ST Rian Johnson to write and direct Episode VIII (and also new SW Trilogy - see page 194)

No. People's brains are simply wired differently. The more visually-inclined will quickly spot the differences and/ or get a strong feeling that they're different, while other minds won't. The sooner we understand that different people can perceive the same thing differently, the better off we'll be as a species and a fandom.

And, of course, Johnson has confirmed that the design has been tweaked.

Read my description of the differences, and look again. Once you see them, it becomes obvious. Subtle, but clear.

 

I did notice the helmets looking a bit more streamlined I think?

 

I expect a side by side comparison of the two making people stare and try to find the differences. Then, after about 30 seconds, we get a scary flash of Snoke screaming, freaking out the viewer.

 

That, and a few other tweaks. Here's a summary of my breakdown from earlier:

The black "mouth line" has been narrowed at the bottom corners, which makes it look less like a wide smile, and a little "sadder." The angle of the "frown" on the TLJ ones also seems steeper, giving it a narrower, more vertical plunge than the wider, more horizontal feel of the TFA one. That seems clear to me now. Also the "fold" at the nose of the TLJ helmet seems more severe, and less "rounded" than the TFA version. Giving the new helmet a seemingly longer snout. Overall, it has a more severe look to it. TFA looks a little puffy, and TLJ a little gaunt. Slight but significant differences.

 

You solved the riddle. It's the jockstrap. Smaller now.

 

So which do we prefer, Duck troopers or Frown troopers?

 

Frowntroopers for me. More akin to their OT brethren.

 

The most recent thing. The last most recent thing was once the best, but now that it is no longer the most recent thing it sucks.

 

OK, here's a comparison that should make it very clear how much narrower the "frown" is at the bottom/ snout, and how the "smile" also narrows at the bottom:

 

WAY better with the narrow slit.

 

I wonder what the canon explanation for the Stormtroopers all having new armor right after TFA will be. A new shipment came in coincidentally as Starkiller was being destroyed?

 

The guy with the helmet raised is Plagueis for sure

 

Or the FO has more than one standard-issue stormtrooper uniform. Perhaps these guys are from FO HQ? Whatever the in-universe explanation is, it'll probably be a bit convoluted, but perfectly acceptable.

The out-of-universe explanation is, on the other hand, simple: These look better.

 

I think the only explanation necessary is the out-of-universe one. I'm comfortable with small, unexplained inconsistencies like that between films. They give each movie character and a bit of their own identity, and none of this is real, anyway.

 

I thought it was established that Apple designs the Stormtrooper uniforms.

This is the 2017 edition. Which is the 2015 edition but a bit thinner and with some styling tweaks.

 

Richard Taveira ‏@rtaveira8 Feb 13

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@HamillHimself @rianjohnson hello fellas! Same question, for both of you.. Best part about working with one another?
Rian Johnson ‏@rianjohnson Feb 13

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@rtaveira8 @hamillhimself Mark’s talent and generosity of spirit. And Lee Marvin stories.
Mark Hamill ‏@HamillHimself Feb 13

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.@rianjohnson @rtaveira8 Rian's mastery of all aspects of filmmaking & the confidence that instilled in me. And knowing who Lee Marvin is.

 

Lots of Westerns, War movies... 50's, 60's and a little 70's tough guy

 

I removed the hotlink and recompressed the image to make it a much more manageable download. Just an FYI.

 

Cool
I was lazy.

 

Maybe the new standard issue helmets now have toxin filtration as a feature. Instead of merely updating and improving the filtration, they slightly altered the aesthetics to differentiate the non-toxin-filtration helmets from the toxin-filtration-helmets. If someone is found to be wearing the older generation helmet, it can be somewhat easily spotted and exchanged for the upgraded version.
http://scifi.stackexchange.com/ques...l-air-filtration-not-work-in-this-scene-in-th