Today, May 4th, the English May 4th and Star Wars famous line "May the force be with you" are harmonized, so it is called "Force Day" by fans. “
On this special day, we would like to celebrate the evolutionary history of Darth Vader, the first villain of Popular Science Star Wars:
Once the Chosen Son, later the Dark Lord, he was the main villain with BGM in Star Wars: A New Hope 40 years ago, the Tatooine teenager who grew up a little in the prequel trilogy, and the Skywalker General in The Clone Wars. He is also the comic of the big jumping empire disco in "Robot Chicken", the single silly dad who has a headache for a pair of children in the comics, and the source of laughter in the talk show.
Whether you know Darth Vader from movies, novels, comics, and other works, or like the author of this article, because "I am your father" in "Toy Story 2" and fell into the Star Wars pit, there is no doubt:
Darth Vader has long since transcended the villain in the original script, opening up a broader universe and becoming a phenomenon in popular culture.
What were you thinking when you first met Darth Vader?
This is not an easy question to answer.
First of all, under what circumstances did you meet this Sith Lord?
If you watch it in chronological order, then you and Todd Evans have a lot of common language.
Todd was one of the first small viewers of Star Wars. In 1977, "A New Hope" was released, a child sitting in a movie theater, the lights going out, a big boat chasing a small boat, a chattering golden robot, a shipwrecked princess, and then—
"When Vader came out of the darkness, all the spectators 'hissed and took a breath of cold air."" Todd Evans recalled.
▲ Bring your own BMG on the scene, just ask you if you are afraid! (Source: A New Hope)
Experience the birth of a legend and get especially lucky. Unfortunately, most Chinese audiences do not have such good luck.
If you're going from the first to the sixth in one go, you'll be able to witness the whole process of Vader's assembly in Revenge of the Sith.
If you watch Rogue One first, wow, I'm afraid.
If you were to watch Clone Wars 3D first, Rise of the Rebels, or more snarky, Lego? Is it a robot chicken? Is it Disneyland?
What were you thinking when you first met Darth Vader?
<h1>01 Evolutionary history of Darth Vader </h1>
From the first film, Darth Vader became an iconic character, a symbolic villain who was in control of almost everything, but that wasn't my intention. If only one film had been made, the result would have been very different... Now with the addition of the three episodes of the prequel, viewers can see what Darth Vader's tragedy should be like.
—George Lucas Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith DVD Disc 2 Short Film The Chosen One
Episode 4: New villain
Darth Vader is a villain, there's no doubt about that.
His black cape, his red lightsaber, his helmet, his breathing, his Imperial March... Added together, it can effectively prevent children from crying at night.
▲ Don't cry! (Source: The Empire Strikes Back)
As a hot-blooded teenager who grew up watching long-form sci-fi adventure series like Flash Gordon, George Lucas has always been eager to do a similar adventure. He learned a lot of people and bridges from Akira Kurosawa's "Warring States Heroes", and produced a first draft of "the brave man broke through the barrier to save the princess, crackled and crackled to understand the metaphysics", and the messy character relationships and strange terms were a disaster.
Early concept design by Ralph McQuarrie (Source: starwars.com)
What is darth Vader's backstory? It doesn't matter, it's a boss anyway. Lucas grabbed his hair and threw another piece of manuscript paper in the trash.
With the help of his wife and a group of peers, Lucas stumbled and climbed several drafts, and finally came up with a streamlined pattern, at this time Vader was still a space warrior with hands and feet, wearing the villain's fashionable black armor and black cape, covering his face to keep it mysterious.
Lucas didn't think enough, and found James Earl Jones, who was afraid of humiliation and resolutely unsigned, and gave Vader a low, deep voice, coupled with the "iron lung breath" sound of the sound team, and wielded a red lightsaber with BGM, which was the screen nightmare of the 70s.
▲ The shooting scene of "New Hope" (Source: starwars.com)
Episode 5: Daddy Strikes Back
The Empire Strikes Back was a turning point in Vader's fate.
"A New Hope" became an overnight hit, and not only was the production company Twentieth Century Fox stupid, but even Lucas himself was confused. He humbly told the media during the day: "This is what is filmed for children. At night, he held his head and doubted life: "I made a movie that children watch..."
In the sequel, Lucas decides to make the story a little darker – what about the villain's dad who becomes the protagonist? Black enough?
▲ What? Am I actually this guy's dad? (Source: starwars.com)
Although Lucas has always claimed that he has long planned that Vader is Luke's father, the 1234 n drafts of New Hope show that "Anakin Skywalker" and "Darth Vader" are two people. Who knows, maybe it's just a brain hole on a whim.
Anyway, Lucas has decided to let you be this father.
▲ Luke on the screen, the audience below, and the film critics in the newspaper shouted in unison: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Because of this twist, the highest-rated "Empire Strikes Back" in the six-part series has received many questions at that time: "How did Vader become a father?" "Do you think you're making a TV series?"
Even voice actor Earl Jones couldn't help but add "This is ridiculous" after pronouncing "I'm your dad" in the studio..."
I am afraid that the audience at that time had not yet accepted this kind of long suspense ethical science fiction film series.
Episode 6: Never Come Back
In 1983, Vader ushered in his final redemption, and Lucas (who thought he was) came to an end of his journey.
Because of the box office success of the first two films, the third part carried too many expectations, and the huge work pressure also led to Lucas's marriage crisis. Meanwhile, Lucas's collaboration with the first Vader actor, David Prowse, went awry, and in the final scene, he swapped the man in the armor for another actor, Sebastian Shaw.
▲ When filming this scene, I refused. (Source: Vader in Return of the Jedi by Sebastian Shaw)
Not only are the actors temporarily replaced, but even redemption is a whim. In the first draft, Vader is strangled to death by the Emperor, and Luke needs to face the Emperor's new celebrity - very routine, right? In the second draft, Lucas slapped his head and asked Vader to sacrifice himself! Then Luke took off his mask and saw that it was nothing more than a poor and pathetic old man.
It was not as early as it was a coincidence, this was the first time Darth Vader showed his true face, and Shaw's face under layers of makeup (later digital eyebrows + color grading) was topped the classic moment of film history.
▲ The Lonely Dad Under the Helmet (Source: Return of the Jedi)
Even with the buff in the finale, the reputation of "Return of the Jedi" has reached a new low. That same year, Lucas's marriage ended, and the man who helped him create the distant galaxy more than a decade ago left him for the same reason and took half of Lucas's film empire with him.
At the end of the trilogy, George Lucas was physically and mentally exhausted, saying:
Scatter, don't ask, there is no sequel, I want to be quiet.
▲ Book Title: "Don't Jump: How to Fight Depression"
<h1>02 Fan image vs. official image: a protracted tug-of-war</h1>
[Star Wars] isn't that esoteric, mysterious, and elusive. It's ultimately about people — human character, human emotions, relationships between people, and something we can empathize with—friendship, camaraderie, and love. Star Wars has never been afraid to have fun, and in addition to telling esoteric and dark stories, it also finds elements of humor in the characters, in the situation, and even in the most unexpected places.
—Pablo Hidalgo, creative director of Lucasfilm
Crisis of Faith – Prequel to the Broken Love Front Alliance
Love redeems Darth Vader, and love destroys Anakin Skywalker.
- I'm not talking about the plot of the original, but about off-camera.
Lucas said: "Star Wars is like home to me, and sometimes you have to get out of the house and go far away. But in the twenty years after Return of the Jedi, he didn't create more successful films.
The feud of that distant galaxy lingered in his mind, and Lucas decided to go home.
▲ Vader is back and ready to open the road (Source: "Return of the Jedi" filming scene)
The son of the former model Jedi Chosen, the current Sith Lord Killer Demon King, is this a moral degeneration or a distortion of human nature? Lucas wanted to answer that question through a prequel, combined with a little bit of mythology, but unfortunately he wasn't very successful.
Light and darkness are just a thread between, and fans have loved Das Vader as much as they hate this Anakin Skywalker. They felt that he was "too weak", "awkward acting", "unconvincing", they shouted "George Lucas ruined my childhood", and even projected this malice on the actor, and the name Darth Vader became a haze that has not dissipated above the heads of Anakin's actors.
Lucas told reporters: If I do what others will scold, then why should I continue to do it?
Derivative Offense – You're Electric You're Light You're the Only Chosen One!
The Creators may not be tired for a while, but Lucasfilm's love for the Star Wars series has not stopped.
Long before the prequel began planning, Lucasfilm had plans to expand the universe, which is simple to say, that is, story solitaire: what will happen after the end of "Return of the Jedi"? Lucasfilm launched three Star Wars sequel novels and went out of their way: comics, novels, games, encyclopedias...
▲ (Partial) novels published by Lucasfilm
And Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker is, of course, the center of the universe – a story that involves Vader! Pull on the Chosen One! It's okay to rip his son off.
Lucas, the founder of the universe, did not give up on Anakin either. Perhaps as a counter-attack to the negative reviews of the prequel, he made a shot at the Clone Wars 3D animated film — don't mince the characters, make Anakin and O-Biwang the protagonists, give Anakin an apprentice, and then fight, explode, explode, explode, explode.
▲ Anakin in "The Clone Wars" is not handsome enough?
The universe is getting bigger and bigger, there are more and more characters, and the details of distant galaxies occupy every corner of our universe in all directions and levels. Even if Lucas's own script differs from the original trilogy, let alone tens of thousands of spin-offs, the creators' understanding of Star Wars is always in conflict:
You say lightsaber is a metaphysical wand, I say lightsaber is a cutting machine, and both of our things have been published by Lucasfilm.
In 2012, Disney bought Lucasfilm at a great price, and Mickey Mouse had a sense of vertigo in the face of a huge universe.
Forget it, it doesn't work out, let the Star Wars universe restart it.
▲ "New History"
After thinking about it, I was afraid that the fans would not be able to accept it, so I changed the term: our Disney's is called New Canon, hey don't beat me, the former "Expanded Universe" was renamed "Legends" Well, your favorite plot has happened in some parallel universe!
The revenge of the fans - a heartbroken old father
The love of fans is too much, maybe a galaxy can't fit.
Since the 1970s, the love of Star Wars fans has not only been limited to "buying and buying with money", they can also participate in the creation of the universe. You've heard of the "Fist of Vader" 501 Legion, right? Oh, an armed force in the Star Wars universe, and then a civilian cosplay organization?
▲ The 501st Legion at the scene of the science fiction event
Wrong, the "501St Regiment" was originally a civil organization. In 1997, two Star Wars fans wanted to dress up as stormtroopers in the cinema to support the 20th anniversary re-screening, but they did not expect to respond. With the stormtroopers, there are also Vader, bounty hunters, Jedi, rebel pilots...
Lucasfilm was so shaken by such enthusiasm that they acknowledged the "501Style.". In 2004, the novel confirmed the "501 Legion", and in 2005, "Revenge of the Sith" was released, and it was the 501 Legion that followed Darth Vader into the Jedi Temple, and then the Clone Wars 3D animation series became their home. Of course, this organization off-screen is very peaceful, mainly responsible for protecting (when) driving (auspicious) escorting (auspicious) and (flying) and (things) during the premiere of each movie.
▲ The "mascots" at the premiere of "The Force Awakens".
Fans not only contributed to Lucas's universe, but also had a profound impact on the current universe.
"Darth Mitch" knows that the mass base is the first purchasing power, the "Legendary Universe" has not been replaced by simple and rude, the popular characters have been transformed to join new adventures, and the wonderful story has been transferred to posterity to continue.
Crossing the barriers, the squad that stole the Blueprints of the Death Star is back, Grand Marshal Sauron is back, the ancient history of the Sith is back... The most talked about "legends" are broken and reorganized in some form, merging into the torrent of stories of the new canonical history.
▲ Is this month's indicator completed?
In addition to actively participating in the creation of the universe, fans also have a self-deprecating spirit. As the saying goes, "powder to the depths of natural black", and look at how many talk shows play Star Wars Terriers during the release of "The Force Awakens" - this is also a good tradition.
In 1977, Saturday Night Live began with a star wars song, and the following year, Princess Leya Fisher served as a guest host.
Spaceball (1997) in the '90s was probably the most famous crashing version of Star Wars. After 2000, former hardcore fans grew into the backbone of the entertainment industry, and the comedy animation "Family Guy" specially used an entire episode to play Star Wars Terriers.
The stop-motion animation Robot Chicken launched a Star Wars spoof set, and even had Kelly Fisher, Mark Hamill, George Lucas and others voiced, allowing Vader to jump the Imperial Disco.
▲ Yo~ Let's dance! (Source: Robot Chicken)
One of the artists on the other side is Jeffrey Brown, who created the Darth Vader and Son (2012) series of picture books, which portrayed the galaxy's famous villain as a single stupid father who pulled a son and a daughter to grow up.
▲ Force Creak (Source: Darth Vader and Aiko)
People who love Star Wars know its cuteness and its absurdity, Darth Vader has gone from being the villain who gave his daughter an injection to his son to a crooked young man, and finally, in popular culture, he turned into an old father who "my son's rebellion hurts my heart"...
After all, laughter always breathes new life into this galaxy.
▲ I heard you like Vida?
In 2016, in China, an ordinary after-school boy held aloft a plastic toy that had been given to a children's magazine, most likely a pirated version, and said to me, "Teacher! You see! Star wars! ”
I looked at the doll in his hand and casually asked, "Have you seen it?" ”
"Seen! There was a man in black inside, holding a red sword, which was particularly frightening! ”
It seems that Darth Vader does leave a childhood shadow on children.
"Then he and the woman fought with their swords in the snow..."
So he's talking about Kylo Ren?
▲ Why is this guy's lightsaber forked? (Source: The Force Awakens)
The Force Awakens landed in China in late 2015, and if you don't count the Star Wars merchandise that has long been around him, his first contact with Star Wars begins with the seventh part: no fledgling Luke Skywalker, only Ray; no Darth Vader in black and red swords, only Kylo Ren.
Maybe one day in the future, he will make up for the 6 movies that fell in front of him in one go, and then suddenly realize:
"Ah, there's such a story about that broken helmet."
One of the most successful film villains in history, The Sith Lord Darth Vader, in the 70s, he was a nightmare in the night of a small audience; in the 80s, he was a father with a tragic fate; in the 90s, he was a star on a children's lunch box; after 2000, he was the object of fan spoofs, the number one protagonist of the space family dog blood drama, and the spokesperson for black humor...
▲ The evolution of Darth Vader.
40 years ago, an American boy took a breath of cold air in front of the big screen in front of Thedas Vader, and 40 years later, a Chinese boy did not know who the black cloak printed on the wrapping paper was.
Will Kylo Ren replace Vader as the new generation of childhood shadows? The answer is unknown, but the trend of the back wave pushing the front wave has already begun.
In his tone, the account @EmoKyloRen more than 800,000 fans, fights with dad, mom, uncle Twitter every day, and praises Grandpa from time to time, vividly twisting the galactic tragedy into a "Growing Pains"; in 2016, the fastest growing name of newborns in the United States was "Kylo", and the spoof short films were more and more on YouTube... But the audience was mostly unhappy with his performance, "You'll never be as strong as Darth Vader!" ”
▲ Grandpa please hit me again...
So far, Darth Vader is still the first person in Star Wars, and his fate is also mapping and affecting the fate of the entire series. Together, they have defined an era and are inevitably defined by a new generation.
Inevitably, we ask ourselves: In another 40 years, will the Vader in our hearts be very different? What about the Star Wars universe we are facing?
The only thing that is certain is that the audience loves the character, the universe that the Force sustains.
Love, on the other hand, can often create enduring myths.
reference:
- Michael Kaminski, The Secret History of Star Wars
- George Lucas and the Cult of Darth Vader, June 2nd, 2005 issue of Rolling Stone
- Chris Taylor, How Star Wars Conquered the Universe
- John C. McDowell, From Sky-Walking to Dark Knight of the Soul
- Crystal Renee White, Balancing the Force-How Media Created by Star Wars Now Defines the Franchise
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Editor-in-charge | Ji Shaoting, Raeka
Author | Ellipsis, a late-stage basement fat house, the world is so big, but I just want to go to Disney