When you think of Star Wars, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? The Millennium Falcon? The iconic score by John Williams? Or perhaps, like me, you envision two lightsabers locked in a battle of wills, where the very fate of the galaxy is at stake. Over the decades, the fight choreography in Star Wars has evolved from raw, character-driven duels to something that—well, let’s just say—feels like it’s missing a soul. Let’s dive into how the choreography changed from the pre-Disney era, where every swing of the saber had weight, to the post-Disney era, where the magic of these iconic battles seems to have dimmed.

The Original Trilogy: The Weight of the World in Every Strike

In the beginning, Star Wars gave us lightsaber duels that were heavy, both literally and metaphorically. The choreography in the original trilogy might not have been flashy by today’s standards, but it was filled with purpose and gravitas.

Take A New Hope‘s duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. Sure, it’s slow, and the movements are deliberate, but that’s precisely the point. This is a fight between two old warriors, each carrying the weight of their shared past. Every strike feels like it could be the last, and the tension is palpable. It’s a scene where the choreography serves the story, not the other way around.

Fast forward to The Empire Strikes Back, where we see Luke and Vader’s first real confrontation. The duel is more intense, more dynamic, but still rooted in character and story. Luke is out of his depth, and it shows. The choreography reflects his inexperience, his desperation. And when Vader reveals his true identity, it’s not just a plot twist—it’s a physical blow, mirrored in the way Luke is beaten down both mentally and physically.

And then there’s Return of the Jedi. The final duel between Luke and Vader is a masterclass in combining action with emotion. Luke’s anger, his fear of becoming like his father, is all expressed through the way he fights. It’s a raw, brutal battle that feels real because it is driven by character rather than choreography for choreography’s sake. This is what makes the original trilogy’s fight scenes so enduring—they aren’t just fights; they’re narrative.

The Prequels: Turning Duels into Spectacle

Enter the prequels, where George Lucas had the budget, technology, and vision to turn lightsaber duels into something akin to a high-stakes ballet. And while some might criticize the prequels for their reliance on CGI and over-the-top action, there’s no denying that the fight choreography here reached new heights.

The Phantom Menace introduced us to the Duel of the Fates—a lightsaber battle that is, quite simply, iconic. The choreography here is fast, fluid, and, yes, spectacular. But it’s not just about the moves; it’s about the stakes. Darth Maul’s introduction as a double-bladed lightsaber-wielding Sith assassin brought a new level of intensity to the battles. The pacing, the coordination—it all came together to create a duel that still stands as one of the best in the entire saga. It’s the perfect blend of style and substance.

In Attack of the Clones, we get Yoda flipping around like a crazed pinball against Count Dooku. Is it a bit much? Maybe. But let’s not pretend that seeing Yoda unleash his full power wasn’t a jaw-dropping moment. The choreography here, while a bit flashy, still manages to capture the essence of these characters. Dooku’s elegant, fencing-style is a perfect contrast to Yoda’s relentless energy. It’s a duel that’s memorable not just for its spectacle but for what it reveals about the characters.

Then there’s Revenge of the Sith, where the fight choreography reaches its peak with the Obi-Wan vs. Anakin duel. This isn’t just a fight; it’s the culmination of a friendship, a brotherhood, turned bitter. The choreography here is intense, fast-paced, and emotionally charged. It’s a dance of death on a backdrop of lava and destruction, perfectly capturing the fall of Anakin Skywalker. This is where the prequels truly shine—using choreography to not just entertain, but to deepen the story and the characters.

The Sequels: Where Did the Soul Go?

And now, we arrive at the Disney era. With all the resources of the Mouse House at their disposal, you’d think the lightsaber battles would be the stuff of legend. But instead, what we got were fights that, while visually impressive, often feel hollow and lacking in the very thing that made the pre-Disney fights so captivating: character-driven choreography.

The Force Awakens starts off promising enough. The fight between Rey and Kylo Ren in the snowy forest is raw, unrefined, and feels like a return to the more grounded style of the original trilogy. But then, as the sequels progress, it becomes clear that the choreography is more about looking cool than about meaning something.

Take the throne room battle in The Last Jedi. It’s flashy, sure, but upon closer inspection, it’s riddled with choreography issues—missed cues, awkward pauses, and enemies waiting to be defeated. It’s a scene designed to wow audiences in the moment, but without the substance to make it memorable beyond that. The characters are moving through the motions, but there’s no real sense of danger or consequence.

And by the time we get to The Rise of Skywalker, the lightsaber battles feel almost like an afterthought. There’s plenty of spectacle, but none of the heart. The fights are visually stunning but lack the narrative weight that made the pre-Disney duels so impactful. It’s as if the filmmakers forgot that lightsaber duels are about more than just swinging glowing sticks—they’re about character, emotion, and stakes.

Conclusion: The Fall of the Lightsaber Duel

In the end, the evolution of Star Wars fight choreography is a tale of lost potential. The original trilogy and the prequels, for all their differences, understood that a lightsaber duel isn’t just a fight—it’s a narrative moment, a chance to explore character and conflict. But as the saga moved into the Disney era, that understanding seems to have been lost. The choreography became more about spectacle than story, and in the process, the magic of the lightsaber duel has dimmed.

So here’s to hoping that in future Star Wars projects, we see a return to form—where every swing of the lightsaber matters, not just because it looks cool, but because it means something.