I realize that the Original Trilogy was made before the Prequel Trilogy, so the effects are definitely worse, but this is kind of odd. If you compare the lightsaber duels in the old movies to the new movies...they're too different. I don't mean all of the jumping around and stuff, I mean the swinging of the lightsabers.
The Original Trilogy's Luke and Vader sucked sooo much at combat...I think anyone could have matched their fighting prowess. It's so slow and weak. Does that mean they had bad stunt directors? Effects have nothing to do with it, really.
the lightsabers back in those days were really heavy - apparently, when they were making 'a new hope' none of the actors could even hold it properly with one hand
Back in new hope, the lightsabers would break if you hit them together with much force. That's why in the Obi-wan vs Vader fight, they barely even do any fighting. It improved as the next two got made, but not much.
Hamill actually did a lot of training, I remember an interview with him where he mentions akido as one of the training methods.
the truth is, those movies are old and are on par with what you would have found in most movies of that era. a good example would be the first highlander film which was made around the same era also has fairly basic sword fighting and is nowhere near what was done in the following films and tv series.
but obi wan (alec gueniss) and darth vader were pretty sucky.
The fights were a lot better from a story perspective. They felt like something was at stake. Not the perfectly choreographed emotionless ballets we get get in the PT.
Especially that last bit in ROTJ is great, because Luke is just hammering away urged by rage and frustration. That isn't supposed to be slick and smooth and dead from the neck up.
Me and my friend were watching that and we couldn't stop cracking up. They barely even do much besides stick their swords out and wiggle them at each other for half the fight.
I think the fights in the OT are still fantastic, except for ANH. ESB was extremely will executed...not the fastest, but the dark atmosphere and vibe of that entire sequence fits the film perfectly.
I do prefer the PT saber battles, due to the pacing. As Queeq mentioned, it does look choreographed, and I agree with him 100 percent, it does, but that never seems to distract me that much. As rehearsed as it may look, Obi-Wan vs. Maul is still a complete blast to watch, as is most of the other fights.
The only duel that I thought was terrible in the prequels was Mace vs. Sidious.
QGJ+OB1 vs. Mace is the best looking one, but also the one where nothing is at stake and we don't really understand why they are fighting at all... So storywise and emotionally is the most boring fight of all. The biggest failure of the prequels is so visible in these fights: they look smashing but they are emotionally totally dead.
I agree with you on that most of the prequels are emotionally dead. Although the last two battles in ROTS (Obi Wan Vs Anikan and Sidious Vs Yoda) reminds me of the OT duels but are also visually stunning. I dont know why but they seemed to be the OT duels and the PT duels put together to make something totally amazing.
Agreed. Yoda vs Sidious was awesome! Anakin vs Obi-Wan dragged on and was overdone. They should have just fought normally, none of this tarzan nonsense.
That's why I'm in favour of Lucas shooting some new stunt footage to spice up the Obi Wan/Vader fight, for a future DVD/Blu-ray release (he needs to keep throwing bones to the fans, doesn't he?) Just insert it after the first sequence when Obi Wan starts backing down the hall, and parallel it with the foursome making their way to the Falcon. Obi Wan has his hood up; it would be easy to shoot a stunt person from behind, and wheh they have to, CGI the face of Alec Guiness on the front. They don't have to be as athletic as the PT - just give it more flair.
__________________
"I'm not smart so much as I am not dumb." - Harlan Ellison
Dec 25th, 2009 01:54 AM
