Top 10 Movie Battles: Part 2: 10-6

Here is the second part of my Top 10 Movie Battles. 

At Number 10: Seven Samurai Final Battle

The final battle at the end of the Akira Kurosawa's samurai epic, Seven Samurai, is the oldest battle on the list and it remains one of the best. Even though the battle might not have the amount of visceral thrills as many modern battles, Seven Samurai should be recognized for its quality considering the time in which it was filmed as well as being filmed in the rain, which created a fantastic atmosphere. The three hours leading up to this battle were definitely worth it. 



At Number 9: Battle of Gotham

 

Before any Nolanite starts loosing their stuff over the low placing of the battle on my list, here is my main reason: the battle is more of a duel between Batman and Bane than an actual battle between multiple armies or people. While there certainly is some large scale fighting (hence it being on the list), the battle is more about Batman vs. Bane with the battle in the background.

At Number 8: Battle of Thermopylae

Inspired by true events of the 300 Spartans that fought the 30000 Persians and based on Frank Miller's graphic novel, Zack Sndyer's 300 had some awesome and gory battles. While the later battles in 300 are a little too over-the-top for my tastes, the first battle was freaking epic! 300 Spartans that can completely defy physics vs. a crap load of Persians, in slow-motion! The great fight choreography combined with the gravity defying special effects makes for a fun and epic battle.

At Number 7: Thor and Company vs. Frost Giants

The first battle that we get to see Thor throw is also one of the best. Despite the complains about the Dutch angles, the battle shows off Thor's epic battle skills along with his companions. The choreography of the fighting is excellent and the fact that the Frost Giants are actually guys in suits rather than CGI creatures is a big plus and prevents the scene from becoming a wacky and cartoony battle. 

Note: Video above is darker than the actual scene on Blu-Ray.

At Number 6: Battle of Hogwarts

Basically, the battle of Hogwarts includes the last hour of the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which is one big epic battle of wizardry. Although the battle does not really include the duel Harry and Vordemort, the rest of the battle was huge, taking place across the entire campus of Hogwarts. Also note that this is the only picture I could find for the list, even if it is the duel between Harry Vordemort.

To see how a battle qualifies for the list, Click Here to check out the first post in this series where I explain the method behind the madness. What do you think of my picks thus far? Please comment below.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

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Top 10 Movie Battles: Part 1

The battle scene, a staple of the epic and action film genres, is often among the most thrilling scenes in a film. Filming a battle scene is not as easy as one might think. Considerable skill is required to accurately create and capture an effective battle scene. Being able to both show the scale of the battle along with focusing on key areas where the film's protagonist is difficult, however ten filmmakers managed to create battles that I consider the best of the medium. Chorography, camera work, emotional weight, effective lighting, proper use of special effects, and personal preference are among the many factors that I have taken into consideration for the list. To narrow down my list, I have reserved the battles on this list to exclude those of modern military battles, or any battle heavily featuring realistic firearms like battles from war movies such as Saving Private Ryan or Black Hawk Down because those type of battles are vastly different from the other entries on the list. The majority of the list will focus on science fiction, fantasy, comic book, and primitive weaponry (swords, bows ect.) battles. To qualify as a battle scene, there must be a minim of four combatants versus any number of opponents, the list is limited to one battle per franchise, and space battles are not included. Additionally, the battles must be from film, not television, although one television battle will be referenced below under honorable mention. Also please vote on which are some of your favorite battle scenes. 

Gladiator: Battle of Germania

This battle from the opening of Gladiator is often ranked among the best on many lists, and while I enjoyed the battle, I have never found it particularly impressive compared to the later fight scenes in the film. Several parts of the fight had a little too much shaky-cam and dark lighting for my tastes. Regardless, the battle is certainly worthy of an honorable mention.

Code Geass: Final Battle 

The Code Geass animated series contained many epic, strategically masterful, and emotionally changed battles during its run, but non equal the final battle that lasted several episodes. Never before have I seen a battle scene rendered so perfectly in animation. The only reason the battle does not make the list is that it is from a television series, not a film. 

Terminator 2: Opening Battle

Terminator 2: Judgment Day opens with an impressive battle between the human resistance and the Terminator featuring some awesome special effects for the era. As much as I like this battle and T2 in general, it is far too short to make the list because the actual battle only lasts about three or four minutes.

What are some of your favorite movie battle scenes? Please comment below.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

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