VIDEO : J.J. Abrams Inspiration for Epic Lightsaber Fights in The Force Awakens

This week's new Empire Magazine is a treasure trove of information about Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Director JJ Abrams said he's looking to the original trilogy for the lightsaber battles' inspiration. He hopes to transmit the raw, primitive power in the original movies to the epic battles in the Force Awakens. Abrams remembers how exciting the heart stopping lightsaber fights were as a kid.
Abrams also turned to the John Ford Westerns and Kurosawa's films which he praised for their choreography and and "the powerful stillness" of Terrence Malick. George Lucas also famously looked at Westerns, Samurai films, and serials for his inspiration when developing the first Star Wars.