While speaking with
Moviefone, James Earl Jones talked about what makes Darth Vader such a powerful villain even after all these years. Jones attributes the mystery of Vader to keeping him so popular. Jones also says that with not being able to see his face you are freed from having to be impressed by what he looks like and your imagination can go wild.
Said Jones:
Well, a hidden voice, a hidden face creates a lot of mystery. It leaves everything up to the audience's imagination.
I had an unusual experience not too long ago. There was a lady from Finland, a doctor, who had a theater in Washington, D.C. where she put masks on young, impaired children. And there was a narrator, so all the kids had to do was come out and face each other, make certain gestures, and these faces were the only things you would look at. You weren't bothered by their impairment, so it freed your imagination as to who's talking behind that mask. The same thing happens with Darth Vader.
Besides it being scary, perhaps, you're also freed from having to be impressed by what he looks like. Your imagination can go wild.
During the interview he was asked if his favorite Star Wars character was indeed Darth Vader. You might be surprised to find out that Chewbacca takes the award for James Earl Jones's favorite Star Wars character with him stating simply,
"Chewbacca is my favorite."
The Star Wars Blu-Ray collection will be released this Friday September 16, 2011