The nature of lightsabers as blades of burning plasma is rarely shown. One film presents how dangerous the iconic duels from Star Wars would really be and how they would have to unfold.
What does the fan film show? The creators of Corridor asked an expert in medieval European martial arts to choreograph a real lightsaber fight for them. The result is To The Death
, a short but extremely intense film that would even make Yoda’s hairs stand on end.
What is To The Death
about? A series of shorter duels is shown within the creatively implemented framing narrative of a trial battle for graduation. However, it gets tough: Because lightsabers are dangerous and this heavy combat school teaches with ruthless methods – including severed limbs and (temporary) death.
This is what real lightsaber fights would look like
What should realistic lightsaber fights be like? A lightsaber is an immeasurably hot blade made of plasma. Assuming such a sword worked, it would essentially penetrate almost any material upon contact and cause severe burns. To The Death
takes this seriously; the duelists fight defensively and look for gaps in the opponent’s defense.
Since its release about two years ago, around 10 million people have watched the film on YouTube – and for good reason. Because it is still remarkable today:
Is the fight completely realistic? No, the creators also incorporate some typical mistakes to show how dangerous the fighting styles depicted in Star Wars would be in reality. For example, at one point, the student twirls around with his sword or spins around on his own axis. Both are considered nonsensical actions as they leave the guard open and/or lose eye contact.
The latest Star Wars series deals with events that take place some time before Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon meet the young Anakin. Here you get a glimpse into the so-called High Republic from The Acolyte
.
What else distinguishes the short film? Apart from the well-choreographed duels and fantastic effects, To The Death
is especially distinguished by its presentation. It skillfully tells a smart story within a few minutes that plays on clichés from Star Wars and also quotes individual scenes from the great model. For example, the sweeping observer very much resembles the boy appearing at the end of Star Wars Episode 8.
The creators of Corridor are obviously very aware of the environment they are in. Their work shows this with sensitivity, but also with a certain scorn towards the generally broadly named weaknesses of the newer Star Wars works.
For those whose desire for Star Wars has been ignited after reading the article and watching what we believe to be an undoubtedly cool fan film, we have something for you: Because even years after its release, an MMORPG continues to thrive in the hearts of many despite some problems: Star Wars: The Old Republic. If you want to know whether it is still worth starting in 2024, you should check here with us to learn all the important information about the current state of the hit.
