Apologies to prequel fans!! I know there's a LOT added to the character with those movies, but those movies bother me too much to spend much time with them (although ep1 will always have a special place in my heart). And also, similar to the last video, I'm interested in what initially made the character so compelling and beloved, which was a status he had already achieved solely through the OT.
I saw Empire in theaters. NO ONE SAW IT COMING. Everyone everywhere was talking about how no one saw it coming. It was definitely the first of this trope. There was even a period when no one would talk openly about it because we were _protecting_ those who hadn't had a chance to see the movie! People got angry at others who blurted it out without asking first "have you seen Empire Strikes Back yet?" We, as parents, withheld this info the first time our children saw these movies, hoping to give our children this first experience. I'm guessing, Schnee, that your parents also protected you so your first experience was innocent. (And again, how could you forget to mention Luke seeing himself in Vader's mask in his vision on Degobah??)
There’s a name for that actually! It’s called diegetic sound. Diegetic sounds (whether it be music, effects or themes) are sounds that are in the internal world of the narrative (so characters can hear it, like the “Catchy Song” in Lego Movie 2). Meanwhile, non-diegetic sounds are basically the soundtrack and themes that are outside the narrative, so only the audience can hear it.
Yes, Vader's air recirculator sound is used in conjunction with the score to stunning effect. The score keeps you cued in emotionally, while the breathing sounds add that extra menace to the scene in question.
My favourite part with Vader is when a coworker annoyed him during a staff meeting and Vader choked him to death. That's where the saying "this meeting should've been an email" came from.
He didn't kill him though. Tarkin ordered Vader to release the officer. Vader just wanted to prove the point that the force is more powerful than the Death Star so he choked someone to prove a point
@@danikm10yt81, Which ties into the Force later being use almost an element of destiny, it guiding events and characters to conclusions that bring the galaxy back into "balance", freed from the stifling order of the Empire.
Until this video, I never made the connection just how ironic Vader's line from _A New Hope_ really was: "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed." I think that because he immediately follows it up with the point about destroying planets being insignificant next to the power of the force, placing him squarely in opposition to the mechanical, it's super easy to gloss over the fact that he himself is a mechanical monstrosity and a technological terror. Effectively, that one line presages the entire story of the OT.
Funny that, when you said at 26:12 "SW doesn't value the flashy powers", I realized that Jedi's power are actually very simple (just pulling/pushing without effect) while the dark side is very flashy (lightnings and fireworks everywhere). The idea of simplicity, calm & self-control is in every detail, that's impressive ! Thaynk you for your work and videos !
It’s just amazing to me. The guy who came up with this masterpiece of a character and story is the same guy who had material written and Disney said “nah, we’re good”. (They were in fact not good)
@@Gokou3036 There was a scene in the Acolyte where Jedi Master Vernestra Rowe walked into a room and waved her hand to activate the automatic door. It reminded me of when I used to do that when going into a supermarket and pretending to use the force to do the same thing.
You know what's hilarious? Nobody used the Force to push or pull until Empire Strikes Back. The original Star Wars doesn't have that move. In 1977, the Jedi's powers were even more simple and subtle.
One thing I wanted to add. Anakin is bearly alive, as You said, and He's still the most intimidating, dangerous and competent person in most, if not all rooms He's in. Just imagine if He was somehow healed. That's terrifying
Once went to an exhibition of Star Wars props and costumes and they had the Vader costume in a room on its own with low red lighting and the breathing really loud coming from hidden speakers.... it was amazing
This is a subtle reason why Rogue One is a perfect prequel to the OT. Even in ANH, we get some hints that Vader was once a real person, Obi-Wan talks about how he was a pupil of his, and later on, they have a conversation about their past. Now, granted, all of this is in the past, and even back then, he was killing Luke's father, so it is questionable how much of a person he truly was, but the foundation is there. There are hints. In Rogue One, however, we get none of that. Only a cold, menacing, distent presence, who doesn't even meet or know about the film's heroes. He is an unfeeling, killing machine, and he the only time we see him talk is to intimidate the film's main villain and spread the lies of the Empire, as if he's a literal extension of it. If that's the idea you have of Vader before going into the OT, I think it really adds to his story.
The scene was executed like a horror movie scene. It starts with a loud commotion, then everything falls silent. Then the monster reveals its presence, this case with his Iconic breathing, and everyone starts to get mowed down. I felt absolute fear and awe watching that for the first time.
What I Iove the most about Darth Vader is that if he can become good, anyone can. In real life, we aren't in the presence of a mass murderer and dictators. But most us do deal with bullies, unfair leaders, or toxic bosses. We ultimately can't change these people, but we, like Luke, can put our best selves forward when we interact with them. And if Luke could change the greatest of evil doers and cause him to become good, there is certainly hope for these lesser evil doers.
The pace of Vader’s breathing DOES change a few times. It quickens when he exerts himself at several points during his duels with Luke, and there’s one quick breath (indicating fear) when Admital Piett informs him that the Emperor is asking to speak with him in EMPIRE.
Just had a conversation with my brother about the “Mount Rushmore” of characters in fiction. It was Dracula, Darth Vader, Bond, and some other one I forgot. Funny coincidence Edit: It was Gandalf, he has inspired so many other characters. Though thinking on it now I think it might need to go to Merlin but idk if he was a real person or not
Maybe it’s too topical, but I’m thinking either Batman or Spider-man, Sherlock, Vader, Frankenstein’s Monster (I choose this over Dracula personally), and Dorothy Gale.
"I can awaken as a protagonist of my own story at any point I choose. I can look at a past that was truly ambiguous, and decide 'I'm telling you it's this way. I'm telling you my story was leading here the whole time. I'm the one who gets to decide what my journey is.'" (22:47) My god. That's it. These movies were a fixture of my childhood, but I didn't really connect with them on a deep personal level back then, but now... that's maybe one of the most beautiful and profound ideas I've ever heard. I worry about my journey sometimes, where it's going, whether I'm headed in the right direction, because I tend to see it as inevitable. But to see ambiguity in my own story not as a threat but as possibility, knowing that I can choose what my own life means, that the complexity of who I am means I can define myself... that's deeply beautiful, and a weight off my soul. Thank you. And for Luke, "By seeing the good in people around me so strongly that they become good, that they choose to see themselves with all the love that I have when I look at them." (26:35) Yeah, this is one of my favorites now. Thank you for opening up this classic to me, for highlighting the profound meaning in something that was too familiar to see it clearly myself.
1. Sometimes less is more. Just hearing something ominous is all you need. 2. As a child watching the original 3 Star Wars movies, you don't get any backstory of why Vader breaths like that. It wasn't until the last prequel movie, Revenge of the Sith in 2005, do we know WHY he sounds that way. He has 3rd degree burns on most of his body, trachea, and lungs. He's even madder because of his burns. Obi Wan turned his back to him, and watched him burn almost to death. Darth Vader is death, because he was so close to death.
What a great analysis. I love the mindset of actually trying to imagine how the twist hit back them. My mom used to tell me about her seeing this and being blown up. I think that's too easy to forget.
Because only George Lucas, and Irvin Kershner knew about the "I am your father" twist, when they told Mark Hamill about the twist, they swore him to secrecy, for what amounted to over a year until 1980 when Empire Strikes Back came out. The twist in Empire floored every audience member that heard it. The voice of Vader himself, James Earl Jones, who read different lines over the ionic scene, when he heard "the line" in the finished film reflected after the movie, "He (Vadar) is lying."
The plan is to do star wars until arcane s2 (although i've been a bit slow with these videos so I have no idea how many videos that means). People keep recommending andor! It is on my list!
@@schnee1I would personally recommend The Clone Wars, purely because of the way it fleshes out the clone army and therefore re-contextualises order 66.
Obviously it can't be seen on only this trilogy, but it IS interesting to see Vader changes his point in history, but he NEVER changes his motivations or morality. He was ALWAYS willing to do ANYTHING for the ones he loves. For as horrible as it might be.
Exactly and by the end of the prequels he lost everyone he loves and by the time he learnt he had a son, he was in a very difficult position being torn between his love for his son and his role in the empire and being the apprentice of Palpatine, especially since he knew he could be replaced by his son. In the canon comics he tries to kill Luke at one point in a space battle post episode 5 despite his love for his son for example but it was right after Palpatine essentially made the point that he was replaceable. And in the end he sacrifices himself for his son after a long enough moment of hesitation, staying true to his character and how he would do anything for his loved ones.
Arcane episode 3 was what i hope audiences in 1980 felt when they walked out of Empire. I had Vader spoiled for me because my parents wouldn't stop quoting that movie.
Dude i just watched your other star wars video last night, and i subbed, and then you dropped this banger the next morning. Let me say, in the words of palptine, we will watch over your career with great interest!
I don't know, I wonder if because of my complicated emotional relationship with my dad that I internalised that this is a father an son. In the scene when Luke allows himself to be captured it was all the same excuses for why they can't do certain things or are letting you down, and even though you tell yourself it's important grown-up stuff it's still little comfort to a wounded child. Then during the throne room showdown you're experiencing some of the evils of the world he's sheltering you from, as well as revealing some of your shared similarities. In the end, it's a father standing up to protect his son, becoming a person again instead of some distant machine.
Darth Vader as an embodiment of death has a completely mechanical breathing apparatus. He is death, artificially made animate, just so it can come after you.
What about _Luke in Vader's mask?!?!_ Also: Vader's breathing does change - when fighting Luke. Also, Vader's breathing is: labored in, relaxed out, which has many symbolisms.
Luke in the cave is a telling scene where Luke is seeing a potential future where he fails and becomes the monster the galaxy is telling him to destroy. It's fear personified
By all accounts I agree with everything this man has said. Immediately promote him to the highest rank of trooper and a luxury class apartment in the Death Star.
Hearing his breathing in the cinema, when I watched Ep 3, was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had, Im sure cinemas all over the world was the same, you could hear a fuckin pin drop
If Thanos is inevitable, Vader is terminal. He’s slouching toward death, lumbering, laboring for breath, and looming so great in the Force that he threatens to drag everything in his wake with him.
i love this analysis ! it's very nice to remember how something is supposed to be looked at *before* the rest was added, and its very interesting to see how the conclusion is the same as last video, proving how consistent the story was on this point. neeeerrrd
That "small picture" theme just put into words something that I've been trying to figure out for years!!!! I saw someone critiquing Encanto by saying that the climax was low stakes and "of course they rebuild the house" and it bothered me so much because that wasn't the point! The point was Abuela's decision to change her mind about Mirabel and the miracle as a whole. Its a small decision being more important than the big picture! Not exactly the type of scaling that you described, but its similar enough that I got to put something into words that I've been feeling for a long time. So thanks
Thank you for this ❤ This analysis means a lot to me, and I want to share why that is. I was born 2 months after the original SW was released in 1977, and by the time I was 2 months old, my parents had taken me with them to see it 3 times. And I should put "see it" in quotes, because of course I couldn't see anything. I could feel the energy of the crowd seeing this for the first time. Could feel the vibrations of the sound effects. And I could hear it. I heard every moment of those sound effects, that incredible score, the voices of the characters, and of course, Vader's iconic breath from the loving arms of my parents in my first weeks of life. I napped and nursed and snuggled through it 3 times. Those sounds, the feeling of them, got into my psyche and my body in ways that are difficult to describe. It is the most powerful feeling og nostalgia, tied up intimately with the feeling of being loved and cared for. And so when I saw the trilogy as a child, not knowing really that I'd already spent time with as an infant, I wasn't really prepared for the way it would effect me. I've been unpacking it ever since. But to the point of this video, that iconic sound of Vader's powerful abd vulnerable breath? It has always felt to me like love. There's no other way to say it. And it was so difficult to reconcile that feeling with what I witnessed of the character on screen. I didn't understand why I felt so conflicted about Vader, immediately from his first scene. And so when his story arc resolved the way it did, it felt like exactly what was supposed to happen. You said it so beautifully here, Schnee: He chose to take become the protagonist of his own story by redefining himself as the father he always was. That choice really matters. And it is one we can all learn from. And for me, that moment reconciled Vader's violence with the fact that had always been true for me: The sound of that powerful, vulnerable breathing always meant Love. Again, thank you for sharing this framing with us. You have me crying here on a Sunday morning 😂
I did what RUclips man told me to do with Vader breathing and I just listened. Closed my eyes and listened it, and the chills went up my spine despite hearing his breathing a million times
Even with the really bad inconsistency of Disney Star Wars, one thing that HAS been consistent is Darth Vader. You gotta give Disney props for that. They knew to give him respect.
Rogue One Vader and Kenobi Vader were both great depictions of Vader. He was perfectly in character and that hallway scene in Rogue One is one of the most iconic scenes of Disney Star Wars and maybe even all of Star Wars. I’d say Obi-Wan was also portrayed well in Kenobi because his character story felt quite natural and pretty realistic. Of course the events of episode 3 would break him. You can say what you want about the writing but Disney Star Wars has been pretty good when it comes to treating these important characters although Luke is more debatable although his story is quite realistic.
In your concluding section, you put into words what I’ve intrinsically felt about Star Wars vs other IP’s but never had the framework to express. Bravo
Something great about Darth Vader’s breathing noise is that it makes him feel closer. When we hear someone else’s breathing like that it’s normally ONLY because their mouth is right next to our ear. So to be able to hear that same sound from across a room makes Vader feel so much closer to you than he actually is. If he looks at you it feels personal. It makes him feel closer. It makes him feel bigger, makes his presence bigger. But most importantly it makes him feel a little invasive. Like he’s too close. He’s inVADING your personal space from across a room. It makes you uncomfortable. Combined with his force powers, which most often takes the form of choking, it feels like it’s just not safe to be in a room with him at all. Because if you’re even that close you might as well practically be right next to him. There’s no difference.
Some truly poignant analysis, and well said. The combination of slow zoom on vader and the crescendo of the music when he turns on the emperor made me fall in love with Star Wars as a kid. I wish they never over-dubbed the “no…no…nooo!” in later editions. One of the all time great movie scores.
ya, it's almost as if some kind of algorithm knows every word in this videos transcript, and also who James Earl Jones is, and scanned to see if there is any news about him, and then decided to recommend this video in lots of peoples feeds in the hopes that people click on it to generate ad revenue............. Do you still believe in free will ?
My brother in The Force! What a great video! I love hearing other fans take on the O.T., it helps me see new things and see old things differently. Please keep going on the Star Wars train! Subbed!
Thank you very much for this video ! The "I am your father" plot twist has become such an iconic and rooted image that we usually speak of it only to joke about. And I naver took the time to try and understand why I still love it so much. So thank you 🌸
Thanks @schnee1 Thanks for this video. I had to pause my lunch because I'd started to tear up a little. Thanks for reminding me why i fell in love with Star Wars as a kid. Thanks for reminding me of the absolute rock bottom feeling of hopelessness I felt watching Luke writhe under the Sidious' electric ministrations, and the soaring triumph I felt as Vader stepped in to save his son. The OT had its magic, and Vader was as much a pillar of that magic as Luke, Leia, and Han were.
Another thing to the character is finding the right person to portray that character, and I feel they did that perfectly. R.I.P. James Earl Jones (1931 - 2024).
Love the Wolf cameo. 2nd greatest villain of all time. I've just started One Piece and yes, Nami's "Luffy, Help me!" is by FAR the most powerful piece of cinema I've seen this year.
Funny how this "becoming a character" ends up working given that it reflects Vader's real-life "arc". Usually this amount of retcon would absolutely demolish a story, but Lucas & his writers were partially incredibly lucky, and partially immensely talented at writing themselves out of corners. Everything you were saying about Vader being just a menace WAS true in Ep4, even his breathing was initially supposed to be just a spacesuit used for boarding the rebels' ship. They only figured out The Twist in the writing phase of E5... and somehow, it only elevated the story. (if you're interested in more details & sources on that creative process, The Secret History of Star Wars is an amazing doorstopper of a source)
00:08 🎬 The sound of Vader's breathing is one of the most iconic in movie history, representing his menacing presence. 01:17 🎧 Vader's slow, measured breathing underscores his calm, inevitable, and terrifying nature as a villain. 02:00 ⚔️ Vader's breathing highlights his deadly, focused, and predatory character traits, contrasting his calm demeanor with his violent actions. 03:24 🧘 Vader's breathing symbolizes a blend of inhuman mechanical quality and martial artist-like control, reflecting his warrior monk persona gone evil. 04:00 🧊 Vader's breathing represents a cold, heartless machine-like presence, enhancing his role as a symbol of death and destruction. 05:00 📉 The revelation that Vader is Luke's father is a massive plot twist, significantly altering the narrative's complexity and depth. 07:24 💔 The twist also shatters Luke's understanding of his past and future, adding existential weight to his struggle. 09:57 ⚡ A major shift in storytelling complexity occurs with Vader's revelation, elevating the narrative beyond a simple good vs. evil dynamic. 12:05 🎭 Vader's breathing symbolizes a dichotomy between menace and vulnerability, revealing the internal conflict within the character. 13:15 🤔 Vader's mask and breathing reflect both inhuman coldness and hidden human emotion, showcasing his deep internal conflict. 15:43 🎭 Vader's mask serves dual functions: expressing coldness and emotional complexity, indicating his profound internal struggle. 20:06 🎭 Vader’s Redemption is seen as a profound moment, transforming him from a villain into a savior of his son, highlighting a deeper narrative shift. 21:00 🧩 Vader’s Redemption redefines his character, revealing hidden vulnerability and compassion, which retroactively alters the viewer’s perception of past scenes. 22:13 👨👦 Vader’s choice to save his son reflects a personal transformation, prioritizing his role as a father over his identity as a Sith Lord. 23:41 🌟 Star Wars emphasizes personal morality over grandiose stakes, focusing on individual choices and relationships rather than cosmic battles. 25:27 🧘♂ Star Wars values personal growth and moral integrity, making its themes relatable and applicable to everyday life, unlike other grand spectacle-driven stories.
I felt all this since the 70s. But this articulated those feelings; I’d never… thought about it until I saw this. Thanks so much, this was really great.
I think creativity spreads. The interpretations you post here are just incredible. Every vid i've whatched from you just gave me such an creativity boost/flow or creative way of thinking because of the really great scenes you analyze and the mindblows you create just by speaking. Thank you for making these vids. Love them😁
You say that his breathing is ALWAYS the same pace, but in this very scene you showing us at 2:38 he was breathing a lot faster than usual. And I think he also did at Episode 6 once. Otherwise you are right, that the breathing being slow is what makes it special and important
20:20 Yoo! That’s a great way to put it! Actually you putting it that way reminded me of another really good villain -> character moment, when Rinzler turns back into Tron in Tron:Legacy. In a way he takes a similar role to Vader, where he’s functionally just the main bad guy’s death machine but remembers who he is when what matters is in front of him!
Hi Schnee,I just wanted to drop a quick message to say how much I appreciate the incredible content you create. Your videos on films are always insightful and thought-provoking, and I can tell you put a lot of effort into each one. Whether it's breaking down a complex storyline or highlighting the subtleties in a director's work, your analysis always adds a new dimension to my understanding of films.Thank you for sharing your passion and expertise with us. Keep up the amazing work!🗣️🔥🗿
In the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order game, there is a moment at the climax of the game where you just start to hear Vader’s breathing, and it is probably one of the most terrifying sequences I’ve played through - absolute testament to the power of that sound and this character.
The breathing has so much depth in it, even in Vader's EP IV first appearance. It proves that he is human, even when we see him as something mechanical. It provides an impression of someone who is trying to hide his humanity with the machine-like appearance - and the breathing feels off. Even though it's menacing, it feels like an odd choice for an intimidating sound - so we are immediately intrigued and feel that there has to be something more to his character. And then, we find out that this breathing is not something he deliberately chose to intimidate others, it is something that is already there, and he is using it to intimidate others, and there is A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. From that point on we start to feel empathy for him, see him as a former human being, who from that point on makes more sense to us (more human - more possibilities to connect - inner world, thoughts, hopes and dreams - then the Emperor juxtaposition humanizes him even more). A brilliantly executed character arc across three movies - and I am subscribed, waiting for more 🙂
When you were talking about his breathing it made me think about something else. We all know Vader is one of, if not THE, most powerful force users of all time. This man's aura would be overpowering, his mere presence is an announcement. Obviously we, as the audience, can't feel his presence in the Force, but his breathing helps communicate him to us as well. Everything about Vader is _big,_ really. His figure, his ability, and well his breathing.
It’s crazy how you put into words everything I thought when I first heard this at like 5 years old, you got it so perfect, I’m literally reliving what it was like just because you’re reminding me so flawlessly.
Well this aged like fine milk, Rip James Earl Jones. Thank you for lending your incredible talent to Darth Vader, I have no doubt that you will be missed for many, many years to come.
Apologies to prequel fans!!
I know there's a LOT added to the character with those movies, but those movies bother me too much to spend much time with them (although ep1 will always have a special place in my heart). And also, similar to the last video, I'm interested in what initially made the character so compelling and beloved, which was a status he had already achieved solely through the OT.
I think hannibal, specifically from the TV show is better than darth, thanos too
That's why I just focus on clone wars. You get the added context without the terrible plot or acting
I saw Empire in theaters.
NO ONE SAW IT COMING.
Everyone everywhere was talking about how no one saw it coming. It was definitely the first of this trope.
There was even a period when no one would talk openly about it because we were _protecting_ those who hadn't had a chance to see the movie! People got angry at others who blurted it out without asking first "have you seen Empire Strikes Back yet?"
We, as parents, withheld this info the first time our children saw these movies, hoping to give our children this first experience. I'm guessing, Schnee, that your parents also protected you so your first experience was innocent.
(And again, how could you forget to mention Luke seeing himself in Vader's mask in his vision on Degobah??)
Imagine being a character so compelling they made a prequel series about you
@@TheRibottoStudios How? Anakin was a generic guy in clone wars. Ahsoka had more of a character arc than him.
Who is here after James Earl Jones dies
Rest in peace you absolute legend, thank you for everything
RUclips wrongly marked this comment as being 2 weeks old when I first saw it
James Earl Jones is the father of our childhoods 🥲
Vader's breath serves the same function of a villain's theme in the score, except that the characters can hear it.
Huh. It's like Wolf's from The Last Wish whistling then
“Why do I hear boss music” moment
There’s a name for that actually! It’s called diegetic sound. Diegetic sounds (whether it be music, effects or themes) are sounds that are in the internal world of the narrative (so characters can hear it, like the “Catchy Song” in Lego Movie 2). Meanwhile, non-diegetic sounds are basically the soundtrack and themes that are outside the narrative, so only the audience can hear it.
The force is strong with this one.
Yes, Vader's air recirculator sound is used in conjunction with the score to stunning effect.
The score keeps you cued in emotionally,
while the breathing sounds add that extra menace to the scene in question.
My favourite part with Vader is when a coworker annoyed him during a staff meeting and Vader choked him to death. That's where the saying "this meeting should've been an email" came from.
He didn't kill him though. Tarkin ordered Vader to release the officer. Vader just wanted to prove the point that the force is more powerful than the Death Star so he choked someone to prove a point
@@danikm10yt81, Which ties into the Force later being use almost an element of destiny, it guiding events and characters to conclusions that bring the galaxy back into "balance", freed from the stifling order of the Empire.
“By seeing the good in people around me, they become good”
Holy shit dude. You never miss
What does this mean?
Until this video, I never made the connection just how ironic Vader's line from _A New Hope_ really was: "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed." I think that because he immediately follows it up with the point about destroying planets being insignificant next to the power of the force, placing him squarely in opposition to the mechanical, it's super easy to gloss over the fact that he himself is a mechanical monstrosity and a technological terror.
Effectively, that one line presages the entire story of the OT.
its incredible how one can know star wars by heart and still find out depth that never struck him. Love there movies
@@Gaetano2005yea it’s crazy. I’ve seen all of them countless times and still catch new things.
The hero must confront their own fear of becoming a monster, so they can help the monster remember what it was like to be a hero.
I loved the "this is getting out of hand" joke
yesssssssss someone got it!!!!
@@schnee1 Happy my prequel meme knowledge came in handy. Keep up the great videos! I'm a big fan!
Funny that, when you said at 26:12 "SW doesn't value the flashy powers", I realized that Jedi's power are actually very simple (just pulling/pushing without effect) while the dark side is very flashy (lightnings and fireworks everywhere).
The idea of simplicity, calm & self-control is in every detail, that's impressive !
Thaynk you for your work and videos !
Meanwhile, Vader’s most iconic force power, while still obviously dark, is not flashy. Perhaps an indication of him still having some Jedi in him?
"I will now flashily electrocute you!"
-Buggy the Sith Lord
It’s just amazing to me. The guy who came up with this masterpiece of a character and story is the same guy who had material written and Disney said “nah, we’re good”. (They were in fact not good)
@@Gokou3036 There was a scene in the Acolyte where Jedi Master Vernestra Rowe walked into a room and waved her hand to activate the automatic door. It reminded me of when I used to do that when going into a supermarket and pretending to use the force to do the same thing.
You know what's hilarious? Nobody used the Force to push or pull until Empire Strikes Back. The original Star Wars doesn't have that move. In 1977, the Jedi's powers were even more simple and subtle.
One thing I wanted to add. Anakin is bearly alive, as You said, and He's still the most intimidating, dangerous and competent person in most, if not all rooms He's in. Just imagine if He was somehow healed. That's terrifying
Somehow, anakin was healed
Heal Vader fully, and it's,
bye bye Palps.
Once went to an exhibition of Star Wars props and costumes and they had the Vader costume in a room on its own with low red lighting and the breathing really loud coming from hidden speakers.... it was amazing
I will never forget Darth Vader's hallway scene from Rouge One. Chilling...
This is a subtle reason why Rogue One is a perfect prequel to the OT. Even in ANH, we get some hints that Vader was once a real person, Obi-Wan talks about how he was a pupil of his, and later on, they have a conversation about their past. Now, granted, all of this is in the past, and even back then, he was killing Luke's father, so it is questionable how much of a person he truly was, but the foundation is there. There are hints.
In Rogue One, however, we get none of that. Only a cold, menacing, distent presence, who doesn't even meet or know about the film's heroes. He is an unfeeling, killing machine, and he the only time we see him talk is to intimidate the film's main villain and spread the lies of the Empire, as if he's a literal extension of it.
If that's the idea you have of Vader before going into the OT, I think it really adds to his story.
@@sebastianoleary2743 All of this just proves that Rouge One is absolutely Goated
The scene was executed like a horror movie scene. It starts with a loud commotion, then everything falls silent. Then the monster reveals its presence, this case with his Iconic breathing, and everyone starts to get mowed down.
I felt absolute fear and awe watching that for the first time.
agreed - Rogue one is the perfect example of how to add to a story
What I Iove the most about Darth Vader is that if he can become good, anyone can.
In real life, we aren't in the presence of a mass murderer and dictators. But most us do deal with bullies, unfair leaders, or toxic bosses. We ultimately can't change these people, but we, like Luke, can put our best selves forward when we interact with them. And if Luke could change the greatest of evil doers and cause him to become good, there is certainly hope for these lesser evil doers.
So real
Hello there
RIP James Earl Jones 😞 "Goodbye old friend and may the Force be with you."
RIP James Earl Jones. We lost the voice of Vader yesterday. Truly sad
The pace of Vader’s breathing DOES change a few times. It quickens when he exerts himself at several points during his duels with Luke, and there’s one quick breath (indicating fear) when Admital Piett informs him that the Emperor is asking to speak with him in EMPIRE.
“Move the ship out of the asteroid field so that we can send a clear transmission”
Just had a conversation with my brother about the “Mount Rushmore” of characters in fiction. It was Dracula, Darth Vader, Bond, and some other one I forgot. Funny coincidence
Edit: It was Gandalf, he has inspired so many other characters. Though thinking on it now I think it might need to go to Merlin but idk if he was a real person or not
oof that's a good question, i need to come up with my own now 🤔
My collage class had to write essays on this,
I went with Bond Dracula Darth Vader and someone else, so now I feel like I am just copying this
Maybe it’s too topical, but I’m thinking either Batman or Spider-man, Sherlock, Vader, Frankenstein’s Monster (I choose this over Dracula personally), and Dorothy Gale.
@@AresHoax_9I mean if you’re right you’re right
@@alexandrac6177huh, I would never have thought to put Dorothy up there. Interesting choice. Why’d you pick her?
"I can awaken as a protagonist of my own story at any point I choose. I can look at a past that was truly ambiguous, and decide 'I'm telling you it's this way. I'm telling you my story was leading here the whole time. I'm the one who gets to decide what my journey is.'" (22:47) My god. That's it. These movies were a fixture of my childhood, but I didn't really connect with them on a deep personal level back then, but now... that's maybe one of the most beautiful and profound ideas I've ever heard. I worry about my journey sometimes, where it's going, whether I'm headed in the right direction, because I tend to see it as inevitable. But to see ambiguity in my own story not as a threat but as possibility, knowing that I can choose what my own life means, that the complexity of who I am means I can define myself... that's deeply beautiful, and a weight off my soul. Thank you.
And for Luke, "By seeing the good in people around me so strongly that they become good, that they choose to see themselves with all the love that I have when I look at them." (26:35) Yeah, this is one of my favorites now. Thank you for opening up this classic to me, for highlighting the profound meaning in something that was too familiar to see it clearly myself.
1. Sometimes less is more. Just hearing something ominous is all you need.
2. As a child watching the original 3 Star Wars movies, you don't get any backstory of why Vader breaths like that. It wasn't until the last prequel movie, Revenge of the Sith in 2005, do we know WHY he sounds that way. He has 3rd degree burns on most of his body, trachea, and lungs. He's even madder because of his burns. Obi Wan turned his back to him, and watched him burn almost to death. Darth Vader is death, because he was so close to death.
What a great analysis. I love the mindset of actually trying to imagine how the twist hit back them. My mom used to tell me about her seeing this and being blown up. I think that's too easy to forget.
One of the most magical genres of RUclips videos are people experiencing Star Wars for the first time.
Because only George Lucas, and Irvin Kershner knew about the "I am your father" twist, when they told Mark Hamill about the twist, they swore him to secrecy, for what amounted to over a year until 1980 when Empire Strikes Back came out. The twist in Empire floored every audience member that heard it. The voice of Vader himself, James Earl Jones, who read different lines over the ionic scene, when he heard "the line" in the finished film reflected after the movie, "He (Vadar) is lying."
Is this the dawn of your star wars era? Is it safe to hope you'll cover Andor someday?👉👈
The plan is to do star wars until arcane s2 (although i've been a bit slow with these videos so I have no idea how many videos that means). People keep recommending andor! It is on my list!
@@schnee1Please make a video about Andor if you have time Schnee!
@@schnee1I would personally recommend The Clone Wars, purely because of the way it fleshes out the clone army and therefore re-contextualises order 66.
Do a video about "I can't swim" line from Kino
@@annoyinggaster This is also a good suggestion. There is so much to talk about during the Clone War era.
Kinda reminds me of Death too from Puss in Boots right? The relaxed, memorable whistling, man this stuff is so cool 😆
Eh, there isn’t really much vulnerability in their character
@@cosmicspacething3474 Doesnt have to be vulnerability, it's about a change. There was a change, from malicious stalking to relaxing
I'm here right after James Earl Jones's sad passing. He truly was an amazing actor
Obviously it can't be seen on only this trilogy, but it IS interesting to see Vader changes his point in history, but he NEVER changes his motivations or morality. He was ALWAYS willing to do ANYTHING for the ones he loves. For as horrible as it might be.
Exactly and by the end of the prequels he lost everyone he loves and by the time he learnt he had a son, he was in a very difficult position being torn between his love for his son and his role in the empire and being the apprentice of Palpatine, especially since he knew he could be replaced by his son. In the canon comics he tries to kill Luke at one point in a space battle post episode 5 despite his love for his son for example but it was right after Palpatine essentially made the point that he was replaceable. And in the end he sacrifices himself for his son after a long enough moment of hesitation, staying true to his character and how he would do anything for his loved ones.
Arcane episode 3 was what i hope audiences in 1980 felt when they walked out of Empire. I had Vader spoiled for me because my parents wouldn't stop quoting that movie.
Dude i just watched your other star wars video last night, and i subbed, and then you dropped this banger the next morning. Let me say, in the words of palptine, we will watch over your career with great interest!
lol you have no idea how much i've anxiously awaited specifically a first time viewer quoting that line in a comment 😆 you made my day!!
I don't know, I wonder if because of my complicated emotional relationship with my dad that I internalised that this is a father an son. In the scene when Luke allows himself to be captured it was all the same excuses for why they can't do certain things or are letting you down, and even though you tell yourself it's important grown-up stuff it's still little comfort to a wounded child. Then during the throne room showdown you're experiencing some of the evils of the world he's sheltering you from, as well as revealing some of your shared similarities. In the end, it's a father standing up to protect his son, becoming a person again instead of some distant machine.
Darth Vader as an embodiment of death has a completely mechanical breathing apparatus.
He is death, artificially made animate, just so it can come after you.
Dang dude! I got emotional watching this video lol. This is such an excellent and fresh new look at Vader. Well done, sir!
What about _Luke in Vader's mask?!?!_
Also: Vader's breathing does change - when fighting Luke.
Also, Vader's breathing is: labored in, relaxed out, which has many symbolisms.
Luke in the cave is a telling scene where Luke is seeing a potential future where he fails and becomes the monster the galaxy is telling him to destroy. It's fear personified
By all accounts I agree with everything this man has said. Immediately promote him to the highest rank of trooper and a luxury class apartment in the Death Star.
The man himself 😂
I will forever miss Mr. Jones. That iconic voice.
Hearing his breathing in the cinema, when I watched Ep 3, was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had, Im sure cinemas all over the world was the same, you could hear a fuckin pin drop
If Thanos is inevitable, Vader is terminal. He’s slouching toward death, lumbering, laboring for breath, and looming so great in the Force that he threatens to drag everything in his wake with him.
The way you described Vader makes me love him more.❤🥶😱
i love this analysis ! it's very nice to remember how something is supposed to be looked at *before* the rest was added, and its very interesting to see how the conclusion is the same as last video, proving how consistent the story was on this point.
neeeerrrd
god, rest in peace James Earl Jones, you will be missed
Rest in peace James Earl Jones.
RIP The Legend JAMES EARL JONES 😢❤
That "small picture" theme just put into words something that I've been trying to figure out for years!!!! I saw someone critiquing Encanto by saying that the climax was low stakes and "of course they rebuild the house" and it bothered me so much because that wasn't the point! The point was Abuela's decision to change her mind about Mirabel and the miracle as a whole. Its a small decision being more important than the big picture! Not exactly the type of scaling that you described, but its similar enough that I got to put something into words that I've been feeling for a long time. So thanks
Popped up at good time.. RIP James Earl Jones
Thank you for this ❤ This analysis means a lot to me, and I want to share why that is. I was born 2 months after the original SW was released in 1977, and by the time I was 2 months old, my parents had taken me with them to see it 3 times. And I should put "see it" in quotes, because of course I couldn't see anything. I could feel the energy of the crowd seeing this for the first time. Could feel the vibrations of the sound effects. And I could hear it.
I heard every moment of those sound effects, that incredible score, the voices of the characters, and of course, Vader's iconic breath from the loving arms of my parents in my first weeks of life. I napped and nursed and snuggled through it 3 times.
Those sounds, the feeling of them, got into my psyche and my body in ways that are difficult to describe. It is the most powerful feeling og nostalgia, tied up intimately with the feeling of being loved and cared for.
And so when I saw the trilogy as a child, not knowing really that I'd already spent time with as an infant, I wasn't really prepared for the way it would effect me. I've been unpacking it ever since.
But to the point of this video, that iconic sound of Vader's powerful abd vulnerable breath? It has always felt to me like love. There's no other way to say it. And it was so difficult to reconcile that feeling with what I witnessed of the character on screen. I didn't understand why I felt so conflicted about Vader, immediately from his first scene. And so when his story arc resolved the way it did, it felt like exactly what was supposed to happen.
You said it so beautifully here, Schnee: He chose to take become the protagonist of his own story by redefining himself as the father he always was. That choice really matters. And it is one we can all learn from.
And for me, that moment reconciled Vader's violence with the fact that had always been true for me: The sound of that powerful, vulnerable breathing always meant Love.
Again, thank you for sharing this framing with us. You have me crying here on a Sunday morning 😂
RIP James Earl Jones...Thanks for being a great part of my childhood
I did what RUclips man told me to do with Vader breathing and I just listened. Closed my eyes and listened it, and the chills went up my spine despite hearing his breathing a million times
watching this after the news. R.I.P. James Earl Jones
I think one of my favorite descriptions of Vader is "Star Wars is a fantasy world and Vader is a horror movie monster"
Even with the really bad inconsistency of Disney Star Wars, one thing that HAS been consistent is Darth Vader. You gotta give Disney props for that. They knew to give him respect.
Rogue One Vader and Kenobi Vader were both great depictions of Vader. He was perfectly in character and that hallway scene in Rogue One is one of the most iconic scenes of Disney Star Wars and maybe even all of Star Wars. I’d say Obi-Wan was also portrayed well in Kenobi because his character story felt quite natural and pretty realistic. Of course the events of episode 3 would break him. You can say what you want about the writing but Disney Star Wars has been pretty good when it comes to treating these important characters although Luke is more debatable although his story is quite realistic.
Love your videos man, especially the arcane ones
In your concluding section, you put into words what I’ve intrinsically felt about Star Wars vs other IP’s but never had the framework to express. Bravo
Something great about Darth Vader’s breathing noise is that it makes him feel closer. When we hear someone else’s breathing like that it’s normally ONLY because their mouth is right next to our ear. So to be able to hear that same sound from across a room makes Vader feel so much closer to you than he actually is. If he looks at you it feels personal. It makes him feel closer. It makes him feel bigger, makes his presence bigger. But most importantly it makes him feel a little invasive. Like he’s too close. He’s inVADING your personal space from across a room. It makes you uncomfortable. Combined with his force powers, which most often takes the form of choking, it feels like it’s just not safe to be in a room with him at all. Because if you’re even that close you might as well practically be right next to him. There’s no difference.
The GOAT of analysis talking about his GOAT of villains. Almost cried lol
Some truly poignant analysis, and well said. The combination of slow zoom on vader and the crescendo of the music when he turns on the emperor made me fall in love with Star Wars as a kid. I wish they never over-dubbed the “no…no…nooo!” in later editions. One of the all time great movie scores.
I found this video the same day we found out about James Earl Jones' passing. RIP
ya, it's almost as if some kind of algorithm knows every word in this videos transcript, and also who James Earl Jones is, and scanned to see if there is any news about him,
and then decided to recommend this video in lots of peoples feeds in the hopes that people click on it to generate ad revenue.............
Do you still believe in free will ?
RIP James Earl Jones...😭
My brother in The Force! What a great video! I love hearing other fans take on the O.T., it helps me see new things and see old things differently. Please keep going on the Star Wars train! Subbed!
Your timing dude
Thank you very much for this video ! The "I am your father" plot twist has become such an iconic and rooted image that we usually speak of it only to joke about. And I naver took the time to try and understand why I still love it so much. So thank you 🌸
Rest in Peace James Earl Jones
RIP JAMES EARL JONES
Awww yeaaah. This is going in my playlist. Schnee, you are awesome!
Thanks @schnee1
Thanks for this video. I had to pause my lunch because I'd started to tear up a little. Thanks for reminding me why i fell in love with Star Wars as a kid. Thanks for reminding me of the absolute rock bottom feeling of hopelessness I felt watching Luke writhe under the Sidious' electric ministrations, and the soaring triumph I felt as Vader stepped in to save his son. The OT had its magic, and Vader was as much a pillar of that magic as Luke, Leia, and Han were.
His breathing actually does change. When he’s in fast combat, like against Luke in ESB and RotJ, his breathing quickens to show he’s straining himself
Another thing to the character is finding the right person to portray that character, and I feel they did that perfectly. R.I.P. James Earl Jones (1931 - 2024).
Love the Wolf cameo. 2nd greatest villain of all time.
I've just started One Piece and yes, Nami's "Luffy, Help me!" is by FAR the most powerful piece of cinema I've seen this year.
oh man cheers on starting the one piece journey. hope you get to take it in blind, there's plenty of cinema to go around
@@purplesky2369 Doing my best to avoid spoilers! thank you!
Rest in Power James Earl Jones
Rest in piece James Earl Jones 🕊️🕊️🕊️
Funny how this "becoming a character" ends up working given that it reflects Vader's real-life "arc". Usually this amount of retcon would absolutely demolish a story, but Lucas & his writers were partially incredibly lucky, and partially immensely talented at writing themselves out of corners. Everything you were saying about Vader being just a menace WAS true in Ep4, even his breathing was initially supposed to be just a spacesuit used for boarding the rebels' ship. They only figured out The Twist in the writing phase of E5... and somehow, it only elevated the story.
(if you're interested in more details & sources on that creative process, The Secret History of Star Wars is an amazing doorstopper of a source)
00:08 🎬 The sound of Vader's breathing is one of the most iconic in movie history, representing his menacing presence.
01:17 🎧 Vader's slow, measured breathing underscores his calm, inevitable, and terrifying nature as a villain.
02:00 ⚔️ Vader's breathing highlights his deadly, focused, and predatory character traits, contrasting his calm demeanor with his violent actions.
03:24 🧘 Vader's breathing symbolizes a blend of inhuman mechanical quality and martial artist-like control, reflecting his warrior monk persona gone evil.
04:00 🧊 Vader's breathing represents a cold, heartless machine-like presence, enhancing his role as a symbol of death and destruction.
05:00 📉 The revelation that Vader is Luke's father is a massive plot twist, significantly altering the narrative's complexity and depth.
07:24 💔 The twist also shatters Luke's understanding of his past and future, adding existential weight to his struggle.
09:57 ⚡ A major shift in storytelling complexity occurs with Vader's revelation, elevating the narrative beyond a simple good vs. evil dynamic.
12:05 🎭 Vader's breathing symbolizes a dichotomy between menace and vulnerability, revealing the internal conflict within the character.
13:15 🤔 Vader's mask and breathing reflect both inhuman coldness and hidden human emotion, showcasing his deep internal conflict.
15:43 🎭 Vader's mask serves dual functions: expressing coldness and emotional complexity, indicating his profound internal struggle.
20:06 🎭 Vader’s Redemption is seen as a profound moment, transforming him from a villain into a savior of his son, highlighting a deeper narrative shift.
21:00 🧩 Vader’s Redemption redefines his character, revealing hidden vulnerability and compassion, which retroactively alters the viewer’s perception of past scenes.
22:13 👨👦 Vader’s choice to save his son reflects a personal transformation, prioritizing his role as a father over his identity as a Sith Lord.
23:41 🌟 Star Wars emphasizes personal morality over grandiose stakes, focusing on individual choices and relationships rather than cosmic battles.
25:27 🧘♂ Star Wars values personal growth and moral integrity, making its themes relatable and applicable to everyday life, unlike other grand spectacle-driven stories.
Thankyou for the bookmarks! and the summary of analysis points. Very helpful!
Rip James Earl Jones
I felt all this since the 70s. But this articulated those feelings; I’d never… thought about it until I saw this. Thanks so much, this was really great.
I think creativity spreads.
The interpretations you post here are just incredible. Every vid i've whatched from you just gave me such an creativity boost/flow or creative way of thinking because of the really great scenes you analyze and the mindblows you create just by speaking.
Thank you for making these vids. Love them😁
Rest in peace…we lost a legend.
James Earl Jones is with us no more.
May he rest in peace.
6:10 that's why the first time ever i watched star wars my mother told me to start with episode 4
You say that his breathing is ALWAYS the same pace, but in this very scene you showing us at 2:38 he was breathing a lot faster than usual. And I think he also did at Episode 6 once.
Otherwise you are right, that the breathing being slow is what makes it special and important
12:30 Don't tell Master Windu. He already has nightmares.
"In light of the fact that this is the 37th time TODAY you've submitted your fucking application, you are on this council"
Rest in peace James Earl Jones
His breathing represents the last of his humanity holding on for dear life.
RIP to the voice of a generation and to the most badass sith lord ever, James Earl Jones
20:20 Yoo! That’s a great way to put it! Actually you putting it that way reminded me of another really good villain -> character moment, when Rinzler turns back into Tron in Tron:Legacy. In a way he takes a similar role to Vader, where he’s functionally just the main bad guy’s death machine but remembers who he is when what matters is in front of him!
Bruh I remember watching Empire Strikes Back for the first time and seeing that Vader was Luke's father was like the plot twist of the century
RIP James Earl Jones ♥️
your ending monologue was amazing
Hi Schnee,I just wanted to drop a quick message to say how much I appreciate the incredible content you create. Your videos on films are always insightful and thought-provoking, and I can tell you put a lot of effort into each one. Whether it's breaking down a complex storyline or highlighting the subtleties in a director's work, your analysis always adds a new dimension to my understanding of films.Thank you for sharing your passion and expertise with us. Keep up the amazing work!🗣️🔥🗿
Extra relevant today. James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vader, passed today.
Always thrilled to see a new schnee vid. I'm looking forward to the Arcane s2 vids almost as much as I am Arcane s2.
In the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order game, there is a moment at the climax of the game where you just start to hear Vader’s breathing, and it is probably one of the most terrifying sequences I’ve played through - absolute testament to the power of that sound and this character.
Didn’t expect to tear up over a RUclips video today but here we are🥹
thank you James Earl Jones… May the force be with you
The breathing has so much depth in it, even in Vader's EP IV first appearance.
It proves that he is human, even when we see him as something mechanical. It provides an impression of someone who is trying to hide his humanity with the machine-like appearance - and the breathing feels off. Even though it's menacing, it feels like an odd choice for an intimidating sound - so we are immediately intrigued and feel that there has to be something more to his character.
And then, we find out that this breathing is not something he deliberately chose to intimidate others, it is something that is already there, and he is using it to intimidate others, and there is A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. From that point on we start to feel empathy for him, see him as a former human being, who from that point on makes more sense to us (more human - more possibilities to connect - inner world, thoughts, hopes and dreams - then the Emperor juxtaposition humanizes him even more).
A brilliantly executed character arc across three movies - and I am subscribed, waiting for more 🙂
RIP legend 🖤
When you were talking about his breathing it made me think about something else.
We all know Vader is one of, if not THE, most powerful force users of all time. This man's aura would be overpowering, his mere presence is an announcement. Obviously we, as the audience, can't feel his presence in the Force, but his breathing helps communicate him to us as well. Everything about Vader is _big,_ really. His figure, his ability, and well his breathing.
Oh I'm excited for this! I love your videos
I would love a video about Gravity Falls and Avatar. It's amazing how you like all the quality stuff.
Rest in peace my boy James
It’s crazy how you put into words everything I thought when I first heard this at like 5 years old, you got it so perfect, I’m literally reliving what it was like just because you’re reminding me so flawlessly.
Can you make a Murder Drones analysis at one point? Its an interesting piece of Indie Animation
I was just gonna say that!!!
@@ashethewitch1156 My Man!
damn dude, you killed him with this video
Well this aged like fine milk, Rip James Earl Jones. Thank you for lending your incredible talent to Darth Vader, I have no doubt that you will be missed for many, many years to come.