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.

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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.

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Top 35 TV Shows: Part 2: 35-31.

Here is the second part of my Top 35 TV Shows post series. If you watch any of the shows on this list, please comment and let me know. Maybe I will discover that there are some fans of a certain series and I might write full posts about the shows Also note that the list only includes scripted series that originated on TV. Please enjoy and tell me what you think of the list thus far. 

   

At Number 35: Elementary

CBS's recent American adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes has the fans outraged and general audiences captivated, ranking in the top 10 most watched shows of the year. Despite its flaws, Elementary bought something fresh to the crime genre, giving us mostly solid mysteries every week with surprisingly likeable characters. What surprised me most was Lucy Liu as Watson, despite my original skepticism, she turned out to be one of the best aspects of the series. The first season had its ups and downs, but season two is rather impressive and I hope it will continue its quality of storytelling.

Elementary (Sherlock Holmes) Season 1 Review.

 

 

At Number 34: The Andy Griffith Show

Its The Andy Griffith Show, what more needs to be said? Almost everyone has seen it at some point, it is classic television. Sure, the seasons after Don Knotts left never came close to matching the early ones, but the show was hilarious when he was on it. 

 

 

At Number 33: Falling Skies

Despite its writing inconsistency, Falling Skies is undoubtedly has the highest production value and special effects of any sci-fi show on television. Seriously, some of the effects are better than some movies, particularly season three's effects. At times the series can feel as though it is moving at a glacial pace, especially the first season, but it is worth it in the end. Aside from the impressive effects, the show is a well made alien invasion drama and one of the better examples of the alien invasion genre. 

  

 

At Number 32: Justice League Unlimited/Justice League

Both Justice League and the expansion of the series, Justice League Unlimited, take place in the same universe as Bruce Timm's Batman: the Animated Series. Justice League Unlimited is currently the only adaptation to actually bring the JL to life and the way WB is going with the film adaptation, it will be only one for a long time. Since I have not seen it in a while, it ranks a little low, but if I re-watch it would probably rank higher. Plus the opening theme is severely underrated, it is absolutely awesome! 

 

 

At Number 31: Avengers: Earth Mightiest Heroes

 

At first Avengers looked like any other animated comic book series, but it soon became surprisingly mature and focused on excellent character development. Earth's Mightiest Heroes adapted many of the classic comic book storylines with surprising accurately and with a few more seasons the series could have lead to the Civil War storyline the way the story was going. Unfortunately the heavily serialized nature of its great story and Disney's acquisition of Marvel was the show's downfall when it was cancelled after only two seasons.

 

Have you seen any of these shows? Do you like any of them? Please comment below.

 

 

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Top 35 TV Shows: Part 1

Although television is not a main of focus of this blog, I do watch a lot TV, mostly a mix of fictional, reality and educational TV. This list focuses on my Top 30 favorite fictional/scripted TV series I have ever seen. Television has several advantages and disadvantages compared to movies. TV offers much more time to develop the characters and TV shows can have long story arcs. The disadvantages are the TV shows have a limited budget and they rarely have consistently excellent writing, therefore even the best shows often have weak episodes. Unlike movies, it is much more difficult to start a TV series that everyone loves and thinks you should watch like Breaking Bad or Mad Men, especially since I do not have Netflix or HBO. Therefore there are a lot of popular TV shows that I have yet to watch because I did not start watching them at the series' inception and I almost never start a series any point other than the beginning. In addition, most of the shows that interest me usually end up being cancelled after one or two seasons, which is kind of odd, so a few out of the 30 shows on list are currently airing, albeit some of them are miniseries. In general my favorite type of shows are science fiction, comic book based, classic sitcoms, animated, and based on history, aka, anything geeky. Also, even though some may consider certain animated shows "kid's stuff," they obviously have not seen said show because they are often better than live-action.

To qualify for the list the must have originally aired on television and the list does include miniseries, however due to a miniseries' short length, those shows will, in general, rank lower than longer running series. On a side note, even though web series are not included on this list, The Guild, RWBY, and Video Game High School would definitely make the list. If there are any fans of those series reading this, please let me know. Below are two honorable mentions before I get the list started.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honorable Mention: Star Trek

Because I have not seen much of the Star Trek series since I was a kid, it is difficult to judge where on the list they would rank, therefore I have included them here as an honorable mention. From what I remember, Next Generation was the best and I have seen the most of Voyager and Enterprise, and I am not a fan of the old Trek series. For more of my thoughts on the Star Trek franchise, Click here to read my overview.

 

 

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Sure, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has only just begun, but the show is already a lot of fun. Even though the series has received a mixed response by both fans and critics alike, I love it so far and Iy am sure that the series will make my full list by the end of the first season. By the way, that picture is my desktop background.

 

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Top 25 Best Picture Nominated Films Part 2: 12-1.

Here is part 2 of my Top 25 Best Picture Nominated Films, featuring many of your favorites like Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings. Also  Please click here to read yesterday's post, which was part 1 of this list.

At Number 12: Forrest Gump

"Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." That line pretty much sums up Forrest Gump. While many like to hate on this classic film, I find thoroughly enjoyable, yet sad at the same time. The humor is great and Tom Hanks' performance is flawless. 

At Number 11: Braveheart

"They can take our lives. But they can never take our FREEDOM!" What Braveheart lacks in historical accuracy, it more than makes up in  story and inspirational speeches.  

At Number 10: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Again, I am surprised that this received an Oscar Nomination, because it is a fun and entertaining film, but stranger things have happened. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is one of my favorite westerns ever made, and another film with great dialogue.  

At Number 9: The Fugitive

One of Harrison Ford's many best films, The Fugitive was a smart, thriller, similar to the current Bourne films, except with less action.Tommy Lee Jones won an Oscar for his fantastic performance yet the The Fugitive lost Best Picture to Spielberg's  Schindler's List.

At Number 8: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Another film that I was surprised that to be nominated for Best Picture because it is an action films with many amazing fights but Crouching Tiger, but Hidden Dragon had an excellent epic story and memorable characters. 

Note: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a foreign language, but does have a English dub version. 

At Number 7: Gladiator

Hans Zimmer, Russel Crowe, cool gladiatorial battles and stunning cinematography are just a few reasons why Gladiator is a fantastic film. One of the few action films to win the Oscar for Best Picture.

At Number 6: Inception

Although it is unrealistic to think that science-fiction could win the Oscar for Best Picture, because of those boffins who vote for the Academy, but they will eventually have to give in. However, Inception should have been the film to break the trend because it was far superior to any film that was released that year. The King's Speech was very good, but its nothing compared to the mind bending, complex story of Inception. 

At Number 5: Raiders of the Lost Ark

I was shocked to discover that Raiders of the Lost Ark has nominated by the Academy for Best Picture, because it is an action film but it definitely deserved the nomination. Few films, if any, have a more iconic her than Indiana Jones and the perfect mix of humor, action, likable characters and original plot is amazing. Its in my Top 10 Favorite films, and it has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid.

At Number 4: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, the second chapter in the second best work of fiction ever created, continued the epic story of previous entry. While, at the time, it would seem unlikely that a fantasy film would win Best Picture, there was no film that even came close to The Two Towers in any aspect. Something that I just noticed about the poster, is that Arwen is included, even though she was only in the film for two minutes at the most.

At Number 3: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

The Fellowship of the Ring, the first film in the epic trilogy set-up everything that was to come. There was nothing like it since Star Wars, a movie that revolutionized film making and proved that the fantasy genre was more than just kids movies and low-budget B-movies. It added a gritty, realistic tone to fantasy, similar to how Star Wars revolutionized sci-fi with the "lived-in" environments, opposed to the pristine and shinny sets of Star Trek and other contemporaries. 

At Number 2: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The Academy actually got it right with The Return of the King. After two incredible films, Peter Jackson and The Lord of the Rings finally got the respect they deserve. The perfect conclusion to the perfect trilogy. One of the few times were the Academy and audience agreed, with The Return of the King breaking box office records and setting the record for most Oscar wins and nominations. 

At Number 1: Star Wars

Star Wars, the film that changed the world. It is unimaginable to think where cinema would be without Star Wars. While The Empire Strikes Back is my favorite, the original Star Wars is my right behind it. I love Star Wars! I have seen it at least 40 or more times, and I will never get tired of it. Star Wars is the perfect film in every way and it will never be topped.

 

Because there are so many great Best Picture Nominations, that there are films that I left off the list and others that I have yet to see. Here are a few honorable mentions: Money Ball, Saving Private Ryan, The King's Speech, Unforgiven, and It's a Wonderful Life,

 What are your favorite Best Picture Nominations? Please comment below.

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Top 25 Best Picture Nominated Films Part 1: 25-13

With the Academy Awards in a few days, I have created a list of my favorite Academy Award Best Picture Nominations. While I rarely agree with the Academy's picks, there are a plethora of films to make a good list. All of the films on this list are highly recommended and among the best movies I have seen. After each film on the list, I give my brief opinion of it and have a link to my review of the movie.  I have not seen many of the films that were nominated, therefore some of your favorites may not make this list. Also I am not sure if no one commented or I screwed something up, but there were no comments on the Academy Award Trivia post yesterday. 

At Number 25: The Sting

The Paul Newman and Robert Redford classic, The Sting. While The Sting is a crime film, it keeps a great sense of humor and fun, and throws in some unexpected plot twists. I am actually surprised that this did win the Oscar for Best Picture, not because it was not deserving, but that the Academy usually does not give it to fun and entertaining films.

The Sting Review.  

At Number 24: True Grit

True Grit, the remake of my favorite John Wayne movie and the Coen brothers do a fantastic job in their re-imaging of the classic story. Although I still prefer the original because I watched it first, this version is no less entertaining and even grittier.

True Grit (2010)

At Number 23: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

One of Russel Crowe's many Oscar nominated films and one of the most overlooked. Master and Commander had the right balance of high-seas adventure and character depth.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Review.

At Number 22: Dances with Wolves

Although Dances With Wolves won the Oscar for Best Picture, many like to overlook this classic tale. James Cameron's Avatar basically stole the plot from Dances with Wolves, except added flashy special effects and removed the great story and heart. 

At Number 21: Field of Dreams

Another Kevin Costner classic, Field of Dreams is a baseball fan's dream film. As a die-heart baseball fan, particularly baseball history, I love all the references to old-time players and the inspiring story.

At Number 20: Jaws

While Jaws looses it suspense upon multiple viewings, is a must see. For someone watching for the first time, it is nail-bitingly suspenseful, with John Williams' iconic score to set the perfect tone. 

At Number 19: Ben-Hur

Ben-Hur really started my interest in classic epics and despite its nearly four hour length, held my attention throughout. There were many fantastic Christian themes and messages, which is rare for a good film to capture. Ben-Hur Review.

At Number 18: Inglourious B------

Please excuse the profanity on the poster.

The first and only Quentin Tarantino film I have seen, but it certainly left a lasting impression. It was hilarious, yet brutal at the same time. Never before did I believe several minutes of pure dialogue exchange (much of it in subtitles) could be so intense and suspenseful. 

At Number 17: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

Another Steven Spielberg classic, E.T. is the perfect family movie. There is something in it for everyone of all ages, plus John Williams' score is amazing. 

At Number 16: The Bridge on the River Kwai

Alec Guinness gives an amazing Oscar winning performance in this Best Picture winning film.  The Bridge on the River Kwai delves into the prisoners' psyche, with its thought provoking script. It was more than deserving of its Best Picture win.

At Number 15: Lawrence of Arabia

Yet another historical epic, clocking in at almost four hours! However, it set the prescient for modern cinematography with its sweeping landscape shots. 

At Number 14: Patton

While George C. Scott may be disliked by the Academy's votes, it did not stop him from winning an Oscar for his performance and the film winning the Oscar for Best Picture.

At Number 13: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Humphrey Bogart gives a fantastic performance in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre as the crazed Freed Dobbs. While many usually think of Bogart in Casablanca, The Treasure of Sierra Madre is my favorite of his films dramas with a surprisingly dark story for the time.

Have you seen any of these films? Do you agree with any of my choices so 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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