Bespin Luke 12" figure

[MaulFan]

But as far as Great Ape's point that Mark Hamill carried Star Wars... well

In my opionion, Alec Guiness, Ian McDiarmid and Ewan McGreggor carried Star Wars.

 

[FlyAndFight]

Well said, Maul Fan.

 

[The Ringer]

In my opionion, Alec Guiness, Ian McDiarmid and Ewan McGreggor carried Star Wars.

:emperor

 

[Prime Clone]

The whole reason that I visited this thread is because I just found out that the Bespin Luke that I ordered at CC is NOT the exclusive one. I am not happy.

In Oz we say "Not happy Jan!" after a famous TV commercial.

However as discussed earlier in this thread, SDCC attendees should not have been given first chance at the exclusive because it's for newsletter subscribers. If you were led to believe you were getting an exclusive, I'm sorry.

On the likeness issue, the "authentic likeness" of the actor is one of the main features Sideshow promotes on its figures. While there will be some who disagree, I think their track record has been exceptional.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

In my opionion, Alec Guiness, Ian McDiarmid and Ewan McGreggor carried Star Wars.

I don't necessarily agree on the Alec Guiness part (although he was great), but Ewan McGregor most certainly carried the PT. He's the absolute heart and soul of those movies.

 

[Cocoboloboy]

Ewan McGregor most certainly carried the PT. He's the absolute heart and soul of those movies.

I have to agree there. To me Ep. 1-3 more more about Obi-Wan's growth from padwan to Jedi Master and mentor than Anakin's transformation from little snot to Vader.

 

[Customikey]

I'm looking forward to distressing the hell out of those clothes. Luke already looked pretty bedraggled by the time he got to Bespin, thanks to spending a few weeks in a swamp.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

I have to agree there. To me Ep. 1-3 more more about Obi-Wan's growth from padwan to Jedi Master and mentor than Anakin's transformation from little snot to Vader.

And that's in no small part due to Ewan giving far and away the best performance of anyone in those movies. Hayden and Natalie's performances are so wooden (they're both good actors so I have to fault bad direction here) that their part of the story becomes secondary because Obi-Wan (thanks to Ewan's portrayal) becomes a far more compelling character.

 

[ProgMatinee]

I have to agree there. To me Ep. 1-3 more more about Obi-Wan's growth from padwan to Jedi Master and mentor than Anakin's transformation from little snot to Vader.

+1.

I still don't fully agree that the SW saga is even about the evolution of Anakin/Vader.

 

[Memnoch]

It's not. It's an after thought that has a ring of truth. I say the Saga is more about Obi Wan because he is there in every movie guiding the story along it seems.

 

[MaulFan]

I don't necessarily agree on the Alec Guiness part (although he was great), but Ewan McGregor most certainly carried the PT. He's the absolute heart and soul of those movies.

Granted his screen time was low, but acting quality wise, I think those 3 guys really kept things going from an acting standpoint for the saga, the rest was just a fun, silly adventure. I will also say, that James Earl jones was the best part of the entire OT, his voice as Darth Vader was PERFECT, without that, Vader would have sucked and so would the OT have if the core villain was weak.

 

[Customikey]

I happen to think Ian McDiarmid helped carry that banner a long way as well. :emperor

 

[ProgMatinee]

Granted his screen time was low, but acting quality wise, I think those 3 guys really kept things going from an acting standpoint for the saga, the rest was just a fun, silly adventure. I will also say, that James Earl jones was the best part of the entire OT, his voice as Darth Vader was PERFECT, without that, Vader would have sucked and so would the OT have if the core villain was weak.

Hmm. As much as I like JEJ as Vader, I think William's score is more important.

But even more than any one player, I think what held the OT together better than what holds the PT together is the chemistry of Han/Leia, Han/Luke, Luke/Obi-Wan, 3PO/R2, etc.

I think you feel this the most in ANH and ESB, the acting in ROTJ had less chemistry between the actors, especially Harrison, who I think phoned in a lot of that film.

The PT seemed like a bunch of individuals rather than a cast. As much as I like Samuel L and Jimmy Smits in other work, their roles are evidence that they just went out and hired individuals.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Hmm. As much as I like JEJ as Vader, I think William's score is more important.

Yep!

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

Hmm. As much as I like JEJ as Vader, I think William's score is more important.

But even more than any one player, I think what held the OT together better than what holds the PT together is the chemistry of Han/Leia, Han/Luke, Luke/Obi-Wan, 3PO/R2, etc.

I think you feel this the most in ANH and ESB, the acting in ROTJ had less chemistry between the actors, especially Harrison, who I think phoned in a lot of that film.

The PT seemed like a bunch of individuals rather than a cast. As much as I like Samuel L and Jimmy Smits in other work, their roles are evidence that they just went out and hired individuals.

That sums up my feelings perfectly. It's the chemistry that carries the OT, not any single performance.

 

[MaulFan]

Hmm. As much as I like JEJ as Vader, I think William's score is more important.

I was thinking more in terms of the characters and acting, but overall view of the film, without question I'd say JW's scores are what defined the saga, he is in my mind, the king of film scoring. I still hope they do a full film release of the ROTS score, some of his pieces in there were so beautiful, I have to have them to listen to. I'm still blown away that the celebration theme at the end of Phantom was a joyful version of the Emperor's theme from ROTJ, that's what's so great about John's stuff, he really weaves so much into pieces that you really have to pay attention to what's going on in them and read about his work to pick up on his subtleties.

 

[MaulFan]

That sums up my feelings perfectly. It's the chemistry that carries the OT, not any single performance.

I think that's why the PT feels so different; it was never really about focused groups. The OT, it was basically the Imperials and Rebels, and within those two groups, a focus on a small group of characters, and there was chemistry and bonds between them, it was war times. The PT, up until ROTS and even for most of that film, was a sort of, life going on series. There were no single groups making up the core of the story, it followed many individuals along the way to a final outcome, but there was just many paths to the outcome. It was never Obi-Ani, there was Obi-Ani, Ani-Padme, Ani-Palpatine, Obi-Yoda and Jedi, Palpatine-Jedi, Palpatine Senate, very scattered. I don't dislike it about the PT, I like the PT, but I think it's easy to see strong differences and things that could be loved in the OT and the lack of them in the PT resulting in a lack of love for them.

 

[abake]

Am I the only one who thinks this sounds completely ludicrous?

Great Ape, I am seriously not trying to be hateful. I just feel passionately against this and the way you phrased the statement pretty much nails on the head everything I disagree with about the actor/character relationship.

1) There was a script before there was a mannequin named Mark Hammil to fill the costume. Therefore Mark Hammil did not create the character...he just filled the costume for it. That is why I refer to actors as "mannequins".

2) There are at least a thousand actors across the globe that could have done as well or better than MH, but just didn't go to the audition. Mark is the benefactor of the right place/right time lottery. Nothing more.

3) At the end of the day...Mark Hammil is Mark Hammil...not Luke Skywalker. Luke Skywalker is a fictitious character that has no face...no fingerprints, and no voice until someone comes alomg to fill those characteristics.

These are some of the reasons that I have no care whatsoever if my action figures look like the mannequins that stood in their places in the movies. I actually consider the likeness issue to be a pain in the rear because it serves no useful purpose to me and drives up the cost of my figures.

Now, if the figure looks just like the actor, kudos to the artist. But if the artist would have preferred the character to look different from the actor, and sculpts it that way, I'm all the way down with that as long as I can agree that the likeness captures my own interpretation of the character as well.

Let me hit on an example...the 2 actors that portrayed Tarkin did not look alike except in the most general of descriptions. But they both bore likenesses that could easily fit the character.

Heck...with all of the demand for accuracy in how the likenesses have to match each incarnation of the character...I am surprised that there is not more uproar about the fact that Hayden Christianson doesn't bare even the slightest family resemblance to Sebastian Shaw. I, myself, can not see any of the Hayden Christianson Anakin in the older Anakin even with the age difference and the injuries. I wonder if they even have the same color eyes.

Anyway...

The whole reason that I visited this thread is because I just found out that the Bespin Luke thast I ordered at CC is NOT the exclusive one. I am not happy.

I pretty much disagree completely with everything you said Darth (except the part that you're not happy about the figure you pre-ordered )

Movie making is a collaborative effort. Director, producer, photographer, writer, actor... every single one contributes with their particular vision. If you read about the making of movies, you'll see that actors always bring their vision to the characters they play, and this is often definitive in how believable/likeable the character is.
Just a couple of examples:
Vito Corleone's characterization, with the slicked back hair, the stuffed cheeks and the raspy voice was all Marlon Brando's idea.
Han's famous "I know" line was Harrison's idea.

Wether or not a different actor could've portrayed Luke better than Hamill is debatable, but ultimately, it was Hamill who was chosen by Lucas to flesh out and bring to life his original vision.

As for the likeness issue, that's already been touched upon by others.

 

[ProgMatinee]

I think that's why the PT feels so different; it was never really about focused groups. The OT, it was basically the Imperials and Rebels, and within those two groups, a focus on a small group of characters, and there was chemistry and bonds between them, it was war times. The PT, up until ROTS and even for most of that film, was a sort of, life going on series. There were no single groups making up the core of the story, it followed many individuals along the way to a final outcome, but there was just many paths to the outcome. It was never Obi-Ani, there was Obi-Ani, Ani-Padme, Ani-Palpatine, Obi-Yoda and Jedi, Palpatine-Jedi, Palpatine Senate, very scattered. I don't dislike it about the PT, I like the PT, but I think it's easy to see strong differences and things that could be loved in the OT and the lack of them in the PT resulting in a lack of love for them.

Good points. Although you listed a lot of 1x1 interactions in the PT, I never quite felt many of those had much screentime or developement.

Obi-Wan/Luke and Luke/Han/Leia took up a lot of screen time in ANH and thus had a chance to develope.

I thought a lot of PT time was spent on characters like Mace whose character and their relation to other characters never really developed.

Characters in the OT that didn't develope, such as Boba Fett were actually cool for the complete lack of info.

The PT's version, Jango, had too much story to be obscure and mysterious and not enough story to make me really care.

 

[Darth Cruel]

Maul Fan - I can understand the concept as you explain it. I guess I never looked at it from that POV because I see these characters as being much larger than what was confined to the movies. But I do understand your point about wanting the movie represented. That is just not the way I feel about the figures personally.

And I am happy to say that I was mistaken about my Luke being a regular version. A phonecall to Sideshow cleared that up.

But a post earlier in the thread got me thinking. I am reading some complaining about the Exclusive version having been made available at CC. Someone said that CC attendees should not have been allowed to make their orders there because the exclusives are meant for newsletter subscribers.

I haven't read anywhere that the exclusive versions are intended for newsletter subscribers. Newsletter subscribers are given an advance shot at ordering them. But the exclusives would be sold to non-newsletter subscribers if they did not sell out at the PPO just as the regular versions are started during the PPOs if the Exclusives run out.

And quite frankly...it seems to me that giving the newsletter subscribers first shot at them is no different than letting attendees have an advanced shot at them. Excluding non-newsletter subscribers is no different than excluding CC non-attendees. It is the chance to order early that is the perk...not the exclusive figure.

Or do I have a skewed point of view on that topic as well?