I just thought of another example in the popular web series Red vs. Blue. They are all helmeted actors due to using a video game engine, and yet they tell of deep and emotionally rich stories with few faces throughout the 14 seasons.
The Book Of Boba Fett
- Thread starter Ar-Pharazon
- Start date
I believe the first human face we see after the two Imperial officers talk to Vader on the Tantive IV is Owen Lars when the Sandcrawler arrives at the Lars Homestead. The Sandtroopers, of course, wear helmets the whole time to cover their human faces.
Yes, I know -- Owen and then Luke. But the point is, it takes a surprisingly long time to get there. We know why Lucas cut out all the early material with Luke and Biggs and Camie and Fixer, since it slowed down the pace of the first act, but in so doing, he drastically reduced the visible human presence in the first reel of the film, and postponed the arrival of the movie's main character for quite a while so that we could focus on the comic relief side characters instead. And it's kind of surprising that it still worked that way.
The writing was that good. Lucas with all his flaws as a director managed to make the droids so compelling that you didn't mind not seeing living, breathing humans for a while. The narrative of the original film captures your attention and still gives you chances to breathe and appreciate the quirks of the characters between thrilling, swashbuckling action pieces.
If only all eleven live-action Star Wars films could say that.
If only all eleven live-action Star Wars films could say that.
Impossible.
Well, Lucas plus Willard Huyck & Gloria Katz, the uncredited writers who did the final draft of the script. And Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, and Ben Burtt deserve some of the credit too. Not to mention John Williams.
Cartoons = no contracts for actors to show their faces.
With mandolorian, pedro pascals contract I'm sure included the fact that his character would be helmeted the whole time.
Yes, masked and helmeted and robot characters can be effective. Never said they couldn't.
By and large, human characters in media, especially live action media, are expected to appear human (ie faces)
Droid's are not supposed to have faces, Vader is supposed to be masked, i guess from the japanese influence, and stormtroopers are supposed to be faceless soldiers.
Tell that to Karl Urban. He did all of Judge Dredd without ever taking his helmet off. Some characters are defined by not showing their faces. The thing about the phrase "by and large" is that it implicitly acknowledges that there are exceptions.
Thats my point. There are exceptions. Exceptions prove that a thing exists. You can disagree with me on how much of a thing it is, why not, I don't care all that much.
I mean, look at Avengers II, James Spader provided the voice and mannerisms of Ultron without his face ever being seen....but all the other named characters had their faces clearly visible.
My point stands.
Ok, now you're just making stuff up. The initial point was that the audience needs (emphasis added) to see the actor's face. Now it's there are contracts that the actor wants their face to be made.
None of this tracks to whatever point that is being made.
The past two millennia of drama disagrees with you.
In the original Star Wars Trilogy we didn't see Darth Vader's actual face until the closing act of the third and final chapter and before that had just one tantalizing glimpse of the back of his head in the previous movie. Vader has been seen without his helmet just a few brief times in the entire history of the franchise and he's still one of the most memorable and effective villains ever created in popular fiction.
As Anakin Skywalker we'd go on to hail him as a handsome and vigorous hero-turned-tragic villain, but as Darth Vader between 1977 and 1983 he was the hidden face of evil.
As Anakin Skywalker we'd go on to hail him as a handsome and vigorous hero-turned-tragic villain, but as Darth Vader between 1977 and 1983 he was the hidden face of evil.
I'd also say the unmasking scene in ROTJ is one of the best elements in the movie, perhaps in the full series. Since initially it was the only time we ever got to see what Anakin really looked like.
I seem to recall that when the film adaption of V For Vendetta was being made, one of the potential issues for some actors who could have played V was the fact that he's never unmasked, and the feeling that wearing it the entire film would seem like a imitation on their performance. Hugo Weaving did a fine job.
I seem to recall that when the film adaption of V For Vendetta was being made, one of the potential issues for some actors who could have played V was the fact that he's never unmasked, and the feeling that wearing it the entire film would seem like a imitation on their performance. Hugo Weaving did a fine job.
Last edited:
Also the editors, Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas and Richard Chew. Supposedly the first cut of the movie was more "documentary style" until they got their hands on it and made it more exciting.
Marcia Lucas basically saved the original Star Wars with her editing.
I think the prequel trilogy proved that George Lucas, much like Gene Roddenberry, needed strong collaborators to bring out the best in his ideas. Success was the worst thing that ever happened to Lucas creatively, because he bought into his own myth and became convinced he could do it all himself. (Ditto for Roddenberry, although he was given less opportunity to do it himself.)
"Mom, can we have Harry Kim?"
"We have Harry Kim at home."
Harry Kim at home:
"We have Harry Kim at home."
Harry Kim at home:
Rumour Control!
From doomcock..(HaHaHa.. Big ball of crap)
Supposidly Harrison Ford filmed some scenes for Boba. Now mondo idiot says Han, Luke, and Leia with Grogu will appear.. In the aluminum falcon.. Yeah..
But hey.. Who knows. Do wish they'd just recast the 3 so we can have some after RotJ adventures
From doomcock..(HaHaHa.. Big ball of crap)
Supposidly Harrison Ford filmed some scenes for Boba. Now mondo idiot says Han, Luke, and Leia with Grogu will appear.. In the aluminum falcon.. Yeah..
But hey.. Who knows. Do wish they'd just recast the 3 so we can have some after RotJ adventures
I keep saying they need to cast Millie Bobbie Brown in a Young Leia series before she ages out of it.
I don't know. That guy's probably been promoted at least once."Mom, can we have Harry Kim?"
"We have Harry Kim at home."
Harry Kim at home:
