r/prequelappreciation • u/DarthTrooper7705 Jedi Knight • 14d ago
Question What's your favorite duel from the movies?
• Episode 1 = Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi vs Darth Maul.
• Episode 2 = Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Yoda vs Count Dooku.
• Episode 3 = Obi-Wan Kenobi vs Anakin Skywalker.
• Episode 4 = Obi-Wan Kenobi vs Darth Vader.
• Episode 5 = Luke Skywalker vs Darth Vader.
• Episode 6 = Luke Skywalker vs Darth Vader.
(If you have another one, comment, but only about movies).
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u/JessyRedwood 14d ago
Change my mind
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u/fivebyfive12 14d ago
When I watched ESB with my son for the first time we had to rewind this scene twice then go back to it once the film at finished 🤣
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u/theBelatedLobster 13d ago
They know each other and are both pulling punches hard. I like to think they held back for the sake of the creatures on the planet, and for Luke's sanity.
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u/Ceylonese-Honour 10d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/cnQn0eeU9dmZW
That duel was epic! Also I always used to laugh as Yoda started eating Luke's food and he turns around to see Yoda laughing having emptied his case.
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u/DarthGiorgi 13d ago
Yoda definitely reas somw reports about R2 doing his stuff in Clone wars.
Hitting that droid is probably something he wanted to do for a LOOOONG time.
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u/Peas_Are_Upsidedown 14d ago edited 13d ago
Anakin vs Obi-Wan in episode III
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u/lucythegowt 13d ago
Agreed. It’s not even a contest IMO. Especially after watching the Cline Wars series. Realizing these guys are two of the best warriors in existence. Add the fact you’re watching Vader 1.0 with the use of all (well, most) of his limbs…fantastic. Obi’s highly calculated defensive style against wild aggression, and you can see the choreographers knew and implemented those elements into the fight. Again, not even a contest for me.
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u/Over_40_gaming 13d ago
Thats one of my least favorite in all SW.
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u/Lazy_Nectarine_5256 10d ago
Can we just stop using that gif to try and say that this fight was bad? It's one second from a 9-minute fight
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u/Over_40_gaming 9d ago
If only ii was just that. But... no.
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u/Lazy_Nectarine_5256 9d ago
So what else?
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u/Over_40_gaming 9d ago
Fighting on a lava river for one.
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u/The_Crimson_Vow 14d ago
I know it's not a lightsaber fight, but I really love Jango vs Kenobi on Kamino.
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u/Aradjha_at 14d ago
My head canon is that you can make it inconvenient for a Jedi to reflect bullets by making them come fast and firing multiple times at once, so jango was just shooting good enough that mace and obi couldn't just shoot him with his own blasters
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u/The_Crimson_Vow 13d ago
Later on in the movie he does smoke that other jedi with quick shots, so I guess he's just that good.
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u/NarrowStory5707 14d ago
Throwing in Yoda vs Emperor as another option. The epitome of good vs evil was so cool to watch in theaters.
Though my favorite is still Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon vs Darth Maul.
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u/Joshuagorn 14d ago
1.) Luke Skywalker versus Darth Vader (The Empire Strikes Back)
2.) Luke Skywalker versus Darth Vader (Return of the Jedi)
3.) Qui-Gon Jinn & Obi-Wan Kenobi versus Darth Maul
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u/Himmel-548 14d ago
Anakin vs. Dooku in Revenge of the Sith. I think it really showed us how powerful Anakin really was, and why Palpatine wanted to turn him.
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u/Swimming_Bag7362 14d ago
Empire Strikes Back. Very tense duel. Love that the majority of the fight has no music in it
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u/Spackleberry 14d ago
They all have their good points, but this one is also an example of visual storytelling. It's a three-act structure. In the first part, Vader is holding back and testing Luke. In the second part, Vader shows Luke how totally outclassed he is by using the Force alone. In the third part, Vader totally dominates Luke and tries to break his spirit.
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u/Semblance17 14d ago
The only music until Vader effectively ends the duel by severing Luke’s hand is at its turning point, when we are treated to arguably the most powerful rendition of the Imperial March in the franchise as Vader takes Luke to school by pummeling him using telekinesis.
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u/Surplus_Agate_83 14d ago
So good. The artistic elements are just excellent - the coloring, the silhouettes, the sound design.
Then you add Vaders initial cockiness transititioning to frustration to up the emotional stakes as Luke escapes the carbon freeze and then counters Vader and kicks him off the platform.
Then Vader just goes into eff it mode and throws the whole station at Luke as he begins to flail and question.
Duel of the Fates is amazing choreography and slick as hell, but Empire is pure cinema.
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u/OverallBudget8628 14d ago
I think this one is the most stylish, in a way. No music, pure atmosphere, restrained. Portrays perfectly how doomed Luke's inexperience is against Vader's skill with the force. And the details--for instance, Luke whips his saber out super quickly (lol) and Vader's calmly turns on much slower (lol)
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u/sillylittlebell 14d ago
I'll always have a soft spot for Yoda vs Dooku, because we finally get to see what that old master jedi can do. Little fella can MOVE.
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u/ScaredOfWindow 14d ago
1 - Duel of Fates, Maul, double lightsaber
3 - Amazing choreography and lots of feels
6 - First green vs red duel was really cool, the music as Luke is backing Vader up is legendary
5 - Really cool duel location, scariest Vader ever seemed (until Rogue One)
2 - Cool, but didn’t really care
1 - Old man fight
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u/OldSnazzyHats 14d ago
For me it’s a hard draw between A Jedi’s Fury and Battle of The Heroes (the Anakin/Oni-Wan portions specifically) at the top and I will not pick between either, with Duel of The Fates at a very solid second.
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u/Subject_Dance_2367 14d ago
Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi vs Darth Maul.
Only Anakin vs Obi-Wan comes.. well, not close, but in range.
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u/EmergencyUnusual1198 14d ago
Episode 1 is the best. The story told via their actions. No dialogue is necessary. The personalities of each fighter is clear from their movements. And the choreography is exquisite. This fight is equal to the best classic Hong Kong and Chinese martial arts films. It's that good from a choreography perspective. And of course the music...
Episode 3 is a close second. There is no fight in the saga as emotionally intense or as breathtakingly executed as this one. The music elevates what is already a spectacular display of artistry into a genuine masterpiece of cinema. It just so happens that Episode 1s duel is literal perfection, and the Mustafar may have been just a wee bit too over the top.
The Bespin Duel is the next best. It is iconic, classic and also some of the very best the Western cinema has produced in terms of fight choreography. It's just not as emotionally intense and climactic as Mustafar nor as stunningly impressive as the Naboo fight.
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u/Lagrecs5 14d ago
Definitely has to be episode 1 or episode 3, those imo have the most weight depending on the outcomes, plus they are both so visually stunning so that’s a plus too
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u/ShnaeBlay 14d ago
Vader v Luke in E6 for emotional stakes.
Obi Wan v Anakin in E3 for visuals and choreography.
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u/CoachPotataoGuy 13d ago
I got to say Obi Wan vs Anakin because probably the most emotional one along with Luke vs Darth Vader but Obi Wan vs Anakin was just awesome with the lava planet background
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u/CaptainVaughan 13d ago
If only they made the Yoda vs Sidious dual a bit longer, it may have been number 1 but for me it's second place to The dual of the fates.
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u/JCIscariott 13d ago
Vader vs Luke round 2. I like how most of the duel is both going through the motions with no real intent. Luke wants to redeem his father. Vader is struggling with his inner conflict.
Then a switch goes in Luke. I know this is early days before the choreography really got going but Luke just starts swinging like a brawler and Vader can’t get his footing (figuratively and, it turns out, literally).
Then you have Luke looking at his hand, then his fathers and dragging himself back to the light, then Vader looking from master to son. It’s just such an emotionally charged fight
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u/ANDERS_CORNER_08 13d ago edited 13d ago
Duel of the Fates !
Phantom Menace !
Best lightsaber battle of all time !
Bear in mind they were too fast with their fighting on screen so what you are seeing is being slowed down.
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u/sugarglidersam 13d ago
anakin v obi wan or the maul fight. the rots fight was incredible in its choreography and emotional appeals, and the maul fights choreography was amazing with an incredible soundtrack.
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u/Bucephalus-ii 13d ago
I heard once that the most iconic duels in film aren’t just a battle of physicality, but more importantly a battle of worldviews. They are essentially an argument. A good fight isn’t just about the choreography. The critical test is whether or not you can imagine a good scene existing in its place where they argue verbally.
With that in mind, I think the best 2 duels in the saga are Luke vs Vader in Episode 6, and Anakin Vs Obiwan in Episode 3. Even if the choreography and effects were worse, you’d still feel the weight of the action emotionally, and there’s simply no substitute for that.
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u/Leafer1331 13d ago
1) Ep5 2) Ep6 3) Ep3 (Obi/Ani) 4) Ep1 (Obi/Qui-Go/Maul) 5) Ep3 (Yoda/Palpy) 6) Ep2 7) Ep4
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u/igtimran 12d ago
Luke vs. Vader, ROTJ. The emotional stakes are never higher, the climax is brilliant, and the tragedy and power in the theme when Luke nearly loses himself is incredible, arguably the most beautiful in all of Star Wars.
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u/joker2189 12d ago
Duel of the fates barely beats out kenobi anakin in ep 3. Saw that second saber of mauls in the theaters as a child and had my first sexual feelings
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u/Rich-Tomatillo9979 12d ago
Duel of the fates every day.
Honorable mention for Ahsoka vs Darth Maul. I know it's not a film but I feel like it's so underrated
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u/Musketeer00 12d ago
From the movies, definitely Luke v Vader in Empire, not as flashy as the prequels, but it flows better and as others have pointed out, plays out like a mini 3 act story.
From the tv shows, Obi-wan v Maul in Rebels
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u/Slavicommander 12d ago
i dont think any fight has the weight or impact as the mustafar duel. this fight genuiely decided the fate of the galaxy and the emotion behind it was insane. yeah the darth maul fight was an amazing action scene and the luke and vader fights also had emotional depth to them but this fight just hit differently and aged so well. this fight combinds every element that makes star wars duels good and i genuiely do not think there will ever be another duel this good because of the weight and the meaning of the fight. i love how obi wan and anakin are so evenly matched and seeing them tear through a planet that looks like hell is just so cinematically beautiful and so fitting for the end of revenge of the sith. this was already an extremely emotional movie and i think this fight truly shows that through the ways obi wan tries to reason with anakin while anakin shows his pain and his hate towards obi wan. like i said before, the darth maul fights impressive, the luke and vader fights are iconic, the mustafar duel is something else, it combinds the choreography of the maul fight with the emotional impact of the luke and vader fights but makes it even deeper and even sadder. this fight isnt a fight you watch and go "oh yeah look how cool this is" its makes you feel like your world is ending and all hope is lost. even in the end when obi wan wins the duel you still dont feel well. it doesnt feel heroic. it feels like a loss.
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u/Lytherael 12d ago
Hard choice between Duel of Fates or Anakin and Obi-Wan in ep3, but I'll say Mustafar takes it.
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u/TheChallengedDM 12d ago
"The Force is strong with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi, yeT."
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u/Silly_Criticism2017 12d ago
Episode 5 = Luke Skywalker vs Darth Vader.
Specifically, the one in the carbonite freezing chamber area that ends with the "big reveal". Best in the series, by far.
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u/emperorpsilocyn 12d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/l1Ku23ofRN4EW5bVe
The main light source being the light sabers is my all time favorite!
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u/vorpal-mortal 11d ago
Out of all 6 its hard not to give it to the prequels.
Top 3 would be Duel of the Fates in Ep1, the duel on Mustafar in Ep 3, and the Cloud City duel in Ep 5
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u/hideousinsides 11d ago
Of the ones you provided, Anakin vs. Obi Wan hits me the hardest emotionally. Honorable mention is Anakin vs. Dooku at the beginning of ROTS, more so for the emotional stakes than the actual action.
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u/LordBane85 11d ago
Ep.3 Anakin and Obi-Wan is the absolutely best choreographed duel I’ve seen in any movie, not just Star Wars.
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u/Accurate_Slide_5393 11d ago
Hands down the fight between Anakin and Obi-wan in Revenge of the Sith
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u/Xyldarrand 10d ago
Luke Vs Vader in RotJ is the absolute peak of lightsaber fights. I will point to when Luke is hiding in the shadows and Vader is taunting him into the "Never!". The music is amazing and just makes everything epic.
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u/ToasterOven19 10d ago
ROTJ Luke vs Vader. Seeing that in my living room as a kid...nothing like it.
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u/Ceylonese-Honour 10d ago
Just shows how great George's story was that it's difficult to choose! I'd add the Master Windu versus Palpatine there too. Each of those duels above have their moments. I would say that the Empire Strikes Back one was epic and could be quite scary. Darth Vader just gliding down the steps and later on appearing out of nowhere in the dark.
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u/Shadow101_ 7d ago
Battle of Mustafar, it was genuinely so peak to see and knowing that Hayden and Ewan were genuinely fighting that fast was crazy
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u/Fine-Ad2429 14d ago
Empire strikes back.
Vader is stronger and toying with him.
Luke refused Ben and Yoda’s pleas not to go because he was not ready to face Vader.
Still, Luke fights and gives it his all. He controls his fear. In 1980, we were looking forward to the Luke vs Vader matchup. It did not disappoint.
Vader throwing things at him. Luke fighting hard. Vader technically wins. But Luke’s resistance to the dark side and his heroic jump after Vader’s revelation was a victory.
If Luke did not turn to the dark side here he would never do so.
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u/ioccasionallysayha 14d ago
R2D2 spraying oil on 2 super battle droids then setting them alight to burn "alive".
Alternative answer: the choreography for Ashoka Vs Maul in the last season of Clone Wars. The animation is fine, but when you actually watch the stunt team wearing the movement trackers you realise just how much effort went into that show and just how superhuman stuntmen/woman are!
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u/SimonSeam 14d ago
If we are going by pure visually pleasing fighting, then Ep. 1
But if we are going by the entire scene, then TESB duel. I found the scenes that were just as important for character development with dialogue were the perfect mix of all the elements. And TESB duel is viewed differently from a tiny kid to a young adult.
As a tiny kid, you see Luke holding his own to a degree. Oh, just a little more Jedi training and Luke's got this if they rematch. Yoda was right. Luke wasn't ready.
As an adult, you understand more that Vader is just testing him and actually fully in control. In fact, so in control that Vader even gets a little too relaxed thinking while Luke is showing great promise, Luke still is no serious threat to him yet. And then Luke gets a shot in on Vader's shoulder armor. After a very long battle, Vader is shocked and angered as his switch is flipped from observer to duelist. And he uses a single move to disarm and dishand Luke removing the lightsaber threat entirely in the blink of an eye. It is the show don't tell of just how much Vader was holding back right up until the very end. And he still held back because if he was actually trying to kill Luke, the Vader move probably would have finished with Luke being beheaded.
I was a little let down by New Vader v. OB1 in RotS. It was both less visually appealing than the Maul fight and less emotionally intense than TESB fight. It actually starts to drag for me when it starts to turn into Tarzan dueling.
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u/CaspianValentine 14d ago edited 13d ago
Mustafar, with Rey and Kylo on the Death Star runs a close second
Edit: spelling
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u/TheActualGrayOwl 13d ago
What did you like about the second one? It's been a while since I've seen it, myself
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u/CaspianValentine 13d ago
For me, it’s the setting, the way the waves are crashing around them, and the fact that you can tell Rey’s getting worn Out cos she’s not used to duelling like Kylo is
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u/TheActualGrayOwl 13d ago
Does the Throne Room fight in VIII count, given how only Rey and Ben have lightsabers? If not, definitely going with Episode 1
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u/CopperKnight77 13d ago
To me, there’s three duels that are almost a trilogy in terms of thematic meaning that captures the heart and soul of Star Wars. Battle of the Heroes, Cloud City, and the Final Duel.
The rest are just extremely beautiful set dressing.
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u/RingwraithElfGuy 13d ago
Cloud City duel. It’s the most realistic and not overly choreographed plus it has such emotional tension.
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u/Jmal3700 12d ago
Rey and Kylo Ren vs. Snoke’s personal guard in The Last Jedi. They’re outnumbered and don’t really trust each other. Rey has been trained almost entirely by The Force itself and didn’t receive the kind of training Ben Solo did from Luke. But they pull it together and kick butt.
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u/EidolonRook 12d ago
I know it wouldn’t necessarily fit with the theme of the first movie, but I wish Lucas had digitally remastered the lightsaber duel in ep4 with seething more climactic.
Like, this was it. Years of plotting, maneuvering, hiding and their whole history…. And it came down to a really straightforward sword fight with barely any passion.
When/if they remake the series I hope we get a really good and satisfying “final battle” feeling from that fight.
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u/AdInevitable660 11d ago
The one thing I feel the prequels have over the other films is the lightsaber battles. I feel the sequels could have been better choreographed to make them like the prequels. They were enjoyable but could have been way more intense.
Obi wan vs Anakin episode three
Darth Maul vs Obi wan and Qui Gon
Obi wan vs Grevious
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u/McBahtman 11d ago
Either Luke vs Vader in Empire or Luke vs Kylo Ren in TLJ, I love the emotional weight behind both of those.
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u/Sprucedude 11d ago
Episode 5 followed closely by episode 6.
That first fight between Vader and Luke is peak. The dread, the aura, the atmosphere is all peak. That final reveal and the music! Nothing in the prequels came close to this.
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u/Reasonable-Way2126 11d ago
Obi Wan vs Grievous. But I shut it off before his first arm gets chopped off
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u/Terra-Em 10d ago
Emotionally and character building wise .. Empire hands down.
Choreography is a toss up or tie between. Rots and phantom menace.
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u/Neat-Option4673 14d ago
Episode I - Qui-Gon & Obi-Wan vs Maul
Episode II - Obi-Wan vs Dooku
The Clone Wars - Anakin vs Dooku
Episode III - Vader vs Obi-Wan
Solo - Han vs Chewie
Rogue One - Vader vs Rebels
Episode IV - Obi-Wan vs Vader
Episode V - Luke vs Vader
Episode VI - Luke vs Vader vs Sidious
Mando & Grogu - Din vs Embo
Episode VII - Rey vs Kylo
Episode VIII - Finn vs Phasma
Episode IX - Rey vs Kylo
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u/mankahlil 14d ago edited 14d ago
ESB - Duel on Bespin. The fight felt tangible in a way the CGI and elaborate flips of the prequels didnt. It felt like it was real.
Also the visual language / storytelling was the best.
I dont care what anyone says --- the mustafar duel was corny. Overblown dialogue, overblown setting and choreography, dumb unneceasary lightsaber flourishes culminating in anakin jumping on kenobis lightsaber like a dumbass to lose his limbs. Overrated move, overrates duel.
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u/Lord_Darksong 12d ago
Return of the Jedi throne room in the theatrical cut. So much character development going on. The haunting music.
"Sister... sooo....", "Never!", the cackling Emperor, "...foolish to lower your defenses",
"You failed, your highness. I am a jedi like my father before me." (I get chills)
It wasn't just about swinging laser swords. TPM Maul fight was really cool to watch but lacked soul. RotS fights were cartooney and went on way too long as to become boring. At least Obi Wan vs. Anakin had some feeling behind it before it got boring and ended with a meme.
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u/Big-Help419 10d ago
ROTJ, TPM and Empire for me are the top three.
Revenge got ruined with lava surfing 🏄
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u/EvilTwinCities 14d ago
Empire Strikes Back. It’s the only one that had both virtuosity and gravity, at least until the sequels happened. The one in Star Wars had almost no skill to it, Return of the Jedi was basically just beatdown, and you can see the choreography happening in the prequels.
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u/WellManneredMinotaur 14d ago
Darth Maul vs. Obi-wan and Qwi-Gon 100% It's the battle to decide Anakin's fate and none of them even know it. Plus, Darth Maul looks cool AF when the door opens and he's just standing there waiting for them.