Darth Vader is the ultimate villain and the main character in the Star Wars Saga.

We have some figs, dolls etc of the Dark Lord, but not that many misc. items that are worth purchasing. This item, apart from being a bank to save up some cash, has soem nifty features.

He comes with great and loud sound effects, dialogue and it plays The Imperial March theme. Vader also raises his saber, which lights up and his torso moves while doing it. This results into a very nicely looking sequence that you will love to see every day.

That is until you change the batteries. I purchased this item years ago and the first time i changed the batteries it just started acting all weird. To get new batteries in i carefully removed Vader from the packaging, carefully tilted him and changed the batteries and gently put it back into the box.

Ever since i did that his saber will either not move at all, will not light up or his arm will stop moving in the midst of the animation sequence. This is a real shame, because it truly is a great item, but what's the use in buying it, if you can't even cahnge the batteries? That's pretty ridiculous.

I also have the C-3PO & R2-D2 version and it's the same lousy durability. I changed the batteries and now R2 won't move forward to push the coin in, rotate it's dome or light his eye.

It gets even worse as all three of the Episode I banks, also issued by the same company, aren't functioning properly either. They are more durable, but they do not work like they are advertised. The set includes Darth Maul, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn. Connect them all and they should duel, however this never seems to work. I have returned them several times with no success.

So what can i advice you to do? Well, stay away from any talking bank that this company makes, because the durability in these items is a disgrace.

Save your cash.

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I ordered this for my nephew's 3rd birthday. When it arrived, I tested it out and even put in fresh batteries. Something was wrong with the one that I got because the voice was garbled and slurred, and the movement was choppy. It seems to be a fragile bank, but since my nephew loves Darth Vader, I quickly asked for a replacement. Amazon.com is great with exchanges because they handled my situation immediately and shipped out a replacement just in time for my nephew to receive it. Otherwise, Darth Vadar is menacing-looking, the sound is unreal LOUD, and the fact that the light-saber lights up as Darth Vader lifts his arm up and around is so cool. Oh, his cape thing is made of soft rubber so there's some movement to it too. The other reviewer said there's no movement when a coin is dropped in...I think that's a defect in his/her bank cuz mine goes through the whole song and dance when I drop a coin in.

My son was estatic over this toy. He must have dumped a few dollars in change in it after opening it. Awesome sound, motion, and lightsaber. I just hope he's not coin dropping at 3 in the morning..it'll wake the house up!

I was shopping for the Holidays and ran into this Darth Vader bank...once I pushed the button I laughed so hard! I just had to have it! The sound effects are cool! Yeah you guessed it - I'm an adult and I bought it for myself!! My spouse thinks I'm nuts but hey - It's Star Wars!

My 5 yr old son got this for his birthday. It is very detailed. When you press the button, you hear the Empire March, then Vader says "Impressive, Most Impressive, but you are not a Jedi Yet". then he raises his lightsaber, which lights on and makes the lightsaber sound. then he puts it down and the march tune again. Bank mostly for coins, but no action when you put the coin in, only when you press the button. Could be a little annoying when your kid presses the button alot in a short time. No volume control on it, and it is quite loud. Overall, a cool bank