EightGaugeHippo said:
The light saber fighting in the prequels far surpasses the duels in the original trilogy.
I hope you don't mind if I take this from your post, the following is not directed at you but it is one of the many statements that say exactly what I for one don't get:
The lightsabre fights do not surpass the ones in the original movies. Yes, they look nicer and the choreography is better but they don't mean jack.
In the original movies they knew that they could not make the fights impressive just with the effects so they had often a deeper meaning. The little "dance" between old friends now foes (Vader and Obi Wan) where both aren't fighting for real. It is more of a conversation, Vader wants to prove to Obi Wan that he finally had surpassed him just to see how Obi Wan opens his guard with the words that Vader can't kill him. He takes the attack. Vader stood there, without any satisfaction, he is still just the pupil, he has not proven anything.
The first fight betweem Vader and Luke: Vader basically plays with Luke, he knows that he will win and this is the feeling through the fight. We see how Luke gets more and more desperate until the realisation that he has no way to win. Then we see how he struggles to crawl away, he holds on the little whats left until Vader shatters Lukes belief about the truth: "I am your father".
The second fight between Vader and Luke: We see in this fight how Luke not only overcomes his negative feelings, he also shows compassion towards his father whom he has by now surpassed.
He tempts him to join the light and refuses to fight him for a time. Until his feelings get over him and then we see why all the lightsabre fights in the originals are better: He shows emotions. He doesn't wait to parry an attack, he whales on Vader, no choreography, no dancing around, no style. He just whales on him until Vader lies helpless before him.
What do we see in Episode 1: A meaningless dance between Maul and Qui Gon. Then we get to the finally, the big climax. Both jedis face the Sithlord, they fight with a clear mind, the have this perfect choreography until the Sith gets the killing blow on Qui Gon. Obi Wan screams in grief, we expect that he goes full out, forgets the style and choroegraphy and just overpowers the Sith in the same facion that Luke overcame his father... and he goes on to the stupid dance. And this is the description for all fights except the last duel between Obi Wan and Anakin (and this was way too long to be enjoyable).
In the prequels the lightsabrefights mean nothing. They don't contribute to the story or character development, they are just spectacle. They are there to let the newcomer see something cool and meaningless. Like Michael Bay movies. And though I understand why people like those things I for one sit there and prefer movies with substance, where every scene contributes something to the story or the characters.
). Plus, there was a badass black dude with an awesome name(captain Panaka). The special effects were great, too. Also, loved the little car races in the first game, and tought the nintendo 64 game was pretty fun.
