Nick Gilliard talks about saber dueling and a rating scale

In the recent Star Wars homing beacon email, Nick Gilliard revealed a few interesting comments about the saber dueling and the ratings of the duelists in EP3:

"The fighting has evolved in these last three movies considerably," says Gillard. "George Lucas works on a system of levels. So, on The Phantom Menace Obi-Wan would have been like a level six or seven. Now that we're on Episode III he's actually a level eight. When you move up the levels, it affects the style of fighting."

"Hayden Christensen is one of the best there is," says Gillard. "I've seen hundreds of sword fighters, people who do it for a living, and he leaves them all in his wake. His style has changed a bit since Episode II, when he was only a level seven. On this he's a level nine."

"There's a line of training through Darth Tyranus and Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Anakin. You can follow that line, and there's an aggressive fault in that line. Mace isn't of that line, and that allows you to give him unique talents."

Gilliard also goes on to say that there are no Jedi/Sith who are a level ten. Instead, the highest level is nine, which is attained by a very small number of swordmasters - including Yoda and Sidious.

So it does seem intended that Anakin will be a better dueler than Obi-Wan in EP3, and possibly even on the level of Yoda. I think that during "The Duel", Anakin will probably have the upperhand on Obi-Wan most of the way, but at some point his overconfidence becomes his undoing. Any thoughts on this?

 

I can only say that I'm looking forward to watching Anakin fight!



Star Wars is one
/LM

 

We once had a topic on these boards talking about how, if Obi-Wan is the weaker of the two combatants in the duel, Anakin beats his former master. Since it has now been all but confirmed that Ankain is the superior swordsman, as we all thought he would be, then some sort of emotional mishap must cause his defeat.

I am not sure if Anakin will lose due to his overconfidence. Obviously, George has taken this route before, so I wouldn't be surprized to see it again, but I believe that Anakin will loose his head momentarily because of the fact that he cannot control his emotions. Pablo has confirmed that the duel will be as much of a war or words than a physical struggle, so I wouldn't be suprized if Obi-Wan could find some way to strike a nerve, causing Anakin to lash out undisciplined.



Mace Windy,
too windy for spoilers!

 

Just so.

Obi-Wan never makes a mistake.

I think Anakin will be seen as the most powerful Force user and duelist in ROTS, but that doesn't necessarily make him the BEST - especially against his former master.

I'm curious to see how Sidious and Mace will have slightly different styles compared to Dooku/Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan/Anakin.

 

I just love hearing Nick talk about fighting. And these ratings... hoo boy. Anakin's going to own. I feel a tad giddy about the whole thing I must say. And isn't that just amazingly lucky about Hayden? He just happens to be one of the best swordsman Nick has ever seen. I guess it just goes to show you never know if you can do something until you try it. But, oh man, I hope their performances in the duel blow everyone away. From the way it sounds it's GOT to be one the best fight sequences ever.

There are several quotes from JTF that speak of the duel:

Nick Gillard has done an amazing job instilling an arc of story in the fight. It justifies, because you know Anakin and Obi-Wan have it out, but Anakin is the chosen one-he is supposed to be the best. But he comes out on the shorter end of the stick in the fight. It justifies it really nicely as the fight progresses." - HC

"The duel will explain how Obi-Wan is able to defeat his protege, even though Anakin has been established as the most powerful Jedi who ever lived. Obi-Wan taught Anakin and Anakin has gone past him. But when you get to that duel, it's emotional. That's where the mistake will be made. And if you know the characters, you know Obi-Wan isn't going to get emotional and he doesn't make mistakes." - NG

"Hayden and I go at each other for a such bloody long time but of course I win." - EM

 

You can tell that Ewan enjoys the outcome of the fight

I believe that we will see something in this movie that should earn Gillard a reward for best fight choreography of the year. Only time will tell if he gets one, though.



Star Wars is one
/LM

 

We once had a topic on these boards talking about how, if Obi-Wan is the weaker of the two combatants in the duel, Anakin beats his former master

There is an interesting GL quote about how he envisions Obi-Wan to be alot like the James Bond of Jedi Knights. That is b/c the both are sent out on the most dangerous and important mission by their respective agencies. And that while on these missions they have an affinity to get themselves into trouble, ie. near death situations. However when it matters the most they are able to, when everything seems bleak, to thrive and survive, and ultimately win.