NEW MOVIE and DVD REVIEWS
DVD review: Clone HunterOften, sci-fi and low budget indie productions go together about as well as chocolate and onions....+ READ REVIEW
What to make of the ending to Inception?So far, my favorite film this year is Christopher Nolan’s Inception. Not only does it deliver all...+ READ REVIEW
DVD Review: The White RibbonThe White Ribbon is a drama starring Christian Freidl, Ulrich Turkl and Burghart Klaussner....+ READ REVIEW
Top 10 Movie Fight Scenes |
|
|
|
| Written by Trent Daniel | ||||||
| Thursday, 21 January 2010 | ||||||
|
Oftentimes, the best way for a film (be it an action movie or not) to make its mark is to deliver a memorable fight scene. Trying to narrow down a Top 10 greatest movie fight scenes was much tougher than I thought. This list is wide-ranging, featuring hands (sometimes unattached), weapons and often uneven odds. However, all are amazing and memorable in their own unique way. I’m sure I left off some favorites, so please tell me what I missed.
10. Rocky Balboa vs. Ivan Drago in Rocky IV (Stallone, 1985) Sure, this movie is shameless propaganda and its image of Iron Curtain Russia has dated badly. Ivan (“If he dies, he dies”) Drago is the quintessential evil Soviet athlete, a soulless machine made superhuman through the use of performance enhancing drugs (good thing American athletes would NEVER do something like that!). Still, the moment when American hero Rocky starts pummeling Drago is thrilling. I will never forget the packed theatre I saw this film in absolutely exploding during this fight. 9. Qui-Gon Jin and Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (Lucas, 1999) As oft-maligned as this film is, it must be given kudos for the best fight scene in the series. Darth Maul is truly a fearsome presence (and criminally underused in the film IMHO). The start of the fight, when Maul fired up the doubled bladed light saber and John Williams’ score took an ominous tone, fired up the adrenaline of many a super nerd such as myself. CLICK TO WATCH 8. King Arthur vs, The Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Jones and Gilliam, 1975) Leave it to the demented geniuses of Monty Python to realize to realize that violence and gore can often be quite funny (see many South Park episodes). In this cult classic, Arthur must fight off the Black Knight to progress on his path. Soon one arm of the knight gets hacked off, then another (“Tis a mere flesh wound!”), then both legs. Bloody; disturbing, hilarious. CLICK TO WATCH 7. Oh Dae-Su vs. a hallway of thugs in Oldboy (Park, 2003) This brutal revenge masterpiece is one of the great films of the past decade, highlighted by the hero Oh Dae Su confronting, and taking down, a narrow hallway filled with henchmen. Unlike generic kung fu films, where a gang of thugs will conveniently attack the hero one at a time, the henchmen do try to gang tackle Su, yet, armed with only a claw hammer, he still fights them off, viciously, like a wounded pit bull. Like the entire film, this fight scene is brutal, painful, yet strangely beautiful. CLICK TO WATCH 6. The Bride vs. Elle Driver in Kill Bill 2 (Tarantino, 2004) I have a strong suspicion Mr. Tarantino has a fetish for female ass kickers, so I know he must have been ecstatic at the result of this scene. This fight, arguably the highlight of the outstanding two films, features blonde Amazons (Uma Thurman and Darryl Hannah), having a death match in a shoddy trailer that is way too small to contain them. This fight features smash fake paneling and broken toilets galore, culminating in a shot that is definitely not for the squeamish, but fitting. CLICK TO WATCH 5. Kham vs a brothel full of thugs in The Protector (Pinkaew, 2005) If you can find this fight scene on YouTube, go watch it immediately. I’ll wait. If you insist on recap first, here goes: Kham (Tony Jaa) storms an elaborate five story brothel all by his lonesome. He takes out fifty or so goons in various ways, from standard kicks and punches to throwing them off balconies to smashing them through walls to tossing vases at them. What makes it so amazing: this 5 minute fight was all done in one take. I have no idea how Jaa or the makers of this film choreographed it, or how many takes it took to make, but the result is incredible. I doubt any Hollywood movie would dare try this. CLICK TO WATCH 4. Ash vs. his hand in Evil Dead 2 (Raimi, 1987) Evil Dead 2 is simply one of the greatest horror comedies ever made and still stands up today. Bruce Campbell’s cult following started with his portrayal of Ash, the unfortunate hero/victim of the series. In an isolated cabin, Ash fights off one possessed villain after another until he realizes that his own hand is possessed-and turns on him. In a brilliant display of physical humor, Ash battles his own hand while it smashes his head repeatedly with plates, cups, whatever it can find. Ash finally emerges victorious with the help of his trusty chainsaw (“Who’s laughing NOW?”). Obviously not for all tastes, but unforgettable (and yes, funny). CLICK TO WATCH 3. Spider Man vs. Doc Ock in Spider Man 2 (Raimi, 2004) I never would have guessed that Sam Raimi would direct two of my Top 5 all time fight scenes, but here he is. The showdown between Doc Ock and Spider Man atop a speeding subway car is the highlight of the series, as well as one of the most effective uses of CGI ever. Taking full use of the airborne capabilities and dexterity of both characters, Spidey and Doc Ock literally battle above, below and around the speeding train, with Ock even resorting to throwing passengers off the train (only to have Spidey save them with convenient web nets). The conclusion of the fight, with the passengers reacting to a wounded, unmasked Spider Man, is deeply moving. CLICK TO WATCH 2. Nada vs. Frank in They Live (Carpenter, 1988) John Carpenter’s sci-fi/black comedy hybrid is not his best work, yet the six-minute fight sequence between Frank (Keith David) and Nada (Roddy Piper) has developed such a cult following that the entire fight was parodied on an episode of South Park decades later. The fight starts over the relatively small matter of Nada trying to get Frank to wear a pair of sunglasses (the special ones that enable humans to identify aliens in disguise), yet Frank’s refusal gradually leads to them literally pummeling each other (kicks to the groin in play). The actors really look like they are beating the crap out of each other, leaving the audience exhausted at the end. CLICK TO WATCH 1. Wong Fe Yung vs. John in Drunken Master 2 (Liu, 1994) People who only know Jackie Chan from the Rush Hour movies might not appreciate what a truly gifted performer he is-and why he might be the greatest action star of all time. The premise-Chan’s Yung character is trying to earn the respect of his family and continually falls short-yet he somehow becomes an unstoppable fighter when drunk. The final showdown, between crime boss John (Ken Lo) and Chan, is clearly one of the greatest fights ever filmed, as well as the best example of Chan’s incredible physical ability (not to mention his daring). This fight is beautifully choreographed, as well as brutal, exhausting and exhilarating. CLICK TO WATCH
Only registered users can write comments!
Powered by !JoomlaComment 3.26
3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."LINK THIS ARTICLE                |
||||||
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
SUBSCRIBE to the INDIE FILM KIOSK MINI CATALOG for valuable news, coupons and discounts! Get the pdf catalog downloaded to your computer and into your Itunes or other xml/rss feed reader:
subscribe with Itunes!
Black Swan - Trailer