Captain Antilles... He Sorta Sucks

[Nathan]

I think the appearance issue can be fudged a little since we never see him too clearly in ANH--for like five seconds with his helmet hanging half over his face.

I don't recall a first name for the ANH guy. What you may be thinking of is "Colton Antilles", which is fanon. Captain Colton was the character's name in earlier drafts I guess, and the name made it into the ANH novelization. But Jeremy Bulloch playing Colton in ROTS confirms they are two completely separate people.

There's precious little backstory for the ANH Antilles (none really) and whatever we know about Raymus would be in the ROTS Visual Dictionary.

[Jesse James]

EU's established ANH's as Colton Antilles...  He has some backstory, but I wouldn't say it's anything elaborate.  But he definitely has some established "history" and character.

Since LFL seemingly HAS established Antilles from ANH as having hte first name "Colton", and the ROTS guy as "Reymus", they are 2 unique people to me...  Bulloch's character is wholely separate, as is his name, so I don't count it as interfering...

BTW, no intent to spiral this topic out of control...  Right now though, the names are established as different in EU so they are different characters by EU standards...  What Lucasfilm may change that too, what they may try to adapt that to, or what they may simply ignore is up in the air.

I have no clue what Lucas's intent was.  I've seen nothing mentioned.  I'm going to look into this some though.

[Nathan]

EU's established ANH's as Colton Antilles... He has some backstory, but I wouldn't say it's anything elaborate. But he definitely has some established "history" and character.

Such as? I'm pretty well versed in EU, and I don't remember seeing anything of this nature. What book or source was it in?

I just tried in the Unofficial SW Encyclopedia at TFn and got a whole lotta nothing (besides what he did in the two films).

EDIT:
Incidentally, here's a scan somebody made from the Visual Dictionary (Beware, very large image). Nothing useful here though.

Does anybody have a copy and can check the caption that's cropped out of the upper left corner?

[Jesse James]

I thought he got the name Colton in EU through that storyline that was about Leia prior to ANH...  Her and the Tantive IV wound up at some chick smuggler baron's hideout and stuff.  The comic's details are escaping me and for the life of me I'm not finding the one or two issues of that series I had...  But I know I read that.

I don't have the figure's cardback to read anything either... 

I thought the name may have been spat out in a game or two, but that's something I can't check on since the game I'm mainly thinking of is the original X-Wing game. 

Beyond that, I'd like to read what the Fact Files say, they're a good resource too, but I don't have an Antilles entry in the ones I have...  He may not have gotten one for all I know, but I thought I had read one on him.

In the X-Wing Novels I thought there was a distinct mention of Colton Antilles too, and how he's not related to Wedge, blah blah blah...  To settle that age-old debate.

I also thought he was mentioned by name in the Radio Drama for ANH...?  He wasn't in the novel though as I recall.

Marvel #1 supposedly had "Captain Colton Antilles" in it too I think...  Not sure though, don't own it.

And on another note about the same topic...  A bit in one of the recent Insiders (2004 issue) I guess the Antilles role was offered to Denis Lawson who turned it down...  Lawson's no spring chicken though.  So the character's age changed dramatically between the actors.  That's weird.  And I guess Lucas was maybe intending for the captain of the Tantive to be related to Wedge... 

There's a LOT of confusion around this, but it seems to me the name Colton's not imagined, but based in something.  It's just not based in much.  And I'm sticking by my guns...  Antilles in ROTS is not Antilles in ANH.  Related perhaps, or not, but they're different guys.   And so is Captain Colton...

But there's more confusion to the mix.  Why is there a Captain Colton on the Tantive IV with another Captain?  Who the hell's in charge!  Someone on Alderaan got a little over-zealous giving away promotions dammit.

In the words of C-3PO: "I'm so confused".   

[Nathan]

I thought he got the name Colton in EU through that storyline that was about Leia prior to ANH...  Her and the Tantive IV wound up at some chick smuggler baron's hideout and stuff.  The comic's details are escaping me and for the life of me I'm not finding the one or two issues of that series I had...  But I know I read that.

Was that in Empire maybe? I haven't read that series myself, but it seems like a logical place for what you are describing.

And I don't own most of those other items you mentioned so I can't look it up.

I have to say, I thought it was pretty obviously George's intent that they are the same dude. Consider the other OT cameos he added like Mon Mothma and Tarkin. I guess we'll just agree to disagree. Maybe the upcoming Ultimate Visual Guide thing will clear this up.

But there's more confusion to the mix.  Why is there a Captain Colton on the Tantive IV with another Captain?  Who the hell's in charge!  Someone on Alderaan got a little over-zealous giving away promotions dammit.

I didn't even want to go near that one.

[Jesse James]

Well, from the Insider Article, it seems Lucas actually intended for the captain to be a relation to Wedge Antilles, and still be the SAME guy...  The call was for someone who "looked like Denis Lawson", and so McGregor asked Lawson who turned down the role.

If I'm understanding this all correctly, that is.

But, a guy was chosen who looked different then (Nichols or whatever his name is).

While I agree, to an extent, there was maybe intent for them to be the same guy at one point, to me the two actors both look in their 30's.  You can clearly see the ANH actor so it's not like his helmet's covering his face.  There's a number of close-ups of him and he isn't in his 40's or even 50's, much less older...  So to that end I think intent goes out the window to the films evidence...  I can't see explaining how a 30-something dark-haired (black hair?) guy can be a 30-something light brown haired guy after 20 years...

Not to mention, he's still a captain after 20 years.  Ouch.

And not to mention they don't remotely resemble each other...  I can't be certain on eye-color but I thought ANH had light eyes and ROTS dark...  I gotta check these little things out (wish I had a DVD-ROM for captures) because this will bug me to no end... 

It's like the Tantive IV between the two films...  Nicklab mentioned it wasn't ever referred to as the Tantive IV in ROTS, just the Tantive I believe...  References are already citing them as the "same" ship, however they both are structurally COMPLETELY different as the ROTS CGI model used ****** pictures of the ANH model that omit a mid-portion of the ship due to perspectives being wonky.  I'm certain of Lucas's intent, but in the end they're 2 different ships to me because they aren't the same ship physically on-screen (and I'm not a fan of "additions" being made to the ship to give it substantial length between the two films  Just not a fan, nor find it as plausible as them simply being different ships).

I agree though it's nothing major...  We just disagree.  If I find anything I'll add something.  May move this side-debate over to the films section or something.

[dafoo]

JJ: Lucas will get you in the end.

the next release of ANH will have a digital Antilles and then you'll get yours!!!

[SilverZ]

More EU clarity. It's more confirmation of why I don't take any of it seriously.

I found this figure along with Zett and the Warrior tonight. These three figures are hands down the worst of the Collection 2 ROTS line. Terrible articulation, some iffy paint apps, and really just uninteresting characters.

Antilles has basic articulation except for added swivels at the wrist and the ball-socket head. His headband accessory hardly stays on his head. He's posed almost hunched forward, in a really awkward stance. He's inferior to most every other C2 figure.

What the hell happended with these guys?

Zett is basically an Episode 1 era desing, except for the balljoint head. The cut elbows let him hold his saber in both hands or alternately be posed in a "bah, who cares" shrug position.

The Warrior is just as pre-posed and, for the life of me, I can't get him to hold his shield.

 

[Jesse James]

Bad news Jared...    I take your opinion with a lot of weight too, so I'm feeling my own opinion sliding on these even further.

I was hoping the Utapau guy was cool at least...  And Zett maybe looked passable.  I knew Antilles was nothing but a glorified POTF2 figure.  It really sucks that Bail is such a nice figure but you can't have him saving Jedi with his good bodyguard Reymus...  Or at least Reymus will look like **** in the effort.

I agree Jared, these look to be the worst of the C2, and that's not a good sign.  I hope Hasbro isn't ******** out on articulation and stuff.  They did so well with ROTS's opening line...  Things sorta started waning back to the Wookiee/Neimodian figures though.  Antilles just looks like he's meant for another era though.   

[TheBlackDog]

I was already considering passing on this figure, and now I think I will.  Here is some info I pulled off of Wikipedia. I also have the Visual Dictionary and will look there when I go upstairs.

Antilles, Raymus
Star Wars character

Rohan Nichol as Captain Raymus Antilles
Captain Antilles
Homeworld Alderaan
Species Human
Gender Male
Height {{{height}}}
Weapon {{{weapon}}}
Vehicle Tantive IV
Affiliation Rebel Alliance
Film portrayer Rohan Nichol (Episode III)
Captain Raymus Antilles was the commander of the Tantive IV from at least the time of the Great Jedi Purge until it was captured by the Empire shortly after the Rebel Alliance intercepted plans for the original Death Star. Initially, Captain Antillies was Senator Bail Organa's chief of Security during the collapse of the Old Republic. He was the master of the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 when Bail Organa granted him ownership of them until they became the property of Luke Skywalker. Antilles died at the hands of Darth Vader after he failed to give information on the location of the Death Star plans. According to the X-Wing series of novels, he was not related to Wedge Antilles, however as of the end of Revenge of the Sith that he is related to (or possibly the same person as) Bail Antilles.

He appeared in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and its radio adaptation. His name in the novelization of A New Hope was simply Captain Colton. He also appears in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, along with Captain Colton, as a separate character entirely.

Take it for what is worth.

The link if you want it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Dodonna

In the Visual Dictionary, page 54, the upper left caption says that Raymus Antilles is related to Alderan's Queen.

[Darth_Anton]

I waited to pass judgment untill I actualy opened one. My review....

[CHEWIE]

Got it today.  For what it is, he's a decent figure.  My favorite part is the cape.  It's very well done.  Pretty limited articulation, but I don't need him to be doing anything other than stand around and look like a dork anyway.

 

[JediMAC]

So Antilles is already becoming a pegwarmer around here, it looks like.  Just got back from my local Target, and they had about 10 of him on the pegs, with a bunch of older pegwarming figures, and no other new figures from his assortment.  Came across him this past weekend too, with much the same results.

The Zetts and Warriors were all gone both times, but there hung many of Raymus, in all his Bail-esque glory... 

[SilverZ]

I've seen the wave at several Targets over the last few days, and what I'm really surprised by is that the Warrior seems to be the most popular, followed by Zett, while Antilles is always left last. I would have figured the Utupau Warrior as the biggest dud of the bunch from a pure character popularity standpoint.

[Jesse James]

Yeah I would've thought Zett to be the popular one...  Antilles is no surprise to me though considering the piss-poor quality relative to anyone he's hanging next to really...  Not to mention he's about as interesting looking as a Palpatine figure when it all boils down.  Oddly, Bail has managed to move better than some figures, so I'm curious to see how comparatively good/bad Antilles sells.

Not that Bail's a hot figure himself though, of course.

Given Zett's hopping all around I'm really disappointed his figure is so unposeable.    I think that, more than Antilles, he's a disappointment just because he had a great sequence, he's really interesting looking, but he sports the weakest articulation of any of the Jedi figures.

The Utapau Warrior looks rockin' to me though...  I think eventually he'll hit Neimodian Gunner status, but till then I'm all for nabbing a small group of them.  A mini-army.  When we get Utapau Clones, and we will, they're gonna need some Indigenous species helping in the fight I figure.