When comparing the “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” duel between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi to others, it very much stands out. Confrontations such as the one between Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) on Mustafar, or between Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver, who has confirmed whether he’ll ever return to the role) on Starkiller Base are fast, action-packed, and full of big moments. Vader and Kenobi’s duel doesn’t deliver much in those regards, which is why the FXitinPost reimagining is so strong. It brings it closer to the style of most other “Star Wars” lightsaber duels.
At the same time, just because the original duel isn’t structurally similar doesn’t mean it’s bad. Kenobi’s goal on the Death Star isn’t to take his old pupil to task in a fight, finally destroying the monster he unwittingly allowed to exist decades earlier. He wants to use Vader’s hatred of him to keep him occupied, thus allowing Luke Skywalker and his friends to escape. He takes the occasional swing, blocks some of Vader’s, and talks a little trash here and there to maintain his attention. Then, when his allies approach the Millennium Falcon, Kenobi sacrifices himself so that Luke and the Rebellion can live on.
All in all, the fan-made Darth Vader versus Ben Kenobi duel is a feast for the eyes and quite impressively made. However, there’s no denying that the actual “A New Hope” duel is among the best. Still, it’s not the best lightsaber fight in all of “Star Wars,” which only lasts about 40 seconds.