I always thought it showed the rage in a person, and since dooku is a model for self control, his eyes never do that. Anakin on the other hand, was going against everything he had believed in and was full of quite a bit of rage and anger. If that's true, that would also work for Maul's case.
Palpatine, i think is just pure evil as Escape has said and therefore always has them.
The eyes are a ceonsequnce of the Dark Side, the Sith didn't copyright them.
When consumed with the Dark Side, the yellow appears. Your intentions and emotions would all be on the sinister or very emotive side to maintain that yellow. Dooku likely just employed the Dark Side for combat only, but not so extensively as to alter his appearance. Even Vader's eyes returned to blue when Padme came along. They stayed yellow afterwards thanks to his constant pain. And Palpatine... well, he's evil incarnate, I doubt he's even got a reason for relaxing his natural inner darkness after taking power.
hmm...
if you will notice, in star wars episode 1 and 2, kind old grandfatherly type Senator Palpatine did not have sith eyes, but when he reveals his identity as Dark Lord of the Sith, They suddenly appear.
This is:
A. Evidence for those who believe that violent rage is the cause of sith eyes.
or
B. Evidence of Palpatines Powers of deception.
Count dooku isnt really the type of sith to have the sith eyes. If you notice, his saber form really isnt the one of cruel, angry, rageful strokes, but more of cool, confident, accurate strokes.
this is one of the reasons I am a great fan of count dooku, because he is more of a Civil, Intelligent, and skilled evil, and he always smiles in that condescending manner when dealing with Jedi. Never showing incredible "im realy pissed off"ness like the other, pure evil, beastlike, uncivil, brutal unintelligent sith.
count dooku is sophisticated, has a sence of fairplay, and doesnt lose his cool easily...
we never really see him in violent rage. I wonder what he would look like in such a state. even in his duel with yoda he was kind of smirking in that confident manner.
he would probably have sith eyes and be far less capable angry, as his lightsaber form is more of a thought out, cool form, then an instinctive and rapid angry striking.
yes I know, its called makashi...
also, nothing of what I said is open for debate. dont agree? deal with it. Im not changing my mind.
it reflects my opinion, not a canonized star wars.
nothing i said above is canon so dont even lecture me on canon policy because I already know its not canon.
Its just my opinion of Sideous and Tyrranus in general.
Originally posted by Count Makashi
I think Dooku never had Sith eyes, because he was more in control of his emotions, then other Sith.
Palp was pretty cool and in control in esb and rotj but he had sith eyes, even when he laughed after shicking yoda he had sith eyes, anakin only got then in extreme anger, so it think its more or less a scare tactic used by sith and controlled at thier will, ie if someone with brown eyes walk up to you and turns them yellow, you may freak out. it is a technique loosely connected with emotions.