Do you love watching good guys and bad guys battle for victory on the big screen? There’s nothing like an adrenaline-pumping fight scene to give you an enlivening cinematic experience. Here are five of the most intense and memorable fight scenes in film history:
From Russia With Love, 1963
This James Bond classic features a rousing fight scene on a train between Bond and a villainous assassin. When he is held at gunpoint, Bond turns the tables by wielding a tear gas bomb as his aggressor. The two then tangle in a harrowing brawl that is made all the more precarious by the roaring speed of the train.
The Adventures of Robin Hood, 1938
This film is famous for its swashbuckling climax, a thrilling and surprise-filled sword fight between Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone. The two men fence each other with great skill, and their duel unfolds in a dazzling display of acrobatic agility, quick-thinking, and verbal one-upmanship. Many film aficionados consider this to be one of the most intricately choreographed and performed sword fight scenes in film history.
Game of Death, 1978
Bruce Lee films are known for their stirring martial arts scenes, but his movie boasts a particularly notable battle between Lee and a formidable opponent. The showdown features Lee fighting against NBA star Kareem Adbul-Jabbar (who also happened to be one of Lee’s real-life martial arts protégés). Their battle displays a cunning use of martial arts on both ends and startles viewers with its edge-of-your-seat unpredictability.
Jason and the Argonauts, 1963
This much-loved favorite in the genre of fantasy film features one of the most memorable human-versus-monster fight scenes on the big screen. Jason and his men face off in a sword battle against an army of skeletons who have risen from the dead. The skeletons are animated via the stop-motion wizardry of special effects mavens who were at the cutting edge in their field during the 60’s. The scene combines the gravitas of Greek mythology with the most brilliantly innovative elements of the modern movie-going imagination.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 2000
This hugely popular Ang Lee film features a breathtakingly lyrical display of martial arts that combines realism with a dreamy fantasy quality. Michelle Yeoh battles in hand-to-hand combat against Zhang Ziyi as they trade blows over the theft of the Green Destiny Sword. They engage in a highly stylized and dance-like fight sequence that involves both of them flying through the air, one of the most indelible and visually innovative martial arts scenes in movie history.
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