Personally I'd have to include almost everything from the new Star Wars movies:
* Darth Maul vs. Obiwan/Qui-Gon * Dooku vs. Obiwan/Anakin * Dooku vs. Yoda * Yoda vs. Palpatine * Anakin vs. Obiwan
No none lightsaber fights even compare that I can think of.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Actually, the Yoda fight were cool the very first time I saw Ep. II, but since the novelty wore off, it just seems silly go me--in either movie.
I will agree that nothing matches the Darth Maul vs. Obiwan/Qui-Gon duel, though.
Do Neo's fights w/ Agent Smith in the first Matrix count? I think there was some awesome stuff there, especially at the end of the movie. In the later movies it just got kind of silly, again.
Posted by Astaril (Member # 7440) on :
What!? How can you even mention top ten duels and not have Westley and Inigo from the Princess Bride??? Best duel ever!
(Edit for misspelling)
Posted by Brinestone (Member # 5755) on :
Inigo vs. Westley in Princess Bride Posted by GaalDornick (Member # 8880) on :
The most intense duel ever was the one in A New Hope between Darth Vader and Obi Wan. It was like watching two old guys race. I kind of liked the sword fight between Hector and Achilles in Troy. Does that count as a duel?
Posted by Aerto (Member # 8810) on :
Luke vs. Darth Vader in both Empire and Jedi. Unlike most of the duels in the new Star Wars movies, these two duels actually had some meaning and emotion to them rather than just being an excuse to show a little green guy jumping all over the place.
Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
I would have to agree with The Princess Bride. That's an amazing duel. I can't think of any others right now, but I'm sure they'll come to me.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
The end of the recent Count of Monte Cristo movie.
Princess Bride - cliffs of insanity duel.
Spider-man and Doc-Ock on the subway.
There's an old French movie with a 10-minute duel that was supposedly filmed in one take (cuts between three camera views) that's really good, but I can't remember its name.
Something from the Matrix deserves to be on this list, too, but I won't pick which one.
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon - hard to pick one scene.
Posted by Astaril (Member # 7440) on :
For Crouching Tiger, I'd go with the faceoff between the two women near the end (I can't remember their character names) with the zillion different showcased weapons.
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
Oooh, good call, Astaril.
Posted by TrapperKeeper (Member # 7680) on :
Jackie Chan has had some great ones. He had a drunken boxing movie. That was awesome.
Posted by TrapperKeeper (Member # 7680) on :
Oh, and Bruce Lee too
Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
What about Hawkins vs. Sir Griswold in The Court Jester?
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I'd put Anakin/Obi-Wan a very close second to Darth Maul/Jedi, though I'm not sure if the latter constitutes a true "duel." There were three of them.
Yes, Hector vs. Achilles counts - and their flesh counts more Talk about a hot duel...
As for an original contribution to this discussion... I'm not sure. Perhaps the Maximus/Commodus battle in Gladiator? I'll have to noodle this for a while.
Posted by Astaril (Member # 7440) on :
There were some good duels in Kung Fu Hustle as well, even if large amounts of their goodness were due to their comical nature. I guess it depends what the basis of this top ten list is -- skill, ingenuity, most fun to watch, etc.
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
Inconcievable that you wouldn't put The Princess Bride duel on there! Even just Wesley standing up and saying "Drop. Your. Sword." Beats most movies hands down. Inconcievable!
EDIT: And the duel of wits with Vizzini! Absolutely priceless.
Posted by TrapperKeeper (Member # 7680) on :
Oooh! Hot Shots part Deux!
The duel at the beginning when one dude put glass shards all over his fists, while the other guy used caramel and gummy bears.
THAT was a duel!
Posted by Astaril (Member # 7440) on :
Ha! Good call, maui babe. Man, I love that movie. The opening is priceless, and then it just gets better... Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I like some of the older Star Wars duels, and would agree to take off the Yoda duels for it. But I wouldn't agree that all the new duels are lacking in emotion and are Yoda laden. Yoda only fights twice in real duels, and the Obiwan/Anakin fight is heavily charged with emotion, as is the latter half of the Darth Maul duel after (spoiler I guess) Qui-Gon is killed.
For sure the Inigo/Wesley fight in Princess Bride.
I can't believe I forgot it, but of course the Achilles vs. Hector fight in Troy. That was a great fight, and despite how cheesy much of the movie was, that fight had me on the edge of my seat, and I knew no matter the outcome I was going to be sad.
And don't forget the best duel of all:
The Black Knight vs. King Arthur.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
I nominate POTC Jack Sparrow/Will Turner for best comic/witty-dialogue duel. Posted by Silent E (Member # 8840) on :
Coriantumr vs. Shiz hasn't ever been filmed, has it? It should be. It would make this list.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Oh, I like the duel between Jack and Will. Might not necessarily win an award for choreography, but it's well rounded and for sure funny.
I'm sure if I watched the Highlander movies I'd find some duels in there to be had, since they make up the basis for the series.
Posted by TrapperKeeper (Member # 7680) on :
Best verbal comedy duel:
King Arthur and the peasant working with guck:
"Supreme executive power is given by the masses, not by some farsical aquatic ceremony where a watery tart throws a sword at you" --I know, I edited it a bit
Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
I'd add the duel in Hero in the lake- the running on water thing was just cool, and I'm partial to anything asian, myself.
On that note, Jackie Chan fights scenes are incredible.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
The Drunken Boxer finale is certainly worthy of the list.
Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
The thing that makes the Darth Maul vs. Qui-Gon/Obi Wan fight for me is the emotion behind it. Specifically, I am thinking of when they get stopped by those laser curtain things. Yeah, it was kind of a cheap plot device, but I loved seeing the differences in how each of the characters handled it. Darth Maul paced, Obi-Wan was chomping at the bit, and Qui-Gon slid into meditation. So very cool.
And you can also see the emotion when Obi Wan battled Darth Maul after Qui-Gon died. He's full of passion and is just charging ahead without any care in the world. Plus you've got the amazing "Duel of the Fates" backing it all up.
Too many of the other prequel fights appeared to be "Isn't this COOL?", which frankly bores me. Also, I like to be able to SEE what's going on. If it's too fast for my eyes to follow, I can't really appreciate the skill involved, or the differences in the fighting styles between the characters.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
quote:Also, I like to be able to SEE what's going on. If it's too fast for my eyes to follow, I can't really appreciate the skill involved, or the differences in the fighting styles between the characters.
That's one thing I loved about the way they did Spider-man's fights. It's fast - very fast - but it's also smooth and represents a fighting style that makes sense given the particular abilities involved.
Too many fights are cut up too much - the Matrix tended to go that way. One reason I like Jackie Chan is that he goes for longer shots that let you see how the moves connect, not just a bunch of cool indivdual moves strung together.
The fight at the end of the Transporter was good largely because the camera work didn't ruin it.
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Cliffs of Insanity Hector/Achilles Darth Maul/Qui Gon/Obi Wan Luke/Vader in episode VI Count of Monte Cristo Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (the one in the trees) Hero (with cloud) Tombstone (in the river) Heat (final scene) Mask of Zorro (either Zorro vs Elena, or vs capt. love and montero)
Posted by TrapperKeeper (Member # 7680) on :
I completely agree. If you cant tell whats going on or if there are obvious problems in what you saw that really takes away from the experience for me
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
I TOTALLY forgot the opening scence of Two Towers... Gandalf vs the Balrog.
Posted by Aerto (Member # 8810) on :
Many of the great sword duels captured on film occured in older movies, before the innovation of quick-cutting and rapid-fire editing. So I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of them:
Adventures of Robin Hood (1938-Errol Flynn definitive edition of the classical story) Captain Blood The Three Musketeers (with Douglas Faribanks) and many more...
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
What, no one mentions Robin Hood--Men In Tights? The blind serveant vs the post is classic.
Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :
Kung Pow: Chosen One vs. Moon Yu (Or some such spelling)
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Blind servent? Please Dan, he has a NAME!
"Hey Blinkin!" "Did you say Abe Lincoln?" "No I said HEY Blinkin, hold the reins man."
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
The Yoda fights do not deserve to be on the list. Duels are about artistry, lines, physical prowess, etc. One man flailing and a computer-generated image added afterwards does not a good duel made. I'll be honest, I laughed at the Yoda duel in episode II. It was ridiculous, and I'd rather we kept cartoon fights off the lists for simplicity's sake.
Dooku v. Obi/Ani also should be stricken from the last. Shot in the dark with many cuts and flashing lights is annoying enough, but the tease of Anikan with 2 light sabres only to have a hand cut off not 5 seconds later added salt to the wound. I was pumped to see it and felt completely cheated.
Lastly, again, for ease of making the list, I'd say that only fights that are primarily fought with weapons should count. There's a very different feel between a fist fight and a few people going at each other with weapons.
Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :
Psh.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
I think the final Obi Wan/Vader duel in RotS is full of emotion. It was for me. I felt like they both understood the meaning of master vs. apprentice in the duel. It was rather tragic. I really though Hayden Christiansen did a wonderful job of showing us the rage and 'out of control' state that Vader was in by the time the duel began.
And I've had the argument about prequel vs. original trilogy duels before somewhere on this forum. I hold that the prequel duels are gorgeous AND that they tell us something about the Jedi. I loved how lightsaber dueling was so fast in the prequels that the skill went beyond human ability and into what a jedi can do when he/she has the force. It's kind of like the way the elves fight in LotR. They know who's behind them, they kind of know what their opponent will try next...and it's fast. I like that aspect of the prequel duels.
My favorite 'duel' in the Matrix was the one in the weapon room during "Reloaded." So fun and the absence of an agent was what made it even cooler.
I cast my vote for the duel in the Princess Bride and I also love the duel between Kirgan and Sean Connery in the original Highlander, not necessarily because it was well choreographed or fought. Just the characters and the setting. Pretty awesome.
Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
quote:Originally posted by Narnia:
My favorite 'duel' in the Matrix was the one in the weapon room during "Reloaded." So fun and the absence of an agent was what made it even cooler.
That scene has one of my favorite lines ever.
The Merovingian's line after Neo blocks the guy's sword with his hand is just classic for its stupidity. "You see, he is just a man."
Now, that guy just hit Neo full force with a sword, and for his efforts he managed to draw a drop or two. If that were me, I would not be saying "he's just a man." I'd be saying something more along the lines of "well, it's been fun and all, but I'm outa here."
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
The very end of the RotS Obi/Ani-Vader duel ruined it for me. They've established that Vader is considerably more powerful than Obi. Obi needs to use his experience to win. Fine, I like that. But, "Don't try it; I've got the high ground"? Give me a break.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
Scanners. Sorry.
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
Liam Neeson in Rob Roy.
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
quote:Arthur: What are you going to do, bleed on me?
King Arthur vs. the Black Knight, Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Posted by larisse (Member # 2221) on :
I cast my vote for the duel between the Kurgan and Ramirez, as well. Clancy Brown and Sean Connery are awesome with their banter. Count me in for Westley vs. Inigo just for the ambidextrousness alone.
starLisa, do you mean the final mental duel in Scanners? Scanners is one of my fave SciFi B-movies. Trancers, Doll-man, Troma movies. Well, those kinda lean toward the C-movies.... hahaha, but much fun.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
You're pretty easily ruined Dag.
Obiwan didn't really want to kill him, even at that point, and tried to warn him, but Anakin was foolish and believed too much in his own abilities, and that was his downfall. It was believable, in the sense that it was a teacher still trying to impart a lesson on his pupil, which only egged the impetuous youth on even more.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
- Heart of Gold vs. Tracking Missiles
- Average Joe's vs. Purple Cobras
- Tweak vs. Craig
- Jimmy vs. Timmy
- Darth Vader vs. Ben Kenobi
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
quote:Obiwan didn't really want to kill him, even at that point, and tried to warn him, but Anakin was foolish and believed too much in his own abilities, and that was his downfall. It was believable, in the sense that it was a teacher still trying to impart a lesson on his pupil, which only egged the impetuous youth on even more.
It wasn't that I found the warning unbelievable - it's that I found the supposed advantage unbelievable compared to what we've seen. Vader has flown by floating his little chunk of rock, not 3 minutes earlier, and now he can't jump over Obi?
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
I think that scene would've been better if Obiwan had allowed Anakin to make the jump, but use the force to punch out a lava-filled crater at the place where Anakin would land. Now that's a recipe for hilarity.
The Anakin-Obiwan scene would've made sense if Obiwan actually waved his hand to show that he used the force to pull Anakin down. Without that, I agree with Dags that it just didn't make sense.
Someone on sw.com wrote that the scene is very powerful because Obiwan pulled the same move on Darth Maul and that Anakin, who probably knew that story well, was eager to try the same move himself.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
The first meeting of Crash Override and Acid Burn in Hackers.
Posted by MandyM (Member # 8375) on :
OK I rarely play the gender card but here it is....
Where are all the chick fights? Where are the Charlie's Angels? The fight Drew Barrymore starts while tied to the chair is wonderful. What about Lara Croft and the flying fight scene. I mean light sabers are cool and all, don't get me wrong but you gotta love a good cat fight too!
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
quote:The fight Drew Barrymore starts while tied to the chair is wonderful.
That is the only fight in both movies that I though was exceptional. See my comments above on quick cuts with not context within the fight. The chair scene avoided it. None of the others did.
Plus I am so sick of artful slo-mo. Again, the chair scene didn't go overboard with that.
The coreography was very good, and Drew was awesome.
But for chick fights, I take the fight in the training room toward the end of Crouching Tiger.
The sai fight in Mummy Returns was OK, but the context and the rest of the movie was so bad I can't bear to give it a compliment.
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
No one's mentioned Kill Bill yet (!) - the Uma/Lucy fight in the snow was awesome!
I also agree with the Inigo/Westley duel, as well as any and all Monty Python and Mel Brooks references.
Sadly, I haven't seen a lot of the other movies mentioned, so I can't comment on those.
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
The Drew chair fight isn't really a duel though, since it's one important character vs several unnamed thugs. If we're allowing that type of fight I nominate the chickfight in 5th Element during the opera scene as a cool fight sequence.
--Enigmatic
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
They don't always have the wave their hands or what not to show they are using the force.
I understand why they do it, because otherwise people are like "how did that just happen?" but its not always realistic. It's like the Force Witches of Dathomir using vocal spells to control the force, it isn't necessary, it's something done to help focus the mind.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
For those who've seen Gladiator, which of the fights of Maximus would you include?
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
quote:Originally posted by Bob the Lawyer: The Yoda fights do not deserve to be on the list. Duels are about artistry, lines, physical prowess, etc. One man flailing and a computer-generated image added afterwards does not a good duel made. I'll be honest, I laughed at the Yoda duel in episode II. It was ridiculous, and I'd rather we kept cartoon fights off the lists for simplicity's sake.
YES!
I'm a fight scene connoisseur, and a kung-fu movie fanatic. Here are my all-time top five, in no particular order:
**Bruce Lee vs. Ohara in Enter the Dragon It's short, but I've never seen anyone move as fast as Bruce did in that scene. His punches seem to hit before they were even thrown.
**Tony Jaa's final fight in Ong-Bak: Thai Warrior This dude has renewed my sagging faith in the modern martial arts movie. He's probably the biggest muay-thai style film star in history, and he deserves it. I haven't been so impressed with a film fighter since Jet Li was in his prime. This guy starts out good, and every scene he just keeps getting better. Every time you think he can't possibly get any better, he proves you wrong, and by the final fight scene I nearly wet myself. If you like martial arts movies, and you haven't seen this one, go buy it today. You won't regret it. **(see end of post)
**Jackie Chan vs. Benny "The Jet" Urquidez in Dragons Forever Jackie himself prefers his fight with Benny in Wheels on Meals, but I think this one is far better. An absolutely phenomenal end to one of the best kung-fu movies ever made. The scene also features Yuen Biao doing the most jaw-dropping, pants-soiling acrobatic stunts ever captured on film, and Jackie's stunt team doing things that make your head bleed just watching them. It's such an amazing scene, I can't even describe it. I wouldn't be half the Jackie Chan fan I am if it weren't for this movie, and if anyone ever wants to know what's so great about him, this is always the scene I show them.
**The final fight scene in Fist of Legend This movie is the reason that Yuen Woo Ping got hired to choreograph the Matrix, and if you watch it, you'll see why. Every fight scene in this movie is better than the last. And the final scene is phenomenal. The combination of Jet Li's skill and Woo Ping's imagination manifests itself as one of the most epic fight scenes ever. It just keeps going and going, and it never gets dull. And there are several cunning directorial touches that enhance the action, such as the moment when Jet steels himself for his enemy's response, only to see that he has a couple of seconds before it comes, at which point he lets down his guard just long enough to cough up a little blood. Amazing. I've seen the scene hundreds of times, and it still blows my mind.
**The courtyard fight in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Yuen Woo Ping does it again. Of course every fight scene in the film is brilliant, and it's difficult to choose between this one, the Yellow Hill fight, the restaurant scene, the Michelle Yeoh multi-weapon scene, and all the others. But the initial fight in the courtyard was my favorite. It's like they say about musicals... the best ones use the songs to tell the story, rather than pad the movie. This film did the same thing with kung-fu. Not only was this a flawlessly liquid, hypnotic fight scene, perfectly choreographed, performed and directed, but the moves told a story, and I felt like I understood the characters better from the way they fought. What's more, it was the only time I've ever seen a fight scene in the theatre that induced a spontaneous round of applause from the audience. Just perfect.
I've got another favorite, but it's a favorite for idealistic reasons rather than purely technical reasons, so I'll just include it as an honourable mention. It's the final fight in Lethal Weapon IV.
See, one thing really bugs me about American action movies. A lot of times, people put American pretty-boys in the lead roles, and then they realize that they can create a crossover kung-fu draw by casting an amazing martial artist as the bad guy. It works just fine until the end, when they inevitably have to fight. They have to make the pretty-boy look heroic, even though everyone knows that in real life he'd get torn apart and eaten alive. So usually, the director decides to either make the antagonist suddenly and inexplicably fight far worse, or use cheap and unconvincing camera tricks to make it look like the protagonist is fighting better. Some of the many examples I can think of off the top of my head are The Quest (let's face it, Van Damme's a pansy, and everyone else in that movie, including a geriatric Roger Moore, could have killed him), and Grosse Point Blank (even though I liked the movie), where John Cusack fights Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, one of the best martial artists ever.
Anyway, after having seen all those movies, I was really shocked at how they handled the final fight in Lethal Weapon IV. Seems like the director actually realized that no one would believe that either of the leads could survive 5 seconds in a fair fight against Jet Li. So he gave up the idea of making them look heroic, and let them cheat. They ganged up on him. They used weapons. They hit him from behind. They stabbed him. Eventually they shot him with a machine gun. And in the next scene, they were sporting bandages and casts and walking with canes. It was still an amazing, exciting and dynamic fight scene, but it was really great to see it done with a sense of humor, and some respect for the antagonist. And just for that, I've always considered it one of the best fight scenes I've ever seen.
By the way, speaking of Jet Li, sure his Chinese movies were classics, but I really think he's done some good stuff in some of his American movies. At least the ones that he's choreographed with Cory Yuen. Although the movies themselves weren't that great, I really liked some of the action scenes in The One and Kiss of the Dragon. And although this movie absolutely sucked, Cory Yuen teamed up with Jason Statham to pull off some phenomenal duels in The Transporter.
I don't know if you were looking for this much answer to your question, but as I said, this is my area.
**[edit: if any of you decide to see Ong-Bak based upon my recommendation, prepare yourselves. Muay Thai is a much more brutal and utilitarian style of fighting than most of the kung fu, karate, capoeira, tae kwon do and other things you may be used to seeing in movies. There's not a lot of actual blood, but if you have a weak stomach there are several places that will make you taste your lunch.
That being said, this is a perfect example of why the best martial arts movies are being made independently and overseas. Tony and his stunt team are obviously willing to take real risks, and real beatings, to make their movies. While they do what they can to minimize pain and risks, they're obviously doing some things here that you wouldn't even dare ask a Hollywood union studio stuntman, let alone your average lead actor, to do. Some of these punches can't be pulled, and some of these stunts can't be faked, and it brings a level of intensity to the movie that you won't find in even the best Hollywood action films.]
[ December 16, 2005, 01:59 AM: Message edited by: Speed ]
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
There was a movie called "By The Sword" made in 1991. As far as any sword duel ever goes, this movie, by far, has the most realistic fencing I've seen in a movie.
Not a great movie in and of itself, I'll admit. But it sure has some good sword play.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Bruce Leroy v. Sho' 'Nuff in The Last Dragon.
GOT to be in there. Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Don't diss Grosse Pointe Blank, it was filmed in my backyard (figuratively, not literally).
Chinese martial arts movies all run together after awhile. Crouching Hero Hidden One Fist Dragon whatever, they all look the same. There's a destiny or whatever, and ONE guy has to somehow overcomw a bunch of other guys that fly around the screen and have sword fights with their flimsy Chinese style swords.
I find some, well, very few, of these movies to be entertaining, but not for the fight scenes, they could easily show the exact same fight scene in every movie and I'd hardly notice the difference from them showing "different" onces.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
And all wine tastes the same to me, so I guess I know how you feel.
I am glad you mentioned it, though. It's good to know that I've actually accomplished something in refining my fight-scene palate to the point where I can notice and enjoy the artistic nuances of the well-crafted martial arts display. If everyone liked those types of movies, I'd feel sort of common. Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Hero? Some great duels in that one.
The Sword Fight between Robin Hood and the Sherrif in the classic Errol Flynn Robin Hood.
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
Although it isn't a movie, Mal's performance in Shindig is probably my favorite duel of all time.
***
Lyrhawn, I agree with what you're saying. I've always thought Jedi masters don't really need to move that much when they fight.
But this is a movie. And for a movie, we need to see it. Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
Tetsuo vs Kaneda in Akira is awesome, and could be considered a duel.
--Enigmatic
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
Major cool points to Aerto for mentioning Flynn/Rathbone's fight in Robin Hood.
Also, the fight on the cliff face in Last of the Mohicans with We Studi was great.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Should we include cartoon duels?
If so, Zex Marquis vs. Hero Yui would be a fantastic addition.
Posted by Magson (Member # 2300) on :
quote:Originally posted by Beren One Hand: Liam Neeson in Rob Roy.
Thank you Beren. I'm late to this thread, and was floored that this one wasn't mentioned in the 1st 3 posts.
Best. Duel. Ever.
Posted by human_2.0 (Member # 6006) on :
Jackie Chan vs the pirate captain in either Project A or Project B (can't remember which).
Jackie Chan vs everyone (there are many duels, especially the girl) in Drunken Master. Oh that movie is good.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Jackie Chan vs Jackie Chan.
That fight could go on forever.
Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
Speed:
I'll have to watch Dragons Forever again soon. It's been a couple of months. So "Benny" is the spacey looking guy with dark circles around his eyes and white powder under his nose?
I like the fights in Drunken Master II, but Fearless Hyena is my favorite Jackie Chan movie, mostly for the training scenes.
Posted by dantesparadigm (Member # 8756) on :
I have to go with the scene at the end of Patriot were Mel Gibson finally faces down Tarleton. Not a lot of action but its got enough raw emotion to fit into the plot while adding bloody violence.
"No, my sons were better men"
Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: For those who've seen Gladiator, which of the fights of Maximus would you include?
Hmm... even though there are really only two duels that I can think of, I'd have to say that the fight with Commodus was my favorite. It wasn't as well choreographed as the earlier duel, but the emotional value more than made up for it.
Posted by boogashaga (Member # 8881) on :
"Lone Wolf McQuade" David & Chuck both got hurt, dirty, bloody, and sore. When David tried to use a submachinegun to kill Chuck, Chuck blew him up with a hand grenade. I thought that it was interesting to read Carradine's take on that movie in his book. He became good friends with Chuck during that movie. They used to drink beer together at the end of each day's shooting.
Posted by JTruant711 (Member # 8868) on :
I'm saying last scene with Magua and Uncas in The Last of the Mohicans...
Actually, anything that Michael Mann directs, when it comes to this, he takes the cake.
Then I nominate the duel between Gandalf and the Balrog... it's like a moving painting.
Posted by JTruant711 (Member # 8868) on :
If it's cartoons... Princess Mononoke...
San and the Lady.
Posted by TrapperKeeper (Member # 7680) on :
Cartoon, Optimus Prime vs Megatron.
Posted by lem (Member # 6914) on :
quote:But for chick fights, I take the fight in the training room toward the end of Crouching Tiger.
I agree. Not only is that the best "chick" fight I have ever seen, I also think it is the best all time fight I have ever seen--with the possible exception of both Drunken Masters.
Charlies Angels seemed like a cheap rip off of the Matrix and CTHD. Oh...Michelle Yeo was great in the original SuperCop.
Posted by lem (Member # 6914) on :
I just read Speed's post. I will have to check out those fight scenes. I have grown to trust his musical tastes he has shared on Hatrack.
Posted by cheiros do ender (Member # 8849) on :
quote:Muay Thai is a much more brutal and utilitarian style of fighting than most of the kung fu, karate, capoeira, tae kwon do and other things you may be used to seeing in movies. There's not a lot of actual blood, but if you have a weak stomach there are several places that will make you taste your lunch.
Has capoeira actually been used in a movie as a fighting style? I mean, besides movies about Capoeira, that's just silly! The Rundown is set in Brasil and I'm guessing the guys in the jungle fight scene are trained in Capoeira but I don't know if what they actually do could be called Capoeira. Would that or the climax scene in that movie count as a great duel?
Then there's Cat Woman, which I never plan to see if i can help it, where Halle Barre (sp?) is trained in Capoeira but I still don't see how you could put the Capoeira style into a fight scene and expect to entertain anyone. O fcourse that's just me: where I train I've never actually seen anyone make contact, except by accident, and there are probably different styles that include contact.. Oh well!
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
quote:Originally posted by larisse: starLisa, do you mean the final mental duel in Scanners? Scanners is one of my fave SciFi B-movies. Trancers, Doll-man, Troma movies. Well, those kinda lean toward the C-movies.... hahaha, but much fun.
Yep. It's classic.
Just a minor point: I have gotten high one time in my entire life, and it was in high school. And it was on the way to see a double feature of Scanners and The Exterminator. So I can't be 100% sure of what I saw.
I was probably lucky I didn't see Altered States that night. My brains probably would have flowed out my ears.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
quote:Originally posted by MandyM: OK I rarely play the gender card but here it is....
Where are all the chick fights? Where are the Charlie's Angels? The fight Drew Barrymore starts while tied to the chair is wonderful. What about Lara Croft and the flying fight scene. I mean light sabers are cool and all, don't get me wrong but you gotta love a good cat fight too!
Good point. The entirety of Kill Bill, Volumes 1 and 2.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Don't diss Grosse Pointe Blank, it was filmed in my backyard (figuratively, not literally).
OMG, I am so jealous! That's one of my favorite movies. I think that was probably the first time (outside of cartoons) that someone actually went down with their head inside of a TV.
But then, I'm a John Cusack groupie.
Posted by Rakeesh (Member # 2001) on :
Hmm. No particular order...
Finale duel scene in Rob Roy. Empire Strikes Back finale duel scene. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gonn vs. Darth Maul in Phantom Menace. Cliffs of Insanity. Pirates of the Carribean fight between Capt. Jack Sparrow and prentice blacksmith . Lots from CTHD. Also from Seven Samurai, and The Last Samurai. Boromir's fight in FotR vs. dozens of orcs, as well as Aragorn's bout with the head Uruk-hai. Doc Ock vs. Spidey on subway.
Some stuff from Jin-Roh, Princess Mononoke, Warriors of the Wind...hmmm...stuff from Spartacus, and I consider it a duel of William Wallace vs. English garrison in William Wallace, that time he begins to climb the hill to get revenge for his wife's murder...lots more, but I'm having trouble thinking past all the cool ones already listed in this thread.
Posted by Rakeesh (Member # 2001) on :
Oh! I was thinking sword-fighting duels, but there are other kinds, aren't there? How about Training Day, Denzel Washington vs. Ethan Hawke? That final fight scene was certainly man to man, and it was pretty damn good.
Posted by MrSquicky (Member # 1802) on :
Ones that I don't think have been mentioned:
Ash versus his hand in Evil Dead 2.
José Ferrer in the opening scene of Cyrano De Bergerac.
Ripley versus the Queen in Aliens.
The ending fight in Iron Monkey.
The fight on the lake with the lanterns in the Michael York version of The Three Musketeers (or possible The Four Musketeers, I have trouble remembering what happened in which).
The ladder fight in The Musketeer.
[ December 15, 2005, 04:55 PM: Message edited by: MrSquicky ]
Posted by HandEyeProtege (Member # 7565) on :
Hmm... not sure it would be at the top of my list, but I can't believe no one has mentioned the "fight" between Tyler Durden and the narrator in Fight Club. Good stuff!
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
quote:Ash versus his hand in Evil Dead 2
I would have put that but I had already indulged my B-movie preference by putting Last Dragon.
quote:The ending fight in Iron Monkey.
Good one! Totally forgot about that.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
quote:Originally posted by MrSquicky: The ending fight in Iron Monkey.
I personally thought there were several fights in that movie that were better than the final one. I think my favorite is when Wong Kei-Ying fights the Shaolin monk for the first time in the courtyard, when he gives us the first glimpse of the no-shadow kick. The young Wong Fei-Hung has a couple of really killer fights as well, with the staff and the umbrella. I'll take those over the balancing-on-burning-logs any day.
quote:Originally posted by MrSquicky: The ladder fight in The Musketeer.
Have you ever seen Once Upon a Time in China? After you see the original ladder fight, its shameless rip-off won't seem anywhere near as impressive. Posted by MrSquicky (Member # 1802) on :
Yes, but there are differences between duels and fights.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by starLisa:
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Don't diss Grosse Pointe Blank, it was filmed in my backyard (figuratively, not literally).
OMG, I am so jealous! That's one of my favorite movies. I think that was probably the first time (outside of cartoons) that someone actually went down with their head inside of a TV.
But then, I'm a John Cusack groupie.
I think he's continually underrated as an actor, he's great. The movie was actually filmed primarily in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. I used to work in Grosse Pointe, and all my former bosses still live there. It's a nice neighborhood, about ten miles away from where I am.
Posted by Magson (Member # 2300) on :
quote:Originally posted by cheiros do ender:
quote:Muay Thai is a much more brutal and utilitarian style of fighting than most of the kung fu, karate, capoeira, tae kwon do and other things you may be used to seeing in movies. There's not a lot of actual blood, but if you have a weak stomach there are several places that will make you taste your lunch.
Has capoeira actually been used in a movie as a fighting style? I mean, besides movies about Capoeira, that's just silly! The Rundown is set in Brasil and I'm guessing the guys in the jungle fight scene are trained in Capoeira but I don't know if what they actually do could be called Capoeira. Would that or the climax scene in that movie count as a great duel?
Then there's Cat Woman, which I never plan to see if i can help it, where Halle Barre (sp?) is trained in Capoeira but I still don't see how you could put the Capoeira style into a fight scene and expect to entertain anyone. O fcourse that's just me: where I train I've never actually seen anyone make contact, except by accident, and there are probably different styles that include contact.. Oh well!
Only the Strong used capoeira as the only martial art in it. Pretty cool looking with its combo of dance and kicks and flips and such.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Hmm . . . nobody has mentioned River Tam versus everyone in that bar in Serenity. Not technically a duel, but I just felt it needed to be added . . .
Posted by Cashew (Member # 6023) on :
I have to say I HATED the Achilles-Hector fight in Troy. Achilles was a completely unsympathetic character and his fighting style was ridiculous, over the top, and annoying.
My favourite (that I can think of right now) would have to be Magua vs Chingachgook at the end of The Last of the Mohicans (Daniel Day-Lewis one).
Posted by Cashew (Member # 6023) on :
And how about Ben Hur duelling with Messala in the 15 minute chariot race? Wow!
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
quote:Originally posted by Beren One Hand: Liam Neeson in Rob Roy.
See, Beren - this is why I love you so. I was reading this thread and despairing of anyone ever saying that, and preparing to add my .02 after I had checked out all the responses.
It's just so obvious that we're soul mates.
***************************
Edit to add: No one has mentioned Arnie and that red-head in Red Sonja, yet. Now that was a battle. *giggles*
Posted by Dan_Frank (Member # 8488) on :
"Magua vs Chingachgook"
Wasn't that the one that lasted roughly fifteen seconds? If that's the one I'm thinking of, it was indeed awesome.
Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
Well, I'm one of the "Princess Bride" fans, but I don't think anyone has mentioned my favorite duel:
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
--Inigo and the Man in Black.
And shame on anyone who found any redeeming feature to the newest version of the "Count of Monte Cristo," (the DVD came with an interview with the scriptwriter who *bragged* about "improving" the story by giving it a happy ending). Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
HAs no-one thought of "Hero" yet? the duel in the grotto with the cool old zither player and the rain drops falling everywhere?
Best star wars duel was definetly Obi vs. Anakin in Revenge of the Sith
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It was like watching two old guys race. I kind of liked the sword fight between Hector and Achilles in Troy. Does that count as a duel?
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