Star Wars SC 38 Reimagined

[fireproof78]

This version might be a little over the top, but it does fit in better with the duels we got in the later movies in the franchise.
Watching the scene now it really does feel a bit odd just how much slower it is that pretty much every other duel we got in the franchise.
The old masters thing doesn't really work since we saw both Dooku and Sidious fighting at a speed closer to this.

Even as a younger kid, prior to the PT, this duel never made much sense to me. It's iconic for the verbal sparring and the end but the combat itself is basic, at best. There is a reason why we saw Vader doing a whole lot more against Luke in the next film.

 

[Reverend]

Even as a younger kid, prior to the PT, this duel never made much sense to me. It's iconic for the verbal sparring and the end but the combat itself is basic, at best. There is a reason why we saw Vader doing a whole lot more against Luke in the next film.

I'm pretty sure I read an article or something by an actual swordmaster who said that fight in ANH is the closest to a real sword fight (between two people that actually know what they're doing) that any of the OT Star Wars movies got. ESB was a very close second IIRC, though it was specifically designed to show Luke was inexperienced; incorrect stances, angling the blade to high as he advances etc.

Apparently all that flashy exaggerated stuff is mostly just theatrical sword fighting, whereas the real thing (where you legit will get the top of your head cleaved off if you loose) is about stillness and an economy of movement. Concerving your energy and doing only exactly what you need to do and no more. Even the weird little blade twisles that Guiness does is supposedly a thing you would actually do. It doesn't look impressive, but it's about feints and controlling the position of the opponent's blade. So with all that in mind, I totally buy that this was a fight between two Masters 100% ready to kill the other or die trying.
Indeed, we even see this again in Rebels with Obi-Wan & Maul. It's over in seconds with the absolute minimum of movement.

With their last fight, Anakin on the other hand was dead set on murder but Obi-Wan wasn't ready to take it that far. Even right until the end when he gave him a chance to surrender...and even after he dismembered him he couldn't being himself to make the killing blow, which he'd no doubt regret later. Hence how elaborate and drawn out the whole thing was, because one opponent was playing mostly defensively.

 

[fireproof78]

I'm pretty sure I read an article or something by an actual swordmaster who said that fight in ANH is the closest to a real sword fight (between two people that actually know what they're doing) that any of the OT Star Wars movies got. ESB was a very close second IIRC, though it was specifically designed to show Luke was inexperienced; incorrect stances, angling the blade to high as he advances etc.

Apparently all that flashy exaggerated stuff is mostly just theatrical sword fighting, whereas the real thing (where you legit will get the top of your head cleaved off if you loose) is about stillness and an economy of movement. Concerving your energy and doing only exactly what you need to do and no more. Even the weird little blade twisles that Guiness does is supposedly a thing you would actually do. It doesn't look impressive, but it's about feints and controlling the position of the opponent's blade. So with all that in mind, I totally buy that this was a fight between two Masters 100% ready to kill the other or die trying.
Indeed, we even see this again in Rebels with Obi-Wan & Maul. It's over in seconds with the absolute minimum of movement.

With their last fight, Anakin on the other hand was dead set on murder but Obi-Wan wasn't ready to take it that far. Even right until the end when he gave him a chance to surrender...and even after he dismembered him he couldn't being himself to make the killing blow, which he'd no doubt regret later. Hence how elaborate and drawn out the whole thing was, because one opponent was playing mostly defensively.

I have no doubt that this is true, and certainly, that did not carry forward into the franchise as a whole. And, Bob Anderson was the coordinator on ESB and ROTJ (if I recall correctly) and he lent a certain groundedness to those fights.

However, as the franchise progressed there is a level of energy that is showcased in the series that makes the ANH stand out in both positive and negative. There are some great clashes, especially early on in the fight, as well as the last part. But, the weight of it carries in the drama of the two.

I absolutely agree that the fight is a great way to show that drama, and I think you are right about the Obi-Wan and Maul fight, something that I think all SW choreographers could learn from.

But, I think there needs to be a balance between the OT and the PT styles. And, regarding even OT battles the ANH stands out to me in an odd way.