10 Awesome Movie Scenes We Can't Stop Rewatching

The Star Wars prequels have had something of a reappraisal from the fandom at large over the last decade or so, as nostalgia and a dislike of the new has set in, and references and continuations of those films have sprung up all over. Perhaps the most unfairly maligned of the three movies was The Phantom Menace, which disappointed the legions of fanboys who went into the cinema expecting to see a re-tread of the original trilogy. Nonetheless, there is no denying that it contains the best lightsaber battle of any Star Wars media.

The Duel of the Fates pits Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) against Sith Lord Darth Maul (Ray Park) in a lightsaber duel in Naboo's Theed Palace, while battles rage in the skies and on the ground outside.

As The Phantom Menace is the only one of the prequels to be filmed on real celluloid, with a stronger mix of real locations and sets than its primarily blue-screened successors, the duel looks authentic and the stakes feel real. The well-paced choreography helps drive this, and the contrast between Maul's dual-bladed, acrobatic terror and the more traditional samurai stylings of the Jedi, make it a battle for the ages. Add in John Williams' epic score, from which the fight gets its name, and this is a scene that still feels essential 25 years on.