#sword duel vs lightsaber duel

[turtlele]

Siblings approval Trastámaras vs. Boleyns (This is araleyn so...)

Juana: ¿Cuáles son tus intenciones con mi hermana pequeña? (What are your intentions with my little sister?)

Catalina: No soy pequeña! (I am not little!)

Anne: Um hable más despacio por favor señora (speak slower please ma'am)

Juan: ¿fluida?

Anne: Ah si

Maria: Not a total loss

Catalina: God, can you just yes or no to me marrying Anne?

Isabel: Patience Catalina. We don't know her worth to you unless she beats me to a duel

Anne: Oh that I can do confidently

Anne: *picks up her phone and calls Kitty* Kat, get the swords and lightsabers! This is the moment we've been waiting for

Catalina: sigh Kill me now

----

Catalina: I'm dating your sister..

George: Since how long and when are you going to propose to the dwarf?

Anne: George!

George: Just saying. Me, Mary, and the other cousins know you're too chicken to propose.

Catalina: Um for 5 years and before new years this year

Mary: Cool, she better make me a bridesmaid instead of a flower girl

Anne: Don't worry that's for Maggie.

[ultimate-sword-showdown]

Round 2, Match 14: Darksaber vs. Brisingr

Darksaber

From: Star Wars

Wielder: Din Djarin

The Darksaber was created a long time ago by Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian ever inducted into the Jedi Order. It is said that whoever wields it is the true ruler of Mandalore. It is unique for not only being the only black lightsaber, but the only lightsaber to feature a blade shaped like a katana rather than the cylindrical design of other lightsabers. In addition, according to Mandalorian tradition it can only be claimed by besting the current wielder in a duel.

Brisingr

From: The Inheritance Cycle

Wielder: Eragon

Brisingr is a sword forged by Eragon from brightsteel, a metal originating from a meteor. In the book’s conlang, Brisingr means fire, and saying its name causes the sword itself to light on fire.

[ultimate-swordsmanship-bracket]

ROUND 1 MATCH 2: The Three Musketeers vs Darth Vader

An inseparable trio from a classic novel with many adaptations that defined the tropes of the swashbuckler genre... vs an iconic villain whose stunt double in two of the films was an actual Olympic fencer!

VS

Summaries under the cut:

The Three Musketeers is a classic novel that's been adapted many times. Everyone has their preferred version, and while I used an image of the 70s version for this poll as it's the version with the most realistic (and ruthless) swordfighting which I find a lot of fun (older versions tend towards obvious stage fighting), ALL versions of them are included in this entry. To many, these characters define the classic image of a swashbuckling hero. Despite being "Musketeers", and having muskets in one scene on the battlefield, they are far more iconically associated with swords and use them in far more scenes. Also they fight duels constantly over pretty much everything; duels were illegal in France by this time but they don't care.

Darth Vader (aka Anakin Skywalker) is of course the most famous villain from Star Wars, the series of films that created the iconic weapon of the lightsaber. Lightsaber combat in Star Wars has taken inspiration from both fencing and kendo, and Darth Vader's lightsaber stunts in The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi were performed by Bob Anderson, fencer in all three weapons at the Commonwealth Games (then called the British Empire Games but fuck that) and twice gold medallist, who also fenced at the Olympics. Bob Anderson coached and choreographed swordfight scenes for such films as The Lord Of The Rings and The Princess Bride, so he was indirectly responsible for many of the characters in this bracket, but Darth Vader is the only one to have been portrayed by him onscreen. From his fights with Luke Skywalker to his famously intimidating appearance effortlessly slaughtering the Rebels in Rogue One, he's one of the most dangerous characters in the series.

[septante-sept]

i opened the thread knowing full well what i was gonna get and i still felt something leave my soul reading the responses. i saw count dooku and yoda and youtube fan film lightsaber fights before i saw any of the OT duels lol. i know we’re fundamentally looking for something different in a lightsaber duel: some people are interested in them as actual scenes in a movie— it’s about the characters, the dialogues, the emotional moments— and some people are interested in watching a videogame cutscene that makes them go “that was AWESOME!!!” once its done, and there’s nothing i can do about it.

in the original trilogy, every single one of the three duels was a huge character moment that held a central place in the story and the characters’ arcs. the importance is not on the sword swinging itself (even though the choreographies are great. yes even the 1977 one, overall)— the duels are just a setting to provide us with the movies’ most important character moments. from a technical perspective, all are grounded and suitably tense and exciting, and from a narrative perspective, they are just important scenes for the characters and for the themes. the audience learns things about the characters and the characters also learn things about themselves. especially in the luke vs vader fights, we see the a masterfully crafted resolution or evolution of the central conflict of the story.

when qui gon and darth maul fight, what is that supposed to mean for their characters? for anyone’s arc? or when… idk… yoda and palpatine of all people bring out lightsabers and start doing cgi backflips? what’s the emotional core or the message here? and of two sabers anakin vs count dooku? or, god forbid, of hundreds of jedi fighting hundreds of robots in an arena? there are some fights that do try to be real scenes with emotions and plot beats (tm), like the second anakin vs count dooku or anakin vs obi wan, but overall the prequels have lightsaber fights because they have star wars in the title and star wars is supposed to have lightsaber fights, and their main raisons d’être are “insert action scene” and “the child and young adult demographics are gonna love this”.

i know i have no right to tell people what to enjoy and that is not my intention. i just wish i could find the fandom more enjoyable, lol

[stagbeetleboy]

I’m so mad we never get to see a fight between Dooku and Palpatine. It would be the greatest lightsaber duel in all of history.

Elegant and brutal. Palpatine’s animalistic speed and agility vs Dooku’s graceful and exact sword play.

I think I’d pass away if we ever got to see them training together or maybe battling over a disagreement.

Two of the greatest duelist in the galaxy far far away.

[pilot-boi]

put all your OCs in a pit

which ones winning the Lightsaber Duel

Honestly, it would be down to Anthony and Cecilia

Demetri doesn’t fight, neither does Anita. So it’s down to six. Nick and Lena would destroy each other, they’ve got a HUGE rivalry (football vs. cheerleaders) In a fight between Emerald and Nero… Anthony and Emerald would probably team up to beat him and then Cecilia would take out Emerald

That leaves Anthony and Cecilia

And between the two of them, Cecilia would win. Anthony knows how to fight with a sword, but Cecilia has a vicious streak that would give her the edge

[saberdefiant12]

The Lightsaber: An Iconic Weapon of the Jedi and Sith

The lightsaber is one of the most iconic and recognizable weapons in the realm of science fiction, famously wielded by both the noble Jedi and the malevolent Sith in the Star Wars universe. This powerful and elegant weapon is a symbol of the Force and the ongoing struggle between good and evil. In this article, we will explore the history, construction, significance, and cultural impact of the lightsaber.

1. History and Origin:

In the Star Wars saga, the light saber has a rich history dating back thousands of years. It was first created by the Jedi Order, a group of Force-sensitive individuals dedicated to upholding peace and justice in the galaxy. Over time, the lightsaber became synonymous with the Jedi, becoming a weapon that reflected their commitment to the Force and their role as defenders of the weak and oppressed.

2. Construction and Design:

A lightsaber is a unique weapon that features a plasma blade emitted from a hilt, which is powered by a kyber crystal. Kyber crystals are Force-attuned crystals that give the lightsaber its distinctive color, ranging from blue and green to red, purple, and more. The lightsaber's design allows its blade to cut through almost anything, making it a formidable weapon in the hands of a skilled wielder.

3. Significance and Symbolism:

The lightsaber is more than just a weapon; it represents various significant aspects within the Star Wars narrative:

a. The Force: The lightsaber is a manifestation of the Force, a mystical energy that connects all living things. Jedi and Sith use the Force to wield the lightsaber with skill and precision.

b. The Jedi Way: For the Jedi, the lightsaber is a symbol of their commitment to peace, justice, and the protection of others. It embodies their discipline, selflessness, and dedication to maintaining balance in the galaxy.

c. The Sith and the Dark Side: For the Sith, the red lightsaber symbolizes their embrace of the dark side of the Force, representing power, aggression, and ambition. Sith use the lightsaber to assert dominance and further their quest for control and domination.

4. Cultural Impact:

The lightsaber's popularity extends beyond the Star Wars franchise, becoming a pop culture icon with a massive fan following. The weapon has inspired countless merchandise, including toys, replicas, and collectibles. The lightsaber's distinctive sound, created by combining the hum of a film projector and other sounds, has become instantly recognizable and synonymous with epic lightsaber duels.

5. Lightsaber Duels:

One of the most captivating elements of the lightsaber is the art of lightsaber dueling. Throughout the Star Wars saga, audiences have been enthralled by intense and skillful lightsaber battles, showcasing the agility and power of the Jedi and the Sith. Iconic duels like Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader, and Rey vs. Kylo Ren have become legendary moments in cinematic history.

6. Influence on Real-World Technology:

The concept of the lightsaber has captured the imagination of scientists and technology enthusiasts. Researchers have explored ways to create plasma-based blades, laser swords, or even functional lightsabers. While these technologies are still in the realm of science fiction, the lightsaber's enduring appeal continues to inspire innovation in the real world.

In conclusion, the lightsaber is an enduring symbol of the Star Wars saga, representing the power of the Force, the Jedi's commitment to justice, and the Sith's embrace of the dark side. Its distinctive design, captivating duels, and cultural impact have made it a beloved and iconic weapon in science fiction history. Whether you're a fan of the Jedi or the Sith, the lightsaber remains a timeless symbol of heroism, villainy, and the eternal struggle between good and evil in the galaxy far, far away.

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[thecollectiverpg]

L O A D I N G   V I L L A I N   P R O F I L E …

NAME: BLACK PALADIN AKA PAXMAN PANCHAL

AGE: THIRTY

TIER: ONE

GENDER & PRONOUNS: TRANS MAN, HE/HIM

ABILITIES: COMBAT MASTERY. SUPERNATURALLY SKILLED IN FIGHTING AND SWORD USE

MEMBER SINCE: LATE 2021

BACKGROUND (CONFIDENTIAL: SECURITY PASSCODE REQUIRED)

PAX vs THE BULLIES 

His brawl with Peter isn’t a fight that Pax should be able to win. He’s a scrawny little fucker. And he’s never been the strong, sporty type –– not outside of playing make believe with his mother, toy swords and lightsabers and makeshift forts. Pax’s father wasn’t the tough type either. He was an academic at heart, worn in sweaters and ink stains on his sleeves, gentle eyes. He was the one that Pax went to crying, when things at school just got way too intense. Typical bully insanity, and he’d been sensitive, for a fourteen year old. His dad talked to the school about it, but when it kept happening, he was a little bit lost. It was his mum that looked at him and told him to be a fighter, how to throw a punch, that the best way to shut someone up was to give them a black eye. 

So Peter came at him again, and Pax threw a punch. He was quicker than he thought he would be, just a little bit stronger, and it was like time slowed down a little bit. Peter was bigger and tougher than him, but Pax was the one who came out victorious. 

He was also the one who got suspended for two weeks. But his mother had been proud, and his father admitted that at least it had put an end to things. 

 BLACK PALADIN vs THE WHITE KNIGHT 

His mother signs him up for team after team. Childhood pretend games of sword fighting turns into Pax being fencing champion six years in a row. They never put pressure on him to be the best, to win –– but Pax did it anyway. It was easy. He tried martial arts, and that was easy too. Like second nature, muscle memory that he never actually had to earn. And he only gets better the longer he practices. 

Pax starts LARPing when he’s in grad school, at the very beginning of his PhD in Medieval History and Mythology. It’s a way to distract himself from the other pressures in his life. It’s a return to playing pretend, and his mum loves to hear the stories, the little fantasy games he’s made up. She sews him a stupid little costume and everything, as cool as it can be, and they start calling him The Black Paladin. 

The White Knight isn’t one of their usual LARPing buddies. He’s a stranger who approaches them in the park, and he’s acting bloody weird. Challenging the strongest among them to a duel. All eyes turn to Pax, and he shrugs his shoulders. Whatever weird kind of intro this is, he can play ball. The dude has a real fucking sword though, which no one notices before him and Pax actually start going at each other. He thinks: holy shit, I’m gonna die. And then he thinks: holy shit, i’m gonna die in a stupid costume my mom made me. And then he thinks: hold on a second, what if I –– and with a swift movement, he’s the one with the real fucking sword in his hand. They call the police, and he heads home thinking he was just the victim of some crazy dude. 

It’s later, when he’s wasting time on twitter, that he sees the news report. The White Knight is a supervillain, supposedly, one that went off the rails and lost his mind a little bit. Be believed he was King Arthur come alive once again, and he murdered 2 LARPers in a different park the night before Pax met him. 

He calls over his roommate, Sasha, to look at the laptop screen, the article still open. “Yikes,” She says, and that about sums it up. 

She thinks that Pax should probably spend more time freaking out about this. But he has a paper due in two days, so he really doesn’t have time for that. 

BLACK PALADIN vs THE FIGHT CLUB 

He doesn’t advertise the fact that he apparently took down a bloodthirsty supervillain. He’s never been the bragging type, and to be honest, it was kind of scary. Scary enough that his friends don’t even want  to go play in the park anymore. He complains about that to Sasha, and she tells him that he sounds like a nine year old. He only pouts a little bit. Still, the absence of entertainment leaves him feeling listless and bored, banging his head against the desk in his dorm room. He could go to one of the teams his university has, but his ex-boyfriend is the captain of half of the one's he has a real interest in, and he definitely doesn’t have time for that drama.

His friend Martin sends him a Reddit post at 2am, two weeks after the day in the park. It reads as thus: Seeking: The Black Paladin, for a test of strength and glory. Anyone know where to find the guy who brought down the White Knight? I want to put him to the test against my current champion. Pax stares at it for five minutes, opens his discord and replies to Martin, a simple: lol, as if.  He stares at the post for another ten minutes, glances at his increasingly busy to-do list, and sends a direct message to the guy who posted it anyway. 

A week later, he’s meeting a stranger off the internet at a shady underground club. A week and a day later, he’s standing in the stranger’s fighting ring, and holding a borrowed sword. He tests the weight of it in his hand, feels how right it is, and smiles. They put him up against the current champion of the club, Behemoth, and he wins two out of three rounds.

It would be a lie to say that Pax became a star overnight. No one who spent their weekends brawling in The Captains superpowered fight club was anything close to famous. But he gained a certain kind of cult following, among those in the know. He was quick and sharp and charming, and the Captain liked him. Hell, The Captain almost flaunted him, liked to show him off. His best fighter, who had the run of the place after two months. Everyone thought they were fucking, which Pax had to wrinkle his nose at, but it didn't change the fact that Pax was a fucking champion. 

He can count on one hand the number of people he lost to, during fight club. Five, exactly. And everyone knew that if you gave him a second, third chance, Pax would always find a way to win. He would beat you eventually, if you let him. 

He gets hired to do some petty crimes by some of the regulars at the club, at the recommendation of The Captain, and so his life as a villain begins, not with a bang but with a "yeah, I guess I could pull that off." 

BLACK PALADIN vs THE CAPTAIN 

He tried not to let his studies suffer, during his new career as a fighter. He slaved away into the long hours of the night, wrote draft after draft and then rewrote them again. Being an academic was almost Paxs whole identity. It was where he had placed the majority of his value as a human being. He wasn't allowed to be bad at it, he wasn't allowed to fail. 

Except, in his stressed out brain, everything other than perfection is failing. That's why he freaks out after one particularly bad meeting with his advisor, and decides to run away. Okay, it's a little dramatic, but once he's started there's no turning back. 

The Captain didn’t technically do anything wrong, to Pax. He was a little creepy. A little mercenary, and Pax didn’t love being treated like a prize. Pax doesn’t feel bad, either, for robbing him. You see, the Captain has a beautiful collection of swords, and Pax has been borrowing them for years. He’s the only one who ever uses them. And he takes them with him when he goes. Sure, they’re priceless. But so is he, and he’s gonna need them if he wants to make a living. 

He remembers reading about the Collective, seeing the news, seeing the advertisements for it. Superhuman abilities? Eh, maybe. A skewed moral compass? Well, if his ethics classes had taught him anything, it was that everything was relative. The urge to commit theft and treason? He’d looked over at his stolen swords at that one, and nodded his head. So, the collective it was. He interviews with bashfulness, and tries to be confident. He was never the kind of person who could lose, after all. Of course, his small amount of experience, tiny as it was, was enough to make him interesting. And he was determined at the very least –– certain he could make something of this, one way or another.

[whetstonefires]

Diana (Wonder Woman) vs. Obi-wan

Huh, I mean...objectively this is not a fair match-up. She’s Wonder Woman. And he is not.

Fiction being what it is she’s lost to plenty of people and I could certainly construct a narrative to give Obi-Wan the win, but reasonably he is so completely outclassed.

If he pulled out Vader-level large-object telekinesis and flicked a gorram spaceship at her, she’d get the fuck up again. How’s he supposed to put her down? A lightsaber to the heart would finish her, admittedly, but he’d have to be persuaded she deserved it and manage to put it there. Which would not be easy even if his sword could cut her wristbands, which I frankly doubt. He’s not the kind of space wizard who can get around generalized magical defenses, and these are divinely empowered by a religious framework he isn’t even aware of.

Meanwhile all she has to get around to put him down is the laser sword, which wouldn’t be easy especially since he switched to Soresu after Qui-Gon died, but is certainly doable, and then he’s not much tougher than any other human.

He’s not going to win this without the great good luck of her screwing up, or other narrative contrivance.

I’d like to see them duel tho, strictly swords. Diana could overpower Obi-Wan, of course, but if she eschewed flying they could have a pretty good bout.

They’d be a fun team-up because they’re both specced into deflecting ranged attacks. I’d send them into multiple hails of blaster-fire and maybe some slug-throwers so Diana can cover Obi-Wan from something that would otherwise give him trouble, and they’d just be chatting while working their way steadily across the field of death or through the kill-box, untouched. 👌

[isagrimorie]

i was watching the first part of shaduniversity’s analysis of anakin vs obi-wan duel from revenge of the sith and how for a fantasy sword fight they were technically proficient and believable enough. 

as opposed to luke vs vader and the lightsaber fights in the sequel trilogy which to shad were not as well executed and then it occurred to me... of course they wouldn’t be as good!

luke, at best had a month’s training with yoda before he conveniently died and whatever he learned from that very brief encounter he passed down to his students. 

no one, post-Jedi purge had really good lightsaber training except ezra bridger who had the luck to be adopted by not one, but two survivors of the Jedi purge. and then eztra disappeared forever. 

at best luke might have tried recreating some forms from books (the books he had in that planet he was exiled on) and some barely functional holovideos. 

(tbf shad does get nitpicky but gives at least some allowances its fun sometimes watching all these fight analysis.).

on a watsonian level it makes sense! in a doylist level: DISNEY HIRE THE SAME FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER FROM REVENGE OF THE SITH, OR AT LEAST HIRE BETTER. FFS YOU HAVE MORE MONEY THAN GOD.

[chipthekeeper]

chip rates the star wars, part five

by lightsaber duels

Keyword here is “duels” aka battles, fights, conflicts and the metric is epicness. Circumstances don’t count for as much as flair. Make your own ratings if you disagree.

The Mandalorian: ????/10

no duels but I’m so excited about the darksaber that my brain can literally not think of numbers so ????

Solo: 0/10

not a light sword in sight

Return of the Jedi: 1/10

Luke would have gotten killed so fast by a “real” Jedi

A New Hope: 2/10

Luke vs training droid > Vader vs Old Ben yes I said it

Empire Strikes Back: 3/10

first main character dismemberings, you gotta love it

Attack of the Clones: 5/10

truly just A Lot but not super into any of them :/

Rebels: 6/10

again so many and I love the return to the concept art style but sadly animated duels bore me :/ :/

The Clone Wars: 7/10

Ahsoka vs Maul is fucking perfect, only animated duel I actually love

Rise of Skywalker: 8/10

pretty good shit idk just wish it would have ended after she stabbed him  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The Last Jedi: 9/10

gets to 10/10 when you put The Chain by Fleetwood Mac over the throne room scene

The Force Awakens: 9.5/10

never not getting chills when the Sky-saber goes flying to Rey, fight me

The Phantom Menace: 10/10

Duel of the Fates I FINALLY GET IT THANK YOU DAVE FILONI HOLY SHIT (I was 7 when this came out shut up)

Rogue One: 11/10

perfectly NO lightsaber “duels” but YES dramatic Vader doing That^TM

Revenge of the Sith: 30/10

the duel on Mustafar is THAT BITCH (idk a Palpatine vs Yoda)

[clonetrooper1403]

STAR WARS: DUEL OF THE FATES (Personal version)

I´m piss off!

 Some days ago I said that Rise of Skywalker was not as bad....but that was before to know they rip off this master piece!

 Seriously, the original script, written by  Colin Trevorrow was AWESOME! PERFECT! THE EPIC FINALE THIS TRYLOGY NEEDED!

 So I´m going to talk about it, adding a little lines of my own and my personal little headcanons, so this post will be long.

 Why? Because I can, because I want and because this is internet, so it means I can do whatever I want! If you want to be like me and accept this, you are welcome, if you are not happy and want to write toxic comments, screw you and close this post, I´m doing this for me, not you.

So, the movie start like this:

 So, We see a First Order star destroyer being assault by the resistance. Blasters and bombs everywhere.

 Stormtrooper 1: Blast them!

 Stormtrooper 2: Sir! We are losing the third sector!

 ST 1: How many enemies?

 ST 2: Just one, sir!

 ST 1: Are you losing against one rebel?!

 ST 2: Is not just a rebel, sir! Is THE GIRL!!

 And then, BAM!

 We see Rey with her new dark Outfit and her new blue double blade lightsaber, build with Luke´s broken sword and her old staff.

 The resistance steal the entire ship and, after a couple of scenes of First Order high ranks argueing we see Corusant, this time used by the Bad Guys as Capital city.

 This time they use a gigant citadel-like ship as HQ meanwhile the old city is full of scavengers and poor people, trying of survive under the iron fist.

 We see the First order is executing in public a traitor pilot called Bisc Kova, the one who was the key for the rebels to steal the star destroyer.

 Then we see that the actual leader of Corusant is Hux, who is now Cancellor.

 After a meeting with other high ranks in the first order we see Hux´s private colection of lightsaber, he doesnt fight with or use them, is just a symbol of power.

 Somebody ask about Kylo Ren and Hux answer that is in a mission to increase his power.

Kylo is showed in Mustafar (like TROTS) but this time is chased by Luke´s force ghost who is trying to convince him to return to Leia But he refuse very angry, in fact, he try to attack Luke´s ghost with his crossguard red lightsaber only in order to be stopped by the ebar hand of the master with an eyebrow rise like “really n*gga?”.

Then Kylo found a sith holocron with Palpatine´s message for Darth Vader, saying that if Luke kills him...Vader must take him and develop him to Tor Valum, One of his dark sith masters who teached a lot about dark force mambo-jambo during his years as ruler of the galaxy.

But then the holocron scan Kylo´s face and realize is not Vader, so it explodes, burning his face.

Then We see the resistance on planet Koralev with its new Star Destroyer, a funny scene where Rey use his force mind control on some troopers and an argue between Rey and Finn.

 Finn: You said you saw him again on your dream, right?

 Rey:  ...

 F: Stop thinking about him.

 R: I need to save him Finn, I saw it...Ben still can return to the light

 F: It´s too late for him, Rey

 R: Is never too late for change...you are the living proof.

 Then both are summoned in a meeting, the resistance has a plan.

 They want to use an old beacon under the Jedi temple on Corusant to send a message of hope and cheer them to rise in arms against the First Order

 After that Rey go to train in a cave with Luke´s Ghost, in there Rey tell him that she is not sure about being a Jedi...after all, Darkness consumes Light and Light extinguish Light...a no-end cycle of death and reborn.

On Corusant again, we see Kylo melting a mandalorian armor and creating a new mask direct in his face, much more dark, sinistre and evil-like.

Kylo argues with Hux, telling him that titles, positions and destroying planeets are nothing against what he is going to get, showing that Hux Is just a puppet under Kylo´s fist and giving the redhead a last order: Find the resistance and destroy it...but leave the girl to me.

And before leave Corusant again, Kylo talks with Vader helmet in his room before smash it in hundreds of pieces.

 “Now I understand you...you let love make you weak”

Then the resistance start the plan: Finn, Rose, Leia, BB8, R2-D2 and C3-PO travel to corusant in order to prepare the beacon and start a riot

Rey, Poe and Chewbacca travels to a world in order to find someone who helps her with that force mambo-jambo she feels.

The first Order arrives to the resistace´s base but all are able to scape.

Finn´s team are able to arrive in corusant and activate the beacon atthe same time Leia record her message On Corusant in order to rise the fighting spirit, but Finn also prepare another message as a “surprise”

But then Troopers discover them and force them to run in to the low levels of the planet-city, killing Leia in the process.

 Meanwhile, Kylo arrives to the sith planet (just like he arrives in to Exegol in TROTS) and meet Tor Valum.

 The sith master begins Kylo trinning and force him to fight a Darth vader vision (Just like Luke inside Dagobah´s tree faces Vader) in an epic and violent duel between red lightsabers that Kylo loses.

 Meanwhile, Rey, Poe and Chewie arrives the planet where Poe´s grandpa lives (with a very strong smugger vibre), a water world full of boat-like ships.

In there Poe´s grandpa take them to an alien seer who read Rey´s mind and make her some kind of “Stelar map” that can be use to find Kylo (In here it is showed that Rey and Poe are in a relationship, but I dont like that so...f*ck it)

 But then, SURPRISE! The Knights of Ren are there! They have been following Rey´s team all this time! A dinamic chase in the port that end with a hand to hand battle betwwen six dark warriors vs a jedi, a wookie and a guy with a blaster.

On Corusant after seeing an emotional inspirational message from Leia to them from R2, Finn, Rose and the droids start a riot in the low levels and free plenty of prisioners.

 Heck, even 3PO kills a assasin droid using a blaster! saying “Oh dear! How uncivilized!”

 After starting the fire, Finn and Rose have a talk.

 Finn: Well...that was a good start.

 Rose: Yes, but we cannot do much with a bunch of mad scavengers.

 F: Well, It will have to be enough. Is not like we can arm all these guys.

 Rioter 1: Actually...

 *Finn, Rose and plenty of Rioters in an elevator going to lower levels*

 Rioter 2: People forget Corusant was once the Imperial Capital City

 Rioter 3: And they left more that a few emotional scars in here.

 The rioters show them a hangar (now without guards) with hundreds of old imperial AT-STs that soon start to arm and paint in a more “Rebel” style that would make Sabine Wren really proud.

In that moment 3PO and R2 see the surface of the planet, so sad and empty, seeing the first order HQ in the sky.

 C3-PO: “R2...Do you think we can win another war?”

 R2-D2: *BEEP BOOP*

 C3-PO: “You are right...at least they don´t have another Death Star...I´m tired of those kind of things”

With Rey, Poe and Our Favourite Wookie. The girl decide to keep going alone because is something she needs to do, Poe refuse but in the end agree so the boys get back with the resistance and Rey goes to Planet Mortis when she meets Kylo ren, just after she faces a giant alien beast.

 On Corusant the battle starts and thousand of AT-STs start to blast the stormtroopers, but here is Finn´s surprise. A massage to all the Stormtroopers! encorage them to fight back for what they know is right.

 Plenty of stormtroopers then start to shoot against their commanders and, without their helmets, join the rebels.

 Hux, seeing all that chaos on the battlefield, order to the star destroyers in orbit to shoot against the rebels and the traitors, destroying the old city without care about civilian damage. But then another surprise.

 Hux: Here is Cancellor Hux! Open fire in the low levels and wipe out those rebels and traiotrs!

 Officer: We...We can´t do it, sir! We are under attack!

 H: What?! The rebel fleet can´t be enough to face ours!

 O: They are not just the rebels, sir!

 H: WHAT? HOW MANY?!

 O: ALL OF THEM!

 H: HOW MANY SHIPS, OFFICER?!!

 O: ALL OF THEM, SIR!!! ALL OF THEM!!!!

 Then is showed in Orbit How all the ships that heard Leias message arrive (just like TROTS)

In there we can see Lando, (of course) the phantom, the Mantis, The Mandalorian´s ship, Hondo´s Ship...etc. But a first look to some familiar faces as Bossk, Dengar, Cad Bane, Embo, the gungans, the wookies, Jacen Syndulla, Sabine and Ezra (if he is found) etc. and Chewy and Poe with others in star fighters and X-wings.

 Meanwhile, on the surface the rebels face their final obstacle: gigant new walkers,, the final charge arrives, but one blaster hits R2! Without knowing about all the chaos who is surronding him, 3PO cry and show plenty of dark emotions before grab a blaster and star shooting Stormtroopers.

With Kylo and Rey, they fought in a vicious and powerfull way. During this battle, Kylo confess her that it was him who killed his parent by Snoke´s orders  and, takinG adavantage of her rage, is able to blind her with his red lightsaber (just like Maul did with Kanan) but she is able to fight using the Force.

On Corusant Again, the rebels start to enter in the HQ and the fleet is being destroyed by all the alliance ships. Hux is seeing everything from his office´s window at the same time he is receiving dozens of desesperate calls from officers and troopers asking for orders...but without answering them and with death calm, he takes one of the lightsaber of his colection (actually, Vader´s Lightsaber, don´t ask) and after kneel in front of his window, seeing all the chaos and explosions and watching several star destroyers falling apart from the orbit...he does seppuku.

Kylo, after defeating Rey and ready for kill her is visited by Luke´s ghost again...and after denie him again, Leia and Han are showed as ghosts too (a talk kinda like TROTS) The redemption is done and Kylo use every energy he has and heals Rey, dying in the process. In here Kylo also says Rey´s family name: Solana, Rey Solana.

Rey becomes an avatar of light and shadows and faces Tor Valum, who was just another creation of Palpatin....a desesperate device to fool Vader in order to bring him a body able to posses (all this in not in the script but, screw it, i liked it seen palpatine again without the family relationship fanfiction thing) So Rey with all that “I´m every jedi” thing and after ACTUALLy seein force ghosts like Qui-gon, Obi Wan, Ahsoka, Mace Windu, Ki Adi Mundi, Aayla Secura, Luminaria etc. Strike pure-white forse lightnings in to Palpaties puppet, destroying him.

We have a happy celebration, Chewy recives his medal, Lando highfive hondo, cute ewoks, funny gungas, even Jar jar is in there, doing silly things and making people laugh. And Poe found Finn and both kiss.

Oh, and R2 is back! Chewy repaired him and 3PO laugh in front of him before start to argue again.

The final scene shows a farm with Rey in meditation and with a blindfold, lisening how a bunch of kids are traning with stiks the diferent combat forms. This is the new generation of jedi, jedi who will defend no light, no dakness but balance.

 -----------------------------------------

 And there it is, MY canon...if I do more fanart I´ll probably will do with this content...Do you like it? good, Do you hate it? sorry to hear that. Now is time to wait untill clone wars final season.

[ultimate-sword-showdown]

Round 3, Match 7: Sting vs. Darksaber

Sting

From: Lord of the Rings

Wielder: Bilbo and Frodo Baggins

Sting is an elvish dagger that happens to make a perfect sword for a hobbit. Like all elvish weapons, it glows blue when orcs are near. Bilbo used it to fend off giant spiders, and passed it onto Frodo, who also used it to intimidate Gollum.

Darksaber

From: Star Wars

Wielder: Din Djarin

The Darksaber was created a long time ago by Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian ever inducted into the Jedi Order. It is said that whoever wields it is the true ruler of Mandalore. It is unique for not only being the only black lightsaber, but the only lightsaber to feature a blade shaped like a katana rather than the cylindrical design of other lightsabers. In addition, according to Mandalorian tradition it can only be claimed by besting the current wielder in a duel.

[ultimate-swordsmanship-bracket]

ROUND 1 MATCH 11: Connie Maheswaran vs Obi-Wan Kenobi

The young hero who became a master with a sword while still a teenager... vs the legendary Jedi Master, one of the greatest lightsaber combatants of his time!

VS

Summaries under the cut:

Trained by Pearl who is also in this bracket, Connie is highly skilled with a sword. She is ambidextrous and able to use her sword in either hand, and displays impressive strength and quick reflexes. Initially, she uses the huge sabre that previously belonged to Rose Quartz (ALSO in this bracket!), before having her own sword made specifically for her. With this sword she can effortlessly cut a car in half.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is an extremely skilled Jedi Master who has faced several of the most dangerous people in the galaxy in lightsaber duels. He has trained extensively in multiple styles of lightsaber combat and is in particular a master of the defensive style Soresu, making him skilled at deflecting blaster bolts and reflecting them back at attackers. While he usually uses only one lightsaber he is also trained in dual-wielding. Overall he is one of the most skilled Jedi in the films when it comes to lightsaber combat.

[romana73]

REYLO VS YONA OF THE DAWN

Post written by ME. The animated gifs present in this post AREN’T MINE and DON’T HAVE ANY WAY TO ME! Akatsuki no Yona ("Yona of the Dawn") is a 2009 historical/adventure/sentimental Manga, written and designed by Mizuho Kusanagi, of which Studio Pierrot produced Anime adaptation, formed by a total of 24 episodes and an OAV. In reality, story told in Yona and that told in Star Wars Episode VII and VIII, are totally different, however there are parallels between two stories make it possible to realize DIFFERENT stories from same narrative themes ... Orphaned of a mother, Yona is princess and heir to Kingdom of Kouka’s throne, daughter of King Il, head of Clan of Heaven and single ruler, recognized like King by other clans leaders: Wind, Earth, Water and Fire. In reality, King Il is considered weak and cowardly, because of his hatred of weapons and his policy of no violence. Unlike her father, Yona is lively, restless and adventurous. Since childhood she has shared her time with Son Hak, now head of the Wind clan and her faithful bodyguard, nicknamed "Lightning beast" for his superhuman strength and speed and devastating power of his blows, and his cousin Soo-won, cheerful, kind and carefree son of Ju-Hon, brother of King Il and undefeated general of army to protect Kouka’s kingdom. Everyone believed Ju-Hon should have become King, but when his father chose Il as sovereign, Ju-Hon left castle, promising to continue to defend the Kingdom and his brother from afar. Five days before her sixteenth birthday, Yona receives Soo-won’s visit to castle, returned to participate in her celebrations. Yona is determined to confess her love to Soo-won, unaware Hak has loved her in silence for years. Yona faces two painful obstacles: Soo-won claims to consider her like a younger sister and he said he can’t see her as a woman while, without explaining reason to her, King Il declares he will NEVER give Yona allowed to marry Soo-won. He will never have to become King, which would happen if he married Yona. Meanwhile, Hak notices climate has changed in castle, but his premonition is too vague and Hak fails to focus on it. One evening Yona is chased by someone who sneaks into castle, but she’s rescued by Soo-won and intruder seems to disappear. On birthday, Soo-won gives Yona a beautiful and precious hair clip. Unable to sleep that same night, Yona goes to her father's rooms to inform him that she will never forget Soo-won but as soon as she opens door she sees a chilling scene: Soo-won puts a sword in King Il's heart, killing him in front in her eyes. Noticing her presence, Soo-won is surprised and disappointed Yona was still awake and explains to girl that he had killed King Il for revenge. For some time, in fact, Soo-won had discovered his father hadn’t died from an accident like everyone else, including Yona, knew, but he had been killed with sword, by King Il immediately after he ascended the throne. Soo-won also claims that after killing King II, to honor his father's wishes, he would become King. Yona doesn’t believe a word, but she hasn’t time to assimilate news, ‘cause Kye - Sook, intruder who had threatened her night before and Soo-won's aide, seeing Yona was witness to King Il assassination, advised Soo-won to kill her. Yona runs away, but Soo-won's guards manage to capture her. Fortunately, Hak arrives to save Yona. Thanks to Min-Soo, faithful servant, Hak and Yona manage to escape from castle. Soo-won unleashes soldiers on their tracks, with order to capture them, while he is crowned new King of Kouka, declaring he will crush anyone who will oppose him. Yona and Hak hide in Capital Fuuga, Hak's hometown. Here Yona takes decision to fight for her life and prevent Hak from dying. Having heard of girl's decision, Son Mundok, adoptive father of Hak and former General of Wind’s clan, in King Il’s service, sent Hak and Yona in search of Ik-Soo, a monk capable of listening and reporting God’s voice, in past adviser to King, then chased from castle. Learning of Yona's will to fight, Ik-Soo advises her and Hak to look for four dragons from which kingdom and its tribes were born. Four boys who were infused with blood and powers of Dragons who reigned in sky, destined to protect the Red Dragon with every means, as soon as this was reincarnated ... YONA: Soo-won kills King Il, Yona's father, breaking Yona's heart, who loves him and wants to marry him. Until that moment, boy is considered sweet, cheerful, kind, educates by everyone

REYLO :

In "Star Wars. Episode VII. The Force Awakens ", Kylo Ren kills his father Han Solo in front of Rey, who is afraid of him and would just like to escape him. From the beginning, Kylo Ren is considered evil, lost in Dark Side. In "Star Wars. Episode VIII. The Last Jedi ”, Kylo Ren kills Snoke, his master, then takes his place on throne, as Supreme Leader

YONA:

Hak arrives just as Soo-won's soldiers are about to kill Yona. Shocked, she looks at him in amazement and fascination. Soon after, Yona and Hak are stopped by Soo-won himself who also reveals to Hak that he killed King II. Hak rages and attacks Soo-won. Duel is blocked by a Soo-won’s soldier who threatens Yona. Fortunately, an anonymous arrow distracts enemies, allowing Yona and Hak to escape

REYLO: In "Star Wars. Episode VII. The Force Awakens ”, Kylo Ren unleashes his troops in search of BB-8, a droid in Rey’s company. Rey and Finn are forced to flee from First Order’s stormtroopers, until they reach Resistance. Meanwhile, touching Anakin's old lightsaber, Rey has a vision, in which Kylo Ren rescues her from an attacker and then follows her. Finally, while they are fleeing Star Killer Base, Rey and Finn are blocked by Kylo Ren, who throws Rey against a tree, causing her to faint. Finn fights with Kylo to protect Rey

YONA: Disobeying her late father’s wishes, Yona tells Hak that she wants to learn how to use sword to defend herself and protect him. Hak proposes to Yona arrows and bow instead of sword and he explains she lacks a fundamental thing: killer instinct. Unlike Hak, Yona is unable to kill. Once, Hak challenges Yona to hit him and she fails. Only when Hak tells Yona to imagine he is Soo-won, Yona is assailed by fire and determination and manages to lightly hurt Hak

REYLO:

In "Star Wars. Episode VIII. The Last Jedi ”, after a moment of loss, Rey shoots Kylo Ren during their first Force connection. Later, Kylo Ren's words prompted Rey to throw herself into cave attracted her, but she feared

YONA:

During a clash with Fire Clan’s army, Hak and Yona fall off a cliff and are believed dead. In fact, they are saved by Ik-Soo, a powerful King’s ex-monk, driven out of castle, who lives isolated in depths of forest. Ik-Soo tells Yona when DARK falls on earth, Dragons blood will bring life and Red Dragon will return with the dawn. For everyone, Yona is LIGHT

REYLO: In “Star Wars Episode VIII. The Last Jedi”, speaking with Rey and Kylo Ren, Supreme Leader Snoke says "DARKNESS grows and LIGHT with it". Rey symbolizes Light, Kylo Ren is Darkness

YONA: At journey’s start, Yona and Hak seek out Ik-Soo, a powerful King ex-monk, and then they set off to find four boys in whose veins blood and power of four Dragons

REYLO: In "Star Wars. Episode VII. The Force Awakens" movie, Rey and Finn travel to reach Resistance, to deliver BB-8 to it. Later, Rey sets off to join Luke on planet where he was hidden

YONA: At night, Yona trains often alone to shoot a bow and then, with the sword. One night, Hak decides to train her, fighting with her, in forest

REYLO: In "Star Wars. Episode VII. The Force Awakens”, Rey and Kylo Ren duel in the forest. In "Star Wars. Episode VIII. The Last Jedi", Rey trains alone in morning with her lightsaber

YONA: Hak's nickname is "Lightning Beast of Kouka" and he is often called beast. Hak is very hurt by Soo- won’s betrayal, so much so he closes on himself and doesn't utter a word when talking about him

REYLO: Kylo Ren's nickname is Jedi’s Killer. Rey calls him "masked creature" and, when she’s furious, "monster". In "Star Wars. Episode VII. The Force Awakens", it is said it was Kylo Ren who betrayed Luke. In "Star Wars. Episode VIII. The Last Jedi", Kylo reveals to Rey it was Luke who first betrayed him, trying to kill him in his sleep

YONA: Towards the end, Soo-won and Yona meet again. Soo - won hides Yona under his cloak to protect her from his soldiers. Yona sees a sword at Soo's side - won and grabs the handle, feeling assaulted by desire to kill him, but Soo - won blocks her, explaining he understands her, but he can't die ‘cause he still has something to do. Struck by his words, Yona refrains from killing him. Later, Yona confesses to Ik-Soo she still has feelings for Soo-won

REYLO: In "Star Wars. Episode VII. The Force Awakens ", hunted by Kylo Ren, Rey tries to defend herself by shooting at him. Tired of avoiding bullets, Kylo Ren blocks Rey’s arm with the Force. In "Star Wars. Episode VIII. The Last Jedi ”, after having fainted because of their clashing with Force, Rey awakens first and she doesn’t kill Kylo, fleeing and leaving him unconscious on the floor

[atamascolily]

One of the exercises in Julia Cameron’s The Vein of Gold is to compile a list of favorite movies--or ones with images that resonate with you--and note any patterns that arise. Here are some of mine, with observations below.

(For the purposes of this exercise, I’m sticking with live-action films, but there’s no reason why there couldn’t be animated films.)

1. Star Wars Original Trilogy (Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi)

(Yes, I know this is technically three films, with three different directors and independent histories, but I didn’t feel like listing them all separately.)

2. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Ironically, I love the first Peter Jackson movie, but not any of the subsequent ones. Which is not to say they’re necessarily bad movies, but they’re not the ones I’d want on endless loop. (Part of this is because The Two Towers and The Return of the King are essentially war movies, and also because I have to watch Faramir act OOC, which hurts my soul.)

3. The Secret Garden

4. The Matrix

I actually don’t have strong feelings about Reloaded and Revolutions--like, the actual plot is weird, but I am so not watching these films for plot.

5. Return to Oz

6. Inception

7. Labyrinth

8. The Terminator

Don’t get me wrong, Terminator 2 has a lot going for it, but it’s not the one that I can’t stop thinking about (except for that one deleted scene with Michael Biehn, which is a totally different story).

Thoughts and Themes:

So at first glance, it seems like I have two separate categories: ‘80s and ‘90s-’00s films. Or maybe it’s sci-fi and fantasy? The Secret Garden is the only one that even approaches some kind of realism, and even that is a pastoral kind of world that would not be out of place in the more peaceful parts of, say, Middle-Earth (especially Fourth Age). How about high-tech vs. low-tech, or cyberpunk vs. fairy tale? Or, even better, what about reality vs. illusion (or story vs. truth if you prefer)--which is also a major tension within every film on this list?

I’ll also note that most of these films have an epic color palette, with memorable landscapes that either serve as characters in and of themselves, or symbolize the mental states of various characters. These films are beautiful works of art, reveling in The Aesthetic, whether that’s the idyllic peacefulness of the Shire or the grimy back alleys of 1980s Los Angeles.

The thing that really got me when I laid it out like this--the thing I hadn’t noticed before--was that all of these involve a (sometimes literal) rebirth, transition, or journey from darkness to light (or light to darkness to light again, depending on the work). You could also substitute life and death here, and not change much.

This is, again, often quite literal: Sarah moves underground in Labyrinth, the Fellowship descends into the Mines of Moria, the secret garden comes to life with the spring, Dorothy confronts the Nome King in his underground lair. Neo wakes up to find himself naked and soaked to the skin, and flushed down the tubes like garbage, in a literal hellscape where the machines destroyed the sun (a motif that also appears in Terminator’s dystopian future), then literally dies and is resurrected at the end of the film. Luke goes underground to confront his own double--another recurring theme!--on Dagobah.

Duality and the exploration of one’s soul through another world is HUGE  big theme--or, to put it another way, The internal mirrors the external. This is a huge motif of Inception, which is a literal inward journey into a character’s psyche; and you could also make the argument that both Return to Oz and Labyrinth cover similar territory. Is Oz real, or is it in Dorothy’s head? Is Ozma a part of her, or is Ozma a separate entity? Is Jareth a real foe or is he the embodiment of Sarah’s fears and desires, a fantasy she concocts based on a story in a book?  And Frodo realizes he’s not so different from Gollum, that the sad shriveled creature is what he could become if he fails at his task--and, ironically, his kindness to Gollum is what allows the quest to succeed when Frodo finally succumbs to temptation.

Frodo in the The Fellowship of the Ring sees the world differently when he wears the One Ring, and it’s terrifying. Sarah Connor realizes that she’s left her ordinary world behind and crossed into Kyle and the Terminator’s reality in a moving speech, and The Matrix doesn’t even try to be subtle. Even The Secret Garden uses the eponymous garden as a metaphor for the blossoming of Mary’s own soul, and the souls of those around her (especially her uncle and cousin, but also Ben Weatherstaff).

These stories are also concerned with ecology, though it’s usually a background motif, since the main focus is on saving the world (or what’s left of it, i.e, humans). The Shire is paradise; Mordor is a desolate hellscape, dominated by a giant volcano. Kyle Reese breaks down over the beauty of the world, and Mary Lennox seeks to bring the lost garden back to life. Dorothy retreats elsewhere after the grey grimness of Kansas/the mental hospital.

There’s also a real tension concerning humans’ relationship to technology in these films. The Matrix is an illusion, and machines control the earth. Or the machines don’t even bother farming humans and aim to kill ‘em all. Saruman literally transforms Isengard from a tree-lined field to an industrial hellscape. The mental institution uses that freaky electrical machine on Dorothy. Star Wars is more accepting of droids and technology, but even there, there’s tension: Obi-wan calls Darth Vader “more machine than man,” and it’s not a compliment; the Death Star is built to obliterate entire planets and must be stopped twice.

I’d argue this theme goes deeper than human/tech--it’s really human/other, with technology providing one kind of other. There’s human-alien interactions in Star Wars and Labyrinth, not to mention Mary’s relationship with the robin in The Secret Garden, Dorothy’s friendship with Jack Pumpkinhead and the Gump. On a less friendly note, Frodo’s relationship with Gollum is the emotional crux of the Lord of the Rings.

These films also feature the classic hero’s journey, but often through a female lens. The protagonist usually has no special skills other than their strong moral character and determination--or even if they do have skills (like Ariadne*), they still serve as an audience surrogate or substitute, a stranger to the new worlds they visit. The protagonist has at least one faithful friend/companion/love interest to help them (sometimes even a team/found family), and often a mentor as well (who may or may not be a crusty eccentric). In the end, the characters must take control of their own destiny--Frodo chooses to leave the Fellowship, Luke throws away his lightsaber rather than kill his father, Sarah declares to Jareth “You have no power over me”. Sarah Connor yells, “On your feet, soldier!” and keeps going to the bitter end, and Mary Lennox is unafraid of her bratty cousin’s wrath and puts a stop to it when everyone else enables him.

*(As an aside, I know Ariadne’s not the main character in Inception, but I find the actual main character way less interesting, so she’s the one I focus on, just like I find Trinity far more compelling than Neo.)

Characters often have Meaningful Names: Morpheus, Trinity, Neo; Ariadne; Luke Skywalker, Han Solo. These films also feature a question of fate and inevitability - Luke has precognitive visions, Neo consults the Oracle, Sarah is told “there is no fate but what we make for ourselves,” with Kyle serving as an oracle of sorts with messages from the future to come. The Mirror of Galadriel shows possible futures for the Shire, too.

Another theme is that the protagonist must suffer and/or work hard for their transformation. Mary has to do the actual work of gardening; Luke has to sweat and do handstands (beautifully, I might add); Frodo has to walk to Mount Doom; Sarah has to walk the labyrinth, and Sarah Connor has to survive a fucking nightmare. Dorothy has to rescue the royal family of Ev and free Ozma; Ariadne has to design a dream-puzzle for the heist to work. Even Neo has to train with Morpheus--though he’s able to use cheat codes to download martial arts directly into his brain without having to sweat for it; his real journey is in self-confidence. 

In keeping with the stunning visuals, impossible feats are regularly featured, and excellent, cutting-edge-for-their-time special effects are prominent. Many also feature stunning fight scenes--the classic Luke vs. Vader duel on Cloud City; the “I know Kung fu” sequence in The Matrix; the clashes in The Fellowship of the Ring. Jareth has some excellent moves in Labyrinth, too, although he’s more inclined to dance than traditional battles.

I couldn’t resist contrasting my favorite moment in Return to Oz--rescuing Ozma from the mirror prison--with Ariadne shattering her own reflection in Inception, because that is such a moment for me, encapsulating all of the reality/illusion, internal/external, self/other dichotomies I mentioned above. (See also the Mirror of Galadriel above.) Inception and Labyrinth also share the motif of impossible Escher staircases, which I freakin’ adore.

It will probably come as no surprise to note that I also enjoyed films like The Dark Crystal, The Neverending Story,  and What Dreams May Come, which tap into similar themes and imagery. You’ll probably be able to guess that The Sword in the Stone is my favorite animated Disney film, too.

I also love a number of Asian films like Hero, House of Flying Daggers, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, all of which feature beautiful landscapes and color palettes, stunning fight scenes and special effects, along with a healthy dose of the fantastic, and a focus on story vs. reality (often with a plot twist or surprise reveal at the end). This is unsurprising when you consider the strong debt both Star Wars and The Matrix owe to Asian cinema in terms of style, plot, and aesthetic. In those films, the tension is more society vs. self, but duality is still very strongly present.

If you notice any other patterns or recurring themes, let me know; I’d love to hear them! Also, if you can think of any other movies I might enjoy based on this, let me know.