Short sight

Jurious · 25th June 2002, 11:09 PM

I had a friend round the other day, who I'd been to see AOTC with, on one of my 4 visits so far. I have a giant Sith Poster on my wall, which I'm sure you've all at least seen if not got, of all 4 Sith Lords of the Star Wars saga.

To my surprise, my friend suddenly said, upon looking at the poster: "He was a stupid Sith."

Wondering if he meant Maul, I hesitated, to see him then point to Tyranus. Angered and feeling insulted, I asked him 'Why?' He said because he didn't have anything 'special', he was just a person. Maul had tattooes, the Emperor was a (quote, my friend) a 'Zombie', and Vader had a mask and all - he said Tyranus had nothing like that.

Excuse me? Did he watch the same film as I did? Even most kids seem to acknowledge Tyranus as an awesome villain!

My friend was seriously concentrating on only looking at physical qualities...

I haven't seen any other Sith fight with such finesse, elegance, power and skill, use taunts and jeers so effectively, make the greatest facial expressions ever - the list goes on! Plus, he has the most awesome voice, among other things.

I tell you one thing - if that isn't short sight, I don't know what is!

He should have thought twice before insulting my Lord Tyranus...

Thomas the Wise · 26th June 2002, 12:43 AM

First post:

To put in my opinion the very fact that Dooku had no, as it were, gimmick puts him in a position as being a very good Sith Lord. Lord Vader, of course, had his mask and that made him who he was, the Emperor was visibly human but, it seemed, so twisted by the dark side that he looked about as unhuman as a human could be, Darth Maul was, in my opinion, for children and thus I leave him out of this, Dooku, in comparision with the others, exerted a great presence and sense of being a Sith Lord with just Christopher Lee, voice and presence in one person and with no elabourate facial or otherwise features added. This, to my mind, makes Dooku stand out, not as the worst of them all, but, a very great one, apart from Maul I like all, they have a presence on the screen and a voice that complements it, Christopher Lee's Dooku however had both those in himself and needed nought but a nice black costume.

elizabeth vanharlingen · 26th June 2002, 02:02 AM

What Christopher Lee brought to his character was a feeling of nobility that made me think Yes! This is exactly how the Jedi should be.

He wasn't callow the way Anakin was. Nor was he another Action Hero, like Obi Won. He was deep and sage and full of the feeling of deep wisdom. Somehow, it was fitting the the last fight should be between the Count and Yoda. They were equals; one standing for the Light, and the other standing for the Dark...

Vandevere

Nilredwen · 26th June 2002, 04:18 AM

Well said Vandevere about how Yoda is the only one who truly equals Dooku in Jedi power and dignity! I for one am also glad Mr. Lee was able to play Dooku as a human devoid of strange gimmicks or deformities. He looks like an elegant, polished gentleman and that relates to what I said on the "Is Dooku Really Evil?" thread, namely , that in these new Star Wars just who is evil isn't as black and white (literally) as in the old ones. Evil doesn't always LOOK evil and twisted, that's a very simplistic view actually. It is far more challenging to have some bad guys who look perfectly normal or even distinguished and respectable like Mr. Lee.

SithLord · 26th June 2002, 09:16 AM

The only Star Wars character to rival the evil presence of Emperor Palpatine has been Christopher Lee's incarnation of Count Dukoo. You are correct that Mr. Lee needed no gimick, he already had the entire package. My favorite character has always been Darth Vader and the Empire Strikes Back my favorite film. Mr. Lee made The Attack Of The Clones my second favorite and he equals Vader as my favorite character of the series. I believe that he brought to the role a sinister quality that no other actor could have brought the role. It was unclear until the meeting with Sidious at the end as to Dukoo's alligence. I thought for the most part that he was a well meaning sepratist who wanted the Republic out of the business of dictating policy to all the other star systems. But as it went on I began to see that he was greedy for power and would stop at nothing to get it. Mr. Lee portrayed this role excellently and I was sure there was another villain until the battle with the Jedi in the hangar. ( I shield myself from spoilers, so that explains my ignorance ) As for the next chapter, I look forward to seeing Mr. Lee in an expanded role which can only increase the greatness of the film and the series as a whole.

Jurious · 26th June 2002, 10:32 PM

I think everyone's echoed my thoughts & feeling here! Thanks!

Dooku is my fave SW character, too, and helped make AOTC one of my two equal fave SW films - along with Empire. He was suave, elegant and amazingly powerful, with only Yoda being able to give him a worthy match of skill!

My friend was shortsighted to call Dooku the worst of the 4 Sith, but he's like that...

In my opinion, Dooku is one of the best and most frightening Sith. The fact that he is so normal, so charismatic and so gentlemanly (is that a word?:P) makes it even scarier that he has the capabilities to be so evil - if he is as evil as he seems.

Like Palpatine, it is impossible to see how villainous he can be until his true power is unleashed - and that kind of evil - that subtle evil that you cannot primarily see - makes Dooku one of the greatest and most sinister vilains of SW yet. :1devil: Hail Lord Tyranus!

lisaleslie76 · 26th July 2002, 10:56 AM

My favorite character is AOTC was Count Dooku. Who cares if he didn't have any tatoos or masks, at least he is charming villian who can kick ***.

Jurious · 26th July 2002, 03:57 PM

Exactly my point, Swoopes! :D Who needs tattoos when you're so damn good!

**Robert Longworth** · 28th July 2002, 09:06 AM

I agree with everybody else as well. The thing about Dooku is that he was probably more dangerous then Maul and Vader, in that he was normal looking. The mask of Vader and the tattoo's of Maul are a constant reminder that they are evil. When Dooku was talking with Obi Wan he tried to be compassionate and lure him that way. If Maul would have tried the same approach as Dooku it would not have worked because he looks bad. Picking Christopher Lee as the new Sith Lord was a great idea. Thumbs up George!

Anne Ikonen · 21st August 2002, 10:51 AM

I think that Count Dooku is the best SW villain ever!I have seen almost all the other Star Wars films,but these films were missing something...And that is Mr. Lee's magnificent perfor-mance!I think that AOTC is the best Star Wars film ever made, and that Mr. Lee is the greatest Star Wars villain to date.And will sure be the best always...He's presense in this kind of film is really superb,I agree that villains doesn't always have to look like villains,to be really amazing and I can't wait to see much more of him in EP III.

nobby.c · 21st August 2002, 12:27 PM

I have to disagree here. I think Dooku is the most interesting character yet, as he is still a bit of an enigma. Is he working for Sidious or is he working against sidious in a double double cross.
Christopher Lee's character was definately the best thing about AOTC both due to the interesting character and the fact it was Mr Lee.
I think the best Star Wars villain had to be Grand Moth Tarkin, played by Peter Cushing, Mr. Lee's great friend. His malevolence and arrogance was awesome on the screen and at the time the mysterious Darth Vader was his heavy, but Tarkin was the business and Peter Cushing was just awesome.

Jurious · 21st August 2002, 04:16 PM

I like nearly all of the SW villains - they're all so different!

Tarkin was very cool, calm and calculating, and was a great villain, but had the common flaw of over-confidence. However, when i first saw the A New Hope film, he stood out as one of the greatest parts of it for me - and I was only 13 when I first saw it.

Tyranus is awesome, too - he seems very much a gentleman, yet can be more than a force to be reckoned with, and, as he still remains pretty enigmatic, I think we'll see the revelation of his true agenda in the next film - well, hopefully. He'll always be one of my fave SW villains, without a doubt.

Maul was OK as a tool, but didn't have an awful lot of character - with only 10 minutes screen time, he didn't get the chance, I suppose! :P

But I reckon the greatest villain of SW is Darth Sidious, aka Palpatine, the Emperor. :sid: He's the ultimate puppet-master, and through patience and incredibly clever plans, rose to conquer the galaxy - even if it didn't last forever!

Just my thoughts.

**Brandon Jones** · 26th August 2002, 02:59 AM

Hey you know Jurious, I share the same understated appreciation for the Emperor's evilness! I think I have a thing for powerful, regal, wise, yet ultimately faltered villains. (Saruman, Emperor Palpatine, etc.)

19th September 2002, 08:33 PM

CL surely palyed a very noble Count Dooku.
Then again I always thought he had a more knightly image.
I think that the title "Mi Lord"or "Sir Lee" suits him much better then Mr. Lee.