Top 10 Fight Scenes You Forgot Were Awesome
#10: Dojo Destruction
“Fist of Fury" (1972) After being insulted by a rival martial arts school, Chen Zhen decides to visit them alone to teach them respect. The result is an iconic sequence full of trademark Bruce Lee moments. It highlights his lightning-fast kicks and primal screams. Opponents fly in every direction from kicks, punches, and tosses. Then, we get a fabulous nunchuck display. Before long, the crowd of combatants that once surrounded Zhen is reduced to just the final master. That dojo leader is flipped, tossed, and kicked repeatedly in the face. Throughout this takedown, Lee’s attitude is fierce but casual. His confidence declares that this result was inevitable.
#9: Sunglasses Struggle
"They Live" (1988) John Nada just wanted his friend to put on the sunglasses. The special shades would help his buddy finally see the aliens among them. When Frank refuses, the fight begins. Roddy Piper’s skills as a professional wrestler really come to play in this scene. At first, it’s high energy with fast punches, dropkicks to the face, and flipping off the side of a building. As they get tired, there’s more rolling in the mud and gasps of fatigue. Adding to the reality is a complete lack of music. The fight is only punctuated by the sound of fists and exclamations of pain. It’s a long sequence, but it effectively reflects the desperation that Nada is feeling at the moment.
#8: Family Jungle Fight
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"The Incredibles" (2004) There are many great action sequences in this animated film, but the jungle scene feels special. Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl madly dash through the foliage to rescue their kids. Meanwhile, the two younger Parrs are doing a pretty good job of saving themselves. We get to see Dash and Violet discover what they can do with their powers. Is there a better look of joy than when the young speedster realizes he’s running on water? The usually antagonistic siblings make a great team as they defend each other from enemies. When the whole group finally comes together, it’s a true superhero moment. The action-packed takedown of their pursuers is the first time they truly work as a team and a family.
#7: A.I. Altercation
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“Upgrade” (2018) After an accident kills his wife and leaves him paralyzed, Grey Trace is given a second chance. An implanted computer chip will control his movement, so he can seek his revenge. The artificial intelligence first takes over Trace’s body in this kitchen fight. He isn’t prepared for the result. His movements become precise and vicious. The computer uses his body to destroy their opponents. Simultaneously, Grey’s voice and facial expressions reflect the surprise and terror at the violence he’s inflicting. The director added more creative unease by linking the camera to an iPhone strapped to the actor. This allowed the camera to follow all of his movements as he performed them. It’s a combination of innovative film work, superb acting, and top-notch choreography.
#6: Drunken Boxing Brawl
“Drunken Master II” (1994) When Jackie Chan’s character, Wong Fei-hung, is surrounded by henchmen he resorts to drunken boxing to fight them off. Luckily, they give him time to chug a couple bottles of alcohol. We then get to fully enjoy Chan swaying, dodging, and kicking with a wacky grin on his face. Throughout the fight, he catches bottles and finds creative ways to keep drinking. Each gulp adds to his fighting prowess. It gets sloppier, yet somehow more effective. Chan’s ability to continue while standing at crazy angles is a testament to both his physical comedy and fighting skills. In one moment, he’s blowing kisses and dancing. In the next, he flips a bench in the air faster than seems physically possible. It’s outrageous, impressive, and hilarious.
#5: Boat Battle
"Kubo and the Two Strings" (2016) In this often-overlooked fantasy film, Kubo and his companions struggle against his mother’s evil family. One of the most impressive fights takes place on a boat made of leaves. Clever choreography takes place in the air, on the boat, and under the water. All of this is done with innovative stop-motion animation inspired by Japanese art and origami. The animators had martial arts backgrounds and it shows in the fluidity and believability of the fight sequences. It’s easy to get swept away by the amazing details and emotional moments. When you remember that it’s all created with manipulated puppets, you can’t help but be blown away.
#4: Tunnel Takedown
“Snowpiercer” (2013) In a dystopian future, Chris Evan’s beleaguered rebels fight their way through a series of train cars. They’re stopped by ax-wielding soldiers with night vision goggles and a long, dark tunnel. The beginning of the battle isn’t full of clever choreography. It’s just ax-swinging violence. The complete disparity between those who can see and those who can’t is outrageous and unfair. In this way, the fight perfectly sums up the message of the movie. When all seems lost, fire is delivered to the combatants by runners from the back of the train. The light from the flames gives them the advantage, and it turns the tide of the battle.
#3: Rocky Rematch
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"Rocky II" (1979) The ending fight in this “Rocky” sequel pits the same two boxers against each other as in the first film. Both are fiercely determined to win. As they move through the initial rounds of the fight, Creed pulls ahead. All he has to do is stay away from Rocky for the final round, and he’ll win the match. In a decisive lesson on pride, Creed can’t resist the opportunity for a takedown. The two exhausted fighters stand in one spot and hit and take hits until they both fall. The final moment of the fight isn’t about who punches the hardest. Instead, it’s about Rocky’s determination to get on his feet when he has nothing left. His sheer force of will earns him the victory.
#2: Bathhouse Brawl
"Eastern Promises" (2007) When you pit two fully clothed hitmen against a naked man in a sauna, the outcome seems obvious. Viggo Mortensen’s character, Nikolai, proves that assumption wrong. His nudity combined with the betrayal by his mafia connections makes him appear vulnerable. His opponents are armed with wicked linoleum knives. He has nothing. During the fight, Nikolai is repeatedly wounded, but he never stops. The black and white tiled floor is soon covered in blood as he manages to get the upper hand. At one point, he has to drag his body along the floor to finish off his final opponent. It's a realistically awkward and brutally violent fight for life that we can’t look away from.
#1: Altercation Above
“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000) The showdown between Michelle Yeoh’s fierce warrior Yu Shu Lien and Zhang Ziyi’s thief Jen Yu is an iconic fight that no one is likely to forget. However, the treetop fight that follows is equally magnificent. Chow Yun-fat and Zhang Ziyi move so gracefully through the treetops that we accept its magical reality. The duel is often more about how they deal with their precarious environment than the clash of swords. The cinematography provides both epic and artistically intimate moments. Today, we might assume it’s all done with green screens or CGI. However, the actors were filmed on location while suspended from wires. This makes it even more impressive. It’s a visually stunning combination of brilliant stunt work and beautiful fight choreography.
