Vader Versus Kenobi Re-imagined

if Star Wars has taught us anything, it's that it's unwise to mess around with the old ways and you always stay true to your fan base.

Taking on something milllions of people love and hold dear with a flippant "I can update this with something better' is usually a good way of destroying any semblance of credibility you might of have before people laugh you out of town.

However, when someone comes along and honors the traditions laid down before it, understands the nuances of what made it all so appealing and thoroughly understands the narrative then, and only then can you breath a sigh of relief.

Enter Star Wars SC 38 (the SC stands for 'scene') the pinnacle moment when Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi clash sabres in Episode IV, Star Wars A New Hope on the Death Star.

This re-imagined masterpiece of VFX and live action stunt work is creating a ton of buzz online and rightly so, it takes the original concept of Vader and Kenobis showdown up to another level entirely. Face tracking, sound, Video effects and camera angles are all brought together to amazing effect to deliver the fight that should have been.

Why is is so good? - First off it understands the relationship between Vader and Kenobi, after Anakin's humiliating and excruciatingly painful defeat by Kenobi on Mustafar, Anakin becomes Vader. His only way to survive the crippling injuries and pain is to be forever entombed in a suit that delivers constant life support, his missing limbs replaced by advanced mechanical prosthetics. The pent up rage and anger that Vader has for Kenobi is interpreted beautifully and honors the fighting styles of Shien and Djem So or 'form V' as Star Wars purists would know it as, a combination of double handed gripped sabre combat with powerful attack and defensive parry's.

many would argue that Vader has always fought two handed, true, in the origianl trilogy he did, but Rogue One also hinted at a single handed style that combined force attacks with his left hand as it does in this latest SC 38 re-imagined clip. Since Anakins twizzle twirling showboating and brash open form of combat is clearly evident in the prequels it would be safe to assume that the raw angr that Vader exudes in this clip would see him revert back to an aggressive fighting style that brings a combination of single and double handed sabre moves to bear. 

The clip was created by FXitinPost. be sure to check out ihis YouTube channel dedicated to creating unique story-driven visual effects and action short films. Check out www.fxitinpost.com for more information.

 

This Black Series Full Size Vader Helmet is Insane!

Coming Spring 2018 Hasbro will be gracing us with what could be one of THE most collectible items for any Star Wars fan.
Hasbro follows up its full size Rogue One wearable Black Series Imperial Stormtrooper helmet I previously covered here  - with a full size reproduction of the Return of the Jedi helmet of Darth Vader.
The news was announced earlier this year at the Hasbro Hascon event with pricing details to be revealed closer to launch.

Whats so special about the Return of the Jedi Helmet? (ROTJ)
Okay so here's where things get super geeky, the sculpts for Vader's helmet are different in the original trilogy , each movie has a different variation in the design from Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. To that point the the prequel trilogy also introduced a totally different sculpt to that of the original trilogy as well (flatter eye lenses smoother, less pronounced brow-line and more flared helmet hood).

Star Wars Prequel helmet on the left - Original Trilogy on the right.

The Vader helmet from 1977’s Star Wars, was sculpted by Brian Muir ( he also sculpted Vader's helmet for Rogue One) and the helmet was asymmetrical, with a red tint to the eyes that you’ll notice in certain scenes from when Vader is on Bail Organa's ship,Tantive IV. The helmet design in The Empire Strikes Back got rid of the red eyes and the more pronounced sinister brow over the eye lenses with its pronounced widows peak. 

In Return of the Jedi, Vader’s helmet is considerably more glossier and reflective, something that is clearly evident when he exits his shuttle on the Death Star at the begining of ROTJ. For the most part the design is relatively consistent with that of the design in Empire albeit a slightly flatter more condensed profile for the Jedi design. In ESB and ROTJ the neck of the helmet was actually a gun metal silver as was the left cheek segment and side flashes, black was merely limited to the main face area. The helmet for Return of the Jedi underwent a redesign which would allow for the grand reveal as to how Vader actually wore the helmet in 3 pieces, this added even more tension and drama during the unmasking scene with Luke at the film’s climatic end.

Its this 3 piece segmented helmet design that draws the main appeal for the Black Series version coming in 2018.

 Shiny Happy People - A glossy Darth Vader.

 Luke removes his fathers helmet in the climatic ROTJ scene.

Three sections make up the Black Series Vader helmet as true to the movie.

Stunning attention to detail is sure to be a winner for collectors.

The Hasbro Black Series 3 piece Vader helmet was revealed at Hascon 

The Black Series helmet provides a more affordable collectible  to a broader range of fans but die hard prop makers and collectors will always aim for specific helmet molds and pieces (Don Post and EFX) that prop sculptors or movie auctions provide. Anovos, the costume collectible specialist also provides a complete Vader costume and helmet also available in segments but the finish is more in line with movie prop materials than the mass produced plastic Hasbro offering but interestingly Anovos only created a 2 piece helmet.

Above: The Anovos Vader Helmet.

Above: The Anovos version - note that the neck piece is all connected to the facemask.