Star Wars Saga Lightsaber battles: Ranked
As we come to the end of May (Star Wars month for me, since all of the movies came out at some point in may, not counting the animated) I have watched the entire saga twice this year. While waiting for information about Celebration VI and Star Wars on Blu Ray, It has helped pass the time. To end the month I’ve decided to take a look at, and rank each lightsaber fight in the six movies. As with any list about Star Wars, this one is ever changing and ever evolving. The order of this list could change by tomorrow, but as of print time this is my order of the best lightsaber fights.
Note that to be considered, two opposing lightsabers have to clash. Fights such as Obi-wan in the bar, or Anakin against the Tuskin Raiders don’t count.
13: Luke Vs. Darth Vader (Dagobah) Episode V
This one has to start the list as it really hardly counts as a fight. Three clashed of the blade and that’s it. Its brevity and slow motion make it the worst fight of the saga, but really it was never there to be a real lightsaber fight, so this one gets off easy.
12: Obi Wan Vs. Darth Vader (Death Star) Episode IV
I was really tempted to give this fight more of a pass, because for most of us, it’s the first time we ever really saw lightsabers in action. But still, when you look at it, this fight is mostly made up of two guys standing and swinging. I remember loving this scene back in the second grade, but Battles have gotten so much bigger and better since then.
11. Mace Windu vs. Darth Sidious (Coruscant) Episode III
This is a fight that I deeply wish could have been longer. After all these were supposed to be four fully fledged Jedi Knights and a Sith Lord. Unfortunatly two of the Jedi were killed with a single swing, and Kit Fisto didn’t last much longer than that. Except for a few fancy flips from the Emperor, this fight, much like the one above, consisted mostly of its two combatants standing and swinging at each other. I also have to wonder why Mace never took off his robe as it seemed to be hindering him throughout the entire fight.
10. Qui-Gon Vs. Darth Maul (Tatooine) Episode I
Talking about short fights, this one lasted less than a minute. I’m willing to cut it some more slack though, since it was never meant to be an epic fight, more of a tease at things to come. And I have to say, the promise that this short fight has pays off later in the film.
9. Obi-Wan and Anakin vs. Count Dooku (Geonosis) Episode II
There’s nothing terribly wrong with this battle, but nothing spectacular about it. The problem here is, that this battle was supposed to be the main fight for the movie. But as a villain in action, Dooku wasn’t as exciting as Darth Maul was in the previous movie and watching him effectively beat both Anakin and Obi-Wan in two very short fights wasn’t that exciting to watch
8. Obi-Wan Vs. General Grievous (Utapau) Episode III
It becomes clear very quickly, that Grievous is in no way as skilled as Obi-Wan, a fully trained Jedi, so even though he starts out with four lightsabers, the matchup still seems fairly even. Though four lighstabers weiled by a single opponent is an exciting prospect, the end result still leaves something to be desired. (Though George Lucas does get to whack off two more hands in a single scene here) The fight, though fun while it lasts, quickly turns into a chase sequence and then a punching match before ending with blaster shots fired. Not quite the end you’d expect from a lightsaber fight, but I’m all for Obi-Wan adapting to his current situation.
7. Yoda Vs. Darth Sidious (Coruscant) Episode III
This is a fight that I was really hoping would happen at some point in the prequels since it is the two masters from each side going head to head. While the actual swordplay seen is fantastic, The fight suffers from two much of the fight being about the fighters mastery over the force. Something that I am sure is important when fighting for your life against a Sith lord but doesn’t show up on screen quite as well as a good old fashion lightsaber fight.
6. Yoda Vs. Count Dooku (Genosis) Episode II
This sequence has already been scene as part of Dooku’s fight with Anakin and Obi-Wan, but I wanted to give it it’s own spot on the list. Like Qui-Gon’s first fight with Darth Maul, this fight was more of a tease as to what could happen in the next movie, but in this case, the tease was far more impressive. After seeing Yoda limp around with a cane for four movies, getting to see him do a 180 and pull a lightsaber in what might be the fastestet paced fight of the saga was fantastic. Kudos also go to Christopher Lee who was able to portray in the fractions of seconds that we saw his face, how truly terrified Dooku was of Yoda.
5. Obi-Wan and Anakin Vs. Count Dooku (Above Coruscant) Episode III
I’ve complained before about some fights being disappointingly short, but in this case, I liked the brevity of the fight, showing how efficient Jedi wore because after all, as Obi-Wan said “Sith Lords are their specialty.” We are often told that Obi-Wan and Anakin are a great team together, but we never really get to see that in the prequels since they are often sent on different missions from one another. This is really the only time we get to see them work together in a lightsaber fight (since Anakin was in a rush last time) and It’s nice to see them together one last time before their friendship comes to an end later in the movie.
4. Darth Vader Vs. Luke Skywalker (Cloud City) Episode V
Even though there are far more Lightsaber fights in the prequel movies, half of my top four come from the original trilogy. While part of that can be credited to nostalgia, I still think that the time in between fights, helps to make these more enjoyable. At this point, we’ve waited for a Luke vs. Vader fight for almost two movies, so the anticipation is running highs. I still get shivers seeing the two of them stare each other down right before the fight begins.
3. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan Vs. Darth Maul (Naboo) Episode I
I know that many a person loves to bash Phantom Menace, but I find it hard to believe that many people can find fault with the lightsaber battle at the end of the movie. At an incredibly fast pace, and with impressive, aerobatic moves, this fight was like none we had ever seen before. For the first time we got to watch Jedi who did not first learn about the force at 19, but instead had been training with a lightsaber since almost birth. And if none of those arguments work for you, then let me remind you, Double bladed lightsaber.
2. Luke Skywalker Vs. Darth Vader (Death Star) Episode VI
On a technical level, this one is the best of the original trilogy, but the real reason that this one works for me, is the emotion that is in the scene. After having scene Luke struggle throughout the whole movie with the fact that Vader is his father, being forced into a physical controntation, we can see him struggle with himself throughout the entire fight. Then the final sequence adds a level as we see Luke battle with an aggression as yet unseen in the saga at the mention of Leia, that we almost have to wonder if for a second Vader hadn’t succeeded and Luke had fallen to the Dark Side as well. As a side note I love the fact that Vader threw his lightsaber when Luke was above him instead of jumping after him seeing how well that worked out last time he was fighting someone who had the high ground.
1. Anakin Vs. Obi-Wan (Mustafar) Episode III
This was the fight that we had been waiting for. Ever since learning about the origins of Darth Vader, we’ve known that we would eventually see the battle between these two. And however you may have been disappointed in the prequels, this is where they really delivered. Everything that you could possibly want in a fight is here. The sheer athletic skill and swordsmanship on display far outstrips anything else we have seen in the series. Also, it’s a small thing, but I love the fact that it’s the only battle where both the lightsabers are the same color. On a technical level, the red blade simply would not have shown up against the lava background. But, as part of the story, the Anakin was still wielding a blue saber, and wearing Jedi attire after turning to the dark side, added to the character.
Note that to be considered, two opposing lightsabers have to clash. Fights such as Obi-wan in the bar, or Anakin against the Tuskin Raiders don’t count.
13: Luke Vs. Darth Vader (Dagobah) Episode V
This one has to start the list as it really hardly counts as a fight. Three clashed of the blade and that’s it. Its brevity and slow motion make it the worst fight of the saga, but really it was never there to be a real lightsaber fight, so this one gets off easy.
12: Obi Wan Vs. Darth Vader (Death Star) Episode IV
I was really tempted to give this fight more of a pass, because for most of us, it’s the first time we ever really saw lightsabers in action. But still, when you look at it, this fight is mostly made up of two guys standing and swinging. I remember loving this scene back in the second grade, but Battles have gotten so much bigger and better since then.
11. Mace Windu vs. Darth Sidious (Coruscant) Episode III
This is a fight that I deeply wish could have been longer. After all these were supposed to be four fully fledged Jedi Knights and a Sith Lord. Unfortunatly two of the Jedi were killed with a single swing, and Kit Fisto didn’t last much longer than that. Except for a few fancy flips from the Emperor, this fight, much like the one above, consisted mostly of its two combatants standing and swinging at each other. I also have to wonder why Mace never took off his robe as it seemed to be hindering him throughout the entire fight.
10. Qui-Gon Vs. Darth Maul (Tatooine) Episode I
Talking about short fights, this one lasted less than a minute. I’m willing to cut it some more slack though, since it was never meant to be an epic fight, more of a tease at things to come. And I have to say, the promise that this short fight has pays off later in the film.
9. Obi-Wan and Anakin vs. Count Dooku (Geonosis) Episode II
There’s nothing terribly wrong with this battle, but nothing spectacular about it. The problem here is, that this battle was supposed to be the main fight for the movie. But as a villain in action, Dooku wasn’t as exciting as Darth Maul was in the previous movie and watching him effectively beat both Anakin and Obi-Wan in two very short fights wasn’t that exciting to watch
8. Obi-Wan Vs. General Grievous (Utapau) Episode III
It becomes clear very quickly, that Grievous is in no way as skilled as Obi-Wan, a fully trained Jedi, so even though he starts out with four lightsabers, the matchup still seems fairly even. Though four lighstabers weiled by a single opponent is an exciting prospect, the end result still leaves something to be desired. (Though George Lucas does get to whack off two more hands in a single scene here) The fight, though fun while it lasts, quickly turns into a chase sequence and then a punching match before ending with blaster shots fired. Not quite the end you’d expect from a lightsaber fight, but I’m all for Obi-Wan adapting to his current situation.
7. Yoda Vs. Darth Sidious (Coruscant) Episode III
This is a fight that I was really hoping would happen at some point in the prequels since it is the two masters from each side going head to head. While the actual swordplay seen is fantastic, The fight suffers from two much of the fight being about the fighters mastery over the force. Something that I am sure is important when fighting for your life against a Sith lord but doesn’t show up on screen quite as well as a good old fashion lightsaber fight.
6. Yoda Vs. Count Dooku (Genosis) Episode II
This sequence has already been scene as part of Dooku’s fight with Anakin and Obi-Wan, but I wanted to give it it’s own spot on the list. Like Qui-Gon’s first fight with Darth Maul, this fight was more of a tease as to what could happen in the next movie, but in this case, the tease was far more impressive. After seeing Yoda limp around with a cane for four movies, getting to see him do a 180 and pull a lightsaber in what might be the fastestet paced fight of the saga was fantastic. Kudos also go to Christopher Lee who was able to portray in the fractions of seconds that we saw his face, how truly terrified Dooku was of Yoda.
5. Obi-Wan and Anakin Vs. Count Dooku (Above Coruscant) Episode III
I’ve complained before about some fights being disappointingly short, but in this case, I liked the brevity of the fight, showing how efficient Jedi wore because after all, as Obi-Wan said “Sith Lords are their specialty.” We are often told that Obi-Wan and Anakin are a great team together, but we never really get to see that in the prequels since they are often sent on different missions from one another. This is really the only time we get to see them work together in a lightsaber fight (since Anakin was in a rush last time) and It’s nice to see them together one last time before their friendship comes to an end later in the movie.
4. Darth Vader Vs. Luke Skywalker (Cloud City) Episode V
Even though there are far more Lightsaber fights in the prequel movies, half of my top four come from the original trilogy. While part of that can be credited to nostalgia, I still think that the time in between fights, helps to make these more enjoyable. At this point, we’ve waited for a Luke vs. Vader fight for almost two movies, so the anticipation is running highs. I still get shivers seeing the two of them stare each other down right before the fight begins.
3. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan Vs. Darth Maul (Naboo) Episode I
I know that many a person loves to bash Phantom Menace, but I find it hard to believe that many people can find fault with the lightsaber battle at the end of the movie. At an incredibly fast pace, and with impressive, aerobatic moves, this fight was like none we had ever seen before. For the first time we got to watch Jedi who did not first learn about the force at 19, but instead had been training with a lightsaber since almost birth. And if none of those arguments work for you, then let me remind you, Double bladed lightsaber.
2. Luke Skywalker Vs. Darth Vader (Death Star) Episode VI
On a technical level, this one is the best of the original trilogy, but the real reason that this one works for me, is the emotion that is in the scene. After having scene Luke struggle throughout the whole movie with the fact that Vader is his father, being forced into a physical controntation, we can see him struggle with himself throughout the entire fight. Then the final sequence adds a level as we see Luke battle with an aggression as yet unseen in the saga at the mention of Leia, that we almost have to wonder if for a second Vader hadn’t succeeded and Luke had fallen to the Dark Side as well. As a side note I love the fact that Vader threw his lightsaber when Luke was above him instead of jumping after him seeing how well that worked out last time he was fighting someone who had the high ground.
1. Anakin Vs. Obi-Wan (Mustafar) Episode III
This was the fight that we had been waiting for. Ever since learning about the origins of Darth Vader, we’ve known that we would eventually see the battle between these two. And however you may have been disappointed in the prequels, this is where they really delivered. Everything that you could possibly want in a fight is here. The sheer athletic skill and swordsmanship on display far outstrips anything else we have seen in the series. Also, it’s a small thing, but I love the fact that it’s the only battle where both the lightsabers are the same color. On a technical level, the red blade simply would not have shown up against the lava background. But, as part of the story, the Anakin was still wielding a blue saber, and wearing Jedi attire after turning to the dark side, added to the character.
Comments
Post a Comment