The Untold Secrets Behind Obi-Wan Kenobi's Disastrous Final Battle

Summary

The lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan and Vader in the live-action Star Wars shows, including Obi-Wan Kenobi, was visually disappointing due to the limitations of the Volume technology. This technology hindered any last-minute adjustments or amendments to the lighting, resulting in unsatisfactory visuals for the epic battle.

The pre-planned virtual background made it impossible to fix Obi-Wan Kenobi's lighting problems, and editing couldn't enhance it either. The glow and brightness of the blue lightsaber were negatively affected by digital cameras during post-production.

Although the Volume technology has been criticized for its artificial and less tangible visuals, the Ahsoka series proves that Star Wars filmmakers are enhancing its effectiveness. Consequently, visually stunning lightsaber duels are now achieved without encountering the same lighting issues experienced by Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Obi-Wan Kenobi's promise of an epic re-match between Darth Vader and his former master fell short, and Star Wars has finally provided an explanation. Despite the impressive lightsaber choreography, the lighting diminished the impact of the fight, either being visually unappealing or obstructing the visibility of crucial details. This issue was not limited to their initial duel in the season, as there were numerous instances throughout the show where the lighting needed improvement. Surprisingly, the culprit behind this disappointment was the filmmaking technology employed for most of the Disney+ Star Wars shows.

The live-action Star Wars shows introduced a revolutionary filming technique that differed from the traditional approach used in the movies, thereby influencing the entire industry. While this method has its advantages for Lucasfilm, its contribution to the underwhelming visuals of Obi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber duel cannot be overlooked. Nonetheless, this setback serves as a valuable lesson for future Star Wars projects, as it highlights the importance of understanding the impact of current filmmaking methods on the overall quality of the series, including other Disney+ shows.

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The Volume Technology Doesn't Allow For Flexibility Or Fixing Mistakes

The underwhelming final confrontation between Obi-Wan and Vader can be attributed to the utilization of Volume technology in the live-action Star Wars shows. This advanced technology, known as the Volume, encompasses the film set with a massive virtual screen that projects a realistic background, seamlessly synchronized with the movements of the actors. Initially introduced in The Mandalorian, this revolutionary tool grants filmmakers a distinct advantage. Unlike the traditional method of actors performing against green or blue screens, the Volume allows them to perceive the actual backgrounds, while the virtual scenery perfectly aligns with the physical sets. Regrettably, the Volume lacks the flexibility to rectify any mistakes, as revealed by Eric Steelberg, the acclaimed cinematographer for Star Wars, during an interview with The Direct.

"And that is the most challenging part: attempting to create a virtual setting with a lighting style that perfectly matches, because you have to commit… you have to make the decisions regarding its desired appearance months, months, and months in advance of actually capturing it. So you're making choices that you have to stick with… Not stuck, but decisions that you have to live with later on, unable to alter them. So… if I had a sudden last-minute inspiration to modify the lighting in a virtual background, I was severely limited or unable to execute that due to the constraints."

Obi-Wan Kenobi's Lighting Problems Simply Couldn't Be Corrected

Due to the pre-planned nature of the virtual background, it was not possible to rectify the issues arising from Obi-Wan and Vader's lightsaber duel. This inevitably caused frustration for Steelberg and the crew during filming, as optimal picture quality often requires on-set modifications. Unfortunately, the lighting deficiencies could not be addressed during the editing phase due to the use of digital cameras in the production. This posed a challenge specifically for Obi-Wan's blue lightsaber, as digital cameras struggle to accurately capture various shades of blue. Consequently, the luminosity emitted by Obi-Wan's lightsaber affected the entire scene, making it more noticeable if brightness adjustments were made during post-production.

Even apart from the lighting concerns, numerous viewers perceive the Volume as a flawed technique that has negatively impacted the visual appeal of various Star Wars shows. Critics argue that the visuals appear artificial and less tangible due to the Volume, which poses a significant problem in a franchise renowned for its astonishing cinematography and revolutionary practical effects. Andor stands out among the few Star Wars shows that opted out of using the Volume, earning high praise for its visually striking nature. However, while the Volume will continue to be utilized in future Star Wars productions, it is expected to no longer present the same lighting issues as Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Ahsoka Shows Star Wars Has Learned How To Use The Volume

Notably, Ahsoka faced similar reliance on the Volume as Obi-Wan Kenobi did. However, unlike the latter, the latest Star Wars show encountered no issues with lighting. The lightsaber duels, even those occurring in dimly lit settings, appear remarkably impressive, highlighting the continuous improvement in the effectiveness of the Volume by Star Wars filmmakers. Admittedly, there are instances where the virtual backgrounds are quite noticeable throughout the show, but overall, Ahsoka stands as a visually captivating series. While the lightsaber duels undoubtedly contribute to its excitement, their impact would have been diminished had the lighting been affected by the Volume.

Star Wars fans can take comfort in knowing that the Volume will be utilized for the highly anticipated season 2 of Ahsoka, season 4 of The Mandalorian, as well as many other upcoming Star Wars TV shows. Given its successful integration into blockbuster films, it is highly likely that the next Star Wars movies will also make use of this technology, which means that it must be perfected beforehand. The impressive cinematography in Ahsoka serves as a promising indication that the Volume does not limit filmmakers' creativity when planning a series. Although the final lightsaber battle in Obi-Wan Kenobi may have left fans disappointed, it is hoped that future Star Wars projects will learn from this and avoid making the same mistake.