US release: 1st September 1931
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$0 Star Wars fans around the world have their opinion of what is the best lightsaber battle in the Star Wars Universe.
Here is a list of what is considered the best battles in the Star Wars Universe.
These battles are all unique and offer different elements, such as emotional stakes, intense action, and memorable choreography. Ultimately, the "best" lightsaber battle is subjective and varies depending on individual tastes and preferences, but on this Star Wars Day we present, for your pleasure, the Salty Popcorn best lightsaber battles (in reverse order).
There had been a Star Wars drought for a number of years (10) and with the buyout of Lucasfilms by Disney still fresh in everyones minds as well as the (at the time) a badly received prequel trilogy the fan base wanted a good Star Wars movie.
JJ Abrahams was put in charge of directing the film, a life long fan of the series, and he delivered in spades, bringing arguably the best Star Wars film to date.
We instantly took to the new characters of the Rebel Alliance with Rey and Finn and the First Order with Kylo Ren and the new Storm Troopers. Reys force powers were hinted at throughout the movie and a dual between the two was inevitable, and at the end of the film Abrahams delivered, set within a forest of the Star Killer Base while the planet explodes around them.
We knew Yoda was a Jedi Master and that he had fought in the Clone Wars that started during the second part of prequel trilogy, and George Lucas knew he had to deliver.
As Yoda walks into the hanger where Count Dooku was trying to board his ship you simply knew what was about to happen, and as he pulls across his robes to reveal a small lightsaber this was the moment, he force pulls his weapon to his hand and turns it on.
The battle doesn't last long, but seeing the small green Jedi Master who usually finds it hard to walk bouncing around the walls during the fight is a joy.
The original movie introduces us to the legendary weapon, something not really seen on the big screen before but through the stories Ben Kenobi tells Luke during the movie we know that the weapon is elegant and the Jedi are lethal with it.
We also believe at this time that Darth Vader is the arch enemy of Ben Kenobi, and by the end of the movie there has to be a meeting of the two, and while trying to escape the Death Star the two come face to face.
Despite the lack of technological abilities in special effects at the time this thrilled fans of a generation and when the inevitable happens at the end we are shocked at the loss of our new hero.
This battle comes as no surprise, we have seen Luke go through the training, and go off to rescue his friends, and we get the foreshadowing of things to come on Dagobah.
When Luke goes into the carbon freeze chamber and the two enemies ignite their Sabers in silhouette we get the almighty battle between the two enemies.
The style and technology used in this film is so much greater than that of the original Star Wars that it feels fresh and thrilling, and at the end of the battle we get one of cinemas greatest reveals, so good to this day it is celebrated as THE movie twist of all times.
The movie gets a lot of criticism, but over the last 20 years time has been kind and in the grander scheme of the saga the fan base is looking at this film more favourably, and it has the best lightsaber battle of all time.
It had been 16 years since we'd had any proper live action Star Wars to enjoy and despite the film not getting the critical reaction Lucas wanted the Dual Of Fates was spectacular.
The highlight is at the start of the battle as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan face the Sith Lord Darth Maul, as the John Williams music 'Duel Of Fates' starts to get more intense Maul ignites a single blade on his lightsaber, then the money shot happens and another blade appears from the other side, every Star Wars Fan looked on in amazement as the incredible battle unfolds between the 3 warriors.
The only real shame is that, inevitably, Darth Maul dies at the end of the movie, although in quiet spectacular style, but with little screen time fans wanted more, although as seen in Solo: A Star Wars Story they have brought him back and who knows if he'll appear in another movie or not?
This weekend, Friday 17th June 2022, there are 5 new films released in the UK and where available looking to hit the box office chart, but can they challenge last weekends top movie, Jurassic World: Dominion, for the number 1 spot?
Here are this weeks new releases
Check back on Monday to see what new movies made it onto the Weekend Box Office Chart.
This weekend, Friday 10th June 2022, there are 3 new films released in the UK and where available looking to hit the box office chart, but can they challenge last weekends top movie, Top Gun: Maverick, for the number 1 spot?
Here are this weeks new releases
Check back on Monday to see what new movies made it onto the Weekend Box Office Chart.
The British institution that is Emma Thompson stars in this comedy which has been given a 15 age rating in the UK for strong sex references, sex, language.
As mentioned the movie stars Emma Thompson who lets face it is a comedy legend and has been in movies such as Cruella and Saving Mr. Banks to classics such as LoveActually and The Remains of the Day to list a tiny part of her back catalogue, the movie also stars Daryl McCormack who last appeared in Pixie from 2020.
The movie is directed by Sophie Hyde who is bringing her third movie to the big screen and who previously directed Animals in 2019 and 52 Tuesdays in 2015.
Movie Synopsis
Retired widow Nancy Stokes hires a good-looking young sex worker called Leo Grande, in the hope of enjoying a night of pleasure and self-discovery after an unfulfilling married life.
BBFC certificate breakdown.
This weekend The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It makes it debit at the top of the UK box office and knocks Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway into second place after a week at the top.
Also new this week as the US public get used to going to the cinema again is Cruella at number 3 and the Japanese animated global smash Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train at number 4.
Outside the top 10 movies there is a new release for First Cow which is directed by Kelly Reichardt and enters the box office at 13 with £21,862.
UK box office QuickView
UK top 5 breakdown weekend 28th - 30th May 2021.
Debut weekend for the new movie from the Conjuring Universe and the third film in the original series of movies.
The film takes a fairly impressive £2.7 Million over its debut weekend, altohugh this was boosted by preview showings which accounted for over £800,000 of business.
Falling to number 2 on its second weekend of release is the sequel movie directed by Will Gluck about the rabbit made famous by Beatrix Potter.
The movie takes £2.04 Million on its second weekend of release, a large 56% drop from last weekend, which gives the movie a £7.48 Million total.
Disney release their latest live action movie as a origin tale for Cruella De'Vil which enters the box office at number 3 despite also being available the Disney streaming service, altohugh with extra cash for the pleasure.
The movie which stars Emma Stone and Emma Thompson took £1.4 Million on its debut weekend.
The animated movie from director Haruo Sotozaki has been a mega smash across the world over the last year and has to date taken nearly $500 Million (£352 Million) since its release last October in Japan.
Its debut on the UK box office has it enter at 4 with a weekend gross of £693,081.
Falling to number 4 this weekend is the monster smash up movie which has been a mega hit globally but as its been available on streaming in the UK for a while its UK gross has been low.
This weekend the movie take £254,172, a 68% drop from last weekend, for a total of £1.7 Million on its second weekend of release.