Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (USE SPOILER TAGS!)

[Geoff D]

Not comparing them Mr Mef, but I'm certainly implying that the prequel antics are clearly an extension of the route that Lucas had started to do down with his portrayal of Luke's abilities. As Luke got stronger with the Force and got more training, the flipping and the jumping and the fiiiight-ing became more expansive, so it stands to reason that actual Jedi who've trained their whole lives would be a great deal more active, no?

But hey, why should we let reason get in the way of a good old fashioned bout of prequel bashing? Same goes for the complaints about the poor performance of the Geonosis arena Jedi in Clones; those aren't the elite, they're the leftovers (the Jedi are already spread thinly across the galaxy and Windu mentions that he'll take "what Jedi we have" to Geonosis) which is why they're getting battered.

Hell, tomorrow I'll get up and think "I hated [such and such] aspect of the prequels" and so I'll join in the fun. But not this day!

[aiman04]

The fans attention to details on the prequels is amazing. Every single frame analyzed. Impressive, most impressive.

Do people do this to every other films as well?

[mwynn]

You would think that each Jedi would have their own style. Some would be defense others would press the attack. Mace's fighting style would be different from Yoda, who would be different from Maul.

Yet at the end of the day it is more than likely a difference in eras of movies. The OT was more like Japanese Kenjutsu. While the PT was more influenced by Martial Arts or more free flow.

Shinai Sword Fighting - School of the Free Flowing Sword - YouTube

[JamesKurtovich]

Originally Posted by aiman04

The fans attention to details on the prequels is amazing. Every single frame analyzed. Impressive, most impressive.

Do people do this to every other films as well?

Any movie from a beloved franchise will get scrutinized just as much. Example: J.J. Trek.

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by aiman04

The fans attention to details on the prequels is amazing. Every single frame analyzed. Impressive, most impressive.

I don't know about others but I certainly wouldn't ever claim to have analysed every single frame. Far from it. But I do personally think that ROTS's mutual lightsaber swirling moment, instead of actual attacking or defending, is sword choreography gone very bad.

[Det. Bullock]

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

I really like the lightsaber fight at the end of The Phantom Menace. If I was going to criticise the prequel trilogy's take on lightsaber fighting, I would bring up this moment:

Actually that point makes sense, they are studying each other while avoiding having a fixed pose that could phone in their next move.

Originally Posted by chip75

The problem with the fight is you have a trained martial arts expert fighting a huge 6'5'' Irishman and wee Ewan McGregor. Maul could probably hit both of them 50 times before they got near him.

It is a great fight scene and a highlight of the movies, even if it looks terribly stiff in that little video but give the guys a break, they'd never done anything like that before. By the time Episode III came around McGregor was pretty good at it.

The extra twirls seem to be a modern epidemic on movies, most of the handheld weapons are played around with, whether it keeps the wrists and fingers loose or it's just for show I don't know.

It's always been this way, most real fights wouldn't look good enough, there is a similar situations with the few wuxia films I saw, lots of twirls and jumps that wouldn't really be there in real fight.

Hell, even old hollywood films are like that, just look at Errol Flynn's Robin Hood, the term used to indicate stage swordfighting designed to be safe for the actors and look cool but ultimately unrealistic even take its name from him "flynning".

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by Det. Bullock

Actually that point makes sense, they are studying each other while avoiding having a fixed pose that could phone in their next move.

Hmmm, I'm really not convinced. But nevertheless, an interesting interpretation.

[Lord Method Man]

Not even slightly. Just reeks of desperate apologetics.

[JamesKurtovich]

It's a light show. That whole fight was over-the-top and unintentionally funny.

I think J.J. will do the fights in Episode VII justice.

[the fly]

Money, Money, Money

[manunited1]

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

I really like the lightsaber fight at the end of The Phantom Menace. If I was going to criticise the prequel trilogy's take on lightsaber fighting, I would bring up this moment:

Wha?! This moment was sick. They are totally countering each others potential moves.

[SymbioticFunction]

Totally.

[aiman04]

The swinging in the gif is not a move to strike, but part of trick to confuse your opponent. That is why it is called arts, on some martial art form even have movements almost like dancing.

On the Making Of book it was explained that they're both using the same technique, their fighting style mirrors each other. One is a teacher to the other.

[SymbioticFunction]

It's simply there because someone thought it would be a fun and flashy visual moment. It serves absolutely no logical purpose to a swordfight and just comes across as overly choreographed nonsense. It would be equally stupid if it was two martial artists stood just four feet apart, repeatably swinging nunchucks around their heads whilst staring at each other. btw I strongly doubt that we'll see a moment like that in the new film.

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

It's simply there because someone thought it would be a fun and flashy visual moment. It serves absolutely no logical purpose to a swordfight and just comes across as overly choreographed nonsense. It would be equally stupid if it was two martial artists stood just four feet apart, repeatably swinging nunchucks around their heads whilst staring at each other. btw I strongly doubt that we'll see a moment like that in the new film.

Wrong.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

Wrong.

Right...its a idiotic scene that makes the whole fight just flat out silly! Just another example why the PT is well...um a turd.

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by Elvis

Right...its a idiotic scene that makes the whole fight just flat out silly! Just another example why the PT is well...um a turd.

Don't know if I'd go that far...

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

Wrong.

Just out of interest, is there any part of the prequels or original trilogy special editions that you do dislike? Or are all six perfect?

[CinemaBlu]

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

I really like the lightsaber fight at the end of The Phantom Menace. If I was going to criticise the prequel trilogy's take on lightsaber fighting, I would bring up this moment:

This is the highlight of the fight for me. I absolutely love this part! It expresses the tragedy that these are two "brothers" who were so close that they adopted each other's style and even used it at the same time. It's also telling that this expression of their brotherhood in the middle of a vicious fight not only prevents them from striking each other, but ends with the same force move that literally repels them from each other and the fight.

EDIT:
Note that it also takes place during a respite from the hellish nature of the setting.

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

Just out of interest, is there any part of the prequels or original trilogy special editions that you do dislike? Or are all six perfect?

Nothing terribly significant. I don't spend the better part of my time tearing down movies that I love and that mean a lot to me. Nothing is perfect and everything has flaws.

Except for Jaws. Jaws is perfect.