Traister, Associate Professor of Acting and Stage Combat at the University of Michigan and Fight Master with the Society of American Fight Directors, also comes from an acting background spanning over 25 years, so it’s safe to say she has experience with how fights should look on stage and screen. As part of Wired’s “Technique Critique” video series, where professionals are brought in to assess the realism and practicality of movie scenes related to their craft, she had plenty of opportunities to offer her knowledge on the subject of bladed combat.
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Focusing equally on technique as well as weapon choice, Traister went right in, giving critique and praise in relatively balanced amounts. Starting with the Mountain vs. The Viper duel from Game of Thrones, she approved of The Viper’s (Pedro Pascal) use of movement, distance, and parries to compensate for his small stature compared to his opponent. Later, she questions the unnecessary showmanship in Highlander, which does little other than providing a flashy visual for the viewer.
No matter the tone of the film in question, though, Traister gave it her full attention. Even legendary and extremely not serious comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail was treated with a genuine assessment. From the definition of what is, indeed, a “flesh wound” to the plausibility of sheer adrenaline allowing one to continue fighting even through grievous injuries, her expertise was apparent throughout.
Even 2009 buddy comedy I Love You, Man gets its time in the spotlight, with Traister critiquing not a fight scene, but the actors’ mispronunciations of various fencing terms. It was honestly rather relatable to see a seasoned professional take time to call out something comparatively petty just because it bothered them personally. Truly the most human experience is sweating the little things.
Some may not enjoy seeing their favorite films being picked apart like this, which is understandable. Enjoyment is subjective, after all. However, it can be a valuable exercise to acknowledge the flaws in one’s favorite media, even while continuing to enjoy the product as a whole. If nothing else, it’s good to remember that criticism does not necessarily equal condemnation. As said by Christina Traister herself, “an actual sword fight a lot of times would be very quick, but it also wouldn’t be as entertaining to see on the big screen.”
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Source: Wired/YouTube, ChristinaTraister.com
