The best and worst sword fights in movies

hectorberlioz · 09-30-2009, 11:56 AM

Ok. Dorkiest subject in the world, I know

. Still, it's a worthy subject for this forum. Here are my favorites:

~Prince Caspian (2008): Whatever you might think about the movie as a whole, there's no denying that the sword fight between King Miraz and Peter was a real treat. Actually made you believe that a young lad could take on a grown man in a sword fight! Also, it was greatly choreographed.

~Peter Pan (Disney): A cartoon contestant. Peter Pan fights Cap'n Hook's épée with what is essentially a butter knife!

~Star Wars Phantom Menace: However entertaining they might be, neither of the two Yoda duels in eps. II and III beat out this much more classic and believable (as much as these things can be) three-way duel with Obi-wan, Qui-gon, and Darth Maul.

~Star Wars Empire Strikes Back: It's the intensity of this one that makes it such a classic. Luke's headstrong foolishness, and Vader's one very cool leap down a small step...so memorable

**Mari** · 09-30-2009, 12:17 PM

Ah, you haven't seen The Princess Bride yet, have you? There's a nice swordfighting scene in that as well.

hectorberlioz · 09-30-2009, 12:29 PM

I have seen it

. It's just been a while, so I didn't think it was fair to stretch my favorites without being really sure of them.

**Mari** · 09-30-2009, 12:38 PM

You've seen it!?!? When?!? Why didn't you tell me? Last time I brought it up you'd only read the book.
That's it. You are going to watch it again, with me this time >_<

I'm trying to think of the title of this film which has a horrible fighting scene. All the moves were so studied... *is thinking hard*

***Varnafindë*** · 09-30-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

~Prince Caspian (2008): Whatever you might think about the movie as a whole, there's no denying that the sword fight between King Miraz and Peter was a real treat. Actually made you believe that a young lad could take on a grown man in a sword fight! Also, it was greatly choreographed.

A treat indeed. Apparently it took them a week to film it. The guy who played Miraz (one of the best performances of the whole movie, btw) told how he would wake up in the morning with the knowledge that he was going to go out there again and do it ALL OVER AGAIN. It was a demanding week for both of the fighters.

Yes, it was believable. They were both really getting into their parts, which contributed to making it look very real.

GrayMouser · 09-30-2009, 11:52 PM

From an earlier thread...

Rob Roy

http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=20395

Rosie Gamgee · 10-14-2009, 11:41 AM

Is there some reason we are not bringing up Pirates of the Caribbean? I don't care if they are an overrated franchise: the swordfight in the blacksmith in the beginning of Curse of the Black Pearl is a very good swordfight. And the three-way fight between Norrington, Jack, and Will in Dead Man's Chest is brilliant--more brilliant than three-way fight in SW: Eps. 1, and I will tell you why: Eps. 1's fight was two guys against one. DMC's fight was every-man-for-himself. A lot harder to choreograph when each man is fighting the other two.

A little-remembered one: Anyone ever seen The Three Musketeers with Gene Kelly? That initial fight where he's supposed to duel the Three and ends up taking on the captain of a troop of soldiers . . . . is funny and brilliant!

***Alcuin*** · 10-14-2009, 11:51 AM

An oldie but goodie: Robin Hood (Errol Flynn) vs. Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone) in The Adventures of Robin Hood (Warner Brothers, 1938).

Grey_Wolf · 12-10-2009, 12:29 PM

SW I three-way lightsabre duel

The end fight btwn the Highlander and the Kurgan in Highlander I

The end duel btwn D'Artagnan and Rochefort in the Disney movie The Three Musketeers

The duel btwn the Bride and the Crazy 88 and then later confronting O-ren at the end of KB I.

Here is my thread on the subject on a slightly wider scale: http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?t=4798

Draken · 07-09-2010, 09:10 AM

No mention of this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjEcj8KpuJw

Easily the best cinematic swordfight! (not the first fight in the clip, that's just setting the scene).

Grey_Wolf · 07-09-2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draken

No mention of this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjEcj8KpuJw

Easily the best cinematic swordfight! (not the first fight in the clip, that's just setting the scene).

Oh, yeah - beats the lot - "just a flesh wound." - that is hilarous.

09-30-2009, 11:56 AM	#1
hectorberlioz Master of Orchestration President Emeritus of Entmoot 2004-2008 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Lost in the Opera House Posts: 9,328	The best and worst sword fights in movies Ok. Dorkiest subject in the world, I know. Still, it's a worthy subject for this forum. Here are my favorites: ~Prince Caspian (2008): Whatever you might think about the movie as a whole, there's no denying that the sword fight between King Miraz and Peter was a real treat. Actually made you believe that a young lad could take on a grown man in a sword fight! Also, it was greatly choreographed. ~Peter Pan (Disney): A cartoon contestant. Peter Pan fights Cap'n Hook's épée with what is essentially a butter knife! ~Star Wars Phantom Menace: However entertaining they might be, neither of the two Yoda duels in eps. II and III beat out this much more classic and believable (as much as these things can be) three-way duel with Obi-wan, Qui-gon, and Darth Maul. ~Star Wars Empire Strikes Back: It's the intensity of this one that makes it such a classic. Luke's headstrong foolishness, and Vader's one very cool leap down a small step...so memorable __________________ ACALEWIA- President of Entmoot hectorberlioz- Vice President of Entmoot Acaly und Hektor fur Presidants fur EntMut fur life! Join the discussion at Entmoot Election 2010. "Stupidissimo!"~Toscanini The Da CINDY Code The Epic Poem Of The Balrog of Entmoot: Here ~NEW! ~ Thinking of summer vacation? AboutNewJersey.com - NJ Travel & Tourism Guide

09-30-2009, 12:17 PM	#2
Mari Elf Lady Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In the lands where mountains are but a fairytale Posts: 8,588	Ah, you haven't seen The Princess Bride yet, have you? There's a nice swordfighting scene in that as well. __________________ Love always, deeply and true ★ Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer. ★ Friendship is sharing openly, laughing often, trusting always, caring deeply. ...The Earth laughs in flowers ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"...

09-30-2009, 12:29 PM	#3
hectorberlioz Master of Orchestration President Emeritus of Entmoot 2004-2008 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Lost in the Opera House Posts: 9,328	I have seen it . It's just been a while, so I didn't think it was fair to stretch my favorites without being really sure of them. __________________ ACALEWIA- President of Entmoot hectorberlioz- Vice President of Entmoot Acaly und Hektor fur Presidants fur EntMut fur life! Join the discussion at Entmoot Election 2010. "Stupidissimo!"~Toscanini The Da CINDY Code The Epic Poem Of The Balrog of Entmoot: Here ~NEW! ~ Thinking of summer vacation? AboutNewJersey.com - NJ Travel & Tourism Guide

09-30-2009, 12:38 PM	#4
Mari Elf Lady Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In the lands where mountains are but a fairytale Posts: 8,588	You've seen it!?!? When?!? Why didn't you tell me? Last time I brought it up you'd only read the book. That's it. You are going to watch it again, with me this time >_< I'm trying to think of the title of this film which has a horrible fighting scene. All the moves were so studied... is thinking hard __________________ Love always, deeply and true ★ Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer. ★ Friendship is sharing openly, laughing often, trusting always, caring deeply. ...The Earth laughs in flowers ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"...

09-30-2009, 11:52 PM	#6
GrayMouser Elf Lord Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ilha Formosa Posts: 2,068	From an earlier thread... Rob Roy http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=20395 __________________ Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them? "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us, cats look down on us, but pigs treat us as equals."- Winston Churchill

10-14-2009, 11:41 AM	#7
Rosie Gamgee The Lovely Hobbit-Lass Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bounded in a nut-shell Posts: 1,593	Is there some reason we are not bringing up Pirates of the Caribbean? I don't care if they are an overrated franchise: the swordfight in the blacksmith in the beginning of Curse of the Black Pearl is a very good swordfight. And the three-way fight between Norrington, Jack, and Will in Dead Man's Chest is brilliant--more brilliant than three-way fight in SW: Eps. 1, and I will tell you why: Eps. 1's fight was two guys against one. DMC's fight was every-man-for-himself. A lot harder to choreograph when each man is fighting the other two. A little-remembered one: Anyone ever seen The Three Musketeers with Gene Kelly? That initial fight where he's supposed to duel the Three and ends up taking on the captain of a troop of soldiers . . . . is funny and brilliant! __________________ It's New Years Day, just like the day before; Same old skies of grey, same empty bottles on the floor. Another year's gone by, and I was thinking once again, How can I take this losing hand and somehow win? Just give me One Good Year To get my feet back on the ground. I've been chasing grace; Grace ain't so easily found One bad hand can devil a man, chase him and carry him down. I've got to get out of here, just give me One Good Year!

10-14-2009, 11:51 AM	#8
*Alcuin* Salt Miner Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: gone to Far Harad Posts: 987	An oldie but goodie: Robin Hood (Errol Flynn) vs. Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone) in The Adventures of Robin Hood (Warner Brothers, 1938).

12-10-2009, 12:29 PM	#9
Grey_Wolf Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mirkwood, well actually I live in North-west Scania, Sweden Posts: 9,481	SW I three-way lightsabre duel The end fight btwn the Highlander and the Kurgan in Highlander I The end duel btwn D'Artagnan and Rochefort in the Disney movie The Three Musketeers The duel btwn the Bride and the Crazy 88 and then later confronting O-ren at the end of KB I. Here is my thread on the subject on a slightly wider scale: http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?t=4798 Last edited by Grey_Wolf : 12-10-2009 at 12:32 PM.

07-09-2010, 09:10 AM	#10
Draken Elf Lord Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Durham, England Posts: 694	No mention of this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjEcj8KpuJw Easily the best cinematic swordfight! (not the first fight in the clip, that's just setting the scene). __________________ I'm beset by self-doubt ....or am I?