Why does Darth Vader look so crappy in ANH?

[Maurice]

Part of what affects Jones's vocal performance in Star Wars is that he's got to match David Prowse's acting. Prowse clearly spoke faster than Jones does, which results in some of Vader's lines ending as he's turning away. I think by ESB everyone had a better sense of how Vader was to be played, and they slowed him down a bit.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

If only someone could somehow create a version of the first film with Dave Prowse's vocals restored. I've always imagined him adding "my lover" at the end of every other sentence. It would be a hoot.

I was 21 when I saw the original film in '78, and I noticed the flaws mentioned by the OP. However, standards of perfection in film production were a lot lower then. You just learned either to tune them out or to laugh at them.

 

[Set Harth]

It doesn't help that the suit he got in ROTS looks so much better either.

IMO it doesn't look better.

And I can attest, there was NO "A New Hope" anywhere in the titles!

Another controversy laid to rest.

 

[Robert D. Robot]

And I can attest, there was NO "A New Hope" anywhere in the titles!

Another controversy laid to rest.

"It's not "THE Batman"... It's just "Batman", Dammit!" -from Letterman "Top Ten Things Overheard Being Said by Batman" List

 

[23skidoo]

This is why HD was only meant for stuff that was made with HD in mind...

Huh? The movie was shown in 35mm (and 70mm!) when it was released, both offering resolutions far beyond the capabilities of HD. Granted, it's far easier to pause a Blu-Ray than it is a film print, but still.

It depends. Are you watching the film as an actual "film" - with that sheen that the movie image provides and which is preserved in HD with plasma TVs - or is the image being viewed by way of the 1080 LCD sets that render the image the same as videotape with that "sheen" (which I believe is called interlacing) removed? If the latter, then you're going to see things that were literally invisible when presented on actual film. You can usually tell when you're watching something deinterlaced on 1080 LCD because films like Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland look like chromakeyed 1970s Doctor Who (which is why I bought a plasma).

Alex

 

[Set Harth]

"It's not "THE Batman"... It's just "Batman", Dammit!" -from Letterman "Top Ten Things Overheard Being Said by Batman" List

It's THE GODDAMN BATMAN, dammit!

 

[Guartho]

It depends. Are you watching the film as an actual "film" - with that sheen that the movie image provides and which is preserved in HD with plasma TVs - or is the image being viewed by way of the 1080 LCD sets that render the image the same as videotape with that "sheen" (which I believe is called interlacing) removed? If the latter, then you're going to see things that were literally invisible when presented on actual film. You can usually tell when you're watching something deinterlaced on 1080 LCD because films like Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland look like chromakeyed 1970s Doctor Who (which is why I bought a plasma).

Alex

I have no idea what this post is trying to say, but I'm pretty sure I can say that that it has nothing remotely to do with interlacing.

 

[Xavier_Storma]

Check out this:

http://starwarshelmets.com/darth_vader_helmets_and_costumes.htm

Each film had a newly designed Vader costume... not even TESB and ROTJ match each other.
The only truly symetrical helmet was in ROTS.

 

[Robert D. Robot]

Hey- fashion/styles changes over time... even for Vader. Maybe the subtle changes we see in the different movies are just different "seasonal" styles. Spring wear for a Sith Lord? What is the appropriate style for a mission to destroy Alderaan? Cruise Wear? Can't a girl mix it up?

As Lisa Simpson once said, "It seems like I've been wearing this same red dress forever!"

 

[Evil Twin]

Check out this:

http://starwarshelmets.com/darth_vader_helmets_and_costumes.htm

Each film had a newly designed Vader costume... not even TESB and ROTJ match each other.
The only truly symetrical helmet was in ROTS.

Interesting, never really noticed that pointed "widow's peak" detail before. Always felt like there was SOMETHING different between the ANH and ESB helmet, but couldn't put my finger on what it was. The main difference I've always noticed was that they moved the cloth on the front so that it went under the shoulderguards, not over it.

 

[Xavier_Storma]

Check out this:

http://starwarshelmets.com/darth_vader_helmets_and_costumes.htm

Each film had a newly designed Vader costume... not even TESB and ROTJ match each other.
The only truly symetrical helmet was in ROTS.

Interesting, never really noticed that pointed "widow's peak" detail before. Always felt like there was SOMETHING different between the ANH and ESB helmet, but couldn't put my finger on what it was. The main difference I've always noticed was that they moved the cloth on the front so that it went under the shoulderguards, not over it.

They changed the chest plate from movie to movie, the mask remained the same mould in ANH and TESB, but was retrofitted for ROTJ...

The style changes are explained in the EU. In "The Force Unleashed" Vader's original (ROTS) suite was destroyed in his fight with Starkiller... for example. After ANH he crashlanded on a savage planet and had to survive among animals, his ANH suite was damaged... etc.

 

[JediKnightButler]

I never really noticed the differences in the suit between the movies though having watched the movies on BD, I did notice the smudges on Vader's helmet. I actually noticed a ton of details on the BD that I hadn't noticed before in terms of skin blemishes on the characters, etc. Didn't ruin the movies for me but it's a pretty amazing difference from seeing it on TV/VHS/DVD.

 

[davejames]

Vader looks perfectly fine in ANH. The helmet might look a bit rough and slapped-together, but then so do most of the other props and costumes in that movie.

And he still looks better than the ridiculous skinny Vader in ROTS.

 

[newtontomato539]

Vader should never have been shiny. I love the detailing though.

ROTS' was best looking suit built.

But...

It would have been nice to see Ralph's concept or something close to it.

Can anyone photoshop Ralph's design into scenes from Ep III - VI?

 

[Captaindemotion]

I thought I'd post a link to this rarely-seen original design for Vader's costume:

http://www.gizmodiva.com/other_stuff/hello_kitty_turns_darth_vader_pink.php

 

[newtontomato539]

Darth Vader In Love Part 1, 2, 3 and 4 on Youtube.

 

[Owain Taggart]

HD has meant more clarity and extra sharpness, so one ends up seeing a lot of things that at the time weren't meant to be seen. That goes for most of what's been remastered for HD.

 

[USS Mariner]

Adding fuel to the fire, I love the red lenses in ANH (there are six moves, GET OVER IT). They've always added a menacing splash of subtle color to the mask in angled shots.

 

[JoeZhang]

I was not a fan of Vader losing his temper and shouting in ANH. It felt to me like Jones was still uncertain about how to do the character while the first movie was being made.

But you have to look at this in context, the character you think about now as Darth Vader didn't exist when they made the first film (regardless of Lucas's revisionist history) - he was the henchman of the week who's first name was Darth (rather than it being a title) and rather being the father of Luke and Leia (because they aren't brother and sister at this point) who has a tragic backstory he's just a heavy.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ Exactly. It's like when Tarkin can bawl him out; doesn't make a lot of sense in the context of ESB or ROTS, where Vader is the Emperor's right-hand man. You just have to accept it.