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[dragonyeuw]

Anakin's training wasn't in danger because they'd already been back to Coruscant and Qui-Gon left Anakin at the Jedi training academy to be assessed and begin his training/understanding in the force. He wasn't there with them on Naboo, because only a retard would write something so stupid.

Ok you kinda lost me here with the Anakin wasn't on naboo comment, but it was clearly stated by Mace that Anakin wasn't a candidate for training. Yoda reiterated in the scene when Obi-wan was promoted that they didn't agree with Anakin being trained. Obi-wan basically ignored that and said he'd train him anyway to honor Qui-gon's dying wish. So, if Quigon and Obiwan had both fallen, that would have been it for Anakin. The two highest members of the council were obviously opposed to it.

 

[Ray Wonder]

Anakin's training wasn't in danger because they'd already been back to Coruscant and Qui-Gon left Anakin at the Jedi training academy to be assessed and begin his training/understanding in the force. He wasn't there with them on Naboo, because only a retard would write something so stupid.

Qui-Gon was the only person who wanted Anakin trained. Obi-Wan was forced into it because Qui-Gon thought it was that damn important. Obi dies, there's no Vader.

I'm not familiar with this particular battle. When you say anime, do you mean Clone Wars or an actual anime that I'm not at all aware of? But just from what you're describing that's about what I'd expect. Or maybe -- again if he has to use a lightsaber -- maybe he wields one or more telekinetically or something. Maybe that would look even more silly and not work well visually, but I'm just spitballing here.

I think that could've looked cool if they did it right. There would be a thin line between awesome and goofy. I don't think they could pull off Yoda levitating it and waggling it around right, I think it would have to be more like throwing it and catching it. Could've been cool.

 

[Boney]

So how come the Gendy Tartakovski'a cartoon was decanonized and they made the terrible looking cg cartoon instead?

I'm barely familiar with the first one on tv and know jack shit about the second other than maul is there again 'cuz reasons

Yeah, I'm hoping for something even close to as well written and presented as this fight in VII. That would be great.






Forgive me if watching an old samurai movie to get insight on part of the inspiration George Lucas had for A New Hope doesn't seem worth the time to me. I should have said "I'm constantly educating myself on subjects that I find interesting, and worth my attention". I know that there are lots of canon saber fights that I can use as my evidence to counter that the saber fights are still supposed to be Kurosawa like. Which is what the debate was about, what saber fights should look like. Not about what George Lucas was originally inspired by.

It's more like, Kurosawa movies are master class in cinema and everyone should watch them because they are incredible movies.

 

[Ray Wonder]

It's more like, Kurosawa movies are master class in cinema and everyone should watch them because they are incredible movies.

That's really cool. I haven't seen a lot of really good movies.

 

[SpoonyBard]

Luke vs. Vader in Jedi is the best one in my opinion. Luke gets angry and starts lasing away. And it looks like he is really trying to hit Vader, much unlike in the prequel trilogy where people swing their swords like mad trying their best not to hit anything.

 

[Cetra]

Easily the best. The music. The Emperor's mad cackling. Luke's uncompromising optimism. Vader's internal conflict. Probably my favorite scene in all of Star Wars.

 

[Branduil]

I'm not familiar with this particular battle. When you say anime, do you mean Clone Wars or an actual anime that I'm not at all aware of? But just from what you're describing that's about what I'd expect. Or maybe -- again if he has to use a lightsaber -- maybe he wields one or more telekinetically or something. Maybe that would look even more silly and not work well visually, but I'm just spitballing here.

By "anime thing" I was just referring to the cliche where a talented but brash fighter expends a massive amount of energy trying to hit a wise old master who barely moves and yet manages to avoid every attack.

In the OT, not only did Yoda and Palpatine not use lightsabers, but their powers implied they had moved beyond their effects/limitations. A lot of problems with their lightsaber fights involve staging- the way they move around just looks dumb- and you could, theoretically, stage a decent-looking lightsaber fight, that looks better than a poorly done force powers fight, but at least force powers would be in line with how the characters were previously portrayed.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

Kor-ah

Mah-tah

Kor-ah

Rah-tah-mah

 

[dragonyeuw]

Luke vs. Vader in Jedi is the best one in my opinion. Luke gets angry and starts lasing away. And it looks like he is really trying to hit Vader, much unlike in the prequel trilogy where people swing their swords like mad trying their best not to hit anything.

I just had a look at the part of Luke-Vader ESB when Vader surprise attacks Luke leading to the climatic revelation on the bridge- they were really swinging at each other. Nothing fancy-looking or swinging at each other's sabers, I mean Vader looked like he was trying to decapitate Luke in that moment.

 

[Triggerhappytel]

Ok you kinda lost me here with the Anakin wasn't on naboo comment, but it was clearly stated by Mace that Anakin wasn't a candidate for training. Yoda reiterated in the scene when Obi-wan was promoted that they didn't agree with Anakin being trained. Obi-wan basically ignored that and said he'd train him anyway to honor Qui-gon's dying wish. So, if Quigon and Obiwan had both fallen, that would have been it for Anakin. The two highest members of the council were obviously opposed to it.

Qui-Gon was the only person who wanted Anakin trained. Obi-Wan was forced into it because Qui-Gon thought it was that damn important. Obi dies, there's no Vader.

Ah fair enough; I'm getting my placement in the film mixed up - I forget that the Jedi council only approve of his training after Qui-Gon dies.

Even so, the idea that they would take the kid with them back to a war zone is absolutely absurd. Was there nowhere safer they could have left him?!

 

[ElyrionX]

Nobody liked Yoda vs Palpatine?

 

[Steve Youngblood]

By "anime thing" I was just referring to the cliche where a talented but brash fighter expends a massive amount of energy trying to hit a wise old master who barely moves and yet manages to avoid every attack.

Oh, right. Gotcha.

 

[Currygan]

Nobody liked Yoda vs Palpatine?

I did, several posts above

 

[Davey Cakes]

Nobody liked Yoda vs Palpatine?

I did in the theater a decade ago.

Now? It's an okay scene. There isn't much tension to it and my current mind doesn't find it as exciting anymore.

 

[Effect]

Fight with the best choreography is Obi-Wan & Qui-Gon Jin VS Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace. I can find nothing wrong with that fight save the very end with the leap. I get what was being attempted there and I guess I'm really forgiving of it because the rest of the fight is so good.

Most emotional fight: Luke Skywalker vs Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi. Especially when Luke just goes ham on Vader after Vader mentions turning Leia.

 

[funkypie]

Old obi wan vs robot Vader. They just poke each other, funny shit.

 

[¡HarlequinPanic!]

there a supercut of the episode 1 fight without all the cutaways to fighting droids or captain panaka and friends slowly scaling a wall with a grappling hook?

 

[dluu13]

Nobody liked Yoda vs Palpatine?

He threw the senate at him. LOL

 

[JimiNutz]

Fight with the best choreography is Obi Wan & Qui Gon Jin VS Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace. I can find nothing wrong with that fight.

I agree that this fight is the best but the ending is a bit of a letdown
Maul proves himself to have the superior Lightsaber skills having beaten both Qui Gon and Obi Wan.

Obi is disarmed and hanging for his life while Maul stands victoriously above him. Then somehow Obi Wan manages to force grab a saber and flip over Mauls head before he can react in any way?

Are we actually supposed to believe that Maul wasn't capabable of slicing Obi Wan in half while he flipped over his head - just as Obi Wan did to Anakin years later???

 

[NMFried]

Luke v. Vader in Empire. Qui-Gon v. Maul in Menace. Yoda v. Palpatine in Revenge.

 

[Effect]

Nobody liked Yoda vs Palpatine?

Always felt that fight should have been longer and the Anakin vs Obi-wan fight should have been shorter. Cut out the lava fall section of that fight (the weakest part of it I think) and give that time to the wizard fight Yoda and Palpatine were having. That really was the more interesting fight.

 

[guek]

Are we actually supposed to believe that Maul wasn't capabable of slicing Obi Wan in half while he flipped over his head - just as Obi Wan did to Anakin years later???

Still, a part of me likes the symmetry there. Obi-Wan sees Anakin attempt the exact same maneuver Obi pulled off in episode I, only it doesn't catch him off guard.

No plot armor for you, Anakin

 

[dragonyeuw]

Ah fair enough; I'm getting my placement in the film mixed up - I forget that the Jedi council only approve of his training after Qui-Gon dies.

Even so, the idea that they would take the kid with them back to a war zone is absolutely absurd. Was there nowhere safer they could have left him?!

That's where the stupidity of the writing comes into play. Logically, there was no reason that I can recall( it's been a while since I saw TPM) that required Anakin to be on Naboo at the end, except that we needed to be constantly reminded that this was force Jesus, the little boy who can built and fix machines, have force potential beyond the most powerful of Jedi, pilot a pod racer and be the one to take out the droid ship. If characters were acting rationally like you'd expect, Anakin would have been safest in the Jedi temple under their protection. But nope, the plot stupidly calls for him to be in the center on the naboo battle because......reasons. And of course, you had a 14 year old Queen laying out battle plans and taking an active part in the war, without any thought given that she should have been far removed like any typical head of state.

 

[EGM1966]

I just had a look at the part of Luke-Vader ESB when Vader surprise attacks Luke leading to the climatic revelation on the bridge- they were really swinging at each other. Nothing fancy-looking or swinging at each other's sabers, I mean Vader looked like he was trying to decapitate Luke in that moment.

I'll reiterate that Empire duel has by fare the best alignment of choreography and pacing to the narrative in characters with the entire duel broken up accordingly.

It starts with Vader low key and easily handling Luke to Vader and Lyle full in wailing on each other to Vader destroying Luke when enraged in final desperate clash on the gantry.

As part of a film it outshines the others fairly easily, particularly the technically excellent but weaker character alignment duels of the prequel.

Technically I'd probably pick phantom menace despite awful conclusion. At its peak it's technically quite something. Sith has amazing moments too but goes on way too long and tries to go to OTT.

 

[JaseMath]

Luke vs. Vader in VI for the raw emotion and that John Williams score.

 

[dragonyeuw]

I agree that this fight is the best but the ending is a bit of a letdown
Maul proves himself to have the superior Lightsaber skills having beaten both Qui Gon and Obi Wan.

Obi is disarmed and hanging for his life while Maul stands victoriously above him. Then somehow Obi Wan manages to force grab a saber and flip over Mauls head before he can react in any way?

Are we actually supposed to believe that Maul wasn't capabable of slicing Obi Wan in half while he flipped over his head - just as Obi Wan did to Anakin years later???

I guess that was supposed to show Maul's arrogance, but it was sloppily written. As far as saber skills, how I interpreted that battle was that Qui-gon was ultimately a little too slow(not sure if I would say old given what we see from Dooku or Palpatine in later duels) to keep up with Maul. Obi-wan, while the more inexperienced Jedi, was younger and physically more of a match, and from what I saw their saber skills were on par. Maul simply used a little opening to force push Obi-wan into the pit. But the end to that duel was simply shitty writing, there's no way based on what we saw from Maul previously that he should have fallen in the manner he did.

 

[evil ways]

Either Luke vs Vader from Empire or RotJ, both are classics.

The Maul vs Obi Wan/Qui duel looks cool, even if it started the whole swing the lightsaber like a glowstick at a rave, nonsense.

Episode 3 is a joke, just like Anakin and Obi Wan's bond and friendship. It's a long, drawn out, silly battle in order to get to the long awaited Darth Vader burnt and in suit moment, that by the way turned out even sillier.

 

[teiresias]

For aesthetics the Empire duel, but for drama and emotion I'd have to go with the last duel in Jedi right after Vader threatens Leia. Luke just raw rage spilling closer to the dark side combined with that godly chorus in the score for that scene. Just wow.

I found all of the prequel duels to be all flash with little to no underlying character substance for the majority of their durations - even the one at the end of III. I just really dislike most of the over the top fight choreography in the prequels completely. It's like a microcosm of what's wrong with the prequel trilogy in general.

 

[sphagnum]

So how come the Gendy Tartakovski'a cartoon was decanonized and they made the terrible looking cg cartoon instead?

Tartakovsky's was never canon. It was always EU. The CGI cartoon is canon because George Lucas himself directly worked on it.

Also TCW (the CGI one) gets much better visually as it progresses due to budget increases. The final seasons are nearing movie quality.

 

[dragonyeuw]

I'll reiterate that Empire duel has by fare the best alignment of choreography and pacing to the narrative in characters with the entire duel broken up accordingly.

It starts with Vader low key and easily handling Luke to Vader and Lyle full in wailing on each other to Vader destroying Luke when enraged in final desperate clash on the gantry.

.

Agree, as has been stated before the OT fights were telling a story beyond two combatants swinging at each other. The PT fights were technically/aesthetically more advanced but were devoid of similar story-telling or real purpose except the Anakin-Obiwan finale.

 

[Forkball]

Easily the Empire duel. Not only is it a satisfying culmination to everything that the film has built up, but manages to tell a story in a subtle way. It's not an action scene for the sake of an action scene, but there to develop characters. There are so many small touches that deeply contribute to the scene, like...

+The camera looking up at Vader as Luke enters. Vader is portrayed as a looming figure over Luke, an obstacle greater than himself. Vader is also largely in the shadows, which highlights his enigmatic nature (and oh yeah, he's evil).
+Luke quickly pulls out his saber and readies his stance while Vader slowly draws his. It shows that Luke is eager and anxious, while Vader is unafraid and steady.
+Vader lets Luke go on the offensive first. Luke deals some quick strikes, while Vader simply manages to deflect them (with one hand no less). Vader is learning about his opponent while Luke is focused on winning quickly (building upon Luke quitting his training due to his desire to face Vader).
+Even when Vader goes on the attack, it still seems like he is merely testing Luke instead of trying to kill him. This foreshadows his wish for Luke to join him. Vader also just stops to talk to him, further showing how so far ahead he is of Luke that he can just half focus on the battle and still win.
+Luke uses the environment and other tools to his advantage, showing his resourcefulness and desperation.
+Vader slowly appearing in the hallways references to earlier in the film where Luke fought a phantom Vader with his own face. The scene will soon reveal the two characters' primary connection.
+Vader stops attacking with a lightsaber and starts throwing shit around with the force. He is trying to show Luke that defeating him is impossible, yet joining him would grant Luke the same power. Vader eventually does start to use his lightsaber again, but is far more aggressive and overpowering.
+More framing with the camera looking up at Vader as Luke is defeated.
+Vader clenching his fist when talking about the "power of the dark side." Vader sees power as a violent construct, yet will grow to hold other values as more important. He eventually loses a hand, but not the same one he clinched with (though that was to further mirror the similarities between Luke and Vader in Jedi blah blah blah)

Nothing is wasted or meaningless in this fight. Show me the symbolism and story-building elements of ANY fight in the PT.

 

[professor_t]

Easily the Empire duel. Not only is it a satisfying culmination to everything that the film has built up, but manages to tell a story in a subtle way. It's not an action scene for the sake of an action scene, but there to develop characters. There are so many small touches that deeply contribute to the scene, like...

+The camera looking up at Vader as Luke enters. Vader is portrayed as a looming figure over Luke, an obstacle greater than himself. Vader is also largely in the shadows, which highlights his enigmatic nature (and oh yeah, he's evil).
+Luke quickly pulls out his saber and readies his stance while Vader slowly draws his. It shows that Luke is eager and anxious, while Vader is unafraid and steady.
+Vader lets Luke go on the offensive first. Luke deals some quick strikes, while Vader simply manages to deflect them (with one hand no less). Vader is learning about his opponent while Luke is focused on winning quickly (building upon Luke quitting his training due to his desire to face Vader).
+Even when Vader goes on the attack, it still seems like he is merely testing Luke instead of trying to kill him. This foreshadows his wish for Luke to join him. Vader also just stops to talk to him, further showing how so far ahead he is of Luke that he can just half focus on the battle and still win.
+Luke uses the environment and other tools to his advantage, showing his resourcefulness and desperation.
+Vader slowly appearing in the hallways references to earlier in the film where Luke fought a phantom Vader with his own face. The scene will soon reveal the two characters' primary connection.
+Vader stops attacking with a lightsaber and starts throwing shit around with the force. He is trying to show Luke that defeating him is impossible, yet joining him would grant Luke the same power. Vader eventually does start to use his lightsaber again, but is far more aggressive and overpowering.
+More framing with the camera looking up at Vader as Luke is defeated.
+Vader clenching his fist when talking about the "power of the dark side." Vader sees power as a violent construct, yet will grow to hold other values as more important. He eventually loses a hand, but not the same one he clinched with (though that was to further mirror the similarities between Luke and Vader in Jedi blah blah blah)

Nothing is wasted or meaningless in this fight. Show me the symbolism and story-building elements of ANY fight in the PT.

That pretty much sums it up. There are so many little details that are handled just right, and you nailed a number of them.

It's also clear that Vader is so far out of Luke's league that it's almost hard to watch (e.g., Luke is fighting for his life and Vader is calmly talking shit while winning handily).

It's the reason why I think that Luke's dominance in RoTJ is partly due to his ascension as a Jedi and partly due to the fact that Vader was holding back. He was increasingly reluctant to actually harm his son (as Luke references during the fight).

 

[Beaniedude]

Phantom Menace.

Corn on the cob!
Corn on the kabob!

 

[Enduin]

Fight with the best choreography is Obi-Wan & Qui-Gon Jin VS Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace. I can find nothing wrong with that fight.

It's probably the best in the prequels, but still find ESB and RoJ fights to be superior overall. It has way too much needless spinning, jumping and dancing around. I get these are supposed to be highly skilled swordsman, but it's boring to watch, despite the swordsmanship and choreography are much smoother than the original trilogy. There is no weight behind any of it, physically or thematically. It's a big spectacle that doesn't feel like an actual fight but a performance. Especially in the moments it really needs to be raw and unrefined to drive home the fact that this is a life and death situation with emotions raging all over the place.

When it's just Qui-Gon and Maul fighting before the force fields it's pretty good. Just the two of them battling it out. No real spinning, no flourishes, just straight parrying in a fast, but not ridiculous speed, with somewhat weighty strikes. It's acceptable. Somewhat the same with the latter half of their fight, but it's a bit more overproduced and it's super anti-climactic.

Then Qui-Gon gets shived and it's Obi-Wan's turn and full on stupid begins. It's like angry dancing. They come out fighting but after the first exchange of blows it's back to twirling the lightsabers around, doing flips and jumps and spinning around pointlessly with strikes that have no weight behind them.

Another bad thing about this fight is how both deaths are completely anticlimactic. Qui-Gon's stabbing is kind of out of nowhere. There's never an ebb or flow to the combat where it's clear he's outclassed or anything. It's just "ohh no you tapped me pretty hard in the head with your saber hilt, guess I'll just get skewered now." And then Maul's defeat was even worse. Obi-Wan telegraphs his intentions so hard and he just stands their with this confused and puzzle looked on his face for about 5 seconds and only after that does Obi-Wan actually start to force pull Qui-Gon's lightsaber and jump up and again Maul just stands their befuddled. It makes no sense.

 

[dragonyeuw]

Easily the Empire duel. Not only is it a satisfying culmination to everything that the film has built up, but manages to tell a story in a subtle way. It's not an action scene for the sake of an action scene, but there to develop characters. There are so many small touches that deeply contribute to the scene, like...

+The camera looking up at Vader as Luke enters. Vader is portrayed as a looming figure over Luke, an obstacle greater than himself. Vader is also largely in the shadows, which highlights his enigmatic nature (and oh yeah, he's evil).
+Luke quickly pulls out his saber and readies his stance while Vader slowly draws his. It shows that Luke is eager and anxious, while Vader is unafraid and steady.
+Vader lets Luke go on the offensive first. Luke deals some quick strikes, while Vader simply manages to deflect them (with one hand no less). Vader is learning about his opponent while Luke is focused on winning quickly (building upon Luke quitting his training due to his desire to face Vader).
+Even when Vader goes on the attack, it still seems like he is merely testing Luke instead of trying to kill him. This foreshadows his wish for Luke to join him. Vader also just stops to talk to him, further showing how so far ahead he is of Luke that he can just half focus on the battle and still win.
+Luke uses the environment and other tools to his advantage, showing his resourcefulness and desperation.
+Vader slowly appearing in the hallways references to earlier in the film where Luke fought a phantom Vader with his own face. The scene will soon reveal the two characters' primary connection.
+Vader stops attacking with a lightsaber and starts throwing shit around with the force. He is trying to show Luke that defeating him is impossible, yet joining him would grant Luke the same power. Vader eventually does start to use his lightsaber again, but is far more aggressive and overpowering.
+More framing with the camera looking up at Vader as Luke is defeated.
+Vader clenching his fist when talking about the "power of the dark side." Vader sees power as a violent construct, yet will grow to hold other values as more important. He eventually loses a hand, but not the same one he clinched with (though that was to further mirror the similarities between Luke and Vader in Jedi blah blah blah)

Nothing is wasted or meaningless in this fight. Show me the symbolism and story-building elements of ANY fight in the PT.

Nicely done.

 

[FaceTurn]

Dance of the Fates

 

[guek]

I guess that was supposed to show Maul's arrogance, but it was sloppily written. As far as saber skills, how I interpreted that battle was that Qui-gon was ultimately a little too slow(not sure if I would say old given what we see from Dooku or Palpatine in later duels) to keep up with Maul. Obi-wan, while the more inexperienced Jedi, was younger and physically more of a match, and from what I saw their saber skills were on par. Maul simply used a little opening to force push Obi-wan into the pit. But the end to that duel was simply shitty writing, there's no way based on what we saw from Maul previously that he should have fallen in the manner he did.

Maul was the first Sith in generations to be encountered head on. Qui-Gon was supposed to be a great fencer but his saber style was too reliant on showy and energy inefficient movements. It was much more appropriate for sparing than drawn out duels. He lost because the battle dragged on and he slowed down.

 

[Thorgal]

Still, a part of me likes the symmetry there. Obi-Wan sees Anakin attempt the exact same maneuver Obi pulled off in episode I, only it doesn't catch him off guard.

No plot armor for you, Anakin

but he has plot armor .

He would have burned to death without it .

 

[Burger]

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.

A great example of why these look so shit.

If you really look at most of these moves and ask yourself "Is that an attack or defensive move?" the answer to both is neither. Both fighers move their sabres to pre-known positions. It looks fake, because it's so well practiced. Why did neither of them swing for a limb or head but instead swing simultaneously towards an empty space between them? Because it's practiced, poorly choreographed and it looks shitty.

 

[Ray Wonder]

A great example of why these look so shit.

If you really look at most of these moves and ask yourself "Is that an attack or defensive move?" the answer to both is neither. Both fighers move their sabres to pre-known positions. It looks fake, because it's so well practiced. Why did neither of them swing for a limb or head but instead swing simultaneously towards an empty space between them? Because it's practiced, poorly choreographed and it looks shitty.

Looks pretty "attack and defend" to me. There are better examples of what you mean in this fight, I don't see it in these gifs though.

 

[Burger]

Looks pretty "attack and defend" to me. There are better examples of what you mean in this fight, I don't see it in these gifs though.

What is Obi Wan trying to do here, and why does Maul feel the need to defend it?

It's just bad.

 

[Ray Wonder]

What is Obi Wan trying to do here, and why does Maul feel the need to defend it?

It's just bad.

Looks like Obi would get his legs chopped off if he didn't block.

 

[Burger]

Looks like Obi would get his legs chopped off if he didn't block.

Even if that were the case, why when Obi Wan spun around backwards did Maul not stab him in the back, instead of pirouetting around like a fairy?

Here it's even more obvious that they are swinging into each others swings, instead of fighting with any real skill. Mauls head swing was so off target that it makes you wonder if the Health and Safety people had a sit down with them both beforehand.

 

[Sephzilla]

Even if that were the case, why when Obi Wan spun around backwards did Maul not stab him in the back, instead of pirouetting around like a fairy?

Here it's even more obvious that they are swinging into each others swings, instead of fighting with any real skill. Mauls head swing was so off target that it makes you wonder if the Health and Safety people had a sit down with them both beforehand.

To slightly defend this, because I actually think the whole "Maul's swings would miss anyway" thing is a little silly, even if you look at some of the swings Luke takes in Empire and Jedi you'll find the exact same thing. It's part of the whole "movie fights aren't real fights" thing.

 

[Ray Wonder]

Even if that were the case, why when Obi Wan spun around backwards did Maul not stab him in the back, instead of pirouetting around like a fairy?

Here it's even more obvious that they are swinging into each others swings, instead of fighting with any real skill. Mauls head swing was so off target that it makes you wonder if the Health and Safety people had a sit down with them both beforehand.

Well because if you nitpick most (if not all) fictional scenes where the intent of the people is to kill the each other you will find things that aren't real looking.

Go up and look at Luke swing at Vader in RotJ gif. He swings way above his head because it's a movie, and he doesn't want to clock Vader in the head with a stick.

 

[Burger]

To slightly defend this, because I actually think the whole "Maul's swings would miss anyway" thing is a little silly, even if you look at some of the swings Luke takes in Empire and Jedi you'll find the exact same thing. It's part of the whole "movie fights aren't real fights" thing.

You can say that again.

 

[dragonyeuw]

Maul lunging twice at Obi-wan's head are the instances of a direct attack intended to hit the body, the rest is just parrying within an open space and not a threat on the target.

 

[Triggerhappytel]

Easily the Empire duel. Not only is it a satisfying culmination to everything that the film has built up, but manages to tell a story in a subtle way. It's not an action scene for the sake of an action scene, but there to develop characters. There are so many small touches that deeply contribute to the scene, like...

+The camera looking up at Vader as Luke enters. Vader is portrayed as a looming figure over Luke, an obstacle greater than himself. Vader is also largely in the shadows, which highlights his enigmatic nature (and oh yeah, he's evil).
+Luke quickly pulls out his saber and readies his stance while Vader slowly draws his. It shows that Luke is eager and anxious, while Vader is unafraid and steady.
+Vader lets Luke go on the offensive first. Luke deals some quick strikes, while Vader simply manages to deflect them (with one hand no less). Vader is learning about his opponent while Luke is focused on winning quickly (building upon Luke quitting his training due to his desire to face Vader).
+Even when Vader goes on the attack, it still seems like he is merely testing Luke instead of trying to kill him. This foreshadows his wish for Luke to join him. Vader also just stops to talk to him, further showing how so far ahead he is of Luke that he can just half focus on the battle and still win.
+Luke uses the environment and other tools to his advantage, showing his resourcefulness and desperation.
+Vader slowly appearing in the hallways references to earlier in the film where Luke fought a phantom Vader with his own face. The scene will soon reveal the two characters' primary connection.
+Vader stops attacking with a lightsaber and starts throwing shit around with the force. He is trying to show Luke that defeating him is impossible, yet joining him would grant Luke the same power. Vader eventually does start to use his lightsaber again, but is far more aggressive and overpowering.
+More framing with the camera looking up at Vader as Luke is defeated.
+Vader clenching his fist when talking about the "power of the dark side." Vader sees power as a violent construct, yet will grow to hold other values as more important. He eventually loses a hand, but not the same one he clinched with (though that was to further mirror the similarities between Luke and Vader in Jedi blah blah blah)

Nothing is wasted or meaningless in this fight. Show me the symbolism and story-building elements of ANY fight in the PT.

Excellent summary. There's nothing in the PT which comes close to this. There's no deeper connection or emotional battle taking place; it's just designed to look showy. The confrontation between Yoda and Dooku could have been good as they had history together and were both masters of their respective field but just turns goofy, the duel between Yoda and Palpy is just silly, as much as I enjoy Ian McDiarmid's performance. He's the only character in the PT to actually have a personality.

As for the Obi-Wan vs. Maul, it's a good looking fight, but if anything feels too choreographed. However, had Maul not died here it would have given subsequent battles between them a sense of rivalry, which would have greatly helped with the sterile feel of the PT. The guy from Belated Media summarises it really well how an ongoing conflict between the two would have benefited the whole trilogy. The relevant bit begins around 9:30, but I recommend both his full videos if you haven't seen them.

 

[Bishop89]

Maul vs Obi/Qui

Ya this

 

[The Blackrose]

From a technical standpoint alone, A New Hope. AKA what happens when you put an old guy up against a cyborg with limited upper shoulder mobility, both armed with laser swords where one strike is bad.

It's when you start throwing in everything else that composes a scene is when ROTJ, ESB, Duel of the Fates and AotC's Obi-Wan/Anikin vs Dooku starts catching up. Not to take away anything from Ray Park and Kyle Rowling showing some really solid fight choreography in the latter two. I think they're up there with ANH.

I'm more partial to the OT when it comes to lightsaber duels in general. NT got too flashy in places, requiring a suspension of disbelief to sell. OT had less of that in general. Not to say there's no room for a Maul, but when everyone starts fighting like that... Come on.

And to hell with Yoda's lightsaber duels.