If you’re a Twilight fan, you might’ve heard of Robert Pattinson. The English actor has been in the limelight ever since playing the iconic vampire in the hit series. His portrayal of Edward Cullen is said to be one of the best examples of an actor mastering the characteristics of a reptile.
The handsome hunk has since ventured into film and will next be seen in the Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice film. His latest role sees him play the Beast in a live-action adaptation of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. He also stars in the upcoming sci-fi thriller The Rover as an introverted botanist who sets out to make the world a better place.
As much as we’d like to see more of Edward, we have to give props to Robert for portraying such complex characters. With his latest foray into live action, he proves that he’s just as capable of taking on dramatic roles as he is playing quirky characters.
Mushishi
While our favorite Englishman is busy acting in live-action, another Japanese actor has been making waves in anime. And it’s not just about looks either. Itzhak Mika has been acting since he was 10 years old and appeared in the popular Goofy: Trump’s Victory as a child prodigy. He then went on to star in several episodes of Bleach as well as the English-language series Tokyo 49ers. More recently, he voiced the role of Hiccup in the How to Train Your Dragon film trilogy.
While we love his work as Hiccup, it’s been a tough few years for the actor. He’s mostly been seen in supporting roles in big-budget anime movies and television shows. Last year, he even took a break from acting for a while to visit Japan and reconnect with his roots. During that time, he received a promotion from the role of Hiccup to the title of Hiccup’s actual brother, Stoick.
Which brings us to our next point. Itzhak’s acting career is on the rise while Robert’s is on the decline. We think he deserves more respect than his Hollywood counterpart. In 2017, Itzhak will appear in several high-profile projects. Not only that, but he’s also set to headline his own television show called Toughest Trade in 2019.
Overall, we think it’s fair to say that Robert is more of a supporting actor while Itzhak is positioned as a leading man. This doesn’t mean that one is better than the other, it’s really about branding. Itzhak is seen as the Japanese equivalent to Robert as they’ve both established themselves in Hollywood. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t exist in the same universe. It’s just that their public images are a little more defined.
Comparison
Let’s put this into perspective. Both Robert and Itzhak have been in the public eye for decades and have played memorable roles in several iconic series. Let’s take a look at their critical acclaim versus our favorite Twi-Hards’ opinion.
On the one hand, it’s hard to dispute that both actors have had memorable careers. Robert has won several Best Supporting Actor awards for his portrayal of the titular character in the Twilight fanatics’ favorite film. He’s also won a Saturn Award for his role as John Watson in the 2009 film adaptation of Sherlock Holmes.
Itzhak has also been nominated for several awards for his role as Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon. He won a 2015 Japanese Film Exporting Award for his work in the blockbuster Tokyo Tribe. He’s also won several awards for his performance in the 2004 film Memories of Wind.
The Twilight series sparked a massive craze when it was first released in 2008. Today, it’s one of the most popular film franchises in history. As the main protagonist of the series, Edward Cullen is the face of the franchise and one of the most recognizable figures in Hollywood. The critically acclaimed HBO series, Room 104, is also set in a boarding school where teenagers write short stories in a desperate attempt to stay human.
Twilight has been so influential that it’s even changed the way we look at screenwriting. The series’ dialogue is said to be snappy and witty, much like the writing in the early 2000s. In a departure from normal screenwriting practice, the dialogue in Twilight is delivered at lightning speed. It’s as if the writers were motivated to avoid any kind of clichés or tired tropes.
In addition to acting in several high-profile Hollywood films, Twilight, and later Paranormal Activity, have given him a successful platform from which to launch an acting career. Today, he’s known for his rich and varied performances in major films and television shows. His most high-profile role to date is that of John Watson in Sherlock Holmes. Not only does it feature one of the greatest ensemble casts of all time, but it’s also one of the most memorable depictions of Sherlock Holmes ever.
Like most big-budget Hollywood films, Sherlock Holmes was a massive success and broke many box office records. It was particularly groundbreaking for a Holmes adaptation at the time since it starred a completely new set of actors. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as good as it could’ve been. Robert’s performance was described as bland, his Scottish accent as atrocious, and a lot of the set pieces were poorly done. Despite these substantial flaws, Sherlock Holmes was still one of the highest-grossing films ever at the time. It made a star out of its leading man and established Robert as a major star in Hollywood. Since then, he’s mostly continued to play supporting roles in both big and small films. He recently had a guest appearance in Lucifer, the popular horror-comedy series on Netflix. In the trailer, we see him as the Devil himself, tempting an angel with all the women in Hell.
Overall, it’s fair to say that both Robert and Itzhak have had extraordinary careers. The Englishman is best known for playing iconic characters while the Japanese actor is seen as more of a supporting player. Since their careers began, both actors have always been overshadowed by their famous celebrity partners. It’s an unfortunate side effect of being an accessory in a celebrity couple.
Dependent On Partner
It’s also worth noting that both actors’ success is completely dependent on the other person they’re with. While it’s true that they’ve each had roles that broke through alone, it’s never been the case that their careers have excelled when acting together. This is probably because of the partners they’ve chosen.
Edward Cullen is the central figure in a literary phenomenon and a cultural touchstone. The Twilight saga has influenced audiences and the way we look at love, sex, death, and humanity itself. Aside from being a critically acclaimed actor, Robert is also one of the most eligible bachelors in Hollywood. If it weren’t for his famous friends and the media spotlight, he probably wouldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath as most of Hollywood’s senior citizenry.
Similarly, it wasn’t until Billy Bob Thornton paired up with Sela Ward that his career took off. They played a married couple in the 1999 film The Hot Chick and starred together in several more films. Since then, they’ve been a popular on-screen couple and have even starred in their own reality TV show. They’ve been together since 1990 and have three sons together. At the time of this writing, they’re both enjoying a successful senior citizen lifestyle in Southern California.
When it comes to ithak, he hasn’t had the same level of acclaim without the help of his famous friends and the media. He’s mostly starred in supporting roles in films and television shows and won acclaim as a result. He first gained recognition for his work in television shows before taking on more dramatic or leading roles. If it weren’t for Martin Freeman, he probably wouldn’t even have that. In fact, some have claimed that Martin Freeman’s Sherlock Holmes is closer to being a parody than a homage. Like many other television shows, Sherlock Holmes mixes comedy and drama, which is a difficult feat. It also allows the show to be more creative and outlandish in its storylines and dialogue.
So, it’s clear that the careers of Robert and Itzhak would not be as rich or as memorable as they are today if they hadn’t been paired up with the famous people they’ve collaborated with. It’s also important to note that while the actors’ individual careers have been successful, it’s only increased their fame when they work together.