Monday, March 31, 2008

Kubrick Star Wars

And here are some more Kubrick Star Wars

Darth Vader with two-stage helmet removal
 

Tie Fighter Pilot

Death Star Trooper

Death Star Gunner

AT-AT Driver

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Darth Vader 12" Figure by Medicom

Medicom Darth Vader, ON ITS OWN, is the BEST by far. Unfortunately, only if viewed as a standalone figure and not compared in scale with any other 1/6 figure, not even with 1/6 figures released by the same company (such as the Stormtrooper or Sandtrooper) because Medicom Darth Vader is on a scale like no other that exists. He's PUNY!!





Darth Vader's chestplate

Darth Vader's lightsaber hung on his belt

Thanks to Hasbro, Medicom also did the two-stage helmet removal system

Stage 1 - Vader's mask revealed, with helmet attachment clamps and magnetic latch on top and at the sides as well as body heat regulators above the visual enhancement sensors and the air intake/output vents.


Stage 2 - Lower jaw and neck support durasteel shell revealed, showing the voice processor and nutrient feed tube at the front as well as multiple power cells and power distributor at the back. Anakin's (Sebastian Shaw played Darth Vader unmasked) disfigured face as seen in Episode VI when Luke unmasks him towards the end, where he utters, "Now go, my son..." before the 2nd Death Star explodes. Note the removal of Sebastian Shaw's eyebrows to emphasize the injury that Anakin received in Star Wars Episode III. For the Hasbro version, he still had his eyebrows.





This is the Star Wars Episode VI: ROTJ (Return of the Jedi) version Medicom released first. Medicom released a 2nd Darth Vader based on Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (ROTS) version with the burnt out face of Hayden Christensen. Not too keen on the 2nd version. Medicom did the same thing with their Snake Eater from Metal Gear Solid 3 i.e. re-release figures when there's overwhelming demand.

Click HERE to see Sideshow Star Wars Episode IV ANH Darth Vader

Check out this post HERE to compare the various Darth Vader sizes, all supposedly 1/6 scale

Darth Vader 14" Figure by Hasbro

This was the electronic 14" Darth Vader released by Hasbro in 1998. It was certainly an improvement over the rather dwarf-ish 12" version released much earlier and the extra two inches made a lot of difference to the overall look of the figure. In this instance, size does matter. David Prowse's imposing height coupled with James Earl Jones' deep basso voice made Darth Vader who he was (4 phrases from Episode VI are uttered when you push a button on his back coupled with his deep breathing we all have come to love; another button makes the lightsaber light-up sound as well as battle sounds followed by the power down sound). IMHO, Darth Vader was best remembered from Episodes IV to VI than the whiny spoilt brat played by Hayden Christensen.




Darth Vader's chestplate and belt - quite bad when compared with Medicom's.
The 14" version had a two stage helmet removal process. "You don't know the power of the darkside."

"Help me take this mask off." Stage 1: Removal of the helmet revealed Vader's mask with helmet attachment clamps and magnetic latch on top and at the sides as well as body heat regulators above the visual enhancement sensors and the air intake/output vents.


"Let me look on you with my own eyes." Stage 2 removal revealed the lower jaw and neck support durasteel shell which housed the voice processor and nutrient feed tube at the front as well as multiple power cells and power distributor at the back. Anakin's (Sebastian Shaw played Darth Vader unmasked) disfigured face as seen in Episode VI when Luke unmasks him towards the end. "Now go, my son..."

Tie Fighter Pilot 12" Figure by Hasbro

It's amazing how the TIE (Twin Ion Engine) Fighter can even fly but we didn't care; it was make-believe and we were true believers of the Star Wars galaxy and everything that went on in it. "Believe you must. Only then success will you achieve."





Death Star Trooper 12" Figure by Hasbro

Other than the German influence on the Imperial Forces uniform design and weapons, George Lucas also drew inspiration from the Japanese Samurai. Check out the helmet on this guy - it has Samurai written all over it. He also carries the rarely seen short-range combat pistol.





Death Star Gunner 12" Figure by Hasbro

A rather unique helmet design




Grand Moff Tarkin 12" Figure

Grand Moff Tarkin was the commander of the first Death Star which he conceived in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Darth Vader was then under his command. The WWII Nazi Germany's influence on the uniforms were very evident.