ANOTHER LIST

The saga continues ... If you saw the first chapter in this Star Wars-esque trilogy of posts (or is it more Starship Troopers?), you'll know we're looking at the greatest fights in film in three main categories.

Following the reasonable success of 'Biffs, Boxers and Brawlers', we can now proceed with this follow-up - The Empire Strikes Back of the series if you like. Though, I warn you, the ending may not be as spectacular.

The focus here is on the great duels in cinema, the fights featuring an array of weaponry, but pretty much no guns. I know, I'm going to have to do a 'greatest gun-fight' list at some stage too.

And sorry, there are no duelling banjos either, so no entries from that redneck classic Deliverance. But, as the chapter title suggests, there is plenty of swords and sabres, well, light sabres to be exact, as well as the odd sledgehammer, staff, spear, ball and chain and even a trident, yes, a trident.

As mentioned in Episode 1, these entries focus primarily on one combatant (on either side), so there could be one versus one or one versus many. No battles, like those from Braveheart, Lord of the Rings and 300 and even Blazing Saddles. Check out the first post for most information.

So here's round 2. Ding. Ding.




20 MONTOYA v COUNT RUGEN

The Princess Bride (1987)
Featuring: Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya
and Christopher Guest as Count Tyrone Rugen.

From that classic 1980s adventure film that made good old-fashioned sword-fighting fencing-style fashionable again, is the last major duel featured in the film and the match-up we had all been waiting for. It features the secondary hero in Montoya - but the one we all really liked the best. The always-watchable Patinkin is at his absolute best as the son aiming to avenge the murder of his father by the 'Six-Fingered Man', who firstly runs off when they came face-to-face, then ambushes Inigo by throwing a knife into his stomach ...



"Is very strange. I have been in the revenge business so long, now that it's over, I don't know what to do with the rest of my life" - shades of Memento from Inigo?

Trivia: Patinkin revealed that acting out Inigo's quest to avenge his father's murder brought back memories of losing his own father to cancer in 1972. He said that when filming the scene when Inigo kills 'The Six-Fingered Man' he felt like he had just "killed" the cancer that killed his father.




19 JUNBOA v TIENBO

Tai-Chi Master (1993)
Featuring: Jet Li as Junbao
and Chin Siu Ho as Tienbo

So many Jet Li sword fights to choose from, so small a list. While there may another entry or two from the seven-time world champion martial artist from Beijing to come, he was in absolute peak form here. It was early on in his movie career, still untainted by the touch of Hollywood, in which he plays a Shaolin monk out for revenge against an old friend, now adversary ...




"Enough! Stop living in your past! What do you think you're doing here? Stop shoving me away! The past is what makes up who we are. Don't let it become your burden. " - Li mu Bai (played by Michelle Yeoh).

Trivia: Jet Li won the Chinese national championship in the acrobatic martial art wushu when he was 11; his prize was a trip to Washington DC to meet US President Richard Nixon.




18 THE BRIDE v GOGO

Kill Bill Part 1 (2003)
Featuring: Uma Thurman as Beatrix Kiddo aka The Bride aka Black Mamba and Chiaki Kuriyama as Gogo Yubari.

She may look innocent enough, but Kuriyama's Gogo is the loyal, albeit totally psychotic apprentice of Tokyo gang leader O-Ren Ishii and certainly knows how to wield the old ball and chain, with deadly force, as Thurman's Bride finds out here. Our heroine just finished off the Crazy 88s, then had to deal with this. Betcha she didn't get taught those moves at school ...



"Go-Go, I know you feel you must protect your mistress. But I beg you, walk away" - The Bride.

Trivia: When Kuriyama was shooting the scene where she flings her ball and chain out, she accidentally hit director Quentin Tarantino on the head while he stood by the camera. Well, that'll teach him.




17 ZORRO v MONTERO

The Mask of Zorro (1998)
Featuring: Antonio Banderes as Alejandro Murrieta aka Zorro
and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Elena Montero.

Nothing like a little foreplay. These two come to grips for the first time in the barn of Elena's 'father', the evil Don Rafael, while the hero Zorro is trying to escape his henchmen. Their feisty exchange is more flirting than anything but they both show their wares with the blade. No one gets hurt but the old needle and thread will have to get a work out ...



"When I sleep, I will dream of this dashing rogue Zorro. But what face shall I give him?" - Elena.

Trivia: Steven Spielberg offered Shakira the role of Elena when he was originally in talks to direct the movie. But, she turned the offer down because she felt that not only was she a bad actress, but her English wasn't good enough. At least she can admit it.




16 SPARTACUS v DRABA

Spartacus (1960)
Featuring: Kirk Douglas as Spartacus
and Woody Strode as Draba.

Alright, so it doesn't have the 'wow' factor that latterday Roman epic Gladiator has, but it was pretty full-on back in the day and has a tense lead-up. Douglas' prisoner-turned-gladiator-tur ned-rebel leader is thrown into the ring in a fight to death against Strode's imposing Draba. Of course, Spartacus goes on to lead an uprising, but doesn't necesserily win this little battle that involves a sword, a net and a trident, yes, a trident ...



"Gladiators don't make friends. If we're ever matched in the arena together, I have to kill you" - Draba.

Trivia: The development of Spartacus was partly instigated by Kirk Douglas's failure to win the title role in William Wyler's Ben-Hur - that of course went to Charlton Heston.




15 GINN AND KENOBI v DARTH MAUL

Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Meance (1999)
Featuring: Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn
and Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ray Park as Darth Maul.

In a movie tainted by the stench of Jar-Jar Binks, it did have some amazing action sequences, including this one showing when the Jedi were at the peak of their powers. Unlike the movie itself, the final confrontation between the master, his padawan and the demon-looking `Dark Side' apprentice Maul lived up to expectations, particularly the latter's two-way lightsabre - made for those times when taking on just one Jedi at once simply isn't enough ...



"At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we will have revenge" - Maul.

Trivia: Benicio Del Toro was originally set to play Darth Maul. He left the film after George Lucas took most of Maul's lines out of the film.




14 NAMELESS v SKY

Hero (2002)
Featuring: Jet Li as The Nameless
and Donnie Yen as Sky.

On his quest to kill the three assasins who present the biggest threat to the King, Li's unnamed 'hero' first comes across Sky. While he goes on to take part in another unique duel with Broken Sword on a lake, this scene has by far the most thrilling action as Nameless' sword goes up against Sky's spear in a weiqi parlor (where the ancient game of Go is played). In true Chinese movie fashion there is plenty of gravity-defying moves ...



"You are on the king's most wanted list; I am here to place you under arrest!" - Nameless.

Trivia: This movie is the most expensive Chinese movie to date. Though Jet Li agreed to a pay cut so he could be in the movie. What a hero.




13 MANI v THE LOCAL HOODS

Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)
Featuring: Mark Dacascos as Mani.

A group of local ruffians get more than they bargain for when Grégoire de Fronsac and his faithful American Indian offsider Mani come strolling into town on horseback in 1800s France. It was the type of opening to a movie that just blows you away. Magnificently shot with great use of slow motion effects in the driving rain, it sets the tone for what is an awesome film ...

Click HERE to view

"Mani doesn't use firearms" - de Fronsac.

Trivia: Decascos was a world-renowned martial artist who was considered for the role of Bruce Lee in the Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993).




12 MAXIMUS v TIGRIS

Gladiator (2000)
Featuring: Russell Crowe as General Maximus
and Sven-Ole Thorsen as Tigris the Gaul

While this Academy Award-winner has so many great fight scenes, including the finale featuring Maximus (though wounded) and the evil Commodus, but this was a stand-out. Not only did Crowe's title character have to face the toughest bloody opponent of his life in the massive form of the legendary gladiator Tigris, but also actual tigers that appeared from beaneath the Colosseum. It didn't affect the result though as Maximus hurtus Tigris alotus ...



"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next!" - Maximus.

Trivia: Big Sven, a former bodybuilder from Denmark, has appeared in 15 of good friend Arnold Schwarzenegge'sr films, starting with Conan (1982). He is now assisting Arnold to run the state of California.




11 CODY v RAVEN

Streets of Fire (1984)
Featuring: Michael Pare as Tom Cody
and Willem Dafoe as Raven Shaddock.

Peter Gabriel may have had this movie in mind when singing 'Sledgehammer' with the two main adversaries going hell for leather out in the street. Pare's tough-as-nails mercenary has just rescued his ex-girl from Dafoe's Raven and his massive bikie gang when the two come face-to-face in the big finale. What's most remarkable is the fact not one strand of Dafoe's hair moves during the entire full throttle fight. Check out his quivering lip too ...



"Tom Cody. Pleased to meet ya" - Cody. Who else?

Trivia: The film was created with the intention of being the first in a series of three. Sadly, the terrible commercial response to 'Streets' eliminated any possible continuation, as well as Pare's terrible acting.




10 ROBIN HOOD v GUY OF GISBOURNE

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Featuring: Errol Flynn as Robin Hood
and Basil Rathbone as Sir Guy of Gisborne.

Sure, Douglas Fairbanks had his moments in Robin Hood (1922), the fox was pretty cool in Disney's Robin Hood (1973), and Kevin Costner could shoot a bow and arrow in Prince of Thieves (1991), but you can't go past the most iconic swashbuckler. Flynn's Robin of Locksley duels the Guy of Gisbourne in the climax to this classic adventure film about the legendary outlaw and his band of very merry men. Look past the green tights worn by our hero and just enjoy the thrilling sword-play, particularly from the Tasmanian ...



"You've come to Nottingham once too often!" - Guy of Gisbourne.

Trivia: Despite his flamboyant performance as Robin Hood, Flynn privately professed that he found the role a boring one.




9 ACHILLES v HECTOR

Troy (2003)
Featuring: Brad Pitt as Achilles
and Eric Bana as Hector.

What are brothers' for, hey? Poor old Hector, the Prince of Troy, comes to the aid of his wussy young brother, Paris (played by wussy Orlando Bloom) after he runs off with the Queen of Sparta. The Spartans send Pitt's buffed-up Fabio-looking Achilles to cause trouble. What results is the highlight of what was a pretty disappointing movie - a gripping clash of two sword-wielding titans ...



"Why kill you now, Prince of Troy, with no-one here to see you fall?" - Achilles.

Trivia: Pitt and Bana made a gentlemen's agreement that they would each pay the other for every accidental hit they made, $50 for each light blow and $100 for each hard blow. Pitt ended up paying $750 to Bana, who didn't owe anything.




8 DAE-SU v THE CORRIDOR HOODS

Oldboy (2003)
Featuring: Min-sik Choi as Dae-su Oh.

One of the highlights of this gripping Count of Monte Cristo-type revenge flick from South Korea is this five-minute one-shot scene down a dimly-lit corridor. After being locked in a room for the past 15 years, all the main character Dae Su Oh wants is revenge. This 'fight' involving a horde of gang members could've been in the 'Biffs, Boxers and Brawlers' category, but you can't beat hammer-time ...



"Even though I'm no more than a monster - don't I, too, have the right to live?" - Oh-Dae Su.

Trivia: CGI was used during the scene when Dae Su Oh gets stabbed in the back with a knife, and to correct some punches landing.




7 YODA v COUNT DOOKU

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Featuring: the voice of Frank Oz as Yoda
Christopher Lee as Count Dooku.

Yeah, so it was half CGI (at least I presume Lee wasn't), but who could not be left in awe at the work of the diminutive and mega old Yoda. We'd seen him on his death bed in the orginal trilogy and then on his high horse in Episode I, but here we got to see just how much of a Jedi master the little green one really is, limp and all. Lee was impressive too for a 78-year-old ...



"If Dooku escapes, rally more systems to his cause we will" - Yoda, who else?

Trivia: Lee did not do all his own stunt work, although he was able to do most of his own sword work during the climactic light saber duels. Yoda however did all his own stunts.




6 KING ARTHUR v THE BLACK KNIGHT

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1974)
Featuring: Graham Chapman as King Arthur
and John Cleese as The Black Knight.

In his search for the coveted Holy Grail, Arthur Pendragon comes across the Black Knight and asks him to join his quest. Arthur is a little taken aback by his response, but it is the Black Knight who is all cut up over it. Boom boom. One of the funniest scenes from one of the funniest movies of all-time. Enough said ...



"It's just a flesh wound!" - The Black Knight.

Trivia: Cleese's young daughter was on the set during the filming of the Black Knight scene, and after seeing the "fighting", remarked to Connie Booth, "Daddy doesn't like that man, does he?"




5 THE BRIDE v THE CRAZY 88s

Kill Bill Part 1 (2003)
Featuring: Uma Thurman as Beatrix Kiddo aka The Bride.

The Bride's unstoppable rampage of revenge leads her to Japan and former fellow member of the Deadly Viper Assassin Squad, O-Ren Ishii, and with her, the Tokyo crime gang she leads. What results is a bloody, and I mean bloody, brutal - and entertaining - massacre by the unrelenting Bride. It's not perfect though - while there are 88 gang members there are only 57 deaths ...



"Those of you lucky enough to have your lives, take them with you. However, leave the limbs you've lost. They belong to me now ... Except you, Sofie! You stay right where you are." - The Bride.

Trivia: According to Shingon belief in Japan, the number 88 represents all the evil in the world. You can do a tour of 88 Buddhist temples to free yourself from all these evils.




4 NEO v THE MEROVINGIAN HENCHMEN

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Featuring: Keanu Reeves as Neo.

The second and third Matrix movies have copped their own fair share of whacks but, putting aside a storyline you need a university degree in to understand, the two flicks had some very very cool fight scenes, and few better than this one involving 'chosen one' Neo and an array of weapons, including knives, swords, tridents and axes. It is fantastically choreographed and magnificently filmed, the combatants dancing around the chataeu, with slow-mo used to great effect ...



"Get him out of here, I'll handle them!" - Neo.

Trivia: The Merovingians were the ruling class of France in the 7th Century A.D. and is also the name given by the Knights Templar to the supposed bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. So, there you go.




3 YU SHEN LIEN v JEN YU

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Featuring: Michelle Yeoh as Yu Shu Lien
and Ziyi Zhang as Jen Yu.

Where do you start with a film like this? Not sure, but you can end right here, with the two ladies well and truly stealing the thunder from the guys as the experienced Yu Shu and the rebellious Jen Yu try to cut through their generational gap with swift strikes of their respective blades. The speed at which they movie is incredible ...



"This girl. I saw her last night ... She needs controlling. She needs real direction and training" - Lien.

Trivia: While Ziyi Zhang's character is highly trained and skillful in martial arts, the actress herself had never had any official martial arts training at all.




2 WESLEY v MONTOYA

The Princess Bride(1979)
Featuring: Carey Elwes as Wesley aka The Man in Black aka the Dread Pirate Roberts and Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya.

Drawing on those swashbuckling adventures of the '30s like Flynn's Robin Hood, but doing it even better, the dialogue between the two sword-fighting combatants is as entertaining as the duel itself. Both show true sportsmanship, particuarly the Spaniard Inigo who helps his opponent up a cliff-face to get the real fun underway, but not before he allows him to also catch his breath, and even hold his sword while he tells about the tragic death of his father. The two, of course, later form an imposing trio with the giant Fezzik in order to defeat the evil prince, free the princess and kill the six-fingered man (as seen) ...



"You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you" - Montoya. "You seem a decent fellow. I hate to die" - Wesley.

Trivia: Elwes and Patinkin actually performed all of their own sword-fighting after many hours of training.




1 SKYWALKER v VADER

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Featuring: Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker
and David Prowse as Darth Vadar.

Not the most athletic Jedi duel in the series but clearly the most unforgettable for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we'd waited almost two entire Star Wars movies to see what a real lightsabre battle could look like. All we'd had was this unbelievably lame anti-climatic match-up between Obi-Wan and his former apprentice Darth Vader in the original film, A New Hope. Secondly, while the actually fight between Vader and Luke here was pretty intense, it was the revelation that immediately followed it that blew everyone away ...



"Luke, you do not yet realize your importance. You have only begun to discover your power. Join me, and I will complete your training. With our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy" - promises, promises from dear old dad Darth.

Trivia: Filmmaker George Lucas was so determined that the ending of the film be kept secret that he had Prowse say "Obi-Wan killed your father", and dubbed it later to be "I am your father".


Honourable mention goes to ...


STARK v BUZZ

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Featuring: James Dean and Jim Stark
and Corey Allen as Buzz Gunderson.

Geez, kids had it tough in the '50s. Dean's Stark is a new arrival in town who recieves a warm welcome from a group of trouble-making 'yutes'. Their initiation involves a 'chicken run', in which you drive your car really fast towards a cliff face, and a switch-blade fight atop a building. Unlucky not to make the real list ...



"You know something? I like you" - Buzz.

Trivia: For the knife fight between Jim (James Dean) and Buzz (Corey Allen), the actors used real switchblades and protected themselves by wearing chainmail under their vests.


And now for one of the worst ...


CONAN v MAN APE

Conan The Destroyer (1984)
Featuring: Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan
and Pat Roach as Man Ape / Toth-Amon.

Arnie's big breakthrough part as Conan in his second adventure. He goes off to rescue a princess - what else is there to do? - and ends up running into an evil sorceror, who despite looking like a monster doesn't mind having the odd mirror hanging up, and also likes to swing Conan around by his ankles. Weeeeeeee. Must be played with the sound up ...



"I suppose nothing hurts you?" - Jehnna. "Only pain" - Conan.
"Conan! There are six of them against her!" - Jehnna. "One, two, three... I think you're right" - Conan.

Trivia: During his battle with the mutated wizard, Man Ape/Toth-Amon, the blue make-up used on the monster can be seen rubbing off on Conan's body in various scenes for short periods.


Okay, so there you have it. None of those pirates from the Carribean. Simply weren't worthy, but many others were and they missed out too. Please feel free to leave any thoughts, but again, please watch the high blows and especially the low blows. Remember, this is only a 'writer's own' list...

Also stay tuned for 'Kung-Fu, Karate and Kicking-Ass', which is obviously one for any type of martial art, but it does not include the use of a weapon - that would put it in this post.

Trivia courtesy of imdb.com