[I, Brian]

I really wanted to like Ewan MacGregor in the prequels, but something about his character always seemed so stilted, so formal. A lot of the time characters seemed to be reading lines then actually acting in any way - but on that account, I hear that George Lucas is pretty bad at coaching actors, whereas other directors will work really hard with the actors to ensure they get the best out of them. In fact, I'm sure I saw Ewen MacGregor mention something about how hard it was to act in the films, as Lucas effectively just stands them on a blue screen, then tells them to walk left and say their lines - Ewen effectively commenting that he was constantly looking for direction, and not getting what he needed to be comfortable in the role. I guess that's a big part of the problem - that Lucas is such a visual person - that he needs a helping hand to develop proper character elements. Alec Guiness implied the original Star Wars cast did that for and with him - but by the time of production of Phantom Menace there were perhaps too many people worshipping Lucas, rather than providing the guiding force required.