"Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?"...among other things.

[Sarah-Leia]

In this thread I'm putting up two topics for discussion so that I don't have to make two threads. They are both about A New Hope.

Topic 1
When Miss Leia (I always call her that :wink: ) remarks, "Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?", it seems credible as the troopers are clones. Then it came to my attention that there are Clonetroopers (clones) and Stormtroopers (regular people). This probably wasn't the case in '77, but this line is, in my opinion, now a bit silly because if regular men can be stormtroopers, well, not every man is 1.83m tall (including Mark Hamill). So Leia could have said, "Aren't you a little short for a clonetrooper?" or not said the line at all...so we can discuss this:
- was there a height restriction for the recruits because the Empire didn't want to make extra uniforms?
- was Leia actually meaning clone trooper - in other words, does she refer to them all, clones or not, as storm troopers?

Topic 2

I always thought it to be such a coincidence that Luke should be the one to discover his unknown sister's message to Obi-Wan. Now that I think about it, I don't think it is. The Tantive IV was on the way to Alderaan when it fell under attack over Tatooine. Leia's original plan, I think, was to just fly home and give the plans to her father. When the Empire intervened, I think she took advantage of being over Tatooine to deliver the message to Obi-Wan, who she knew was living there (maybe). Obi-Wan knows Luke. I'm not really sure how to phrase this though. I just don't think it was a coincidence, seeing as Obi-Wan is basically protecting Luke.
- well, what do you think of this? Thoughts? Comments? Discuss.

[Kam Solusar]

Topic one:

There was a height requirement for stormtroopers. You can't strike fear in to the hearts of the masses if you look too cute in your death uniform, right?

Topic 2:

Leia was there to GET Obi-Wan, the Empire caught up with her there. Exhibit A: "I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person; but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed." The droids falling in to Luke's hands was the will of the Force, which I think Obi-Wan picked up on right away, which is why he jumps at the chance and tells Luke "You must learn the ways of the Force if you are to come with me to Alderaan."

[Rabid Whiphid]

Topic One:

MY question is: How can a uniform made of molded, hard plastic fit noticeably different-sized people?

Topic Two:

Kam beat me to it... The whole point of Leia's mission was to go to Tatooine to recruit Obi-Wan into the Rebellion, on her father (Senator Organa's) request. And all the convenient "coincidences" which occur in the Star Wars story can now be comfortably relegated to "the will of the Force".

[thepepgal]

How can a uniform made of molded, hard plastic fit noticeably different-sized people?


It can't unless they make different sizes or the black undersuit stretches.

Kam said it all on both topics. It is not unusual for the armed forces to have height and weight requirements.

[Rabid Whiphid]

It can't unless they make different sizes or the black undersuit stretches.


The key word in my previous statement was "noticeably". Even with the stretchy black undersuit, if the wearer is a noticeably different size from a standard stormtrooper, the outer uniform, made up of sections of molded, hard plastic, should fit awkardly, and make him look noticeably different. Which Luke, in stormtrooper disguise, does not.

But, if we are going to assume that Luke had stolen the uniform of a "short" stormtrooper, then we have to assume that the Empire's standards of hight and build for their troops is either nonexistant or very broad.

But who cares anyway. It goes without saying that it's a great moment in the film and the line, "Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper" remains a great joke. Which in my book, cancels out all these logistical questions.


-

[Darth Massacrus]

actually, the set of armor Luke borrowed came from TK-421, who was just a normal human Stormie, not a clone. and the set Han had was, if I recall EU right, from TK-422. Also, as niether was a clone, they were not 1.83 meters, and niether was han or Luke. However, what makes me wonder is why they didnt borroww the uniforms of either the scanning crewers that they knocked out, or one of the officers in the control room they wasted. A blackshirt imperial officer, rank insignia and all, would have been an easier to pull off disguise, it would seem.


the second one was the will of the Force.

[Tovor]

A blackshirt imperial officer, rank insignia and all, would have been an easier to pull off disguise, it would seem.

You mean the guys with the burn holes in their chests where they were shot? I'm sure those would not have been noticed.

Think about this though, neither Han, nor the longer-haired Luke, looked like officers and I think they would have stood out like sore thumbs wearing technician or officer uniforms. Do you remember Indiana stealing the poorly sized guard's uniform in Last Crusade? That didn't work out so well for him. To be honest, the clonetroopes all wore the same sized armor and even then the armor was bulky and oversized so it would be hard for them to look mis-sized in them. It was one size fit's all, for normal sized men. Which explains the real reason why Porkins chose to join the Rebellion.

[Tovor]

The key word in my previous statement was "noticeably". Even with the stretchy black undersuit, if the wearer is a noticeably different size from a standard stormtrooper, the outer uniform, made up of sections of molded, hard plastic, should fit awkardly, and make him look noticeably different. Which Luke, in stormtrooper disguise, does not.

But, if we are going to assume that Luke had stolen the uniform of a "short" stormtrooper, then we have to assume that the Empire's standards of hight and build for their troops is either nonexistant or very broad.

But who cares anyway. It goes without saying that it's a great moment in the film and the line, "Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper" remains a great joke. Which in my book, cancels out all these logistical questions.

-
IMO, it doesn't work as a joke, because what it doesn't cancel out is that she just witnessed her home world and her entire people blown into oblivion, not to mention that she's been tortured for info and was facing execution. To me it's inconceivable that she'd care to make a joke about his height, or even care about his height, at that moment.

I wonder why she didn't hear the laser fire and explosions from inside her cell?

[Rabid Whiphid]

actually, the set of armor Luke borrowed came from TK-421, who was just a normal human Stormie, not a clone. and the set Han had was, if I recall EU right, from TK-422. Also...

GAAAHH!!! Overly convoluted EU-induced headache setting in!!! GAAAH.

[Rabid Whiphid]

Do you remember Indiana stealing the poorly sized guard's uniform in Last Crusade? That didn't work out so well for him.


Minor correction - That was in Raiders of the Lost Ark, where Indy's stolen uniform didn't fit and he got noticed. When he stole a uniform in Last Crusade it fit fine, and Indy even went unnoticed by Hitler himself.

-

[Rabid Whiphid]

IMO, it doesn't work as a joke, because what it doesn't cancel out is that she just witnessed her home world and her entire people blown into oblivion, not to mention that she's been tortured for info and was facing execution. To me it's inconceivable that she'd care to make a joke about his height, or even care about his height, at that moment.



The fact that SW is only intended to be a fun-filled, light-hearted adventure movie for kids makes the placement of that joke perfectly acceptable and work just fine.

[bruciarsi]

Yes most likely their was a height range (i wouldnt say there is 1 set height) for being a storm trooper. Same goes for most armed forces. However i think luke was close enough to it to probally not cause to much of a fuss. Also leia is a bit of a wise arse and could have just been saying that to try and annoy her captors.

[Sarah-Leia]

Also, as niether was a clone, they were not 1.83 meters, and niether was han or Luke.

Yeah, both Han and Luke are on opposite sides of the .83 mark...Han is 1. 85 I think and Luke is 1.7 something...right?

Great thoughts, everybody. It is now all coming to me from different directions, with different things to think about it.


Oh great. Mentioning Indiana Jones made me remember the whole grabbing the heart thing.

I think I'm going to be sick.

[Darth Massacrus]

hey, at least I didnt mention that....

anyways, the uniforms of the scanning crew would have worked (I forgot about the Hugh Jass blaster holes in the uniform for the officers), and because the officers and the scanning crew would have had to make reports on what they found, why didnt han and luke use thier IDs to create a fake report showing that nothing as amiss?

[Tovor]

This thread reminds me of a Seinfeld episode when I see it on the menu page. It says "Aren't you a little..."

And everytime I see that, I remember Neuman saying to Jerry,
"I'm a little offended..."
and Jerry says, "You're not a little anything, Neuman."

Can't help it. That's what I think about when I see this thread title.


That is all. Back on topic peeps.

[Sarah-Leia]

^ Lol.

[Oscar the Grouch]

It was one size fit's all, for normal sized men. Which explains the real reason why Porkins chose to join the Rebellion.

^:rofl:

There should be a Galactic Senate Hall of Fame for quotes like that.

[Sam Kenobi]

Tovor would be the only one in it.

[Tovor]

:bow: Thanks.

There used to be a thread in the Wordplay forum (I think that's where it is) to quote your fellow senator's posts like that. I'm not sure what it's called though.

[Sam Kenobi]

If I could (continue) to stray from the topic for a second . . .

My favorite was the one in the You Know your a Star Wars Geek thread. You said:

When that romantic mood leads to the Death Star Trench run, she says, "At that speed, will you be able to pull out in time?"

:chortle: :happydance:

But anyways, I am :offtopic:

[Mothman]

.....in Last Crusade it fit fine, and Indy even went unnoticed by Hitler himself.

-

who happened to sign his own name wrong when he autographed the book. When the film was first released, he signed "Adolph". Later it was corrected to "Adolf".


:bye:

[Sam Kenobi]

Interesting . . .

[Rabid Whiphid]

who happened to sign his own name wrong when he autographed the book. When the film was first released, he signed "Adolph". Later it was corrected to "Adolf".


I thought it was the other way around, actually. I seem to remember hearing that the story was, when they originally made the movie in 1989 the actor in the film signed the paper "Adolf", as that is the accepted American spelling of the name, but then it was discovered that historically, the real-life Adolf Hitler spelled his own name with the German "ph" spelling... And so this was corrected with digital special effects for the 2003 DVD release?

Perhaps I'm mistaken.

I admit that I don't know the true differences between English and German spelling and that it's been a while since I watched Last Crusade so I forget which way that story goes...

[Mothman]

I thought it was the other way around, actually. I seem to remember hearing that the story was, when they originally made the movie in 1989 the actor in the film signed the paper "Adolf", as that is the accepted American spelling of the name, but then it was discovered that historically, the real-life Adolf Hitler spelled his own name with the German "ph" spelling... And so this was corrected with digital special effects for the 2003 DVD release?

Perhaps I'm mistaken.

I admit that I don't know the true differences between English and German spelling and that it's been a while since I watched Last Crusade so I forget which way that story goes...

I happen to have an uncle whose name is "Adolph" (not a very common name these days - for obvious reasons), so when Mr. Hitler signed his name that way in the movie when it was first released, I took notice of what I had perceived to be a gaffe. However, the mind has a way of playing tricks, so maybe I'm remembering it wrong.


:bye: