But the more outlandish the "skill," the more silly the duels become for me. For the most part, I liked the choreography of the Episode One duel. But everytime Obi-Wan did some effortless 30-foot leap, I cringed.

I'm afraid I have the same problem with the telekenesis. Once cave rubble and huge machinery starts to fly, I have to wonder why they even bothered with lightsabers to start off with. That's not to say that some of the lighting wasn't cool in the Attack of the Clones duel, or that Yoda's bouncing-off-the-walls antics didn't produce the second biggest opening night crowd reaction I have witnessed in the entire Star Wars saga.

But looking cool and being cool are too often at odds when it comes to light saber duels, it seems.

I have come to the conclusion that big is not more. Much as I like many elements in all the duels throughout the series, I find myself pleased the most with the duel so simple as to offend the least ... the near primitive show-down in the original Star Wars.

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