Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by OG Pooh

The problem is that GL changes things with the prevailing winds. He says one thing one day, something different the next, then does something completely different from both... Then changes that the next time around.

It's the flow of the force, man!

You can't stop the change, any more than you can stop the suns from setting.

[Jay444]

Originally Posted by mrpink134

Come on get real in rotj he had to use his whole body to throw it at Luke like that. I. AND Luke was just holding it not flinging it around like there was no weight to it. Never question my love for star wars I have seen it more in the theaters when it first game out in the 70's than I have on dvd vhs combined. I'm just saying that Lucas made major mistakes in the PT that do not fit with the OT at least I'm man enough to see it.

I can't remember exactly where I read/heard it. Might have been in the big book that came with the Star Wars Definitive Collection Laserdiscs or maybe one of the commentaries? Anyway, I think the reason we see the Jedi (Obi Wan, Luke and Vader) use two hands in the O.T. was because Lucas was inspired/influences by Samurai (even obvious in the way Vader and Obi Wan are dressed). Usually, when one uses a Samurai sword it is with two hands, but can be held by someone with one hand (one whom does not know what they are doing/untrained, i.e. Luke when he first recieves the Lightsaber in a New Hope). Clearly that philosphy changed with the P.T.

[Beast]

It was never mentioned on screen that the sabers were heavy. In fact, it's clear they're not. Even in the OT.

[KubrickFan]

I do remember Hamill saying it, but it was in reference to the swordfighting in Empire. It was something Kershner had thought of, and Lucas didn't really like then. Kersh reasoned that Vader was so much better that he could easily beat Luke with only one hand.

[Jay444]

Interwebs discussion from back in 2005. So, the 50/60lb idea isn't new:

http://www.killermovies.com/forums/a...ber-weigh.html

[mjbethancourt]

one hand/two hands really has nothing to do with the weight of the saber, it's a matter of technique, and matching the physical strength of your opponent:

if we're both swinging swords at each other, and you're using one hand while I'm using two hands, I am most likely going to be contributing a lot more MUSCULAR FORCE to the blows than you are with your one hand. As to the 50/60 pounds thing, again that is most likely meant to account for muscular force and counterforce between the opponents, (they couldn't go all-out with the props they had, they broke too easily... like any stage fighting, you must PRETEND that you are going at it harder than you really are). We see from the very first saber scenes that the blade can be managed with one hand, but Vader, with his robotic arms, is much stronger than Luke, and can drive him around one-handed while Luke needs both hands just to fend off the blows. At no point is there ever any evidence that two hands are required to weild a saber, that is just absurd.

Also, the comment about Samurai styles is dead-on: some preferred two hands on one sword, or one-handed style... Hell, the most famous samurai ever, Miyamoto Musashi, was famous for his style of two swords wielded in an overhead stance. If you read Musashi's book, he describes the many styles and stances, and I believe that is the basis of the varying styles of the different Jedi. Their style is not dictated by some ridiculously burdensome heft, (50 pounds? Come on! That's not a sword, that's a club.)

Finally, Vader did not need to "put his whole body" into throwing the saber at Luke, that is complete nonsense; he made a simple, one-handed, backhand toss. The handle alone has some weight: how far can you throw a five-pound metal bar, uphill, with minimal effort? What you saw on screen was just an actor in a suit throwing a prop, not some feat of strength.

[tilapiah6]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

My guess is I could provide you a quote from the commentaries and you'd still call it "BS" (twice, probably). But again, it's your choice not to believe us. You're right, we're wrong. Surely we're all making it up because, hey, it's fun.

Well, you're studying law, right? You guys are pretty good at that.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by tilapiah6

Well, you're studying law, right? You guys are pretty good at that.

No, I'm practicing law, so I'm definitely good at it.

[chip75]

Mark Hammil from The Birth of the Lightsaber.

George was adamant that these things were really, really heavy... that we couldn't take a hand off. We always had to have two. It was like Excalibur. It was 40, 50 pounds of weight.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

That's really vague. Commentary? Documentary? For what film?

"My brother's roommate's cousin's best friend told me Lucas said..."

Is the above post good enough for you, sir? Does he need to capture the video, upload it to YouTube, and provide a link?

[Jay444]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

Is the above post good enough for you, sir? Does he need to capture the video, upload it to YouTube, and provide a link?

If he does, can he do it with one hand?

[OG Pooh]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

Is the above post good enough for you, sir? Does he need to capture the video, upload it to YouTube, and provide a link?

Maybe the post should be notarized too?

[Chordata]

My guess is this goes one of two ways:

1) The naysayers ignore the thread for a little while; or

2) The naysayers refuse to believe the above-quote and demand more "proof".

I'll be shocked if anyone says "You know what, you guys were right, sorry I questioned you the way I did."

[kurtlingle]

The mention of the "heavy" lightsaber is definitely in the OT extra feature disk. I also remember that clearly (though I thought it was Lucas who said it).

[octagon]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

I'll be shocked if anyone says "You know what, you guys were right, sorry I questioned you the way I did."

Shocked?

Something like that could very well break the internet.

[mrpink134]

Originally Posted by chip75

Mark Hammil from The Birth of the Lightsaber.

Boom! Told you

[P@t_Mtl]

I got real scared for a second, instead of the Star Wars thread I tought I walked into a episode of The Bing Bang Theory

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by chip75

Mark Hammil from The Birth of the Lightsaber.

I'm not doubting that Hamill said that... however, that is not reflected in the movies. They never look like they're swinging 50 pound greatswords, and one-handed wielding is featured at some point in all of the films.

... perhaps a hyperbole is being taken out of context?

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by mjbethancourt

I'm not doubting that Hamill said that... however, that is not reflected in the movies. They never look like they're swinging 50 pound greatswords, and one-handed wielding is featured at some point in all of the films.

... perhaps a hyperbole is being taken out of context?

I could've sworn I remember George saying they swing them faster in the PT because they're more well-trained and Anakin is just a cripple so he can't do it any more.

[chip75]

Birth of the Light Saber Part 1 of 2

It's about 3 and a half minutes in and during rehearsals they look like they're swing heavy axes.... But the style does progress.