New Darth Vader Costume Preview

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 12:30 pm

I have been eagerly tuned in to the Web Docs on the official site that recently said that Hayden and Ewan have been speding several hours each day working on the final fight scene. I know that the younger generation thinks the first Matrix fight scene is the best. I partially disagree, the subway scene is absolutely incredible but the emotions tied into the saber duel onboard the first Death Star is to powerful. That to me anyways, makes it the best duel of all-time. Are you looking forward to the DVD Trilogy?

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 6:52 pm

personally i think that the best duel scene in any movie is kill bill vol1 final scene when thurman kills the chinese girl. that is the best fight scene.

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 7:17 pm

I'd vote for Luke vs Vader on that one personally. (although The Matrix's subway scene comes a close second, mainly cos I just *love* Smith's trash talk)

I always knew Hayden Christensen had a spark of acting goodness in him (ie. he's not the total wooden plank he's made out to be); knowing that it was George Lucas' dodgy directing that didn't ignite the spark; and recently I've been proven correct as Christensen just starred in the movie Shattered Glass, in which he apparently does a good job. Loose connection to the topic, I know, but I just love saying "I told you so".

Oh, and personally, I'd quite like the Star Wars box set, but it's got to take a backseat to the Godfather trilogy.

Crazed Fan Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 268 Location: RC MI

I'd check the specs on that box set. I don't remember the details but in a fan forum I visited they were discussing the features and what was in, what was out. I think they were bummed cause George basically made a bunch of decisions on new footage/old footage that they didn't care for. Oh, well.

Best Duel? I'd like to pick Luke vs Vader, but they duelled a couple of times....The atmosphere of ESB and ROTJ duels were great, but I thought the duels were a bit clumsy-looking compared to what they did in the new movies.

Kill Bill was good, but pretty short. (lucy's part of the duel, anyways).

Personally, I've liked the Episode I duel with Darth Maul. Some good moves in that one.

Episode II with Yoda vs Count Dooku was pretty awesome....

Crazed Fan Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 268 Location: RC MI

Oh, I forgot to add;

I agree with you, SirYawnaLot, about Hayden. I'dd add Natalie Portman in there too. I've seen her in some other movies and I thought she did a great job, but I don't think the SW Set is condusive to great acting.

The dialogue ranks pretty low IMO, and that doesn't help. Acting in front of a green screen, without your props and some of the other actors would also make it hard. I'm not sure George knows a well acted scene if he saw it either, but that's just my opinion.

Jeez, form this post you'd think I wasn't a SW fan!! I guess it has it's moments, good and bad.

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 10:27 am

That's fair enough, I think just about anybody can tell that George Lucas' actor direction is several leagues from what it used to be. Plus like you say, acting in front of a greenscreen among a world of characters who'll be rendered in later is very difficult.

Yup the Darth Maul duel was great, fantastic musical accompanyment too, but as Tycho said, the emotional tension between the two fighters made the Luke vs Vader duels top class.

Crazed Fan Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 268 Location: RC MI

Ok, it's been a while. I was like 8 when I saw SW in the theater. Too young to even get a grasp on the plot. That is why I think that Lucas is gearing the movie too young. He's obviously just trying to sell action figures (or whatever kids buy these days... I have two daughters and they dont' buy action figures!) I realize that making the movie a little more for the older crowd will probably make less money overall, I think it would be appreciated by it's first fans more.

Unless I'm mistaken, and feel free to correct me if my synapsis are misfiring here... Luke doesn't fight Vader on the first Death Star. I believe he battles him in the Cloud City the first time in Empire Strikes Back. After they rescue Princess Leia, they return the plans to the Rebellion and then they launch a surgical strike on the Death's Star's only known weakness... some kind of thermal exhaust port or something.

Luke battles Vader on the Cloud City and loses his hand. He also battles him on the second Death Star and escapes with Annakin's body moments before that one is destroyed by Lando and Chewie in the MF.

Now, Obi-Wan duels with Vader in the first Death Star in order to distract Vader and allow Luke and the others to escape with the plans. Luke almost goes after Vader, but instead gets aboard the Falcon, thereby foregoing his obvious suicide and saving the Rebellion.

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 11:16 am

I was talking about Obi-Wan vs. Darth. Highly emotional. If you want the best saber duel regarding action it would be a tough draw between Maul vs. Obi/Qui or Luke vs. Vader Bespin Duel.

Crazed Fan Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 268 Location: RC MI

Oh, yeah, they did a good job with the lightsaber duels, and when Obi fights Darth Vader, it was emotional because of the sacrifice.

When Luke fights Vader in Bespin, you can see the anger in Vader's blows. powerful.

What I meant more to say was that the new episodes are more impressive in the fighting, not necessarily on an emotional level. You didn't see much Kung-fu-style fighting back then (even though it was a big era for Kung-fu shows).

I think the reason the fight scenen in the first Matrix was so cool was because you were just seeing Neo learning his powers and by the time the third movie came along it was like...'yeah, they can fly and tear down a building with one hand, so why are they still punching each other?"

Still, I liked the fighting in the third movie because you know Smith is going to win the fight, but the force of their blows was sometimes cool to see and you keep wondering how is Neo going to end this thing?

I think I'm going to have to settle on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for beste duel, but I couldn't pick just one. There were too many good ones. Perhaps a bit corny, but I really liked the movie.