all the fencing done on 'modern' tv is done with foils.
they are just toys to entertain. i think those are theones you are talking about. though a whole bunch of movies now are getting more into 'period' costuming. guess enough folk complained that they decided to make stuff more 'realistic'

i remember reading about the rapier thing getting out of hand. the idea was longer = you got your blade in first = you win. but they got outrageous and in england i think they passed a law fining anyone with a blade over 'don't remember think it was 3 feet?' mainly becausefolk in court were getting tripped, bonked, poked etc..
ya just gotta love it.

though i don't know why they did away with the 'old' italian style.
1 rapier, 1 chainmail glove. grab other guys sword, run his @$$ through.
guess it made too much sense.