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Agree with number 1 I do!
There comes a time in every movie when two warriors face off against each other. In a western it is usually done with a gun. A couple of quick looks and bang; the moment is over. Thankfully, there is a finer art in cinema referred to as the sword fight. We here at Mania appreciate this fine art, but feel that there are only a few perfect sword fights in movie history. The reasoning can be anything from anticipation to a simple look. Here are Mania’s 10 Best Cinematic Sword Fights.
10. Robin Hood vs. Sir Guy – The Adventures of Robin Hood
This was actually the rematch to their 1935 duel in Captain Blood (seen here). It is, of course, played on a grander scale in The Adventures of Robin Hood. The lavish colors don’t hurt either. Check out the fight on Youtube (sorry Warner Brothers allows downloads, just no embedding).
9. Wang vs. Rain - Big Trouble In Little China
This fight is absurd. These two men go flying through the air sword fighting from the hip without getting a scratch. This is fitting because whole movie is absurd. What clinches it is when Wang (Dennis Dun) gives Rain (Peter Kwong) the “how about that” eye brows. At that moment, you know Wang will emerge victorious.
8. The Raisuli vs. The German Officer - The Wind and the Lion
John Milius’ classic is packed with tons of memorable moments. This confrontation plays into such a small speech given by the Raisuli (Sean Connery) which makes it so powerful. The ending to the duel is classic and fitting for the character (the fight starts around 2:11).
7. Rob Roy vs. Archibald Cunningham – Rob Roy
Who would have ever thought that Tim Roth (standing at 5' 7") could ever be a match for Liam Neeson (6' 4")? The fight itself is a bit long and drawn out; Roth has Neeson in the palm of his hand the entire time. What places this fight on the list is the ending. It is like nothing you have ever seen before.
6. Yu Shu Lien vs. Jen Yu – Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
They aren’t many sword fights involving ladies in the real world. In Anime films there are several. In Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, these ladies battle not only with swords but a gallery of weapons making each moment fresh and unique. Ang Lee not only created a cinematic wonder with the film, he reinvigorated the sword fight.
By the time the first Pirates movie came out, filmgoers had seen it all when it came to sword fights. The trick here was to make it fun, establish character for both our heroes, make it entertaining as hell and then have both of them live through it. Mission accomplished.
4. Indiana Jones vs. The Swordsman – Raiders of the Lost of Ark
All right, so it is just a tad lop-sided but it’s also cinematic gold. The truth behind this moment is just as fun, not for the cast and crew, as watching it all take place. Originally, the sequence entailed a fight between Indy and the Swordsmen (Terry Richards) which appears here on Youtube. It doesn’t compare to the final product.
3. Darth Maul vs. Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi – Star Wars the Phantom Menace
The time had come. Finally, we were going to see what Jedi, at their peak, could really do. Episode 2 did have Yoda squaring off against Count Dooku and Epsiode 3’s final fight was long in coming. They both pale in comparison to this.
To see it all happen, we do need to leave Gandalf (Ian McKellen) for a while. Peter Jackson really added scope to this fight by not only having its combatants fall, but continue to fight all the way down. To watch it all still gives us chills.
1. The Bride vs. The Crazy 88 – Kill Bill Vol. 1
Who else but Quentin Tarantino could bring the samurai into the modern era? This fight has including parts that are in black and white. Why? Censors. Who cares, really? It does make it so much cooler and the pure piece of pulp fiction it is.
Robert Trate writes two weekly columns for Mania the DVD Shopping Bag and the Toy Maniac. Robert also participates in a pod cast that reviews movies, comics and celebrates all things geek. Check it out at You’ve Got Geek on You.com.
Zorro, Gladiator & Blade had some good ones. The first Highlander was a classic and I love the humorous sword fight in The Princess Bride. The only one I think I liked from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies was the first meeting between Jack & Will. I would of liked to have seen more Hong Kong movies on the list as I'm sure there are several that would blow people away.
I remember being royally pissed off at Maul's death so that fight sequence definitely deserves a mention but I'd have to say as a SW nut job, I still rank Revenge of the Sith's Anakin vs. Obi fight above it. Hayden and Ewan knew about the impending lava fight, with both being fanboys, so they began privately discussing it and choreographing some of it even before Attack of the Clones struck theaters. They were planning the fight for years.
Maybe the edits from the fight seem noticeable so that's why you rank Maul's fight above it? Or were expectations too high for you there? Whereas none of us were expecting the Maul fight? Curious on what the fans consider the best lightsaber battle out of the complete series...Vader vs. Luke....the Maul fight...or Anakin vs. Obi...and whether expectation came into play with their feelings.
Btw, as much as I would love to argue against it, I can't really argue with Kill Bill winning the top spot. I could point out a few bad-ass sword fights from some classics but Quentin made sure to topple them all with his Crazy 88 fight sequence. The black and white aspect may be obvious for dodging the MPAA but I still think it actually works better from an aesthetic outlook. And Tarantino found a way to topple the very films he was looking to pay respect to...
Gene Kelly in the The Three Musketeers, now that is what you call athletic swordfighting. Awesome.
Liam Neeson represented twice! Nice, now list his axe fights in Krull or the cock fights in Kinsey for complete dominance.
In the old classic "Scaramouche" there is an AWESOME swordfight between Stewart Granger and Mel Ferrer. Check it out if you ever get the chance. Plus, the film features the ultra-hot Eleanor Parker and Jent Leigh!
Obi Wan vs. Anakin in Revenge of the Sith and Luke vs. Darth Vader in Empire Strikes Back should be on the list.
How is Crouching dragon not better then Pirates of the carebian (or anyone else in that list for that matter) ???? Those moves and speed of the sword fighting was so much better, even then Kill Bill and star wars combined.
Wrong wrong wrong...
Kill Bill was good but not great, the fighting skills in Crounching Tiger was sublime, swift and precise. Kill Bill had lots of editing and running and blood.
Wrong wrong wrong.
I gotta say, The Dread Pirate Roberts vs. Inigo Montoya should have been on this list.