Originally posted by: Arklaine

I’m afraid I still I like the fact that he gets whumped straight away. Despite Anakin’s power and potential, the scene shows the essential need for a lack of attachment in a Jedi’s life and, ultimately, the failings that the Darkside will bring. He is so influenced by his emotions (so quick to anger) that this acts as a distraction from his training and Dooku uses this fact and, in effect, just whips the football away and sends the unfocused Jedi flying. Thereby giving more credence to Obi and his philosophy (and also to the fact that he, ultimately, failed in training Anakin).

Good points. But Anakin's raw power is totally ignored. He couldn't do worse if this were the first time he'd ever held a lightsaber. That's my problem.

I love everything you say and agree with the meaning of Dukoo's victory-- but that meaning wouldn't change if Anakin were able to bull through for at least a moment-- in fact the meaning would be enhanced. If an emotional attack from an untrained average Jedi comes-- whack! That's no threat to Dukoo. But what if it were an emotional attack from an untrained "chosen one?" An apprentice who will be the most powerful of all Jedi? Well if it's just the same answer-- whack! Well, that's just dull. But if there's a beat of "oh my god, Anakin's raw power may allow this to be a fight..." before Dukoo whips the football away, then the point is made even clearer: it doesn't matter how powerful you are-- if you do not detach, you will lose.

Remember that in this edit, Anakin does almost nothing out of emotion-- just two things: goes to save his mom and kills the sandpeople. Everything else is marked by his restraint now.

So how he approaches this fight is kind of important-- it's not just "more of the same" as in the original cut. This moment is a dramatic beat-- it tells us what kind of man he's becoming and it comes on the heels of another important beat when he decides to leave Padme behind and "do the right thing."

By making that choice of restraint a few minutes earlier and then showing up here and going berzerk-- Anakin's character is suddenly waffling and adrift. There needs to be a straight line that explains why he rushes in here when he was able to rein himself in and leave Padme only a short time earlier.

It might help if Dukoo taunts Anakin into coming. If Dukoo said "I sense that she suffered before she died. I hope that pains you, young Jedi." Then I can see Anakin going off. But to do it in response to Obi Wan's direct order is just whacky.