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Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen’s 5 best Star Wars moments

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Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen's 5 best Star Wars moments

As a Star Wars enthusiast who has lived through the highs and lows of the saga, I can confidently say that the lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker on Mustafar is undoubtedly the most impactful moment in the entire franchise. Having watched these characters grow from apprentice and master to bitter enemies, it’s heartbreaking to see their relationship crumble before our very eyes.

Twenty-five years following his debut as the iconic character Obi-Wan Kenobi in “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace”, Ewan McGregor rightfully earned a star on the illustrious Hollywood Walk of Fame. Over this period, the talented Scottish actor has collaborated with some of the greatest film directors, gracing films such as “Trainspotting”, “Moulin Rouge!”, “Cassandra’s Dream” and “Black Hawk Down”.

In the Star Wars prequels, McGregor assumed the role of a younger Obi-Wan Kenobi, a part previously played by Alec Guinness. This was no easy task, given the prestige associated with the role. However, three films later, not only did he meet expectations but also established himself as an equally iconic figure linked to the legendary Jedi knight, much like his predecessor.

Despite facing strong criticism when it first came out, one of the most positive outcomes from the prequel trilogy was the heartwarming camaraderie between Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen, who played a young Anakin Skywalker (later revealed to be Darth Vader). Their convincing on-screen bond and the funny outtakes behind the scenes showed that they were true friends off the set.

Over twenty years since their initial encounter, Christensen had the honor of inducting McGregor into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, delivering an emotional speech.

On numerous instances, McGregor has expressed his desire and readiness to reappear in the Star Wars universe following his portrayal of the Jedi once more for the Disney+ series, Obi-Wan Kenobi. This production also welcomed back Christensen as Anakin/Vader, creating a wave of nostalgia among fans. Given the positive reception, it’s possible we’ll see these characters reunite again down the line. For now, let’s reminisce on their most memorable shared scenes.

5. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker vs. Count Dooku (Episode III – Revenge of the Sith)

The rivalry between Anakin and Count Dooku isn’t as intense as that between Obi-Wan and Darth Maul, but their frequent clashes in the movies and the Clone Wars TV series can be seen as a progression charting Anakin’s increasing power and eventual descent into the dark side.

In the initial battle against Count Dooku on Geonosis during Attack of the Clones, Anakin, acting impulsively, puts the situation at risk and gets struck by a Sith lightning bolt. This leaves Obi-Wan to engage in combat with Dooku alone. However, he becomes injured and can no longer continue. Subsequently, Anakin recovers and steps in, wielding both their lightsabers against Count Dooku but proves no match for the powerful Sith Lord. Tragically, he also loses his right arm during this fierce fight.

In the ultimate clash with Dooku on Coruscant during Revenge of the Sith, Anakin and Obi-Wan arrive well-prepared. Strikingly similar to their duel on Geonosis, it’s Obi-Wan who gets incapacitated by Dooku once more, leaving Anakin to face him alone. To bait Anakin, Dooku shrewdly remarks, “I perceive a deep fear within you, Skywalker. You harbor hate and anger, but you fail to channel them.

This time around, I find myself not the same Jedi that Dooku encountered earlier. In a shocking turn of events, I retaliate for my lost limb by severing both of Dooku’s hands at the wrist. His lightsaber falls into my grasp. I grip not only my own blue-bladed weapon but also Dooku’s red one against his throat, teetering on the edge between Jedi and Sith, precariously poised to strike.

In this scenario, Anakin finds himself torn between two forces when Palpatine instructs him to eliminate Dooku. Unbeknownst to both of them, this action would later become a popular internet joke. Despite his reservations, Anakin carries out the task, marking the beginning of his transformation into a Sith. Sadly, Obi-Wan is powerless to intervene, a theme that persists throughout the Skywalker storyline.

4. Sparring at the Jedi Temple (Obi-Wan Kenobi)

In episode 5 of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the story begins with a scene reminiscent of the time depicted in Attack of the Clones, when Anakin was still a Padawan, sporting his braid and carrying a blue lightsaber. As he stands by a window at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, deep in thought, Obi-Wan’s arrival interrupts him. The two then ready themselves for a sparring match.

As I watched further into the episode, the match’s conclusion unfolded before my eyes. My anxiety and instinct to strike decisively proved to be my undoing, and it seemed like a tamer reenactment of our fierce battle on Mustafar. In the end, I managed to disarm my master, but it was his wisdom and cunning that ultimately led him to victory. He skillfully employed the Force to snatch my weapon away from me.

In various Disney+ series, there are hints toward the prequel era. However, witnessing the aged Obi-Wan and Anakin dueling at the Temple, exchanging their familiar banter, was a delight for fans. Yet, this scene offered more than just nostalgia; it subtly foreshadows current events where Obi-Wan outwits his former apprentice once more, helping Leia and the rebels flee from Mapuzo, enraging Darth Vader in the process. This sequence underscores how well Obi-Wan still understands his former student, even after he fell to the dark side.

Throughout the training, Anakin exhibits indications he’s being drawn towards the dark side, foreshadowing a significant twist. In a prior flashback, during the enforcement of Order 66, we observe that adversary Reva Sevander was among the young Jedi trainees at the temple when Anakin launched an assault on it. Reva feigned death to survive and subsequently joined the Galactic Empire as an Inquisitor to be near Darth Vader and seek her revenge.

3. “What took you so long?” (Episode II – Attack of the Clones)

In “Attack of the Clones,” there are numerous amusing exchanges between Obi-Wan and Anakin. However, the speeder chase scene in Coruscant stands out as the best. At this point, the risks aren’t particularly grave yet, but they trade witty remarks, mostly with Anakin attempting something rash and Obi-Wan cautioning him with a simple ‘Anakin, no!’ During this instance, he relies on Anakin to save him from danger.

In this particular moment, Obi-Wan and Anakin pursue Zam Wesell, a chameleon-like assassin from the planet Zolan who was employed by Jango Fett for the attempted assassination of Senator Padme Amidala. This attempt on Padme’s life was orchestrated by Count Dooku. When Padme narrowly escaped death in an explosion aboard a starship, Wesell retaliated by releasing venomous kouhuns into her chambers. Fortunately, the two Jedi arrived just in time to prevent further harm.

In this scenario, Anakin is cutting through the worm-like creatures, while Obi-Wan jumps out of a window to grab onto a floating droid that discharged the kouhuns. This action vividly illustrates their seamless teamwork. Hanging from the droid, Obi-Wan is swept through Coruscant’s cityscape as it swiftly moves among skyscrapers, zigzagging and diving. Jango Fett fires at the droid, causing Obi-Wan to lose his grip and plummet. However, with moments to spare before a hard landing, Anakin arrives on a speeder below him and catches Obi-Wan before he could hit the ground.

In a disorganized yet composed manner, Obi-Wan inquires Anakin about the delay, saying, “Why the hold-up?” The pair then exchange witty remarks as they pursue Wesell’s speeding vessel, eventually leading Anakin to leap from the speeder to engage the assassin directly.

McGregor and Christensen’s friendship is evident in this exchange, as it mirrors their off-screen camaraderie. Despite his apprehensions towards Anakin, Obi-Wan places unwavering faith in him, even putting himself in a potentially dangerous situation by relying on Anakin to arrive promptly. This trust, displayed through Obi-Wan’s willingness to risk a potentially disastrous fall, speaks volumes about their relationship at the beginning of the movie.

2. Obi-Wan breaks Vader’s mask in half (Obi-Wan Kenobi)

For quite some time, fans pondered if there was a meeting between Obi-Wan and Anakin between the storylines of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. The Obi-Wan Kenobi series provided the long-awaited answer, featuring not just one, but two clashes between the once mentor and student. Their initial confrontation took place on a planet named Mapuzo, followed by a second encounter on a barren, rocky moon. The latter duel was essentially a rematch following their intense battle in Revenge of the Sith, with Obi-Wan restoring his complete control over the Force and wielding his lightsaber as powerfully as before.

Although Anakin buried him under a mountain of stones, Obi-Wan discovers renewed meaning as he recalls Luke and Leia, ultimately engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the Sith Lord and eventually overpowering him. The swift, agile movements with their lightsabers sparking against the moon’s eerie landscape echoes their fight on Mustafar, effectively sealing Anakin Skywalker’s fate; he has become Darth Vader in its entirety.

The series is extremely captivating to behold, carrying an unexpected melancholy. Eventually, Obi-Wan removes the left half of Vader’s robotic mask, exposing the scarred and disfigured features of Anakin beneath. The scene becomes even more somber when recalling Ahsoka’s similar action in Star Wars: Rebels. Ultimately, it is Luke, Anakin’s child, who removes the entire helmet.

It is in these little things that remind us why Star Wars has the legacy that it does.

Behind the mask, a blend of Christensen’s and Jones’ tones resonates as Vader declares, “Anakin is no more. All that remains is me.” Tearfully, Obi-Wan offers his regrets, but the disheartened Sith somberly insists that it was not Master Obi-Wan who took Anakin Skywalker’s life; he himself made that choice.

This particular scene from the show is one of Christensen’s favorites, as he expressed during the 2023 Star Wars Celebration: “It’s simply a fantastic moment in Star Wars, and it holds great significance for me. I’m incredibly proud of that scene,” he said. During filming, both actors grew quite emotional while capturing this sequence.

1. The lightsaber duel on Mustafar (Episode III – Revenge of the Sith)

The epic lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin on Mustafar stands as both the most significant and skillfully choreographed sword fight in Star Wars lore. What makes it even more awe-inspiring is that Liam Neeson and Hayden Christensen performed their own stunts, without any speed enhancement, as confirmed by Christensen during his AMA on GQ in June this year.

Immediately following Order 66, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala pursued Anakin Skywalker to the volcanic planet Mustafar at Palpatine’s behest, where he was tasked with eliminating the last of the Separatist leaders. As his transformation towards the dark side neared completion, Anakin strangled his pregnant wife into unconsciousness and engaged in a grueling, close to ten-minute duel with his former Jedi mentor. Their mastery of each other’s moves, honed over years of working together for the Republic, was evident throughout the intense fight sequence.

In the battle, Anakin holds the advantage as Obi-Wan primarily defends himself and tries to dissuade Anakin from following his current course. Later, Obi-Wan ascends to higher ground (which would later inspire many memes), and in a swift instant, he shatters Anakin’s overconfidence and limbs, rendering him powerless and injured beside a river of scorching lava.

Obi-Wan grabs Anakin’s lightsaber and shouts, “It was you who were destined.” McGregor masterfully conveys the myriad of feelings from the past years of mentoring and battling with Anakin, culminating in this moment. Perhaps he ponders over what choices he might have made differently.

In a voice filled with sorrow and regret, Obi-Wan retorted, “I once called you my brother, Anakin. I loved you deeply.” This was their final exchange until their reunion during the series, “Obi-Wan Kenobi”.

In the end, Anakin manages to make it through the difficult situation. Then, under the guise of help, Palpatine steps in, transforming Anakin into a mechanical Sith master – ultimately finalizing Anakin’s metamorphosis into Darth Vader.

Consequently, the battle on Mustafar served as a critical juncture, potentially shaping the course of the universe’s fate. Obi-Wan Kenobi, to some extent, let down Anakin Skywalker, and so did the Jedi Council. This regret haunts Obi-Wan until he gives up his life for Luke and Leia in “A New Hope,” possibly finding solace then.

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2024-09-28 17:42

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