We hate Dakota fanning simply because she's not likable, either as an actress or as a personality. She plays disturbing roles. She scares the crap out of grown men. She's EERIE. And I don't mean that in a good way. You look at her in the movies and get the sense that she could give the Children of the Damned a run for their money, not to mention the Children of the Corn and the Bad Seed combined!
Fairuza Balk was disturbing to watch as a child. But we still felt for her. Christina Ricci was a borderline psychotic in the Addam's Family movies but we wanted to adopt her. Dakota Fanning....we just want her to go away!
Fairuza Balk was relatively normal as a kid. It wasn't until she got older that she got disturbing to watch. But "The Worst Witch" was a cute movie and she was good in it and far from disturbing. "Return to Oz" was an extremely disturbing movie
but Fairuza herself, was pretty normal in it. But I digress...
I thought Dakota Fanning was excellent in "I am Sam" She wasn't disturbing in it at all. She was very good. I only got to see the first 5 episodes of "Taken" which I really liked, however, Dakota wasn't in the first 5, so I can't comment on her acting, but since I really liked the first 5, I probably would have liked the last 5 as well. (I am still angry that I missed them when the last 5 aired.) As far as her other roles, we don't know if she chooses them or her parents do or what. She might not have total say in the matter because she is a child. Who knows? So, it might not be her fault that she ended up being in some creepy or bad roles. And she shouldn't be faulted because she is a very well spoken, intelligent kid. I'm not thrilled about Daveigh not being the voice of Lilo in the new movie either, but I am not going to sit there and trash the other actress because she got hired for the part. If your going to blame anyone, blame the people at Disney for going out and hiring a new actress for the part.