[Lord Aquaman]

Nothing against Ian McDiarmid, but I never found him to be all that scary as the Emperor. Even when I was a little kid I didn't think he was scary; occasionally creepy with a few well delivered lines, but he was mostly annoying. I also felt that he looked kind of like a giant fish/frog hybrid.

I really would have preferred someone like Frank Langella in the part of the Emperor. Just watch Langella in the 1979 film version of "Dracula" or the 1987 cult sci-fi kiddie toy tie in "Masters of the Universe". Langella carries the film on the sheer power of his performance as the satanic Skeletor.

Who agrees and disagrees/wishes to flame me?

[Chefelf]

No you raise an interesting point. Frank Langella plays "that role" very well. Note: Cutthroad Island for example. Brilliant.

[Just your average movie goer]

THANK YOU, Lord Aquaman! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!


I thought I was the only one....

[Garth Vader]

THANK YOU, Lord Aquaman!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!


I thought I was the only one....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

he could've been more scary and less like mr burns (who i think the writers of simpsons based him on - the music that plays when you see mr burns in some of the later series' of simpsons sounds a lot like the emporers theme, they even had darth vader's theme playing a few times).

[Helena]

Oh, I always found him more over-the-top than scary, but I kind of felt that it was all part of the fun - like with Bond villains.

[jariten]

yeah I think thats right. The OTT delivery is pure SW.

[Michel Orla]

Well like that list of reasons why Jedi sucks said, it could've been worse. With the direction Jedi was taking he could've been a muppet. Probaly a three foot muppet knowing Lucas's fetish for all things small. The Emperor's over the top performance is the least of Jedi's many problems.

[Lord Aquaman]

Believe it or not, the original script for "Empire" described the Emperor as having a voice that was "even deeper and more terrifying than Vader's." Clearly they did not even ATTEMPT this, seeing as how you can't really find anyone out there who can out-voice James Earl Jones.

I always thought Mr. Burns of "The Simpsons" was based on Alistair Sim, who played Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" (the 1950s version if I remember right). However, there were a few "Simpson" episodes that used the Imperial March when Burns was on hand.

Should I go start a "Cutthroat Island VS Pirates of the Caribbean" thread in the Moives section, or has that been done already?

$10 bucks says Geena Davis can whoop Keira Knightley's ass.

This post has been edited by Lord Aquaman: 13 December 2004 - 04:25 PM

[Xombie]

The Emperor is the single most rediculous character in the whole Star Wars pantheon. Nothing more than a cackling Guy Evil (He's a guy...and he's evil) who is made visually visually repulsive just to show you how really evil he is. Rather than demonstrate any political or strategic shrewdness (or knowledge even) of any type, all he can do, on the very eve of a major battle, is babble on about how doomed one guy's friends are. He seems to have no advisors of any type, no department heads to run the various aspects of his EMPIRE. In any other reasonable movie this would be evidence that he was a mere figurehead and the real power was exercised by others behind the throne. But no, the entire galaxy is under his control because he can shoot lightning out of his fingertips.

Pathetic.

[Despondent]

Don't forget the veiled rise for political power which put him there. That's why the PT is so important.

[use the force]

The emperor is one of my favorite characters. IAn Mcdiarmid did an awesome job in my opinion.

[Lord Aquaman]

The Emperor is the single most rediculous character in the whole Star Wars pantheon. Nothing more than a cackling Guy Evil (He's a guy...and he's evil) who is made visually visually repulsive just to show you how really evil he is. Rather than demonstrate any political or strategic shrewdness (or knowledge even) of any type, all he can do, on the very eve of a major battle, is babble on about how doomed one guy's friends are. He seems to have no advisors of any type, no department heads to run the various aspects of his EMPIRE. In any other reasonable movie this would be evidence that he was a mere figurehead and the real power was exercised by others behind the throne. But no, the entire galaxy is under his control because he can shoot lightning out of his fingertips.

Pathetic.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Xombie, you've made a damn good point. I'm rather envious.

[jariten]

The Emperor is the single most rediculous character in the whole Star Wars pantheon. Nothing more than a cackling Guy Evil (He's a guy...and he's evil) who is made visually visually repulsive just to show you how really evil he is. Rather than demonstrate any political or strategic shrewdness (or knowledge even) of any type, all he can do, on the very eve of a major battle, is babble on about how doomed one guy's friends are. He seems to have no advisors of any type, no department heads to run the various aspects of his EMPIRE. In any other reasonable movie this would be evidence that he was a mere figurehead and the real power was exercised by others behind the throne. But no, the entire galaxy is under his control because he can shoot lightning out of his fingertips.

Pathetic.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do you really believe that all those things are necessary to explain the position the emperor is in? it would be pointless clutter. all we need to know is a/ that the guy is evil and b/ that he is in charge. I mean look at Vader! The guy was designed so you knew everything about him the second you saw him. The OT dealt in quick fixes and well established moulds of heroes and villians. Into this structure, the Emperor fits perfectly.

[Helena]

For once, jariten, I actually agree with you. The final battle of RotJ is hardly an appropriate place to be explaining the Empire's command structure. How the Emperor came to power (and maintained it) is a matter for the PT to explain, not the OT.

[azerty]

One thing I liked about the emperor in Jedi is this: Luke goes in front of him to show that he won't be drawn into a fight. "Don't give in to hate" says Obi wan. But the Emperor is SO irritating that you want Luke to pick up his lightsaber and whack him, and to Hell with the consequences. Even though al the time you are thinking "there's nothing that the emperor can say or do which could make Luke (or me for that matter) do what he says and pick up that weapon", in the end the emperor is right. You just want to kill that disgusting slug.

So Ian McDiarmid is not bad. Anyway, everybody has had a boss who is a total waste of space and yet has total power over you. In this instance (this ONE instance) logic doesn't come into it.