The dirty look of the first Star Wars film is so refreshing when everything in the new atrocities looks perfect beyond reality, like watching a video game.
The entire OT handled presentation and atmosphere the best in almost all of live-action cinema imo. The rusty innards of a Jawa Sandcrawler, the drunken criminal cantina in Mos Eisley, the cold, unforgiving Hoth base, the tribal forests of the Endor moon, the creepy dungeons of Jabba's Palace, the exotic and unsettling Throne Room of Jabba's, the mechanical tension of Bespin... it's all handled amazingly.
As a kid, my hope for the sequels was more exploration of those dirty, seemingly random environments. I was brutally disappointed when I found out it would be family melodrama.
After majoring in Classics in college, I started to realize that the droids, and 3PO in particular, are successors to the stock slave characters from comedic plays from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. These characters tended either to be either clever or idiots, and their actions were usually in support of the young handsome sons of their owners, often in farcical romantic schemes. 3PO's role as an effete translator seems to mark him as something like the educated Greek slaves who were often caricatured in Roman art and literature.
I studied Ancinet Greek drama and in fairness, almost all hollywood movies can be traced back to Greek theater. Two rather obvious reasons. Firstly, their formula worked and secondly, lots of examples have been preserved. Lucas just used his head and borrowed from a dozen or so old story telling traditions.
@@unbearifiedbear1885 Did you know the authors used to have 'rap battles' with one another too? One guy would mock another through his work, only to have that chap answer back in his next play.
Or the "clown" characters of Elizabethan theatre. I can just about imagine Artoo and Threepio arguing over what professional builds the strongest houses.
The thing I loved about C-3PO and R2D2's relationship they were like an old married couple always bickering with one another but still having a great fondness for one another too!
@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 They excluded him intentionally, apparently excerpt from a BBC article: _C3PO actor Anthony Daniels has told BBC Radio 5 Live that not being included in publicity for the original Star Wars film left him feeling "rejected, redacted and ignored"._ _Speaking to Jamie Stangroom, he said "mystery men" behind the original Star Wars film wanted to maintain an illusion that C3PO was "a real automaton. That he was an advanced piece of electronics, magically created by the studios and the production."_ _The studio went so far as to not include Daniels' name on the original poster, which he said left him feeling inferior to co-stars Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Sir Alec Guinness._
@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 for the record, I've also heard he's a bit arrogant and hard to work with; but *everything* is bs on _some_ level, especially where Hollyweird is concerned.. and I don't know the guy, so hey..
@@unbearifiedbear1885 Apparently he was most condescending and rude to Kenny Baker R.I.P. throughout the shoot, rather fitting for C3PO but still no excuse for being too much of a 'thespian' with delusions of grandeur.
Alternate Title: "Michael Biehn's long lost English brother makes a movie length analysis of a neurotic protocol droid." All jokes aside this is a fantastic video, really great work.
I remember the first time I watching the original star wars trilogy with my younger sister when she was about 3/4 and I was about 9/10 and she began the first part of the first film being so concerned about C3PO and R2 that she quietly cried in places, like when R2 is alone and it's getting dark and he makes the sad bleepy noises. I remember her just looking really worried about them while they were in the desert, gasping when she saw the skeleton in the sand. So I agree with your point that children empathize a lot with these droid characters. Really interesting.
The Hidden Fortress is directly referenced in the first film! The haughty imperial officer before he is choked by Vader snarls ‘...nor given you clairvoyance to find the rebel’s HIDDEN FORT...’ And that’s as far as he gets before Vader strangles him.
11:15 what does C3p0 do? he states in the opening minutes that he operated and tended to machinery and binary load lifters, and that he speaks 6,000,000 languages. However, we never actually see 3P0 operate a vehicle or device.. not that I can recall?? It is R2D2 who can open doors and access mainframes, and also plays video and holds lightsabers in his chassis. All 3P0 does is walk around and give suggestions. But does he drive or pilot a vehicle, maybe I'm missing something. Basically 3P0 does SQUAT!
i thought maybe it was doing one of the last few "cleanup" tasks (whatever those might be on a moisture farm on Tatooine) before turning in safely for the night and Uncle Owen is "shutting the power down". Great job on the video Rob! :)
C3PO is kind of an everyman so to speak, very human in his decisions and responses. Wants to avoid danger and improve his own circumstances but is still wanting to help out if the risk is low. He is involved not by choice but by circumstances more or less and just wants to make it out alive.
@Lando Actually I'd say TLJ is the only tolerable movie. TFA was just ANH again with worse writing. At least TLJ had characters with arcs and did something new.
Incredible analysis! I use to think C3PO having been created by young Anakin was a totally lame idea but now I can appreciate it more in light of this video revealing C3PO to be a representation of the hero's fear and anxiety. Makes sense that C3PO's personality was custom designed by a gifted but emotionally immature kid rather than say, using a factory preset. Other droids in the movies seem to be on basic factory presets that emphasize utility over quirks and eccentricities.
Also explains his personality. A kid would want an interesting friend, not just a boring protocol droid. He's also used to looking after Anakin and keeping him, a child, safe, since Anakin didn't have a father.
@@1who4me While it may be the end of the story for you, those of us who are less pretentious are more interested in having a discussion rather than shutting one down. Though I still believe having Anakin create 3PO was the wrong choice, OP's comment made me see it in a new light, and appreciate that choice more than I did previously. You can still recognize the positives of a decision even if you ultimately disagree with it.
I always thought 3p0's line about not being a good storyteller wasn't a deliberate lie but used later in the scene with the ewoks to show how much he has grown and changed during the adventure. That he was now more confident and self possessed, a true completion of his story arch.
I always loved C-3PO because he genuinely cares about people safety and just wants to do the right thing. Sometimes you need a fraidy-cat in the bunch in order to remain focused on the dangers ahead.
Bout 45 minutes into this one and I am digging it very much... loved hearing how 3po symbolizes (or can , maybe) Luke's negative feels like fear or worry and maybe even death during the mission. Great stuff. Appreciate it
I know that he says in video that he won’t dig into prequels. But all those parallels to childlike nature of 3po is screams of the fact that 3po was created and programmed by scared, revengeful and angry child who is to be denied emotions by training and lately convinced to become embodiment of fear and anger.
Damn you people are quick. I am so glad I just made dinner and can sit here and veg out to some of the best content on RUclips. Edit after finishing: You never disappoint sir. Thank you again.
Might be Harmy's Despecialised Edition, I got a copy of those. Bit pixelated in places, especially in early Tattooine scenes, but they are good overall. The original edition has its weak spots (especially the wide shots of Ben Kenobi deactivating the generator), but much prefer the originals generally. My favourite additions of special editions are the new shots in the ice cave scene with that carnivorous beast, and reinserting the deleted scene of that green slave girl reacting in terror before she gets eaten alive by Jabba's giant pet. Good horror moments. If the studios allow a wide Star Wars fan event where they all vote their editing choices for a new hybrid edition, it would be a killer.
Great video, the depth of C3-PO's chatacter traits and mentality is quite astounding once you realise their influence on each scene, and the film overall.
3PO is a protocol droid, built for service of a delegate or ambassador. Seen in this light, the extreme sensitivity and aversion to violence makes complete sense
Nice video as always. I would say that the visual cue of the medal is not incidental at all. The solar plexus chakra (wheel) in Hindu / Yogic teachings is the one that needs to be opened to overcome fear. It is the third major one in the body, from the bottom and therefore symbolically yellow after the colors of the rainbow. The heart Chakra is next and is green, representing the power to enact and control your will. In the next film Luke spends most of his time with a little green master. At the end of the film he fails by falling back into fear, but returns triumphantly in the third, armed with a green bladed light saber.
I remember seeing in 77 a promotional report in spanish TV in which 3PO said "We are not two robots, we are one robot." I think the initial proposal was that R2 was the technical part, which did more robot-like tasks, and 3PO was his interface with humans. So it seemed like a fascinating concept to me but I never heard of it again.
@@collativelearning One thing that I wanted to say that was very interesting that you pointed out was that one scene where C3P0 requested to be shut down temporarily when Luke gets his lightsaber. I didnt think about it that much but upon seeing that recently, I've always wondered what purpose did that serve in the story or the writing of the scene. But now that makes a bit of sense, so thank you for your interpretation. 👍
I always considered "human cyborg relations" to be C3PO's job title; that he was in charge of serving as an interpreter in diplomatic relations between humanity, and some cybernetic life-forms, which we still haven't seen ourselves, but which are part of the larger Star Wars universe. It's more of a guess than anything, but it's the best sense I can make of that remark.
C3PO is actually as smart/witful as R2D2 in Ep. IV in my opinion. And they were both comic reliefs. It changed movie after movie, R2D2 getting all the wit while C3PO got all the comedic characterization.
1:17:17 That's cause that shot was edited in. Originally it was in the opening scene. So this seems to mean that 3PO was originally intended to grow as a person significantly throughout the film (yet another way that he is unlike a robot) but then they decided in post to keep him static.
I like the hypothesis about the numbers in R2D2 & C3P0 representing the Ages 2 & 3 based on movement, but I'd also add they could stand for the ages 22 & 30, as the beginning and ending of young adulthood. Rd is 22 he's hopeful and energetic. Cp is 30 he's just starting to get stiff and consider his mortality.
So many things you brought up I’ve never thought! I’ve seen it hundreds of times too. Hopefully you’ll do more characters! Extra kudos for using original release footage.
after learning of the Kurisawa inspirations for star Wars i learned to see the first movie and C3PO's role in it in a whole different light. in a New Hope is he the perfect example of an expendable slave/servant who is painfully aware of his expendable nature and works to manipulate every situation he is in to keep himself alive. it is a very believable goal for a Droid.
According to JW Rinzler's The Making of Star Wars R2D2 came from a label on a dialog reel case--reel 2, dialog 2--which was abbreviated R2D2. The book is well-researched.
~59:00 C-3PO despises jawas because the way they treat droids. It's not a contradiction or bad script writing. They literally scavenge parts off of living droids, and don't respect the droid's autonomy (such as it is) or even the property rights of the rightful owners. Jawas often steal when they can't salvage from wrecks, and sell back to the rightful owner, even parting out and returning the parts in poorer condition than when they scavenged them. He helps with cremating the dead Jawas because he's helping his human masters with a task that they decided to take on, to show their humanity and decency to give them a proper burial.
Brilliant Rob. The archaeological understanding you bring to films; makes them an heirloom of thinking. Thank you for making sense of ; nearly everything.
Hmmm, this definitely explains why R2-D2 and C-3PO were my favorite Star Wars characters when I was a young kid. They were also my first two figures I received as well.
The silver leg was used to carry a bomb, in the book, but I'm not sure if it was to carry the bomb or because it blew his leg off.. BUT I NEVER remember seeing ANYTHING but gold all over EVERY part of C-3POs body until around 5 years ago. And I owned the original C-3PO action figure and I'm 100% sure it was gold all over. Some say it's a Mandela effect, I agree 100%.🤔
This video was actually brilliant. C3PO is a metaphoric boy which must be overcome as part of the Hero's Journey so that the main character can become a man. He also serves as slight comedic relief, and as the character that reads the situation until Luke gets center stage.
with regards to 40:57, I believe he is saying "I am C3PO: Human/Cyborg Relations" Implying that his name is C3PO and his job title is that of an ombudsman between humans and cyborgs. Not implying that he IS a "human cyborg relations" (whatever that means)
Wasn't it fantastic? Great, great stuff. C3PO was always my least favorite character of "the trilogy", but now I realize the story needs him--and therefor so do I.
Regarding his eyes, I notice three distinct points of light in each eye. In human characters, there is a name for the light reflecting off the actor's eyes. But with Galadriel in the LOTR trilogy, she was also given three distinct shiny points in her eyes. Peter Jackson made quite a row about them, as I recall. They suggest life, those lights, and for Galadriel, a certain mysticism. I wonder if that also works for a golden droid.
3 is also a 'magic' number. The best jokes have 3 parts (Paddy English man, Paddy Scots man and Paddy Irish man all walk in to a bar). When learning how to speak in public, you are taught about the rule of 3. There's the famous 3 chord trick, upon which so many popular songs are based. We identify with things coming in 3s for some reason. I'm sure a psychologist would have a reason why and it probably goes back to when we were primates living in the trees!
@@davidlean1060 I don't believe in evolution, but I still see your point. The rule of three is also a huge component in writing stories and music. A very good point.
Oh my! Outstanding work here! You were mentioning how Artoo is more the adventurer, and I know it's a C-3PO analysis, and you're completely right: he's the one joining Luke in the climax. And the lack of comments from 3PO, much like the sequences earlier in the film, allow the negative emotions to be expressed by the humans as they're eventually shot down by the Empire, one by one. And since 3PO evolved through the movie, the same is obvious for Luke who made the same progress. Luke trusts in the Force as much as 3PO began to finally trust his "friend". Something I love is whe Luke is hit by the Force drone (or the training probe), 3PO and Chewie do react. 3PO doesn't voice any concern as Han laughs: Lucas made a deliberate attempt, once again, to make us believe in the Force. The second Luke succeeds in parrying the shots without the ability to see (far from the fencing style), Lucas lets the positive emotions take control. I could say the same when Obi-Wan feels the destruction of the planet and 3PO is in complete denial (much like with the message) as he's focused on the game. I also love how he calmly walks away from the Stormtrooper after lying about going to maintenance with Artoo despite having an Imperial comlink. Nervous movements and articulations are so often associated to 3PO and yet he's shown he can be in complete control when the situation is dire. It is unfortunately the only time it happens in the entire trilogy. For all the sequences he says "Oh my!", I can't help but laugh everytime I watch RotJ when he mentions it's against his programming to impersonate a deity.
I was thinking it’s fr33m@s0nic symbol/wink towards their intended Android Transhumnist future www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/06/could-capitalism-need-some-marxism-to-survive-the-4th-industrial-revolution/
@@trevorjonathan4405 Lucas was most certainly anti establishment. THX1138 is one of the great dystopian movies from the 70's and Star Wars is basically about fighting a fascist regime, so I don't buy this at all.
@@davidlean1060 Google image search George Lucas Jordan Maxwell Bob Eisner. George Lucas is very intelligent in the way he layered his films. Symbology is everywhere, if you know how to look
@@trevorjonathan4405 I don't doubt that one bit. What I doubt is that Lucas was under some sort of order to make a film that gave the thumbs up to transhumanism, so to speak.
Great analysis, as usual. Amazing how I can see so many breakdowns of Star Wars and still learn something new. Also, as someone who's been watching your work for years, I'm pleased to get a bigger glimpse of your sense of humor throughout the video!
I never interpreted C3PO as preparing to 'abandon' R2D2 for safety, when Uncle Owen had just bought him. When the Jawa activates the restraining bolt on R2, 3PO has a kind of 'shrug' movement that always signified to me that he couldn't do anything about it, this was his 'lot in life' (a great line) - to be purchased as a thing and separated from friends and that's that. It always seemed a little pitiful to me, and that was why he was so happy to suggest that they buy R2 instead.
One small correction I thought I mention here. R5-D4 was not a name given by George Lucas or anyone who created the original movie. I believe if you go through original script and concept art in the first Star Wars film all of the cylindrical type droids were simply known as "R2-units" ( in fact Luke refers to "R5D4" as an R2 unit). None of these R2 droids had individual names other than R2-D2. These other types of R2-units, like R5-D4, were given names by Kenner Toys after the film was released when they had to come up with some way of individuating one from another in order to sell them as merchandise.
Yes, thought the same. Perhaps C-3PO is more of a spoiled upper class neurotic chatterbox and sometimes arrogant, but very likeable because - as Rob states - there is a C-3PO in all of us.
There's a scene when they get into mos eisley and a jawa fondles the land speeder. 3PO shoos them away and remarks: 'Jawas, what disgusting creatures". This reinforces your claim that Obi Wan instructed 3PO to burn the bodies.
Scripting error my ass. They don't want the Jawas near their speeder or the droids. 3P0 has good reason to call them disgusting. Also I loved this video.
I noticed when Han meets C3P0 he's cleaning his dirty oily hands with a rag as he gets stuck in, whereas C3P0 is shiney fresh from his oil bath, good contrast between the two
great analysis, thank you ! 2 nitpicks: as far as I know R2D2s name came from "Roll2 Dialogue2", editors speak,...and Luke wants to be a Pilot for the Empire before he meets ObiWan as he wants to go to the Academy, and there is no such thing as a rebel Academy...he didn't even know about the rebellion when playing with his toy-skyhopper.
I read once that C-3PO was going to be the one to fire the final shot blowing up the death star and that this was changed late in production. Might explain some of why he is such a well fleshed out character. Other then just great writting.
This video has been great, and I hope Rob tackles more Star Wars analysis. (And thanks for laying off the prequels and sequels. They're easy targets that boring people go after to score points with the hogs, and it's nice to see Rob focus on what he likes instead of wasting time trashing things that we've already heard every conceivable negative opinion on.)
Regarding C-3PO's design, I was surprised not to hear a mentioning of Metropolis (1927), which was (obviously) the big influence or inspiration if you will. Or did I miss something somewhere?
C3PO's head design has another worthwhile feature: the flange joining his face and the back of his head. It often catches the light, outlining the head visually, almost like a halo.
Wow, that's pretty incredible. The ending shot of the medal ceremony: C3PO and Luke: Gold and dark browns/blacks. R2D2 and Han: Whites and blues with black accents. I always wonder about story telling like this.. What if C3PO and R2D2 are just Luke and Han from a higher dimension? : ) One day I'll cement this line of thought and create something amusing and satisfying with it.
I always thought it frustrating and sad that Threepio, a slave, is constantly belittled and even switched off by our heroes and yet when reactivated after being shot his first thought is to warn them.
If the designers purposely made C3P0's body to be physically inept, they contradicted themselves with 4-LOM since the bounty hunter was originally a protocol droid and has virtually the exact same body as C3P0.
An 80 minute video on fuckin C3PO. This is why I love Rob Ager.
@ThisIsNotReel Looking forward to the next two installments of this trilogy.
😂😂
@@TokyoXtreme in before its a 9 parter
George Lucas to Anthony Daniels: you are going to play a funny robot
Collative Learning:
"Hold my tea cup"
😂
Hold my 2nd breakfast
Well, all humor comes from tragedy, after all.
...tho' it was originally supposed to be voiced by Stan Freberg.
The dirty look of the first Star Wars film is so refreshing when everything in the new atrocities looks perfect beyond reality, like watching a video game.
Still looks incredible today.
Normal people: Hey this movie looks very nice beautiful
Star wars fans: How dare they make a good looking movie
The entire OT handled presentation and atmosphere the best in almost all of live-action cinema imo. The rusty innards of a Jawa Sandcrawler, the drunken criminal cantina in Mos Eisley, the cold, unforgiving Hoth base, the tribal forests of the Endor moon, the creepy dungeons of Jabba's Palace, the exotic and unsettling Throne Room of Jabba's, the mechanical tension of Bespin... it's all handled amazingly.
"like watching a video game" -- the feeling I get when watching nearly any contemporary sci-fi/fantasy film.
As a kid, my hope for the sequels was more exploration of those dirty, seemingly random environments. I was brutally disappointed when I found out it would be family melodrama.
My man really just made an hour and a half analysis on C - 3PO. Mad respect.
#iwatcheditall
After majoring in Classics in college, I started to realize that the droids, and 3PO in particular, are successors to the stock slave characters from comedic plays from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. These characters tended either to be either clever or idiots, and their actions were usually in support of the young handsome sons of their owners, often in farcical romantic schemes. 3PO's role as an effete translator seems to mark him as something like the educated Greek slaves who were often caricatured in Roman art and literature.
I studied Ancinet Greek drama and in fairness, almost all hollywood movies can be traced back to Greek theater. Two rather obvious reasons. Firstly, their formula worked and secondly, lots of examples have been preserved. Lucas just used his head and borrowed from a dozen or so old story telling traditions.
Greek theatrical archetypes... yup... nailed it guys ❤
@@unbearifiedbear1885 Did you know the authors used to have 'rap battles' with one another too? One guy would mock another through his work, only to have that chap answer back in his next play.
Or the "clown" characters of Elizabethan theatre. I can just about imagine Artoo and Threepio arguing over what professional builds the strongest houses.
Wow, that's fascinating!
Me: sandcrawler
You: sandcrawler
Everyone: sandcrawler
Collective learning: J A W A T R U C K
I got a serious laugh when he said that.
It's been a good 35 years since I played with Star Wars toys, so these days I tend to just go with what's said in the movie :)
Me: Collative
You: Collative
Everyone: Collative
Barend Faber: C O L L E C T I V E
@@svrsl3749 That's literally what I typed. ☺
@@gentlemanbrain5829 haha
The thing I loved about C-3PO and R2D2's relationship they were like an old married couple always bickering with one another but still having a great fondness for one another too!
In reality, Star Wars was a buddy comedy with the war between the Rebels and the Empire being the b plot
@@Chud_Bud_Supreme Agreed 👍🏼
They were both children of Anakin Skywalker.
its a reflection of the modern gay marriage
Lolololol
C3PO saying "Will this never end?"
No, C3PO. Nearly 50 years later and no sign of slowing down. What a curiously prophetic line
Anthony Daniels: Finally, my day has come.
Yeah I don't remember him making the interview circuit when Star Wars blew up.
@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 They excluded him intentionally, apparently
excerpt from a BBC article:
_C3PO actor Anthony Daniels has told BBC Radio 5 Live that not being included in publicity for the original Star Wars film left him feeling "rejected, redacted and ignored"._
_Speaking to Jamie Stangroom, he said "mystery men" behind the original Star Wars film wanted to maintain an illusion that C3PO was "a real automaton. That he was an advanced piece of electronics, magically created by the studios and the production."_
_The studio went so far as to not include Daniels' name on the original poster, which he said left him feeling inferior to co-stars Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Sir Alec Guinness._
@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 for the record, I've also heard he's a bit arrogant and hard to work with; but *everything* is bs on _some_ level, especially where Hollyweird is concerned.. and I don't know the guy, so hey..
@@unbearifiedbear1885 Apparently he was most condescending and rude to Kenny Baker R.I.P. throughout the shoot, rather fitting for C3PO but still no excuse for being too much of a 'thespian' with delusions of grandeur.
Alternate Title: "Michael Biehn's long lost English brother makes a movie length analysis of a neurotic protocol droid."
All jokes aside this is a fantastic video, really great work.
Good old Michael Biehn, one of my fave actors who should have been a bigger star.
I remember the first time I watching the original star wars trilogy with my younger sister when she was about 3/4 and I was about 9/10 and she began the first part of the first film being so concerned about C3PO and R2 that she quietly cried in places, like when R2 is alone and it's getting dark and he makes the sad bleepy noises. I remember her just looking really worried about them while they were in the desert, gasping when she saw the skeleton in the sand. So I agree with your point that children empathize a lot with these droid characters. Really interesting.
The Hidden Fortress is directly referenced in the first film!
The haughty imperial officer before he is choked by Vader snarls ‘...nor given you clairvoyance to find the rebel’s HIDDEN FORT...’
And that’s as far as he gets before Vader strangles him.
Wow, I remember it vividly, but never consi ... cough cough. Good find!
Holy f***, that went over my head. Last watched the trilogy a few months back. Awesome :)
@@collativelearning Hidden Fortress is also set during the Sengoku Jeddai, the period of Medieval Japanese history before the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Vader made sure to prevent any copyright infringement
This isn't just analysis of C3PO, it's an exploration of the entire droid mythos of Star Wars, how they work.
11:15 what does C3p0 do? he states in the opening minutes that he operated and tended to machinery and binary load lifters, and that he speaks 6,000,000 languages. However, we never actually see 3P0 operate a vehicle or device.. not that I can recall?? It is R2D2 who can open doors and access mainframes, and also plays video and holds lightsabers in his chassis. All 3P0 does is walk around and give suggestions. But does he drive or pilot a vehicle, maybe I'm missing something.
Basically 3P0 does SQUAT!
"The bedside lamp is making an escape." LOL
Yay, someone laughed at that :)
Wonder where it wound up? Lol
i thought maybe it was doing one of the last few "cleanup" tasks (whatever those might be on a moisture farm on Tatooine) before turning in safely for the night and Uncle Owen is "shutting the power down".
Great job on the video Rob! :)
You can tell Rob had a lot of fun making this one
C3PO is kind of an everyman so to speak, very human in his decisions and responses. Wants to avoid danger and improve his own circumstances but is still wanting to help out if the risk is low. He is involved not by choice but by circumstances more or less and just wants to make it out alive.
Awesome! Ager and Star Wars is like when maple syrup collides with ham.
*smack*
Would love to see Ager tackle Twin Peaks. Quite a project that would be.
I don't even like star wars, I just like this channel.
Same lol
his voice helps put me to sleep
@The Clown Only a Sith deals in absolutes.
@@MagusMarquillin no matter how valid the critiques are.
@Lando
Actually I'd say TLJ is the only tolerable movie. TFA was just ANH again with worse writing. At least TLJ had characters with arcs and did something new.
Never thought I needed this video but it’s here! Rarely ever put that much thought into C3PO so I’m interested to watch!
Incredible analysis! I use to think C3PO having been created by young Anakin was a totally lame idea but now I can appreciate it more in light of this video revealing C3PO to be a representation of the hero's fear and anxiety. Makes sense that C3PO's personality was custom designed by a gifted but emotionally immature kid rather than say, using a factory preset. Other droids in the movies seem to be on basic factory presets that emphasize utility over quirks and eccentricities.
Also explains his personality. A kid would want an interesting friend, not just a boring protocol droid. He's also used to looking after Anakin and keeping him, a child, safe, since Anakin didn't have a father.
No. Anakin making 3PO is dumb. Full stop. End of story. Really lazy storytelling by Lucas.
@@1who4me While it may be the end of the story for you, those of us who are less pretentious are more interested in having a discussion rather than shutting one down. Though I still believe having Anakin create 3PO was the wrong choice, OP's comment made me see it in a new light, and appreciate that choice more than I did previously. You can still recognize the positives of a decision even if you ultimately disagree with it.
THE HIDDEN COMPLEXITIES OF C3PO.... The title alone made my day.
I always thought 3p0's line about not being a good storyteller wasn't a deliberate lie but used later in the scene with the ewoks to show how much he has grown and changed during the adventure. That he was now more confident and self possessed, a true completion of his story arch.
This'll pass the next hour and twenty two minutes very nicely.
"I suggest a new strategy, Artoo : let the Wookie win" - C3PO
C-3po has always been gold; his design is drawn heavily from the 1927 film metropolis
I always loved C-3PO because he genuinely cares about people safety and just wants to do the right thing. Sometimes you need a fraidy-cat in the bunch in order to remain focused on the dangers ahead.
"Oh, Thank the Maker!"
"... this oil bath is going to feel soo good!"
Never tell me the odds
depending on how hes feeling at that exact moment does he praise the lightside maker, anakin? or the darkside maker, darth vader?
Bless The Maker and his Water.. May his passing cleanse the universe.
@@indianastones6032 interesting question..
Bout 45 minutes into this one and I am digging it very much... loved hearing how 3po symbolizes (or can , maybe) Luke's negative feels like fear or worry and maybe even death during the mission. Great stuff. Appreciate it
I know that he says in video that he won’t dig into prequels. But all those parallels to childlike nature of 3po is screams of the fact that 3po was created and programmed by scared, revengeful and angry child who is to be denied emotions by training and lately convinced to become embodiment of fear and anger.
Never will I look at C-3PO the same. Thanks for this amazing deep dive into our favorite glittering goofball
Damn you people are quick. I am so glad I just made dinner and can sit here and veg out to some of the best content on RUclips.
Edit after finishing: You never disappoint sir. Thank you again.
The "JOKE" thing cracked me up every time.
"I do believe they think I am some sort of god."
"...the golden god! i am untethered and my rage knows no bounds!"
"It's against my programming to impersonate a deity"... I can imagine him smiling underneath, though.
One of the best lines of 3PO in all 9 movies.
@@janocronismo The real best one was "Oh, they fly now!"
@@jocaerbannog9052 Proper?
I love that all the clips you used are from the original unaltered version of Star Wars and not the special editions.
Finally, somebody noticed !!! Cheers
Might be Harmy's Despecialised Edition, I got a copy of those. Bit pixelated in places, especially in early Tattooine scenes, but they are good overall. The original edition has its weak spots (especially the wide shots of Ben Kenobi deactivating the generator), but much prefer the originals generally. My favourite additions of special editions are the new shots in the ice cave scene with that carnivorous beast, and reinserting the deleted scene of that green slave girl reacting in terror before she gets eaten alive by Jabba's giant pet. Good horror moments. If the studios allow a wide Star Wars fan event where they all vote their editing choices for a new hybrid edition, it would be a killer.
Great video, the depth of C3-PO's chatacter traits and mentality is quite astounding once you realise their influence on each scene, and the film overall.
3PO is a protocol droid, built for service of a delegate or ambassador.
Seen in this light, the extreme sensitivity and aversion to violence makes complete sense
Yes, though they made him over-sensitive to the point of being unfit for purpose. Unless we consider him to have a personality of his own :)
I don’t know why Anthony Daniels gets a bad rap - he was such a kind, friendly person when I was lucky enough to meet him!
The answers right there- you fed his ego.
@@lucasoheyze4597
But he is the greatest actor of our time
He's probably a great guy, but the character is irritating. Like sand, one might say.
Commenting to remind myself to listen to this at work tomorrow.
I love Rob Ager's work.
Nice video as always. I would say that the visual cue of the medal is not incidental at all. The solar plexus chakra (wheel) in Hindu / Yogic teachings is the one that needs to be opened to overcome fear. It is the third major one in the body, from the bottom and therefore symbolically yellow after the colors of the rainbow. The heart Chakra is next and is green, representing the power to enact and control your will. In the next film Luke spends most of his time with a little green master. At the end of the film he fails by falling back into fear, but returns triumphantly in the third, armed with a green bladed light saber.
I love the doppelganger analysis. C3PO is Luke's shadow.
Never thought there would be this many layers to peel back on someone like C3PO, but this is why I love this channel...
I remember seeing in 77 a promotional report in spanish TV in which 3PO said "We are not two robots, we are one robot." I think the initial proposal was that R2 was the technical part, which did more robot-like tasks, and 3PO was his interface with humans.
So it seemed like a fascinating concept to me but I never heard of it again.
I'm enjoying the increased jokes per minutes, Rob. Keep up the good work. Laughed out loud at "Ghettoblaster"
You know, Rob, I gotta say your humor is something that I'm starting to appreciate.
Glad it's catching on with someone :)
@@collativelearning One thing that I wanted to say that was very interesting that you pointed out was that one scene where C3P0 requested to be shut down temporarily when Luke gets his lightsaber. I didnt think about it that much but upon seeing that recently, I've always wondered what purpose did that serve in the story or the writing of the scene. But now that makes a bit of sense, so thank you for your interpretation. 👍
@@oblivious108 Was quite pleased with that little discovery. It's surprising how much of C3PO's intricacy is slipped under the radar.
I always considered "human cyborg relations" to be C3PO's job title; that he was in charge of serving as an interpreter in diplomatic relations between humanity, and some cybernetic life-forms, which we still haven't seen ourselves, but which are part of the larger Star Wars universe. It's more of a guess than anything, but it's the best sense I can make of that remark.
A new Rob Ager video and it’s as long as a movie, what an unexpected gift!!
C3PO is actually as smart/witful as R2D2 in Ep. IV in my opinion. And they were both comic reliefs.
It changed movie after movie, R2D2 getting all the wit while C3PO got all the comedic characterization.
1:17:17 That's cause that shot was edited in. Originally it was in the opening scene. So this seems to mean that 3PO was originally intended to grow as a person significantly throughout the film (yet another way that he is unlike a robot) but then they decided in post to keep him static.
Brilliant, I've always wanted to see your take on some Star Wars original trilogy themes!
Rob, I think this is one of your best videos to date. A lot to ruminate on. Nobody else would do a deep dive on what is ostensibly a joke character.
Please make a video on "The Prestige" Rob
Never seen any Star Wars films. Not one. But you make me want to see any film you cover.
All I can think about is how much C3PO’s actor would love this video haha. He’s very proud of his role.
C-3PO goes through a hero's journey as fully as Luke.
Sir Humphrey from “Yes, Minister” is what I imagine C3PO would be like if he had a little menace to him.
😂
But Baldrick always have cunning plans ;)
Re: Blackadder was a servant at one point, quite similar to 3PO in some ways.
Somehow I never once thought of Threepio as bearing even the slightest resemblance to Sir Humphrey ... & now I can't "unsee" it!
I like the hypothesis about the numbers in R2D2 & C3P0 representing the Ages 2 & 3 based on movement, but I'd also add they could stand for the ages 22 & 30, as the beginning and ending of young adulthood. Rd is 22 he's hopeful and energetic. Cp is 30 he's just starting to get stiff and consider his mortality.
So many things you brought up I’ve never thought! I’ve seen it hundreds of times too. Hopefully you’ll do more characters! Extra kudos for using original release footage.
Theatrical cut rules.
George Lucas; "Man, this guy's making me look way more thorough and concise than I could ever hope to be. Thanks, nerd. I'll take it..."
One of your best videos yet. Thoughtful, insightful and very entertaining (even with a few bad jokes thrown in). Well done!
after learning of the Kurisawa inspirations for star Wars i learned to see the first movie and C3PO's role in it in a whole different light. in a New Hope is he the perfect example of an expendable slave/servant who is painfully aware of his expendable nature and works to manipulate every situation he is in to keep himself alive. it is a very believable goal for a Droid.
Fantastic Point 🏆
6:24 I believe that's Robot Speak for, "f*** off"
It’s Huttese but yes
@@DallasCrane isn't everything in f
Huttese f-off
According to JW Rinzler's The Making of Star Wars R2D2 came from a label on a dialog reel case--reel 2, dialog 2--which was abbreviated R2D2. The book is well-researched.
You should do a greatest screen villains video about Grand Moff Tarkin. Totally underrated villain
~59:00 C-3PO despises jawas because the way they treat droids. It's not a contradiction or bad script writing. They literally scavenge parts off of living droids, and don't respect the droid's autonomy (such as it is) or even the property rights of the rightful owners. Jawas often steal when they can't salvage from wrecks, and sell back to the rightful owner, even parting out and returning the parts in poorer condition than when they scavenged them. He helps with cremating the dead Jawas because he's helping his human masters with a task that they decided to take on, to show their humanity and decency to give them a proper burial.
Only original cut clips, no special edition. Good lad.
Brilliant Rob. The archaeological understanding you bring to films; makes them an heirloom of thinking. Thank you for making sense of ; nearly everything.
Thanks Rob, another freebie, a long one too, quantity and quality. Looking forward to part 2, this one went by so fast.
Hmmm, this definitely explains why R2-D2 and C-3PO were my favorite Star Wars characters when I was a young kid. They were also my first two figures I received as well.
The silver leg was used to carry a bomb, in the book, but I'm not sure if it was to carry the bomb or because it blew his leg off.. BUT I NEVER remember seeing ANYTHING but gold all over EVERY part of C-3POs body until around 5 years ago. And I owned the original C-3PO action figure and I'm 100% sure it was gold all over. Some say it's a Mandela effect, I agree 100%.🤔
Schizophrenia must be hard on you.
This blew my mind, thanks mate.
Small note on the Jawa cremation scene, I always assumed it was R2 that was generating the flames.
This video was actually brilliant. C3PO is a metaphoric boy which must be overcome as part of the Hero's Journey so that the main character can become a man. He also serves as slight comedic relief, and as the character that reads the situation until Luke gets center stage.
Somebody send this link to Anthony Daniels.
I’m not sure he’s receiving messages from this dimension these days.
Dude sorry I totally Mandella’d that one! Sorry!
I think Anthony Daniels has said before that he doesn't really understand anything about Star Wars, but he still likes 3PO as a character.
with regards to 40:57, I believe he is saying "I am C3PO: Human/Cyborg Relations" Implying that his name is C3PO and his job title is that of an ombudsman between humans and cyborgs. Not implying that he IS a "human cyborg relations" (whatever that means)
This is going to be good!
Wasn't it fantastic? Great, great stuff. C3PO was always my least favorite character of "the trilogy", but now I realize the story needs him--and therefor so do I.
@@brovold72 yes it was very good! I always enjoy Rob's content
I like Rob when he's having fun! Great video. Thanks for teaching me more about C3PO than I ever learned watching this movie since I was a child
Regarding his eyes, I notice three distinct points of light in each eye. In human characters, there is a name for the light reflecting off the actor's eyes. But with Galadriel in the LOTR trilogy, she was also given three distinct shiny points in her eyes. Peter Jackson made quite a row about them, as I recall. They suggest life, those lights, and for Galadriel, a certain mysticism. I wonder if that also works for a golden droid.
3 is also a 'magic' number. The best jokes have 3 parts (Paddy English man, Paddy Scots man and Paddy Irish man all walk in to a bar). When learning how to speak in public, you are taught about the rule of 3. There's the famous 3 chord trick, upon which so many popular songs are based. We identify with things coming in 3s for some reason. I'm sure a psychologist would have a reason why and it probably goes back to when we were primates living in the trees!
@@davidlean1060 I don't believe in evolution, but I still see your point. The rule of three is also a huge component in writing stories and music. A very good point.
Oh my! Outstanding work here!
You were mentioning how Artoo is more the adventurer, and I know it's a C-3PO analysis, and you're completely right: he's the one joining Luke in the climax. And the lack of comments from 3PO, much like the sequences earlier in the film, allow the negative emotions to be expressed by the humans as they're eventually shot down by the Empire, one by one. And since 3PO evolved through the movie, the same is obvious for Luke who made the same progress. Luke trusts in the Force as much as 3PO began to finally trust his "friend".
Something I love is whe Luke is hit by the Force drone (or the training probe), 3PO and Chewie do react. 3PO doesn't voice any concern as Han laughs: Lucas made a deliberate attempt, once again, to make us believe in the Force. The second Luke succeeds in parrying the shots without the ability to see (far from the fencing style), Lucas lets the positive emotions take control.
I could say the same when Obi-Wan feels the destruction of the planet and 3PO is in complete denial (much like with the message) as he's focused on the game.
I also love how he calmly walks away from the Stormtrooper after lying about going to maintenance with Artoo despite having an Imperial comlink. Nervous movements and articulations are so often associated to 3PO and yet he's shown he can be in complete control when the situation is dire. It is unfortunately the only time it happens in the entire trilogy.
For all the sequences he says "Oh my!", I can't help but laugh everytime I watch RotJ when he mentions it's against his programming to impersonate a deity.
Does the silver leg imply a "Long John Silver" aspect to C3-PO I wonder?
That is a comment worthy of this channel, dude.. I almost read it in Robs voice 😂😘
I was thinking it’s fr33m@s0nic symbol/wink towards their intended Android Transhumnist future www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/06/could-capitalism-need-some-marxism-to-survive-the-4th-industrial-revolution/
@@trevorjonathan4405 Lucas was most certainly anti establishment. THX1138 is one of the great dystopian movies from the 70's and Star Wars is basically about fighting a fascist regime, so I don't buy this at all.
@@davidlean1060 Google image search George Lucas Jordan Maxwell Bob Eisner. George Lucas is very intelligent in the way he layered his films. Symbology is everywhere, if you know how to look
@@trevorjonathan4405 I don't doubt that one bit. What I doubt is that Lucas was under some sort of order to make a film that gave the thumbs up to transhumanism, so to speak.
Great analysis, as usual. Amazing how I can see so many breakdowns of Star Wars and still learn something new. Also, as someone who's been watching your work for years, I'm pleased to get a bigger glimpse of your sense of humor throughout the video!
I never interpreted C3PO as preparing to 'abandon' R2D2 for safety, when Uncle Owen had just bought him. When the Jawa activates the restraining bolt on R2, 3PO has a kind of 'shrug' movement that always signified to me that he couldn't do anything about it, this was his 'lot in life' (a great line) - to be purchased as a thing and separated from friends and that's that. It always seemed a little pitiful to me, and that was why he was so happy to suggest that they buy R2 instead.
Wow, this is an incredible video. I loved it all
One small correction I thought I mention here. R5-D4 was not a name given by George Lucas or anyone who created the original movie. I believe if you go through original script and concept art in the first Star Wars film all of the cylindrical type droids were simply known as "R2-units" ( in fact Luke refers to "R5D4" as an R2 unit). None of these R2 droids had individual names other than R2-D2. These other types of R2-units, like R5-D4, were given names by Kenner Toys after the film was released when they had to come up with some way of individuating one from another in order to sell them as merchandise.
What a great analysis. Very thought-provoking, and delivered with a wonderful sense of humour. Rob Ager is a total legend.
I suppose C-3PO is visually like the Tin man...but his personality is more like the Cowardly Lion.
Yes, thought the same. Perhaps C-3PO is more of a spoiled upper class neurotic chatterbox and sometimes arrogant, but very likeable because - as Rob states - there is a C-3PO in all of us.
There's a scene when they get into mos eisley and a jawa fondles the land speeder. 3PO shoos them away and remarks: 'Jawas, what disgusting creatures". This reinforces your claim that Obi Wan instructed 3PO to burn the bodies.
If C3PO was trying to convince Chewie to stay while Luke was trying to convince Han to stay... perhaps Chewie convinced Han to turn around?
Great point. If I remember rightly chewy says something to Han after Luke walks away, pissed off, and Han responds defensively. you may well be right.
Scripting error my ass. They don't want the Jawas near their speeder or the droids. 3P0 has good reason to call them disgusting.
Also I loved this video.
I noticed when Han meets C3P0 he's cleaning his dirty oily hands with a rag as he gets stuck in, whereas C3P0 is shiney fresh from his oil bath, good contrast between the two
Good catch
great analysis, thank you ! 2 nitpicks: as far as I know R2D2s name came from "Roll2 Dialogue2", editors speak,...and Luke wants to be a Pilot for the Empire before he meets ObiWan as he wants to go to the Academy, and there is no such thing as a rebel Academy...he didn't even know about the rebellion when playing with his toy-skyhopper.
I read once that C-3PO was going to be the one to fire the final shot blowing up the death star and that this was changed late in production. Might explain some of why he is such a well fleshed out character. Other then just great writting.
This video has been great, and I hope Rob tackles more Star Wars analysis. (And thanks for laying off the prequels and sequels. They're easy targets that boring people go after to score points with the hogs, and it's nice to see Rob focus on what he likes instead of wasting time trashing things that we've already heard every conceivable negative opinion on.)
41:30 I think C-3PO means that he's designed to relate to humans as well as cyborgs (like Grievous or his own creator, Darth Vader).
45:45 "I don't think he likes you. I don't like you either" Won't we hear those same words in the Mos Eisley Cantina?
Regarding C-3PO's design, I was surprised not to hear a mentioning of Metropolis (1927), which was (obviously) the big influence or inspiration if you will. Or did I miss something somewhere?
C3PO's head design has another worthwhile feature: the flange joining his face and the back of his head. It often catches the light, outlining the head visually, almost like a halo.
I didn't see the story telling in return of the Jedi as c3po lying in star wars. But emblematic that he had grown as a person throughout the trilogy.
Always knew I loved him. Thanks for letting me know why.
Wow, that's pretty incredible. The ending shot of the medal ceremony: C3PO and Luke: Gold and dark browns/blacks. R2D2 and Han: Whites and blues with black accents.
I always wonder about story telling like this.. What if C3PO and R2D2 are just Luke and Han from a higher dimension? : )
One day I'll cement this line of thought and create something amusing and satisfying with it.
I always thought it frustrating and sad that Threepio, a slave, is constantly belittled and even switched off by our heroes and yet when reactivated after being shot his first thought is to warn them.
If the designers purposely made C3P0's body to be physically inept, they contradicted themselves with 4-LOM since the bounty hunter was originally a protocol droid and has virtually the exact same body as C3P0.
Believe me, Dr Ball has a personality. Just ask Robot Chicken. “She died of a broken heart? What’s your degree in, poetry?”