Episode Eight Pre-Release Thread

[Unicron]

I'm not sure about canon sources, but I've seen some offscreen sources (the Essential Guide to Weapons springs to mind) which suggests they have very little physical weight relative to a tradition blade, and a novice needs training to avoid potential injury. The blade also doesn't emit much heat, unless it's actually cutting something.

 

[marillion]

I would imagine the hilt has to have some heft to it like a traditional sword, but the energy blade itself would definitely take some getting used to since it's technically "in motion" and would add to some balance issues. There must be some kind of dampener built into the hilt to lessen the vibration from the energy being emitted.. Otherwise the user would have a hell of a sore hand/wrist after using it in battle for prolonged periods.

 

[Skywalker]

The almost total lack of weight in a lightsaber blade is one reason why I always imagined only Jedi (or other Force users) could really wield them safely, but then we saw Finn handling one rather capably in TFA...

 

[JD]

There are some pretty light metal blades and regular modern people seem to be able to hand them fine, I don't see why a lightsaber would be any different. Training would definitely help to handle it better, but even a layman can wave it around an occasionally luck into hitting something.

 

[DimesDan]

It also brought up a question for me. Have any of the canon stories addressed how heavy lightsabers are? In the OT they moved fairly slow like they were heavy, but in the more recent stuff we see characters flipping them around like they way almost nothing.

I've always thought my three-cell mag lite has the "right" consistence for a Lightsaber. - which is 874g/31oz, so nothing at all really.

 

[Tuskin38]

Rian Johnson changed more then the Stormtrooper Helmets between TFA and TLJ, the Falcon has at least one minor change as well.

I don't think it serves a story purpose, might just be something to show more time has passed since we saw it in the OT.

It is incredibly Minor, and I actually first noticed it on the TLJ falcon in Battlefront 2. This modification isn't on the Falcon in TFA.

This is from the Ach-To set, so unless Rey or Chewie modifies the Falcon while they're there, I think it's just a retcon.

It doesn't appear on Bandai's 1/144 scale TLJ model

 

[fireproof78]

The almost total lack of weight in a lightsaber blade is one reason why I always imagined only Jedi (or other Force users) could really wield them safely, but then we saw Finn handling one rather capably in TFA...

And Han in TESB. And, Luke technically in ANH

 

[Skywalker]

And Han in TESB. And, Luke technically in ANH

Neither of those examples really come close to comparing. What Han did with Luke's saber TESB isn't what I'd call "handling one rather capably." He used it to very carefully slice open a tauntaun, he wasn't going full-out in combat with it like Finn did. And Luke had the Force to guide his (very basic) movements in ANH.

 

[fireproof78]

Neither of those examples really come close to comparing. What Han did with Luke's saber TESB isn't what I'd call "handling one rather capably." He used it to very carefully slice open a tauntaun, he wasn't going full-out in combat with it like Finn did. And Luke had the Force to guide his (very basic) movements in ANH.

Which is why he stared down the emitter first thing?

Also, there is General Grievous who wasn't Force sensitive but trained. I know that's also not a one to one example but they are treated a bit more like swords that require some training but not Force sensitivity.

 

[Tuskin38]

Allegedly the entire plot of TLJ is out there early on the web, just like with TFA in 2015, so be careful.

Like legit. 2015, a week or two before release the entire plot was out there and no-one believed it.

Also

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[TREK_GOD_1]

Wow, I just watched the training featurette, and it looks like this one could have some of the most intense fight scenes we've gotten in a Star Wars movie.

It also brought up a question for me. Have any of the canon stories addressed how heavy lightsabers are? In the OT they moved fairly slow like they were heavy, but in the more recent stuff we see characters flipping them around like they way almost nothing.

On the lightsaber featurette on one of the prequels DVDs, George Lucas & Mark Hamill said the following about the weapon:

Lucas: "They were very powerful, and a lot of energy in them, so that it was..you worked with them as if they were heavy."

Hamill: "George was adamant that these things were really, really heavy; that we couldn't take a hand off--we always had to have two, its like Excalibur--40..50 pounds of weight."

That's as official as anyone can ask for. The prequels, or rather Lucas himself--screwed that up with the mistaken idea that Jedi in their prime would be spinning and twirling the weapon like a majorette. It should have been heavy, as Lucas states in the featurette, to convey otherworldly power in the device. The way actors handle it in the modern era makes them look as light as plastic toys.

 

[David cgc]

The blade also doesn't emit much heat, unless it's actually cutting something.

That's consistent with what we've seen on-screen, with people close to lightsabers not seeming burned, but them melting through walls and doors. And then there's Kylo's shitty lightsaber, which does have heat ripples coming off of it, so we know they'd show it if they were white-hot just sitting there.

 

[Unicron]

I seem to recall that with the original film, the appearance of weight had to do with the design of the first props. They weren't built for the type of heavier combat that would be seen later, and if you used too much force you'd snap off the poles representing the blades.

 

[Tuskin38]

No TLJ spoilers outside of whats been seen in trailers, but includes info from material released since TFA.

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[Tuskin38]

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[CorporalCaptain]

Just saw this Verizon add:

Spoiler

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My goodness, BB-9E is a cutie!

 

[Tuskin38]

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[starsuperion]

TESB? Snow speeders vs Walkers..oh wait! No that's not Hoth..LOL..hmmm

 

[WarpFactorZ]

I noticed in a commercial just now...

Spoiler

Rey gets ahold of Kylo Ren's light saber. She seems to be on the First Order ship, surrounded by the Red guards.

 

[fireproof78]

TESB? Snow speeders vs Walkers..oh wait! No that's not Hoth..LOL..hmmm

Exploding car? This isn't Transformers!

Car chase and super jumps? This isn't the Matrix!