The Reception / Ignition Correlation

I'd always wondered if there was any correlation between the number of times a lightsaber is used and how well the movie was received. So I ran the numbers. Keep in mind, these are on-screen ignitions; it was a lot faster and easier a metric to obtain than ignitions in general.

I haven't watched the prequels in a long time but it feels like AOTC ignition number should be higher than ROTS. I would've thought the arena scene would drive that number up.

Grievous alone is four; then there's Palpatine's chamber, which alone is something like 7 or so. Anyway, the video is there, by all means check my counting :D

One day I counted all of the scenes with lightsabers in them from all 6 movies -  from memory. The ignition count is probably accurate. It's amazing the extent to which they relied on the lightsaber in Episode 3. And it's not like they used it in inventive ways, like cutting through a blast door. It's just lightsaber battle after lightsaber battle. I hope that the lightsaber is used in cool ways in the new movies. For example, a Jedi falling off of a building or spaceship in the atmosphere could use it to arrest his fall by slicing into the building or spaceship on his way down. During a lightsaber battle, one of the combatants could deactivate the lightsaber for an instant, allowing the enemy's blade to fall through it, then reactivate it in their stomach. Length adjustments during battle could also change the dynamic, or using the Force to levitate it while activated. Or using it while on a speeder, slicing through enemy after enemy with abandon.

Of course, the best idea would be to find something more interesting than lightsaber battles to occupy screen time.

NeverarGreat said:

During a lightsaber battle, one of the combatants could deactivate the lightsaber for an instant, allowing the enemy's blade to fall through it, then reactivate it in their stomach.

I love that idea!!!

Indeed, but the trend is strong enough that I let it slide.