Has anyone besides me wondered why Anakin's personality and attitude is so different when he is Vader? For example, in Episodes II and III he is very emotional and he even wore his heart on his sleeve. In the original trilogy, he is very stoic and emotionless. What is your opinion on this?

My theory is that he's "shocked" into this new personality. Just imagine if you lost everything you had. On top of that, you're burned to a crips and missing your limbs. The world went to shit. It's like he's under hypnosis. A walking zombie, if you will.

I'm no psychologist, but I think it just might have to do with becoming evil.

Consumed by the dark side of the force anyone?

Sorry, but Darth Vader was a big time asshole in the original trilogy. And still pretty emotional. Just more in control. Of course, he's about 20 years older too. How much more emotional were you 20 years ago? How much more self control do you have now?

When you're young, you want instant gratification. As you get older, you get more patience.

what ever emotion vader had left probably died with amadala.

I dont think it died, it was just dorment , blocked by disbelieve , it came back when Anakin died after saving Luke from the Wrath of Palpatine.

his human feelings to begin to become apparent but subtly with the scene when he is talking with luke in rotj

"it is...to late for me, son"

I think old Vader was just burned out and tired of waking up everyday knowing that he was Sidious' little bitch. That can wreck anyone's day, not to mention the fact that he was turned into a walking lung cancer patient.

When all is said and done, I think we'll all have a greater amount of sympathy for Vader's situation in the OT. He was led down a primrose path and got bamboozled by Sidious; killed off all of his jedi pals and still wasn't able to save Padme or his mother.

"Vader was consumed by the dark side of the force".... ohh, heres another quote for ya "Hes more machine now than man, twisted and evil".........Try watchin the OT again spacer.

Why can't it just be that he's just older now? In the prequels, he is a kid and he acts like one. In the originals, he is older and more in control. Why does it have to be so complicated?

I've studied psychology, and from a psychological standpoint, this sounds like a valid theory. Then again, the darkside does have it's own way of changing everything.

have u nubs even watched starwars?

IMO he feels like he's beyond hope, he's beyond redemption because in his mind he killed his wife and unborn child and there's nothing left in him after that except hatred and anger at himself for doing it. There's nothing left for him to care about and he's kinda committed to the Dark Side now which allows him to perform however many heious acts on behalf of the Empire under the misguided belief that he's "bringing order to the Galaxy." When he finds out Luke is alive he finds something he thought he had lost, a thread to that old life and it takes Luke to make him realise that he does have hope for something better, even if it is something as small as setting the Galaxy free of the Emperors tyranny.

I just think that being knocked into lava took it out of the guy. How many people would bounce back from that and the emotional stress he goes through in the next film. I dont think any of the characters are the same after this.

I think Insert Username is dead on. He killed his wife and kids, betrayed his friends, and his vision for the Empire is probably not what he had in mind back at “Anakin” and Padme’s picnic on Naboo. On Naboo he told Padme he was suffering when he wasn’t around her. Well, he killed her and will never see her again, so he’s suffering there (unless it was a line to bang her). I’m sure his pride was hurt when the realization hit him that he was tricked by Palpatine. Anakin was riding high on a wave of pure arrogance and it all came crashing down. On top of that his health is pretty bad.

I’ve known people who have contracted life threatening illnesses and it really changed their personality. I would imagine being a paraplegic-burn victim might have the same emotional toll. I’ve also known people who were divorced and their own “glow” changed. I think both are a pretty valid perspective to have on Anakin once he became Darth Vader, at least in Episode four through six.

It couldn't possibly be that Lucas is incapable of matching his new movies to his old ones. Or that he changes his mind about his characters and storyline on a day to day basis. No. Never.