05-24-2021, 02:02 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-24-2021, 02:06 PM by Drunk Monk.)
I've made it impossible to search 'sword fights' meaningfully.
Not sure I'd agree but it's def food for thought...
While Seven Samurai is my all time fav and I do love the scene that is referenced, I beg to differ. The Rashomon sword fights were better.
Quote:10 Best Sword Fights In TV History
From The Last Kingdom to Game of Thrones, many TV shows have produced some amazing fight sequences. However, these just have to be the best.
BY MATTHEW FLORESPUBLISHED 1 DAY AGO
Content Warning: This article contains discussions/references to violence.
No matter the stakes, few things get audiences more excited than a well-executed sword fight. Whether it's Vikings fighting each other for honor, or gladiators fighting an enemy that is more beast than human, a proper fight scene can make or break a show.
Some of these scenes can shine from the sheer physical capabilities of the actors and stuntmen involved, whereas others are great because of the emotional underpinnings of the fight. Not all fight scenes end the way that viewers want them to or are what viewers might expect after several seasons of build-up, but sometimes that's what makes them so great.
10The Witcher - Geralt Vs. Renfris' Thugs
Possibly the most brutal fight scene that viewers have ever seen on TV, Geralt's savagery captivated audiences right away. The choreography in this scene from the first episode of The Witcher is some of the best ever displayed on the screen.
Part of what makes this such a great scene is the way it kicks off, with Geralt knocking a crossbow bolt out of mid-air with a flick of his sword, thus setting the stage for the carnage he is about to unleash, splitting open skulls and lopping off heads.
9Game Of Thrones - Eddard Stark Vs. Jaime Lannister
One of the most memorable scenes from a show full of them happens during the first season of Game of Thrones. With two of the main characters facing off so early in a show, audiences went from excitement to shock during the scene.
Although the choreography of the scene is a joy to watch. It's the emotions in the scene that make it so great, as Jamie Lannister is in total control of the fight from the beginning, killing Stark's men and leaving him humiliated and bleeding in the middle of the street.
8The Mandolorian - Mando Vs. Moff Gideon
The Star Wars franchise is not normally known for its brutality, but The Mandolorain seems keen on challenging that with each episode. In the season 2 finale, the fans see one of the grittiest fights we've seen in the Star Wars universe.
It's refreshing to see an up-close and personal battle that lacks the finesse normally scene in Star Wars for a more realistic and dirty approach as they thrash at each other, taking any opening that they can.
7Vikings - Ubbe Vs. King Frodo
In a show full of epic battle scenes, Vikings' one-on-one fight between Ubbe and King Frodo stands out amongst the rest. With fluid choreography that showcases the power and viciousness that audiences have come to expect from the show, the scene can make audiences flinch as each blow is delivered with a blood-thirsty fervor that viewers can really feel.
Despite the pace of the battle being relatively slow, it only adds to the ferocity of the scene as the two men refuse to give up even as their bruised and bloody.
6The Last Kingdom - Battle Of Bedanford
Another dirty and barbaric fight scene, the Battle of Bedanford is a masterclass of the more disorganized battles that were more common than most shows care to admit. As the armies roll around in the mud, slashing at each other, the battle seems to come to a bloody standstill.
That is until a rage-filled Uhtred charges the enemy line by himself, rolling over their shield wall and leaving a path of bodies in his wake.
5Marco Polo - Kublai Khan Vs. Ariq Böke
Even though the Netflix original was canceled after just two seasons, it still left audiences with some memorable scenes. Most notably, the sword fight between Kublai and Ariq. Even though it starts out on the slower side, from the time their swords are drawn, it's clear the ending will not be pretty.
As they exchange blows it begins developing into something more and more violent. The scene offers one of the coolest finishing moves viewers have a scene in a sword fight, as Kublai uses his wrist to block a blow and is able to finish off Ariq with a swift jab to the stomach.
4Spartacus - Theocoles Vs. Spartacus
A far cry from the most realistic fight scene ever shown on television, the highly stylized world of Spartacus is still something to be admired.
The moody lighting, the bright red blood, and an absolute monster of a man in Theocles, the gladiator fight from the first season of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is an absolute blast. With plenty of blood and gravity-defying stunts, and one of the craziest beheadings viewers have ever seen.
3The Clone Wars - Ahsoka Vs. Darth Maul
With a full-fledged battle cut in between the lightsaber duel, the entire sequence is a thing of beauty. With Ahsoka now more ready than ever to fight her nemesis, the showdown definitely lives up to the hype.
With awesome animation, great dialogue, and the awesome acrobatics that audiences have come to expect, the season 7 battle will give any of the live-action Star Wars battles a run for their money.
2Game Of Thrones - The Mountain Vs. The Viper
Everyone loves a great revenge story, and Oberyn Martell seems keen to punish the Mountain for the atrocities he committed against his sister. The sequence is harsh and brimming with emotion. Viewers can truly feel the rage in Martell as he taunts The Mountain throughout the fight, jabbing him relentlessly.
However, in true Game of Thrones fashion, the scene doesn't end the way audiences were hoping it would, but the frustrating and gory conclusion is just the cherry on top of an already great scene.
1Vikings - Ragnar Vs. Earl
Before the fight even begins, the smile on Ragnar's face tells audiences just how good this fight will be. Again, showing a battle that relies more on the toughness of the opponents rather than their finesse, viewers can almost feel the weight of each blow as they land.
Splintering shields and swords getting broken in half just add to how hard those weapons are being swung and it makes for a truly awesome fight.
Not sure I'd agree but it's def food for thought...
Quote:10 Best Sword Fights In Movie History
Sword fights in iconic movies have gone down in history for being wildly intense and entertaining. Here are the 10 best.
BY ANTHONY FRANCISPUBLISHED OCT 20, 2020
One of the most popular of all cinematic action sequences has always been the sword fight. Scenes of this nature give actors a chance to learn new skills or, in the case of many actors in Old Hollywood, show off existing fencing techniques. Classic actors from Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone to Kevin Kline have proven themselves ample in a swordfight.
Films from The Adventures of Robin Hood to the Pirates of the Caribbean series have given audiences many exciting and well-choreographed sword battles. A staple of a good adventure film, cinematic sword fights have thrilled audiences since Cinema's Golden Age.
10The Duellists (1977)
In a film that is essentially a years-long swordfight, one could pick any of the duels between stars Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel. The two men play rival Lieutenants in 1800's France who begin a duel that lasts over some years.
Ridley Scott's first feature film was an artfully directed character study of how a misconstrued "slight" turns into a battle for honor. Carradine and Keitel spent months learning the sword skills of the time period and their work shows in every expertly executed dueling scene.
913 Assassins (2010)
Takeshi Miike's remake of Eiichi Kudo's 1963 13 Assassins was a film that paid tribute to both the original film and Akira Kurosawa's samurai films. A group of samurai warriors band together to defeat a corrupt warlord, knowing they will probably all die.
There are many fantastic sword battles to be had in this film. The best fight is between the samurai Shinzaemon and Hanbei. It is a duel fought in mud as the two men match one another strike for strike. This fight is up close much of the time giving it an edge of your seat visceral quality that enraptures the audience and ends in a bloody decapitation.
8Conan The Barbarian (1982)
A true film about the mythos of sword battles, this one makes good on the "riddle of the steel". John Milius and Oliver Stone adapted Robert E. Howard's famous character for the big screen and made good on the promise of warriors, steel, and blood.
For Conan the Barbarian, Arnold Schwarzenegger trained hard to become the powerful warrior he portrays so effortlessly on screen. After many great sword battles, the finale is played out in a desert of rocks with Conan going up against the man who killed his parents when he was a boy. Steel clashes and blood flies as Milius and his stunt team play out one of the finest sword battles on film.
7The Mark Of Zorro (1940)
Zorro is one of the great film swashbucklers and Tyrone Power still reigns supreme as the greatest in film history. In 1940s The Mark of Zorro, Power plays the famous swordsman as he fights a corrupt government in Mexico.
Basil Rathbone plays the evil Captain Esteban Pasquale who goes up against Zorro/Don Diego in the climactic duel to the death. Rathbone was already an accomplished swordsman and Power had the skills to match. Their duel is fast and exciting and a grand example of perfect fight choreography.
6Rob Roy (1995)
In 1995's Rob Roy, Liam Nesson is perfectly cast as Rob Roy MacGregor, a man who is framed and smeared by a crooked nobleman. Rob Roy goes on to become an outlaw and seek justice from the man that destroyed his life, played by Tim Roth. The film is a sweeping historical romance/action film full of great performances and powerful action set-pieces.
The final sword fight between Neeson and Roth became an instant classic. It is done with no music and shot mostly from wide angles. Roth and Neeson go all in. The swords look heavy and the two men tire during the long and fierce battle that has become one of the most realistic in movie history.
5Captain Blood (1935)
Michael Curtiz directed one of the great swashbuckling tales, 1935's Captain Blood. Errol Flynn plays an English doctor who is wrongfully branded a traitor and escapes to become a pirate, seeking his revenge on the magistrate who ruined his life.
Basil Rathbone and Errol Flynn were accomplished swordsmen and choreographed their fight. Each man is graceful and believable as they match one another. The fight plays out on seaside rocks with the waves crashing around them adding a sense of danger to the sequence.
4Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)
Quentin Tarantino paid homage to the samurai and Kung Fu films he loves with his Kill Bill films. In Vol. I, Uma Thurman's "Bride" character seeks revenge on those who tried to kill her. When she goes to Japan, she must battle a band of black-suited samurai gangsters called "The Crazy 88s".
The scene is an ode to the blood-spraying mayhem of the samurai films of the 1970s. It is an amazingly designed sequence as Thurman is surrounded by hundreds of samurai and proceeds to lay bloody waste to every one of them. The film and its sword fights and action sequences proved [url=https://screenrant.com/strong-women-action-movies-starring-badass-female-protagonists/]there is a market for films that feature badass female heroes.
3The Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938)
Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone reteamed for what is regarded as the finest Robin Hood film of them all. The Adventures of Robin Hood is the technicolor painted adventure that tells the story of the famous outlaw hero with excitement and vigor.
Flynn and Rathbone once again choreographed their own fight scene that takes place in a grand castle ballroom where the men swing from chandeliers and clash swords as they go up a long and dangerous staircase. The sequence is backed by a thrilling score that adds to the excitement.
2The Three Musketeers (1973)
Richard Lester's adaptation stands as the most well-received of all the cinematic adaptations of Alexandre Dumas' classic tale, The Three Musketeers. Richard Chamberlin, Frank Finlay, Oliver Reed play the musketeers and Michael York is D' Artagnan, the aspiring Musketeer who joins with them to fight against the crooked Cardinal Richelieu played by Charlton Heston, his henchman Rochefort played by Christopher Lee, and his band of ruthless guards.
The film is overflowing with excellent swordplay but one of the standout moments is when Oliver Reed takes on one of the Cardinal's guards. The fight is ruthless and hardcore as Reed holds his cape in his hand and lunges violently at his opponent. Their fight takes place in a huge doorway while his fellow Musketeers fight around them. It is a moment of pure power and realism.
1Seven Samurai (1954)
In Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece Seven Samurai, the tale of farmers who hire seven samurai warriors to help them defeat bandits, there is much swordplay and many vicious duels.
One of the best is between samurai Kyuzo and a nameless bandit. The scene plays out as an intimate duel as the two fight in a field, away from the others in the battle. Kyuzo fights with the focus of a zen master and never lets the bandit get the best of him. He stares at the bandit directly in the eyes with every strike, eventually unnerving his opponent.
While Seven Samurai is my all time fav and I do love the scene that is referenced, I beg to differ. The Rashomon sword fights were better.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
