I think if it didn't hate light-sabers being used so often by that point in the film, the battle would have had more impact. I agree, it's easily the best in the new trilogy. Everything in the following two films was pretty awful.
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Favorite Lightsaber duel within the Star Wars films?
- Thread starter Ol No Bones
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I think if it didn't hate light-sabers being used so often by that point in the film, the battle would have had more impact. I agree, it's easily the best in the new trilogy. Everything in the following two films was pretty awful.
It simply doesn't get any better than Return of the Jedi. If there is one scene in any movie that I could say makes the movie, it's this one. One of the most raw, most visceral sword duels ever put on screen. Luke just losing all composure and wailing on Vader after everything that's happened as Luke very nearly, and at least for a brief moment, turns to the Dark Side is a tragic, nail biting experience.
Ol No Bones
Banned
That's kind of the underlying theme of the fight. The master loved his student but his student was no longer the same. No more Anakin, Just Vader. There was still some good in him though.
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
I've been waiting for sooo fucking long for this. Like two whole weeks so far.
I'm actually really excited though.
lol
I loved this one. Is there a problem with it?
brotherbean
Member
The Force is with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet.
This is the best.
I got that, I just didn't remember he had been given a name or anything like that. Last time I saw the film was opening night years ago, and by that point there was a ton of laughter in the theater towards the tail end.
WadiumArcadium
Member
Luke vs Vader in ESB is my personal favourite. From the prequels Anakin vs Obi-Wan edges it for me.
eot
Banned
This version looks really cropped.
In terms of choreography, definitely Darth Maul vs Obi-Wan. Seriously, Ray Park did a great job as Maul.
Crappy gifs, but it's all I could find.
That last part of the fight looks the worst in my opinion, but I agree that the stunt guy was pretty good. He conveys a lot of physicality in his body language that makes the fight feel more real, something all the other prequel fights lacked (the yoda ones in particular, ugh).
Spiritreaver
Member
Do we have to be limited to just the films? The duel in the Return trailer for SWTOR is pretty incredible.
https://youtu.be/mm4JEZudf0c?t=154
I'm also a fan of Maul and Opress vs Sidious in TCW.
https://youtu.be/-7hBZNsPnyg
That being said, none of these hold the same weight as the OT duels. Cinematically the ESB or ROTJ duels are probably the best, but for me when I dream about being a jedi it's to do cool stuff. Not to fight my old dad.
https://youtu.be/mm4JEZudf0c?t=154
I'm also a fan of Maul and Opress vs Sidious in TCW.
https://youtu.be/-7hBZNsPnyg
That being said, none of these hold the same weight as the OT duels. Cinematically the ESB or ROTJ duels are probably the best, but for me when I dream about being a jedi it's to do cool stuff. Not to fight my old dad.
Thatonemoor
Member
Ol No Bones
Banned
Yeah the prequels being how they were ruined what should have been a really pivotal storyline. The Vader Obi Wan story could have been so profound. I don't hold any respect for the prequels outside of the soundtracks and a few cool looking battles.
Both Luke vs. Vader duels (Empire and at the end of Return) equally. Very heavy character pieces, but I prefer the Return duel where Luke steps up to the line of the dark side for awhile.
The duels in the prequels were all flash and no substance, though I admit, sometimes cool as well (Maul, and part of the final Obi/Ani duel was okay).
The duels in the prequels were all flash and no substance, though I admit, sometimes cool as well (Maul, and part of the final Obi/Ani duel was okay).
Davey Cakes
Member
Very well put. They didn't even get close to that in ANY of the prequels, unfortunately.
It was really thrilling to see a "raw" use of the lightsaber like that, especially by a trained Jedi warrior. It really gave a sense of how the dark side could break through.
And, it wasn't silly like General Grievous in Revenge of the Sith.
Lack of tension? Sorry, this is not true.
Moff
Member
the one true answer
Haloid1177
Banned
I can't find a GIF for it, but for me, the ESB duel is best strictly because of the third segment (Carbon Freezing chamber, then Vader throwing boxes, then the outside segment). When Luke is walking back inside and then Vader comes out of nowhere with his lightsaber, it's one of the few times in the OT where I had a "holy fuck what a badass" kinda feel for Vader. He was tired of testing Luke and wanted to be done, and it was pretty much the opposite of the ROTJ gif posted in this thread.
ROTJ is good too, but ESB is a longer duration and just more interesting to me.
ROTJ is good too, but ESB is a longer duration and just more interesting to me.
Well put! I think it's amazing that they managed to take Luke defeating Vader, a big moment where the hero is about to defeat the villain after almost 3 movies, and managed to turn it into a dire sad moment where a father is about to be murdered by his son who's on the brink of becoming what he set out to stop.
DeaconKnowledge
Member
In terms of choreography, definitely Darth Maul vs Obi-Wan. Seriously, Ray Park did a great job as Maul.
Crappy gifs, but it's all I could find.
Every time I see this fight I always think the same thing: we know NOTHING about Darth Maul to this point.
Killing Maul after one movie was a huge mistake. This fight could have retroactively been enhanced a ton if we would have found out more about Maul in the sequels.
Seriously, does this guy ever get a backstory in the movie? He's just an evil dude cause he looks evil.
……forgetit
Member
Maul vs Obi for sure, anyone saying Like vs Vader has those nostalgia goggles on tight.
As others have pointed out. Maul vs Obi/Qui is a great fight but it has absolutely no emotional investment behind it like either of the Luke vs Vader fights have. This is actually a recurring issue with the prequel duels, Obi-Wan vs Anakin being the one exception.
Duels in Episodes IV to VI are shit.
The prequels may suck but their lightsaber duels are great. Qui Gon Jin & Obi-Wan VS Darth Maul, Anakin & Obi-Wan VS Count Dooku, Yoda VS Count Dooku, Anakin VS Count Dooku, Yoda VS Darth Sidious and of course Anakin VS Obi-Wan - these were all great looking fights.
My favourite is Anakin VS Obi-Wan.
The prequels may suck but their lightsaber duels are great. Qui Gon Jin & Obi-Wan VS Darth Maul, Anakin & Obi-Wan VS Count Dooku, Yoda VS Count Dooku, Anakin VS Count Dooku, Yoda VS Darth Sidious and of course Anakin VS Obi-Wan - these were all great looking fights.
My favourite is Anakin VS Obi-Wan.
Ol No Bones
Banned
We know all about Jar Jar though.
This for sure. Not just for the choreography but the story implications of it, the music, everything was just amazing.
Chained Prometheus
Member
The two duels between Luke and Vader in TESB and RotJ are the best of the series.
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
I really have to agree with this.
If I thought of a fight between two people who have all of these abilities; It couldn't be any fight in the OT.
Not really. Luke vs Vader is the culminating point of the saga, that's one thing you want to see!
Maul vs Obi might look good but it's just hard to care about it. Maul is a random bad dude that we know nothing about, Obi is cool I guess but that's because we already know who he is.
A flashy fight with no emotional investment just ends up being boring to me.
Ol No Bones
Banned
So much kicking in the Darth Maul fight. You can block the sabers flying at you but a leg? Nope.
I'm still not sure how a longer, more drawn out fight makes them necessarily better? In those films we see all sort of wonky light-saber CG garbage throughout the film, where an additional long light-saber clash battle seems...I dunno...a waste?
That's why I like the original film's battle the most. It's simple, emotional, serves as a backdrop to the main protagonist's arc, and delivers the prime reasoning why he gets his ass handed to him in the sequel.
Fancy Clown
Member
Empire duel of course. Best cinematography and best storytelling through the progression of the fight and staging.
Haloid1177
Banned
The abilities were made so ridiculous I don't understand why people miss them.
Ol No Bones
Banned
Naw, Naw. There is more to these fights than flashy choreography.
His backstory began at Taco Bell for me.
This got a big laugh from me knowing that his origin is most likely, "cuz he looks cool and we can do lots of merchandising deals with him."
Patrick Bateman
Member
I just really like Duel of Fates.
Ep1 was total horse shit from beginning to end, but that duel was gangsta!
They should have kept Dart Maul as the bad guy and make him come back in 2 or 3.
gutter_trash
Banned
Empire then followed closely by Jedi.
The rest are crap
The rest are crap
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
Do the people who think the ESB fight is the best think they should make them like that in VII?
I would be very disappointed if they were choreographed like that.
Look at that ESB gif and see luke swing like 2 feet above Vader's head, and Vader ducks just in case.
I would be very disappointed if they were choreographed like that.
Look at that ESB gif and see luke swing like 2 feet above Vader's head, and Vader ducks just in case.
Wag
Member
It was a puppet/CG mix at first and then when he came out with the "enhanced editions" or whatever you want to call it he changed it completely to CG. I wasn't all that impressed by it.
Count Dooku vs. anyone
This was good too, but a bit all over the place. Yoda is such a monster.
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