I have to go with everyone (excluding Hayden). Everyone from the designers, sculptors, actors, etc. contributed to bringing the character to life. If you had any of them out of the equation it wouldn't have been the same character.
Who is darth Vader to YOU? Jones, Prowse, Christensen?
- Thread starter Funky
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Werstrooper
Well-Known Member
Prowse put his heart and soul into Vader, he voiced Vader (before JEJ replaced him)
he contributed to the movements of Vader and played a big role in how the character moved on set.
How dare he sign his name as DP is Vader! It's not like Lucas fixated on him and did everything to have Prowse play a role in his Star Wars film. (didnt he have a choice of Vader and Chewie but was attracted to the Vader character?)
for me it's the man in the suit, JEJ is just a fat guy with a deep voice, anyone with a deep voice could have done Vaders voice. (see what i did there?)
he contributed to the movements of Vader and played a big role in how the character moved on set.
How dare he sign his name as DP is Vader! It's not like Lucas fixated on him and did everything to have Prowse play a role in his Star Wars film. (didnt he have a choice of Vader and Chewie but was attracted to the Vader character?)
for me it's the man in the suit, JEJ is just a fat guy with a deep voice, anyone with a deep voice could have done Vaders voice. (see what i did there?)
darth_myeek
Sr Member
SVTStingRay
Sr Member
im gonna go out on a limb. i have lots of problems with the prequels but i was ok with hayden in the suit, just wish he had more to do at the end of the movie. wished they had done another one, kind of in the style of the first force unleashed game with hayden as vader and witwer as starkiller.
For me it's Prowse.
I didn't know who David Prowse was for a long time, and then I found out he had a small part in 'A Clockwork Orange'. When I had a chance to see 'Clockwork' I was blown away seeing Prowse because all I could see in his body was Darth Vader. The shape of his arms, legs, how he stands- everything.
David Prowse is Darth Vader. Yeah, they could have used somebody else but they used him and everything about him transferred into the visual performance of the character. Going with someone other than Prowse would be like going with Kurt Russell for Han Solo. He would have been the character and we would not have known any different.
But they went with Ford, and Prowse, and the rest is history.
I didn't know who David Prowse was for a long time, and then I found out he had a small part in 'A Clockwork Orange'. When I had a chance to see 'Clockwork' I was blown away seeing Prowse because all I could see in his body was Darth Vader. The shape of his arms, legs, how he stands- everything.
David Prowse is Darth Vader. Yeah, they could have used somebody else but they used him and everything about him transferred into the visual performance of the character. Going with someone other than Prowse would be like going with Kurt Russell for Han Solo. He would have been the character and we would not have known any different.
But they went with Ford, and Prowse, and the rest is history.
In all honesty? The suit.
But if I'm to pick an actor I'd have to say Jones. The voice defines the character more than his movement.
I am not of the mindset however that they could have put any big guy in there. Prowse's movements really gave the character additional life. In the end the dark lord we all know and love was a harmony of many different folks.
But if I'm to pick an actor I'd have to say Jones. The voice defines the character more than his movement.
I am not of the mindset however that they could have put any big guy in there. Prowse's movements really gave the character additional life. In the end the dark lord we all know and love was a harmony of many different folks.
Well, that was interesting.
Everyone has an opinion, which I respect. I was just wondering who everybody thought what made Vader, VADER.
There is no wrong answer, here, kids. I was just curious as to what everybody thought what it took to "make" Darth Vader.
Looks like JEJ wins.
Everyone has an opinion, which I respect. I was just wondering who everybody thought what made Vader, VADER.
There is no wrong answer, here, kids. I was just curious as to what everybody thought what it took to "make" Darth Vader.
Looks like JEJ wins.
JD
Master Member
Vader isn't any one of those people.
You hear Vader with Jones, take a look at him and he's not Vader. I see the man and I still don't think Vader until I hear the voice... and it's not his typical speaking voice, although you can hear bits of Vader in that.
Same with Prowse. Without the helmet, mask and suit he's just a muscular tall guy. I'm sure he might share some mannerisms that might seem familiar... but without the outfit, he's just a man.
This may be painful for some to hear but Christensen and Sebastian Shaw are the only one's to play Vader without a mask (that I'm aware of). They're the only one's that we can put a human face to for Vader.
I know I grew up with the black mask, leather suit and cape - that will be the iconic Darth Vader for me (and probably most of us). I know some folks have issues with the prequels - and Hayden's screentime as Vader without the suit and mask is fairly short.
You hear Vader with Jones, take a look at him and he's not Vader. I see the man and I still don't think Vader until I hear the voice... and it's not his typical speaking voice, although you can hear bits of Vader in that.
Same with Prowse. Without the helmet, mask and suit he's just a muscular tall guy. I'm sure he might share some mannerisms that might seem familiar... but without the outfit, he's just a man.
This may be painful for some to hear but Christensen and Sebastian Shaw are the only one's to play Vader without a mask (that I'm aware of). They're the only one's that we can put a human face to for Vader.
I know I grew up with the black mask, leather suit and cape - that will be the iconic Darth Vader for me (and probably most of us). I know some folks have issues with the prequels - and Hayden's screentime as Vader without the suit and mask is fairly short.
To me, he's Prowse and he's the guy who turned up to my local post office in the UK in full costume when I was a child (favour to my grandmother as they were friends).
I think it was during promotion for the ROTJ toyline and they were going around some of the larger department stores and made a quick stop in our tiny post office which was the only place near me where you could actually buy the figures.
Probably the coolest thing that ever happened to me as a child.
I think it was during promotion for the ROTJ toyline and they were going around some of the larger department stores and made a quick stop in our tiny post office which was the only place near me where you could actually buy the figures.
Probably the coolest thing that ever happened to me as a child.
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Colin Droidmilk
Sr Member
First Jones. Then Prowse.
NAZGÛL
Sr Member
Oh yeah. Hayden should have been in the suit earlier in the film. Heck, put him against Mace and have that instead of the Yoda vs Emperor fight.
I guess Ill blame the fancy ballet style of the sword fights in the prequels for that. I have a hard time seing that done in a Vader suit.
ob1al
Sr Member
This. Plus I'd add, Muir sculpted him. The mask is a very important part of the character. Equally important - Burtt added the iconic breathing.
If anything, I would say the most important, recognisable, iconic aspects of the character are his mask and his laboured breathing. That's what most people remember first and that's the part that has embedded itself in pop culture.
Christensen emasculated him.
Too Much Garlic
Master Member
Agree with your observations regarding Prowse. Vader would have been very different without Prowse. He has that slight kind of arrogance in his posture.
NO ONE has been able to capture that, not Kermit Eller, not any other official Vader, no fan, NO ONE!
There is only ONE Vader regarding how he behaves, how he moves, how he acts and that's Prowse.
To me... Lucas thought him up, McQuarrie visualized him, Brian Muir sculpted him, Jones voiced him, Prowse for the posing and Andersson for the action.
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