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Would you rate David Tennent as a good actor?


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Old 19-12-2007, 13:33
Carrierbag Head
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I think he does the quirky, slightly manic, comedy stuff well, but..I don't know, I find him a touch unconvincing when attempting to portray real, meaningful emotion.

I don't think he's a bad actor, but he seems bit "lightweight," if you know what I mean.

Anyone else feel the same?
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Old 19-12-2007, 13:43
priggy
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i think David is a terrific actor and he can do everything. I've seen him in other projects as well and i think he is abosulutely brilliant.
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Old 19-12-2007, 13:45
Miffy290580
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Yes I think he is a great actor. Recovery earlier this year showed his non quirky side and he was fantastic imo.
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Old 19-12-2007, 13:51
Blackhorse47
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Brain-numbingly bad, imo. Just watching him in the Xmas trailer after nine months away brought home to me just how utterly unconvincing he is doing absolutely anything. The quirky is to me put-upon quirky, the lightweight is half-hearted lightweight, and the emotion stuff is cringeworthy. He can run though. I'm guessing that woman from Neighbours will wipe the floor with him!
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Old 19-12-2007, 14:00
Rooks
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He's okay as actors go. Eccleston is a better actor when it comes to intensity but Tennant does humour well.
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Old 19-12-2007, 14:09
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I'd heard of David Tennant and recognised him-but the only thing I remember seeing him in is Harry Potter GoF, and i remember at the time i loved the 'manic-ness' about him.

He does get a bit shouty-which can be annoying but is that a script thing rather than his acting?

He acts very well through his expressions also-sometimes he doesn't have to say anything at all.
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Old 19-12-2007, 14:52
scarlet_spider
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Yes.

Well, that answers that question.














Ummm..













Anyone for charades?













I'll get me coat.
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Old 19-12-2007, 14:52
nicknack
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I do find him very lightwieght to play The Doctor. He just doesn't carry off a strength of character the Doctor should convey. Plus hamming it up doesn't help either.

But in series 3 he did show a different side and he won me over as The Doc and hopefully Tennant can keep this standard up during the new series.
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Old 19-12-2007, 14:56
Histeria
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Untill I saw him in Human Nature, I couldn't have said. Now I can. Great actor when he has the script to work with.
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Old 19-12-2007, 14:58
Nuallain
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As projects as diverse as Casanova, Blackpool, Secret Smile, Learners and Recovery show he has a very wide range indeed. Good actor, absolutely.
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Old 19-12-2007, 15:35
Larry1971
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I think he does the quirky, slightly manic, comedy stuff well, but..I don't know, I find him a touch unconvincing when attempting to portray real, meaningful emotion.

I don't think he's a bad actor, but he seems bit "lightweight," if you know what I mean.

Anyone else feel the same?
well I have seen him in several real heavy emotional dramas and he proved in them what a talanted actor he is.

and lets face it you don't get given the lead part in Hamlet, by the RSC unless you are a quallity actor.
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Old 19-12-2007, 16:14
Mansun
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I think the single most powerful piece of acting that Eccleston did as the Doctor was in Dalek, during the scene where he emotionally confronts the Dalek in the cell.

It took a while before Tennant produced a moment to match that but I think he finally nailed it in the scene at the end of Gridlock where he chokes up while telling Martha all about the Time Lords and Gallifrey.
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Old 19-12-2007, 16:21
Chiaroscuro
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I think Tennant is a great actor, but I don't think Doctor Who is his finest moment and if we have to go through another The Doctor goes soppy over a feisty human lady scenario in this Christmas episode I'm going to be a bit bored. I think they're relying too much on David's good looks and charm for the Doctor Who storylines rather than letting him be the sort of Doctor he could be. We saw flashes of it the last series though, as mentioned by Mansun.
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Old 19-12-2007, 16:24
jimbojones
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Seen him in loads of different roles,yes he is a good actor
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Old 19-12-2007, 16:50
BlackScorpion
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David works best with a good script.

The format of the current Dr.Who series isnt like the original (for those who are old enough to remember William Hartnell) and a lot of the others that followed where the storyline ended with a cliffhanger every week and the actual plot lasted over 6 weeks. Now, the story is over in an episode - 45 minutes (or less). A lot less time to develop the serious and quirky sides of the doctor as a character. Nonetheless, its nice to see that the current scriptwriters have thought about having "running threads" of sub-plot(s) which run through each series. That helps a bit with character definition.

David seems to make the most of it and sells it well. I like him.
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Old 19-12-2007, 17:23
gboy
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Having seen him on stage on screen in a variety of diverse parts - I can can say: yes, he is a first-rate actor.

But it's all so subjective.
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Old 19-12-2007, 17:48
performingmonk
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He plays too much of a character as the Doctor as opposed to Eccleston who was like 'this is me, I am the Doctor', at least for most of the time. Because of this it made it easier for Eccleston to bring reality to the role rather than a quirky character style a la Tennant.

Tennant was much better as the Doctor from The Runaway Bride onwards IMO. He IS a good actor, there's no doubt about it.
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Old 19-12-2007, 18:08
JCR
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Um, he has been asked to play Hamlet at the RSC, I don't think they'd have got him if he couldn't do it.
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Old 19-12-2007, 18:53
codename_47
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I think he's the best Doctor there has ever been, blending just the right amount of humour and intensity when needed.

If it is true that the new series was actually based around Tennant and Ecclestone was just a stall, then it proves the producers of the New Series knew exactly what they were doing as I'm not sure I could take 3 years of Ecclestone's seriousness, whereas Tennant has a lot more range and depth which makes each episode a new exploration of just what the Doctor is like this week.

They did very well with him, IMO
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Old 19-12-2007, 19:52
PDJames
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David works best with a good script.

.
That can be said of all actors.

In the things I have seen him (Learners, Secret Smile and Recovery) the scripts have been cracking but he always brings something else to them.
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Old 19-12-2007, 23:38
Geordiebird
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I think the single most powerful piece of acting that Eccleston did as the Doctor was in Dalek, during the scene where he emotionally confronts the Dalek in the cell.
.
Totally agree, the best bit ever of series 1.. actually pretty much all of series 1 was great - 'So glad I met you' scene in the dungeon at the end of the episode set in Victorian Cardif was memorable. Christopher Eccleston is an amazing actor, just briliant and seems more experienced so probably not a fair comparison.. I wish we'd seen more of him in Doctor Who to really appreciate him. Yes it's taken a while for Tennant to get to that level, probably Gridlock as you say.

Lucky for Doctor Who to have someone of Eccleston's talent and reputation for series 1 and then someone as enthusiastic as Tennant to continue - and brave - I'd hate to step into Eccleston's shoes.

Last edited by Geordiebird : 19-12-2007 at 23:42. Reason: spelling
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Old 19-12-2007, 23:44
Beth88
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If I could have chosen which Actor i wanted in season 2 i would have choosen Chris David Was really good in Season 3.

Chris i thought was a better Doctor in ways

But David is soo god damn shexy in that suit and messy hair and he does do manic funny over the top well.

But yeah I think daivd is really good at what he does, wasnt blown away in learners. But the other things i have seen him in have been alright
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Old 20-12-2007, 00:04
Sharon87
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I've seen atleast one episode of all the other projects he's done and have got to say he's a fantastic actor. He can do anything, make you cry, laugh, be a bit scared and even want you to hate him (Secret Smile, god he was a b****** in that lol).

I think he's one of the best Doctors (although I haven't seen much Patrick Troughton/William Hartnell episodes). I love the quirkeness of his character, and I also love his serious, darker side too.
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Old 20-12-2007, 01:44
Gutted Girl
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I'm amazed that anyone would actually have to ask this question.

Yes he's a very good actor and he's also a bleepingly good Doctor.
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Old 20-12-2007, 01:53
SULLA
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As projects as diverse as Casanova, Blackpool, Secret Smile, Learners and Recovery show he has a very wide range indeed. Good actor, absolutely.
Don't forget Duck Patrol
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