questions regarding Anakin and Vader so I thought I'd bring them over here. I was trying my best to take notes because they speak so fast but here's what I managed to jot down;

Host says " Hayden you mentioned in another interview that during the OWK series that DV is still young, has Anakin in him still, how would you say you approached this?"

Hayden said it was straddling a fine line because of the close proximity chronologically to Anakin but being a young Vader at the same time. He said they tried to give an indication that there was still so much of Anakin in there and yet move forward with Vader as a character through glimpses into the physicality of Vader at this point in his life, this point in the story.

Chat question was :" If you could bring anything back from the Star Wars universe into our world what would it be?"

Ewan - "Speeder bikes. I'd really like a speeder bike."
Hayden- " I don't know. This is a tough one. I guess the sentiment of May the Force be with you. If we could embrace it a little more it would go a long way."

Servicemember overseas question; "What is the difference between getting ready for the role of Anakin versus getting ready for Vader?"

Hayden said "The physicality of Vader presents a unique set of challenges and you have to focus on the way he moves so it's right and consistent with what we know while throwing in subtle nods to Anakin"

I really appreciate the overall respect he has for George's character in wanting to stay true to both Anakin and Vader, trying to get both of them right. Some actors use their own interpretation of characters and or the story and it comes across that way very clearly in their performances. I think Hayden always tries to come across the way George intended for it to be.

 

Hayden is the definitive Anakin/Vader for me, even more than suit Vader.

 

Just saw Hayden Christensen on the tonight show. The last time he was on that show Jay Leno was still the host. So nice he is back doing that stuff as well. That moment in the finale made me cry. That sinister smile he had was creepy.