Why is there a Vader ROTS lightsaber?

[Sporak]

I do agree with you Chris...in fact to me the differences are for us proppers interesting variations...to the general public I'll bet no one knows the difference..or cares.

As a former professional prop maker I know that props etc are made for every possible contingency...Hey, There could have been a scene where it was needed. Sometimes many items created for a film never make it to screen, or even the stage.I have a Riddick Coin that lights up and is very cool, yet it doesn't appear in the film...

As far as a completest...it all depends on your point of view really...
I mean, if you are collecting ALL of the MR sabers...then you must have the ROTS Vader...or if you are collecting all the screen sabers then you don't need it...

My collection is a general representation of the movie sabers...and from all different makers...MR, Me, Fans etc...There are some that I have every variation...or am working toward every variation...namely the ANH Obis and ROTJ Lukes...

See? It's all good..."From a certain point of view..."

 

[TReinman]

I agree with Chris as well! Sure we wanted to see a Graflex used in RotS, but c'mon, I was psyhed to see at least a Graflex-Style saber in the film.

"Idealized" versions. I'm okay with this.

-- Tim

 

[steveo]

Well, Anakin is dubbed Darth Vader way before he dons the suit and fights Obi Wan with a saber on Mustafar.

 

[Joker]

Well, Anakin is dubbed Darth Vader way before he dons the suit and fights Obi Wan with a saber on Mustafar.

I was using the name "Vader ROTS Lightsaber" like MR does. I ran across one on ePay and that's what got me thinking "Why?". I know Vader had the "Anakin" lightsaber but I'm just using MR names.

 

[Joker]

Although your question is "why" it exists most folks seem to be commenting on the saber's design and looks so I will as well.
I think it was fine. I don't think it should look exacly like it does by the time it is in Ep 4. I like the idea that sabers get used, and parts are replaced over time.
I think it works well.

I understand that there's improvements and repairs but what's with the Anakin episode 3 and Luke episode 4 lightsaber, what did Obi-Wan do to it? Thought he just stuck it in a trunk but he must have gotten bored and messed with it over the years. No continuity there.

 

[Sporak]

Actually there's TONS of continuity...Anakin's saber "looks like" a Graflex...it is slimmed down and instead of using some old flashgun, they machined him a LIGHTSABER...but it does resemble the one in Ep4...
As does Obi wans...It's just slimmed down... and the rear grips (gear) are made of grip material instead of some old gun parts :lol.
I'm actually impressed that they actually cut the grenade vertically, instead of just the rings like an ROTJ Luke.

Did anone catch the Ep 4 Graflex and Obi saber that Greivous had?

I understand that there's improvements and repairs but what's with the Anakin episode 3 and Luke episode 4 lightsaber, what did Obi-Wan do to it? Thought he just stuck it in a trunk but he must have gotten bored and messed with it over the years. No continuity there.

 

[ob1al]

Did anone catch the Ep 4 Graflex and Obi saber that Greivous had?

They were ep IV versions?

Wow, that's a nice tip of the hat if so - I thought they were just CGI versions of the ROTS sabers.

 

[lonepigeon]

They were ep IV versions?

Wow, that's a nice tip of the hat if so - I thought they were just CGI versions of the ROTS sabers.

I believe they were just lazy and used the ROTS CG models.
I thought that was a little sloppy.

Several people comment about the lack of continuity in the prequels when in fact they are far more careful about that stuff than the OT. Sabers and blasters remain consistent in the PT while in the OT props changed all the time depending on what found parts they had on hand to approximate a prop. Storywise each character only had one lightsaber (except Luke with 2) yet we all know there were dozens of variations which differed from scene to scene.

 

[Jumpin Jax]

Money had nothing to do with the new lightsaber designs.
I really find it ridiculous and cynical to claim that's even the case.

The original trilogy sabers were made from junk. Now they have all the tools to create anything they want from scratch. Why would they not remake the old ones in an idealized form?

Because it makes it look like you're not paying attention. Money had everything to do with these revamps, it's naive to think otherwise.
The MR lightsabers didn't come with signed and unsigned editions for the nostalgia
A filmmaker with style would reuse the old ways to remind people that there even was a connection between the films. When you make a film for the fans, your preference for showing off can't be the sole judge of how things are done. It's a different prop with no excuses, aside from little Darth's tiny hands. The "Vader" saber was not seen, so there is no reason to make a replica "as seen" for the film. Correction, one rea$on. There should probably be a $2000 Grevious Saber pack soon :lol

 

[Jumpin Jax]

Obi-Wan and Anakin's sabers changed a dozen times in AOTC. I'm amazed they managed to keep the actors int he right cotumes.

 

[lonepigeon]

It's a different prop with no excuses, aside from little Darth's tiny hands. The "Vader" saber was not seen, so there is no reason to make a replica "as seen" for the film. Correction, one rea$on.

I think we're talking about a couple different things.
Why was the Vader lightsaber prop made?
(This was the point of the thread I believe)
For the movie to go with the costume and for all the reasons I listed above. Entire sets were built before the script was even finished. They had no idea if they would need a lightsaber or not. Besides that they definitely needed one for publicity purposes.
Were they supposed to use an old beat up prop?

Why did MR make the Vader ROTS lightsaber?
Sure, to make money. That's their reason to make everything, they're a business. I doubt they knew much about the movie when they started replicating the saber though. I'm sure they didn't even know it wouldn't be seen.

 

[Sporak]

There's even another issue coming out of all this...
Lucasfilm made the Vader ROTS saber...MR copied it.

The actual saber is not for sale...so to blame Lucas for designing it to make money for anything other that box office or promotion is just not right.

Now MR made it to sell to collectors and fans and to make money is true.

I just dont think Mr. Lucas sits up in his tower wringing his hands and with an evil chuckle exclaims...
"Ahaaaa..I will really sock it to those fans this time heh heh...I'll create a Darth Vader laser sword that will not even appear in the film, and I will make them all buy one ...yeeeeha!"

 

[bigbaddaddyvader]

I have an original production-made unfinished ROTS Vader saber from the set of ROTS.The piece I have was clearly being machined with a certain design in mind and I am told that there was some last minute decision making about whether or not Vader would be seen to be wearing a saber while on the bridge of the star destroyer so the saber was created by the prop department for that purpose.It was eventually decided that Vader would not have built his saber yet so he would not wear one but the saber was made for this shot.

 

[SaberFreak]

I just dont think Mr. Lucas sits up in his tower wringing his hands and with an evil chuckle exclaims...
"Ahaaaa..I will really sock it to those fans this time heh heh...I'll create a Darth Vader laser sword that will not even appear in the film, and I will make them all buy one ...yeeeeha!"

After reading the above...

I have an original production-made unfinished ROTS Vader saber from the set of ROTS.The piece I have was clearly being machined with a certain design in mind and I am told that there was some last minute decision making about whether or not Vader would be seen to be wearing a saber while on the bridge of the star destroyer so the saber was created by the prop department for that purpose.It was eventually decided that Vader would not have built his saber yet so he would not wear one but the saber was made for this shot.

And then this...

Here's what I think:

The Vader ROTS saber MAY have been created with 'genuine intentions' to use it for Vader's bridge scene at the end of ROTS. However the fact remains that it didn't see screen time in the movie.

MR, of course wants to make it, its their business. Granted.

GL on the other hand, should have said to MR: "No, this saber did not see screen time, so its not right to make and sell it as a prop from the movie"

But instead GL (or his licensing people, who may or may not get a cut from merchandise sales) went: "Heck since we already made a prototype, go ahead and make as many copies/versions as you can. The fanboys will suck it up like they did all the other lame stuff we threw at them. Who cares if it never saw screen time?"

I think that's what some of us are debating here...

It should have remained in the archives like the Barbican.

 

[MikeyX]

After reading the above...


And then this...

Here's what I think:

The Vader ROTS saber MAY have been created with 'genuine intentions' to use it for Vader's bridge scene at the end of ROTS. However the fact remains that it didn't see screen time in the movie.

MR, of course wants to make it, its their business. Granted.

GL on the other hand, should have said to MR: "No, this saber did not see screen time, so its not right to make and sell it as a prop from the movie"

I disagree with that last point - after all you don't have to buy it. The prop was made, and I like the fact that a replica is out there for us collectors to make the decision whether or not to get one rather than Lucas saying that we can't have one. I'm all for a debate about whether it's worth owning, and the thoughts on both sides of that are interesting, but I would still maintain that it's better when the choice is ours.

I'm guessing by the same token that you disagree with MRs move to produce the upcoming LE of Mara Jades saber?

 

[Sporak]

What the?????
Which one?

They already did the ESB Graflex...
Now if they did that really cool deco type with the gold on it I'd get one...
Something tells me though it'll be the Parks version...

However...a Mini of that 'would' be cool !

I'm guessing by the same token that you disagree with MRs move to produce the upcoming LE of Mara Jades saber?

 

[MikeyX]

What the?????
Which one?

They already did the ESB Graflex...
Now if they did that really cool deco type with the gold on it I'd get one...
Something tells me though it'll be the Parks version...

However...a Mini of that 'would' be cool !

Until we see the proto pics for ordering we won't know for sure which one they are doing. If memory serves they used a pic of the Parks style on an announcement (at a show - not an official e-mailed one) ages back - but as we know they can kinda use random pics sometimes. Actually I just dug out a link - the pic is in this thread on Rebelscum. Ignore the pics of the Obi, MOY, and biker scout CEs as the CE line was effectively cancelled since this. LEs (not CEs) of the Mara and Ki-Adi (which strangely will be a CS exclusive) are still on though as far as I'm aware.