My favorite description of Ben and Vader's "duel" in ANH is that they were playing "lightsaber pattycake." The duel in Return of the Jedi was the perfect anti-duel. The son did not want to fight the father, and only at the end did the spark of protecting Leia put him to climactic action. The three-way duel in Phantom Menace was a tour-de-force and always a thrill to watch, but because the combatants were unknown to each other the battle lacks any sense of true consequences until Maul kills Qui-Gon. The four-way duel in AotC always feels rushed or obligatory to me, and I for one am not a fan of Crouching Tiger Hidden Yoda on speed.

Naturally, this leaves my favorite: The duel from The Empire Strikes Back.

The swordplay is not as acrobatic or meticulous as Nick Gilliard's amazing work in Phantom, but in terms of mood, purpose, plot, and execution, Luke's first meeting with Vader enthralls me at every viewing.

The opening shot on that amazing set with the impetuous youth arriving with blaster in hand is chilling. We're treated to Vader's greatest entrance of the series, with the lights, the steam, the sudden activation of his breathing, his deathly still silhouetted form standing on the platform above like a black falcon ready to attack, and his wonderful line. "The Force is with you, Young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet." Nothing in the other films compares to it.

"You are not a Jedi yet." I've always thought about what a horrible disadvantage Luke was at because he had no idea what the Jedi in their prime were capable of. For all he knew, he WAS a Jedi already, quite capable of taking on Vader. It's like playing racquetball and thinking you're getting fast and then seeing two pros destroy the ball in lightening rounds to make you realize how slowly you've been moving.

How arrogant Luke is when he confidently mounts the steps and brazenly ignited his saber first. Only for knowledge and defense, Luke. We're glad you were paying attention. Vader is the picture of calm and finesse. He uses one hand with the other casually out to the side as counter balance. Count the opening blows the next time you watch Empire. Strike and parry, strike and fall -- Luke is on his ### on the second stroke! The look on his face is priceless, as if he would say, "What the hell just happened there?!"

From beginning to end, Vader is in complete, calculated control. Luke pleases him by not falling easy prey in the freezing unit. And Luke seems to do well with his sudden bursts of offensive energy. His lightsaber force-grab and attack that presses Vader off the platform is reminiscent of his attack at the end of Jedi. It takes Vader by surprise.

This convinces Vader not to take the boy lightly, inexperienced as he is. He readies himself for Luke to pursue him. In one of my favorite moments in the Star Wars saga, the music swells, Luke readies his saber, and Vader unleashes hell, completely stripping the boy of any bravado he had left by showing him that Jedi duel not with sabers alone. Luke is savagely battered. I wonder how long it would have gone on had the large piece not plugged through the bay window. Would Vader have kept pummeling him until his saber dropped and he lay cowering on the floor begging for mercy? Probably.

By the time Luke climbs up after hanging over the abyss, he just wants get the hell out of there. It is not to be. Vader lays in wait, leading to the breathtaking finale of their duel. The game is over. Watch this scene closely. Vader attacks and is on the offensive for a good sixteen blows. Luke tries to run one way, and he slashes down. He slashes the rail Luke was about to rest on. His drive is relentless and brings us to the penultimate line, "You are beaten! It is useless to resist..."

Then it happens. The subtle psychology of this scene delights me. Luke gets a lucky shot in to Vader's shoulder. Vader is furious. The Dark Side fuels him, makes him a Sith Lord, and is driven by anger, fear, and aggression. But somewhere in there lurks Anakin Skywalker, who loves his son. This may be manifested in Vader's desire to rule with him, but instead of completely succumbing to the Dark Side, which should dictate that he cut Luke in two out of fury and pain, he has enough control to channel his anger into that instrument cluster instead and then deftly swirl and swipe Luke's hand off. That moment, when Vader so easily amputates the hand, tells me that he could have easily killed Luke from the first moment in the chamber.

"Don't make me destroy you." Who else could get away with that line and not sound corny but Vader? When he says it, he means it, and it chills the blood. I love it.

I often wonder when Vader realizes that Luke doesn't know the truth about him. It's likely that he suspected all along, but it may have puzzled him then when Luke never acknowledges the relationship. When he is able to tell him, it is a glorious moment for Vader. It is his ultimate victory over Luke, and a parallel victory over Obi-Wan and Yoda, seeing their gamble in not telling Luke and being able to hurt them all because of it.

This segues into his final revelation, that he and Luke could overthrow the Emperor and rule the galaxy. Here is Anakin peeking through again, darkly. He extended the same offer to Padme. Now with Episode III in mind, it's clear that Vader truly believes that his dictatorship would be the best way to bring order to the galaxy. "It is the only way."

Not so. He underestimates Luke. In the purest act of bravery, Luke chooses death over joining this monster. Fortunately, he's saved by an exhaust pipe.

"Bring my shuttle..." I really miss that line.