Audiences generally view Star Wars' Darth Vader as one of the most iconic villains in popular culture, and The Empire Strikes Back deserves a lot of credit for subtly redesigning the villain and making him such an icon. Played by bodybuilder David Prowse, and with James Earl Jones as the voice actor, Darth Vader has been a staple in pop culture since he boarded the Tantive IV in the first Star Wars film, juxtaposing the stark white background of the consular ship. However, in the sequel, his look was slightly updated, which is when he became such a commanding presence.
Of course, Darth Vader's general appearance is the same in the 1980 classic - he still wears the famous helmet, chest piece, and all the outstanding accompanying parts of the costume. It's not that The Empire Strikes Back ditches anything; rather, it improves upon it. When Darth Vader emerges in The Empire Strikes Back, he has a presence unlike anything ever seen in cinema, a compliment to Irvin Kershner's direction. Among the many other ways The Empire Strikes Back changes Star Wars and general pop culture, the beloved sequel furthers and improves on the Sith Lord's legacy.
Darth Vader's Armor Subtly Changes in Empire Strikes Back
Eagle-eyed viewers can spot differences in Vader's suit through most of the Star Wars shows and movies; in canon, these are explained in Timothy Zahn's novel Thrawn: Alliances, which established that Vader keeps spare suits, continually tinkering with them. This explains why his suit is often broken - particularly in Marvel's Star Wars comics - and yet he's back in fully-functional armor by the time the next story begins, and it also explains why his costume changes in The Empire Strikes Back. These are the most critical changes, because viewers will notice differences between Irvin Kreshner's film - often deemed the best movie in the original Star Wars trilogy - and the first movie. The helmer in particular is sleeker, less beat-up, and there's a focus on the reflections playing upon it.
The helmet is not the only updated piece of Vader's costume in the movie. The details of the chest panel, the triangular breathing vent, and the general deliberateness in the sculpting of the suit all shine through in this movie. These subtle updates to the costume allow Kershner and cinematographer Peter Suschitzky to create more lasting, creative imagery with the villain, which still stand today as some of the greatest images of the Sith Lord ever. There are many reasons The Empire Strikes Back is so effective, and the visuals are a major factor.
Empire Strikes Back Uses Darth Vader Imagery Tremendously
Many of Darth Vader's scenes in The Empire Strikes Back number among some of Star Wars' greatest moments - even though his screen time is surprisingly limited. The movie and the incredible creative minds behind it still placed Vader against white backgrounds for a striking contrast, such as when he is in his meditation chamber. More importantly, though, Vader, in what is his umpteenth suit, is carefully shot against black backgrounds with his updated look, allowing the darkness of the costume to create a silhouette - a basic yet impactful image in terms of measuring popularity and recognizability in the pop culture zeitgeist - that has and will continue to stand the test of time.
With masterful creative direction, The Empire Strikes Back creates some beautiful shots in which Darth Vader menacingly stands out as the force of darkness in the movie - despite George Lucas never intending Vader to be scary. Despite the black backdrops that reduce Vader to a simple yet salient shape, the pristine sharpness of the costume and cleanliness of the helmet allow light to bounce off it, creating reflections and, consequently, wonderful string imagery. This helps show Vader as an embodiment of evil, of the dark side, with light bouncing off his helmet but never penetrating his cold armor.
While Darth Vader's suit may not have undergone an immediately noticeable overhaul, the precise and quiet changes in The Empire Strikes Back help craft a legacy for the character arguably better than any other film. His silhouette is ever-present and tremendously used by filmmakers, and because of that, it is recognized around the globe despite being nothing more than a shape, a dark shadow looming in the minds of fans. The changes made to Darth Vader's armor in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back are subtle yet visually reinvent the character, with imagery and genius shots making him (even more of) an icon beyond Star Wars.