Game of Thrones begins....

[grumbler]

really/  You think Errol Flynn et al sucked at sword fighting in the movies, and that GoT is the one doing it right? 

No of course not - they are all doing it wrong because the purpose is to show action and dramatic effect, not realistic technique whatever that is.

Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone fought for dramatic effect.  Kit Harington and Rory McCann (and their stunt doubles), alas, seem to have been trained to fight for comic effect.

Not sure what "realistic technique" is, either, nor why you bring it up.

Not, btw, that my complaint is more than a nit.  Still, it wouldn't cost the show any more to have the actors and stunt doubles at least look like they know how to use a sword.

[crazy canuck]

really/  You think Errol Flynn et al sucked at sword fighting in the movies, and that GoT is the one doing it right? 

No of course not - they are all doing it wrong because the purpose is to show action and dramatic effect, not realistic technique whatever that is.

Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone fought for dramatic effect.  Kit Harington and Rory McCann (and their stunt doubles), alas, seem to have been trained to fight for comic effect.

Not sure what "realistic technique" is, either, nor why you bring it up.

Not, btw, that my complaint is more than a nit.  Still, it wouldn't cost the show any more to have the actors and stunt doubles at least look like they know how to use a sword.

You are not sure what a realistic technique is but you are sure that these guys didnt use it.   

[Norgy]

Like anyone outside of fencing (the legal kind, not the car radio kind) knows how to fight with a sword these days.

[crazy canuck]

Like anyone outside of fencing (the legal kind, not the car radio kind) knows how to fight with a sword these days.

You mean rapiers dont you?

If we had sword fighting as an olympic sport then we might have a better idea.

[Norgy]

I guess that's what they use in fencing, yes.

"Welcome to the broadsword tournament of the 2018 Olympics. Unfortunately the winner from last time can't join us, on account of being beheaded in the qualifiers"

[crazy canuck]

I guess that's what they use in fencing, yes.

"Welcome to the broadsword tournament of the 2018 Olympics. Unfortunately the winner from last time can't join us, on account of being beheaded in the qualifiers"

but think of the ratings

[grumbler]

You are not sure what a realistic technique is but you are sure that these guys didnt use it.   

I am?  Wow.  I didn't know.  Thanks for telling me what I am sure of. 

Any other straw men you want to toss out there, while you are at it?

[grumbler]

I guess that's what they use in fencing, yes.

"Welcome to the broadsword tournament of the 2018 Olympics. Unfortunately the winner from last time can't join us, on account of being beheaded in the qualifiers"

Actually, there is a sport saber dueling sport, using a blade that both "cuts" and "pierces' (though dulled so that it hopefully does neither).  Folks using these would probably be the best modern people at fighting using weapons like those in GoT, though GoT's weapons are heavier.

It is apparently not uncommon to break bones in sport saber matches.

[The Brain]

Like anyone outside of fencing (the legal kind, not the car radio kind) knows how to fight with a sword these days.

You mean rapiers dont you?

If we had sword fighting as an olympic sport then we might have a better idea.

What's this "we" shit?

[Norgy]

I guess that's what they use in fencing, yes.

"Welcome to the broadsword tournament of the 2018 Olympics. Unfortunately the winner from last time can't join us, on account of being beheaded in the qualifiers"

Actually, there is a sport saber dueling sport, using a blade that both "cuts" and "pierces' (though dulled so that it hopefully does neither).  Folks using these would probably be the best modern people at fighting using weapons like those in GoT, though GoT's weapons are heavier.

It is apparently not uncommon to break bones in sport saber matches.

I didn't know that. I thought there were electronic sensors and points awarded.

[11B4V]

I guess that's what they use in fencing, yes.

"Welcome to the broadsword tournament of the 2018 Olympics. Unfortunately the winner from last time can't join us, on account of being beheaded in the qualifiers"

Actually, there is a sport saber dueling sport, using a blade that both "cuts" and "pierces' (though dulled so that it hopefully does neither).  Folks using these would probably be the best modern people at fighting using weapons like those in GoT, though GoT's weapons are heavier.

Have you ever watched any matches?

Epic fail for hollywood.

[The Minsky Moment]

You are not sure what a realistic technique is but you are sure that these guys didnt use it.   

I'm surely no expert but seems like a bad idea to turn your back to a sharp object, armor or no.

[Berkut]

One thing I do find kind of odd about medieval sword fighting in movies (even most of GoT) is that they might as not be wearing any of that armor. They almost never actually use it, and fight are determined in most cases by factors having nothing to do with armor.

The one exception to this, which I liked very much, was when Mormont was fighting that blood rider, and took his shot on his armor and killed him.

[crazy canuck]

You are not sure what a realistic technique is but you are sure that these guys didnt use it.   

I'm surely no expert but seems like a bad idea to turn your back to a sharp object, armor or no.

Yes, you are most likely correct.

[Razgovory]

Armor never works in the movies cause you can't see the people in them.  A hero needs to be seen.  I don't know what a medieval battle would look like.  I've never seen one.  I imagine that it would like something like an enormous pushing match.  Thankfully artillery was invented to give some dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl.