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I always thought the helmet was a combination samaurai/nazi helmet. It definitely looks a lot like the helmets worn by Germany in WWII add in Stormtroopers and the other officers dressed in what looked like Nazi German uniforms....
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"The farther we go, the more the ultimate explanation recedes from us, and all we have left is faith."
~Vaclav Hlavaty -
I'm not doubting the origins of the design as Lucas used it (Samurai wore not just the helmets but also frightening Mempo masks shaped like scary faces), but it would seem illogical that The Emperor had a ready-to-wear "save your crispy buddy" armor hanging in a closet. I believe it's a design that was used as a generic space suit with breathing apparatus (remember McQuarrie's classic first sketch where Luke and Vader fight in an airless room), and therefore not unique (in the SW galaxy).
He did wear it in its complete iconic look from the moment he was put into it, so it's not something that was adapted over years of combat.
After Vader started wearing it, nobody else felt comfortable copying it, of course. Imagine coming to an Imperial "Force choke an Admiral" party wearing the same outfit. Wouldn't want that....
You can assume that everybody started selling their black-skull-mask breathing apparatus outfit on Imperial E-Bay (short for Emperor's Landing Bay) the day after Darth was seen wearing it.Last edited by Gorn Captain; Jan 26, '11, 12:33 PM..
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"When things are at their darkest, it's a brave man that can kick back and party."Comment
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I saw pics of an old movie serial villain called "The Lightning". Since Lucas seems enamored with old serials (Indiana Jones?), it seems likely this was at least in the back of his head when it came to Vader.
ChrisComment
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>it would seem illogical that The Emperor had a ready-to-wear "save your crispy buddy" armor hanging in a closet
The confounding variable being: we don't know much about Imperial manufacturing techniques. It's possible they have "build on demand" auto-fac facilities, and whipping up something like this wouldn't have been a big deal. (We don't know how long the surgery took, or how long between his injury and the point they started were either. He could have been in cold starge for a while.)
Don C.Comment
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The suit is just life-support armor... but I wouldn't be suprised if the look of the helmet was Sith based somehow.Comment
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I don't think the manufacturing techniques is the main thing - they have a lot of strange technology - that's fine.
Design-wise they got it perfect right out the gate. It's such a unique look and function compared to other things - it seems a little odd that they designed something everyone was super happy with for the next 17 or so years. His medical, comfort, style and fighting needs were all met first try, never noticeably modified while other Empirical things were changed over the years.
I'm not saying anyone has to go along with me on this - but for me personally it would have been more interesting to see a less than 100% Vader at the end of Part 3. It would maybe live a little more in my mind if I could imagine all the stages that get us to the Vader in Star Wars.
It's totally cool if everyone else buys it and likes it! I'm not trying to change anyone's mind. It's just my personal taste.Comment
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That's really cool!I saw pics of an old movie serial villain called "The Lightning". Since Lucas seems enamored with old serials (Indiana Jones?), it seems likely this was at least in the back of his head when it came to Vader.
ChrisComment
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OK. That quote had me laughing on the floor.The Emperor had a ready-to-wear "save your crispy buddy" armor hanging in a closet.
It's all good!Comment
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sigpicComment
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HENTAI!
I thought Vader got messed up in a space ship crash as a kid.
I figured They wouldnt have Vader in his original armor from teh start because thayt would be one more Action Figure they could have made.
There was no reason to NOT make the Clone Troopers in the real Stormtrooper armor from the beggining and even negative reason to change it from a single movie to the next. The original trilogy kept the armor all the way through.
I still hate the bad actor guy, one hwo took over after whiney kid and kindly granpa, who insited on wearing the uniform even though David Prouse offered to suit up.
James earl Jones should have been under the helmet in Return of teh Jedi.Comment
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I have that serial on DVD, and yes, he shoot lightning bolt from his hands. Lucas is a great "borrower"...I saw pics of an old movie serial villain called "The Lightning". Since Lucas seems enamored with old serials (Indiana Jones?), it seems likely this was at least in the back of his head when it came to Vader.
Chris.
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"When things are at their darkest, it's a brave man that can kick back and party."Comment
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