Luke's blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

[Jango360]

Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

I just watched Star Wars OT DVD and noticed that in one of the T.V spots for ROTJ Luke had a blue lightsaber was this changed or what?

 

[Centurn]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

TV spots are often made long before the final edit of the theatrical release of the movie (duh). My guess is that it wasn't yet decided that Luke would have a green bladed lightsaber.
There's also an early TV spot for Star Wars (or ANH if you will) on the DVD that show Obi-Wan activating a white bladed lightsaber. It's said in the documentary 'Empire of dreams' that in 1976 there were no finished special FX, but an early test shot of Obi-Wan activating his saber. It looks like he's pushing out a white stick through the handle.

 

[VaderG60]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

If I remember right, Luke was supposed to have a blue blade in ROTJ, but once the post-production crew saw the blue blade against the blue Tunisian (Tatooine) sky during the scuffle at the Sarlacc Pit, Lucas and company decided to change the lightsaber blade to green so it contrasted better against the sky.

Remember too, the original theatrical poster for ROTJ with the large lightsaber and hands holding it aloft, the lightsaber is blue there as well.

 

[ezehogan]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

If I remember right, Luke was supposed to have a blue blade in ROTJ, but once the post-production crew saw the blue blade against the blue Tunisian (Tatooine) sky during the scuffle at the Sarlacc Pit, Lucas and company decided to change the lightsaber blade to green so it contrasted better against the sky.

Remember too, the original theatrical poster for ROTJ with the large lightsaber and hands holding it aloft, the lightsaber is blue there as well.

I've never heard about that, but it is pretty interesting. Personally I am glad they changed the color to green. I like the green color better than blue.

 

[Census]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

If I remember right, Luke was supposed to have a blue blade in ROTJ, but once the post-production crew saw the blue blade against the blue Tunisian (Tatooine) sky during the scuffle at the Sarlacc Pit, Lucas and company decided to change the lightsaber blade to green so it contrasted better against the sky.

That's the main reason but Lucas and co. were afraid of people asking, "How did Luke get his blue saber back?"

 

[bjlevine]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

If I remember right, Luke was supposed to have a blue blade in ROTJ, but once the post-production crew saw the blue blade against the blue Tunisian (Tatooine) sky during the scuffle at the Sarlacc Pit, Lucas and company decided to change the lightsaber blade to green so it contrasted better against the sky.

That's the main reason but Lucas and co. were afraid of people asking, "How did Luke get his blue saber back?"

I liked the green LS because to me it signified that Luke could still go either way, whether unintentional or not. At this point, we had only seen Jedi with blue lightsabers.

 

[philraymond]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

If I remember right, Luke was supposed to have a blue blade in ROTJ, but once the post-production crew saw the blue blade against the blue Tunisian (Tatooine) sky during the scuffle at the Sarlacc Pit, Lucas and company decided to change the lightsaber blade to green so it contrasted better against the sky.

Yup, I've heard the same thing from numerous sources. I also agree that green is a way better color.

Phil

 

[MisterKenobi]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

Anyone think that this is why the Vinty Jedi Luke figure came blue-sabered, much like the new ROTS #35 Palpatine?

 

[bjlevine]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

Sure. Kenner only had early production shots and drawings to go by. Happens a lot.

I love the old POTF2 long saber/short saber thing. They went from a saber that was too long to one that was too short.

 

[VaderG60]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

Anyone think that this is why the Vinty Jedi Luke figure came blue-sabered, much like the new ROTS #35 Palpatine?

This got me thinking, why did the vintage ANH Luke figure ever come with a YELLOW telescoping lightsaber? I don't ever recall hearing or seeing anything about him weilding a yellow lightsaber in production paintings, etc. I don't think I ever heard a definitive answer on this one.

And let's not forget about Ben's yellow lightsaber on his figure's cardback either, even though old Ben was given a blue telescoping lightsaber.

My head hurts...

 

[Jango360]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

Anyone think that this is why the Vinty Jedi Luke figure came blue-sabered, much like the new ROTS #35 Palpatine?

This got me thinking, why did the vintage ANH Luke figure ever come with a YELLOW telescoping lightsaber? I don't ever recall hearing or seeing anything about him weilding a yellow lightsaber in production paintings, etc. I don't think I ever heard a definitive answer on this one.

And let's not forget about Ben's yellow lightsaber on his figure's cardback either, even though old Ben was given a blue telescoping lightsaber.

My head hurts...

The power f/x Ben figure came with a light up green lightsaber and if i remember correctly the 12-inch Ben from 1978-1979 had a picture of him with a greenish yellow saber.

 

[Mobile_Artillery]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

Actually, this sort of thing has happened a lot, even in the recent past. The Super Battle Droid figure, which was released in 2002 with the release of ATOC. It had a firing missile launcher gizmo which made up one of its entire arms, but that idea was later scrapped by Lucas.

 

[Neal]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

Actually, this sort of thing has happened a lot, even in the recent past. The Super Battle Droid figure, which was released in 2002 with the release of ATOC. It had a firing missile launcher gizmo which made up one of its entire arms, but that idea was later scrapped by Lucas.

Yup ... though they STILL included the same inaccurate arm attachment in the ROTS version of the figure. Way to go, Hasbro!

 

[ezehogan]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

Anyone think that this is why the Vinty Jedi Luke figure came blue-sabered, much like the new ROTS #35 Palpatine?

This got me thinking, why did the vintage ANH Luke figure ever come with a YELLOW telescoping lightsaber? I don't ever recall hearing or seeing anything about him weilding a yellow lightsaber in production paintings, etc. I don't think I ever heard a definitive answer on this one.

And let's not forget about Ben's yellow lightsaber on his figure's cardback either, even though old Ben was given a blue telescoping lightsaber.

My head hurts...

Ahh the mysteries of life... my only guess is that they wanted the saber to be different than Ben's.

I wish that Kenner would have remade Vader and Ben later in the line so that they would have had NON telescoping lightsabers.... Vader at least. I just don't like the looks of the telescoping Vader dueling with the Jedi Luke who can hold his saber.

Unfortunately, back in the vintage days people didn't get redone figures that they wanted. Today its the opposite... non-movie years are nearly all rehashes!

 

[IndianaVader]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

Green was also a good choice simply because it wasn't blue. At the time, the world had only seen blue and signified it as a good guy color.

I remember my dad telling me when he saw the TV spots and throughout the movie that people weren't certain whether Luke was going to be Dark or Light because with him dressed in black and standing next to Vader in some shots, he said that he was always worried Luke would turn to the dark side and that the TV ads made it look like he had decepted the Jedi.

_Max

 

[bjlevine]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

Green was also a good choice simply because it wasn't blue. At the time, the world had only seen blue and signified it as a good guy color.

I remember my dad telling me when he saw the TV spots and throughout the movie that people weren't certain whether Luke was going to be Dark or Light because with him dressed in black and standing next to Vader in some shots, he said that he was always worried Luke would turn to the dark side and that the TV ads made it look like he had decepted the Jedi.

_Max

That is one of the major themes in ROTJ. Where it doesn't quote work for me is that there was virtually nothing about the Emperor that would make anyone want to join him.

Emperor: Your hate has made you powerful. No strike him down and take your father's place at my side.

Luke: Ewwwwww! You're gross! I'll never join you!

As I've lamented before, one of the themes of RvOTJ (back when the saga was planned as 9 episodes) was that Vader was going to try to overthrow the Emperor and rule, with Luke caught in the middle. I can see Luke being tempted be this: the opportunity to be a more benevolent dictator, not realizing that the Darkside would eventually corrupt him.

 

[BennyDarkness]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

I always thought it was because they wanted the green saber to be a cool surprise.

 

[bjlevine]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

I always thought it was because they wanted the green saber to be a cool surprise.

It seems that there are lots of answers, from technical to philosophical:

1. It showed up better in daylight.
2. It dealt with the "I thought Luke lost his lightsaber" question.
3. It was neither blue nor red, signifying Luke's position somewhere between the dark and the light.
3. It just looked freakin' cool.

Any others?

 

[IndianaVader]

Re: Luke\'s blue lightsaber in Return of the Jedi

It kind of set the bar as a Jedi Master's weapon. At least for me I kind of got the idea that it was a more elite color to have (IE Qui-Gon). but then AOTC kind of killed that idea.

_Max