(for educational purposes only, etc etc etc)

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A little-known Canadian actor appears to have the inside track for the plum role of Anakin Skywalker in the next two ''Star Wars'' movies.

Hayden Christensen was among four actors who did screen tests this month opposite ''Phantom Menace'' co-star Natalie Portman, and the actor is awaiting an announcement from George Lucas that he landed the part, Diana Larkin, one of Christensen's managers, said Thursday.

The trade magazine Variety and other news outlets reported that Christensen had the part, but Larkin said LucasFilms had asked the actor's managers not to confirm the deal until Lucas' announcement, expected within a few days.

''His name's out there, so it's pretty much public record, but we have to wait for the official word,'' Larkin said.

LucasFilms spokeswoman Jeanne Cole said the company had no comment on the role of Anakin, the character that grows up to be the villain Darth Vader from the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy. Jake Lloyd played Anakin as a boy in last year's ''Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace.''

Christensen, 19, is a regular in the Fox series ''Higher Ground'' and appeared in the movie ''The Virgin Suicides.''

The next ''Star Wars'' episode begins shooting in June in Australia.

(Is anyone familiar with this guy? I've never heard of him, is he a good choice or not?) (Can't wait for next episode!!) :-) -kirsten

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), May 12, 2000

Answers

Yes, Canadian tv made this announcement earlier in the week, accompanied by an interview of him. He would appear to be suitable, even though he has to learn a whole new language.

-- viewer (justp@ssing.by), May 12, 2000.

The last Star Wars bored me to tears. All muppets and no story.

Don't think I'll bother seeing the next as it probably will be more of the same.

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), May 12, 2000.

Exqueeze me!

Frank, don't cheat yourself. Like you, I was disappointed by the Return of the Jedi. So much so that I didnt bother to see the Phantom Menace until it came out on video. But if one viewing of the light-saber dual between the Jedi and Darth Moll (sp) doesnt force you to hit the replay button, then Ill admit that Im a sleemo. At the very least, see it through the pod-racer sequence, and then you can decide if the Force is with you.

-- Spindoc' (spindoc_99_2000@yahoo.com), May 13, 2000.

Oops,

"Sleemo" and "Exqueeze Me" are phrases from the movie. My son has me well-trained.

Rent the movie, Frank. It's fun, especially if you watch it with a 10-year-old.

-- Spindoc' (spindoc_99_2000@yahoo.com), May 13, 2000.

Spindoc,

The Phantom Menace is the one I was referring to. The other things that bothered me were:

-The Jedi master and apprentice decided to let a small child take their risks for them (yes, I know it was a kid's movie)

-The "Anakin's father" bit Really bothered me...

-The impossibly big sea monsters, one bigger than the next.

-Why the villagers would mount their force shields on the back of an animal. Why not just put it on a tank or hovercar or something? Does our Army use elephants? Why would they 1000 years from now?

-The traders ships (big C-shaped jobs) that could easily be destroyed by a single hit in the landing bay (where a ship could crash on accident)

-The cowboys and indians thing with the empire's robots -- they send down thousands of them, and since the empire is THE EMPIRE, you'd think they could make a robot that could actually hit SOMETHING, and didn't just stand there to get blown up.

I saw it when it came out, so my memory has faded, but needless to say, I didn't like it. And why make that "Darth Moll" (sic) guy look so much like the Devil anyway? How sneaky could you be with a face like that? He was cast as a use once and kill kind of guy, so why bother making him that way? Palpatine as a senator was good though, he's what you'd expect an up and coming evil guy to be, looks respectable, black heart.

Oh another thing, what about the whole "there's only two evil guys, a master and apprentice" thing? How stupid is that (although it does sew up things neatly now that D. Vader and the Emperor are dead.

I guess I should have had a few drinks first (either before seeing it, or before *posting this*... :-)

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), May 13, 2000.

I don't think I've ever actually sat through the entire first star wars movie. All boring. (woops the ewoks were cute though)

-- cin (cin@cin.cin), May 13, 2000.