The 60 Greatest Fights in Movie History - Episode 1
December 1st 2008 08:25
Biffs, Boxers and Brawlers
ANOTHER LIST
ANOTHER LIST
Okay, certainly not a new idea, but I figured you can't have a blog centred around action-adventure-type movies without compiling a 'writers-own greatest list' of those moments in cinema that really have you on the edge of your seat and get the heart racing - the big showdowns ...
While lists such as these have been around almost as long as fighting itself, I've tried to be a little different here by listing the respective 'confrontations' in three main categories (of 20) so as to keep it all fair in love and war.
Up first we've got 'Biffs, Boxers and Brawlers', which are your good old fashioned fisty-cuffs between trained and untrained 'boxers' of the movie world, so while there is a little bit of wrestling and the odd kick, this list has no martial arts and only minimal weapons usage. This one is pretty much special effects-free too.
Following will be 'Swords, Sabres and Sledgehammers', where the use of a weapon in whatever form other than a gun is a necessity, and finally 'Kung-Fu, Karate and Kicking-Ass', is obviously one for any type of martial arts, but it does not include the use of a weapon - that would put it in the second category. Entries in the next two lists can be special effects-driven, because, let's be honest, sometimes a little CGI can go a long way.
Also, for the purpose of these lists, the entries in all three categories are primarily one-on-one fights, or in some cases one-on-a few, so no battle scenes, like what we saw in Braveheart, Lord of the Rings or even the end of Blazing Saddles. Again, those call for another list. Basically, the focus here is on one combatant.
Well, I hope that's all clear. Obviously the line is going to be a little blurred in some areas, but, you get that with these sorts of things.
Without any further adue, let round one begin ... Ding. Ding.
20 LA MOTTA v ROBINSON
Raging Bull (1980)
Featuring: Robert De Niro as Jake La Motta
and Johnny Barnes as Sugar Ray Robinson.
De Niro's Oscar-winning portrayal of the tormented boxer of the 1930s, features the former champ at his best and worst, in and out of the ring. Here, it's the last hurrah for La Motta as he gets the living suitcase punched out of him by black fighter Sugar Ray Robinson. Not as exciting as any of the Rocky fights, but just the fact it was based on a real fight carries much weight ...
"You didn't get me down, Ray" - LaMotta trying to find a positive.
Trivia: The television commentary during LaMotta's last fight with Robinson, when he loses the title, is the actual TV broadcast of the bout.
19 BEDDOE v MURDOCK
Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
Featuring: Clint Eastwood as Philo Beddoe
and Walter Barnes as Tank Murdock.
Before going on to become one of the great directors of our time, Eastwood, of course, was the consumate movie tough guy, most notably as Dirty Harry, but also as Philo Beddoe. Forget guns, this guy knew how to use his fists and whoever was on the end of them wasn't such a lucky punk. With his friends, including Clyde the Orangutan, tagging along Beddoe would drift from town to town making a fistful of dollars, taking part in bare-knuckled fights such as this classic confrontation with the big Tank ...
"I like you. Don't worry kid, we're gonna get this over in a hurry and take care of you here" - Tank to Philo, Eastwood's 'kid'.
Trivia: Eastwood's boxing coach for the film was Al Silvani, who had recently prepared Sylvester Stallone for Rocky (1976). Also, the script originally was intended for Burt Reynolds.
18 DUTCH v THE PREDATOR
Predator (1987)
Featuring: Arnold Schwarzenegger as Major Alan 'Dutch' Schaefer
and Kevin Peter Hall as the Predator
Despite being one the greatest action movie heroes of all-time, big Arnie hasn't had a lot of great fights. There's been a lot of great beatings dished out by the former Austrian bodybuilder, but few real 'contests'. It's due mainly to the fact Arnie was always so dominant over his 'opponent'. It took a game-hunting alien to bring him back to earth as far throwing one's weight around is concerned. This actual coming to grips between the commando and his predator didn't last long, but it showed Arnie was human afterall ...
"If it bleeds, we can kill it " - Dutch stating the bleeding obvious. Boom Boom.
Trivia: The original concept for this film originated as a joke. Someone said that the only person Rocky Balboa of the Rocky series had yet to fight was E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982).
17 DARCY v CLEAVER
Bridget Jones Diary (2001)
Featuring: Colin Firth as Mark Darcy
and Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver.
Okay, so not quite an action film, but even I admit, it does have its share of moments, particularly when these two Pommy pansies go toe-to-toe out in the street, fighting over the mixed-up Ms Jones. Who would really want her anyway? Anyway, they certainly don't hold back, even smashing through a restaurant window - and having enough courtesy to stop for a rendition of 'Happy Birthday' - and for that, they must have some respect ... Three cheers ...
"Aww, fuck me, that really hurt. What the fuck do you think you're doing?" - Cleaver after copping one.
Trivia: The two went at it again in the sequel, Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason, but didn't have the same impact, splashing about in a damn pond. What is this? The end to European Vacation?
16 LUKE v DRAGLINE
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Featuring Paul Newman as Luke
and George Kennedy as Dragline.
Luke is a wild child who refuses to conform to life as a prisoner in a Southern chain gang, and here refuses to stay down in a 'fight' with his massive gangmate. Luke may not win the fight, in fact he barely gets a punch in what is really just an out-and-out pummelling, but he does win respect. It was one of Newman's best ever roles and one of the great prison films ...
"You're gonna hafta kill me..." - Luke not about to give in.
Trivia: The film is also famous for the classic line "What we've got here is failure to communicate".
15 FOXX v SVELGEN
2 Days in the Valley (1996)
Featuring: Teri Hatcher as Becky Foxx
and Charlize Theron as Helga Svelgen.
Theron proves a big hit in more ways than one in her first Hollywood movie, catfighting her way around a hotel room with Hatcher's Foxx. Fists and feet, and then finally bullets, fly between the two in this Pulp Fiction-esque thriller. Apparently one of Hatcher's punches, and there were some beauties, actually hit Theron for real, which created simmering tension on set. No real catfight though.
"Lower your voice you little bitch" - Helga to Becky.
Trivia: The part of Helga Svelgen was originally written for Daphne Deckers (who has basically gone on to do nothing of any note, certainly hasn't won any Best Actress Oscars). But at that time she had other contracts and so Theron got her big break, and later on, that Best Actress Oscar.
14 GILMORE v BARKER
Happy Gilmore (1995)
Featuring: Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore
and Bob Barker as Bob Barker.
The story of a down and out ex-hockey player who not only discovers he's a natural at golf, but also not to mess with veteran TV celebrity Barker. Overrated comedy, but has its moments like when Gilmore and Barker are partnered for a golf tournament. The two start trading insults, before trading blows. Sandler cops most of them via some very nice Barker jabs. But don't you just wish it was you delivering them ...
"You know what's driving me crazy? You not getting the ball in the hole!" - Barker pissed off with Happy.
Trivia: Barker wasn't sure if he wanted to be in the movie but when he learned that he was going to win the fight with Sandler, he accepted the role.
13 BOND v GRANT
From Russia with Love (1963)
Featuring: Sean Connery as James Bond
and Robert Shaw as Red Grant.
In his hunt for a decoding device - on one of his first missions - Connery's original Bond has one of his first and biggest one-on-one dust-ups on board the Orient Express, though it wasn't with the ticket collector, but Shaw's blonde-haired secret Russian operative. This is Shaw before he was taking on sharks in Jaws (1975) ...
"My orders are to kill you and deliver the Lektor. How I do it is my business. It'll be slow and painful" - Red Grant keeping secrets from Bond.
Trivia: Shaw and Connery did most of the fight on the train themselves. I guess it was a pretty big deal 45-years ago.
12 JONES v THE BIG GERMAN
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Featuring: Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones
and Pat Roach as the German Mechanic
No whips and no guns for Ford's iconic archaeologist adventurer Indy this time around - just his bare fists and one big motha of a shirt-less bald Nazi mechanic. Simply trying to catch a plane, well steal it, Indy is set upon by the monster. Though he probably cops the biggest beating of his four-movie career (so far) Indy still manages to keep his trademark hat on while doing so ...
"You want to talk to God? Let's go see him together, I've got nothing better to do" - Indy on the meaning of life.
Trivia: Roach, a six-foot-five former professional wrestler, appeared in the first three Indiana Jones films. He also auditioned for the role of Stars Wars' Darth Vader in 1976. He died in 2003.
11 THE NARRATOR v HIS OWN FIST
Fight Club (1998)
Featuring: Edward Norton as The Narrator
and Zach Grenier as Richard Chesler
While the movie lives up to its name by featuring so many great fight scenes (many of which involve Brad Pitt's scene-stealing Tyler Durdon), the most shocking and sadistic has to be this one with Norton's deranged albeit unnamed main character knocking himself senseless in front of his boss. Not the best way to ask for a raise. Make Norton angry ... Norton smash! ...
"... this button-down, Oxford-cloth psycho might just snap, and then stalk from office to office with an Armalite AR-10 carbine gas-powered semi-automatic weapon, pumping round after round into colleagues and co-workers. This might be someone you've known for years. Someone very, very close to you" - The Narrator to his boss about someone he knows.
Trivia: Norton lost 17-20 pounds for this role after having to beef up to play a Neo-Nazi skinhead in American History X (1998). He achieved this by running, taking vitamins and ignoring the on-set catering.
10 MICKEY v ANDERSON
Snatch (2000)
Featuring: Brad Pitt as Mickey 'One-Punch' O'Neil
and Scott Welch as Horace 'Good-Night' Anderson
He may not feature in the most memorable Fight Club scene (in this writer's view anyway), but Pitt gets in here as the Irish Gypsy prize fighter who does most of his talking with his fists, well, talking you can understand anyway, with Pitt's accent almost as memorable as anything he does in the boxing ring. After his mum is burnt to death, Mickey must resist knocking out his big opponent, 'Good-Night' Anderson, in this rigged bout otherwise it will be good night for him as well. Great music accompanies ...
"Turkish, the fight is twice the size. And me ma still needs a caravan. I like to look after me ma. It's a fair deal. Take it" - a mumbling Mickey on lookin' after his ma.
Trivia: Pitt, who was a big fan of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), approached director Guy Ritchie and asked for a role in this film. When Ritchie found Pitt couldn't master a London accent, he gave him the role of Mickey the Irish Gypsy.
9 THE PUNISHER v THE RUSSIAN
The Punisher (2004)
Featuring: Thomas Jane as Frank Castle aka The Punisher
and Kevin Nash as The Russian.
While mourning the loss of his entire family, Jane's Castle gets an unexpected visitor - a seven-foot visitor wanting to pound the living shit out of him. What results is a fiercly brutal exchange between two beefed-up characters and the total destruction of a couple of apartments. The confrontation is not completely weapon-free with household things like a toilet and a fridge used to smash our hero ...
"Those who do evil to others - the killers, the rapists, psychos, sadists - you will come to know me well. Frank Castle is dead. Call me... The Punisher" - The Punisher warns.
Trivia: While filming a knife fight scene, Jane accidentally stabbed Nash, a professional wrestler who would make Arnold Schwarzenegger look as big as Danny De Vito.
8 GIRL SCOUT v GIRL SCOUT
Flying High/Airplane (1980)
Featuring: A couple of unknowns.
While on board the plane he is later forced to land, that former fighter pilot Ted Striker recalls those rough nights spent in bars while stationed with the airforce in 'Drambuie' during the 'War'. Cue flashback sequence. Before a Saturday Night Fever-esque dance scene involving the tough bastards you'd expect to be doing the fightin', it is the two young blonde girl scouts who go at it hammer-and-tong, after a dispute about the price of baked-cookies ... or was that cards ...?
"Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. It's a dumb question... skip it" - Rex Kramer about nothing really at all, especially girl scouts fighting.
Trivia: David Letterman actually screen-tested for the role of Ted Striker, a part that eventually went to Robert Hays, which again, has nothing to do with girl scouts, but it's really that sort of entry.
7 NIKOLAI v THE CHECHANS
Eastern Promises (2007)
Featuring: Viggo Mortenson as Nikolai Luzhin
and David Papava and Tamer Hassan as the Chechens.
Has there ever been a more realistic, yet revealing, fight scene captured on film. And I said realistic, so that leaves out any porn. The 'barney in the baths' wasn't just bare-knuckled, but also bare-naked, well, in Nikolai's case anyway. This humble mob driver (or is he?) is just trying to relax when he is set upon by a couple of knife-wielding goons. Viggo showed he still had some of that Lord-of-the-Rings magic by showing some brutal moves ...
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"I am driver. I go left, I go right, I go straight ahead - that's it" - Nikolai on his 'career', not his fighting technique.
Trivia: The scene took two days to shoot on location in London, so that means a lot of time with Viggo's arse hanging out, as well as his other bit.
6 WILLIAMS v HIS OWN HAND
Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn (1987)
Featuring: Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams
and Bruce Campbell's hand as Ash Williams' hand.
You know the phrase, 'get your hand off it'? Well, here Campbell's cult favorite Ash takes it to the extreme. While he does resort to use of weapons - a knife and a chainsaw - it is after a titanic struggle between a man and his demon-possessed right-hand. You've really had to hand it to Campbell for his amazing acting ability here, in fact, you would almost think it was the ghost of Charlie Chaplin that is doing the possessing ...
"Gimme back my hand ... Gimme back my hand!" - Ash wanting his hand back.
Trivia: One of the books on the can that traps Ash's possessed hand is called 'A Farewell to Arms'. Very clever.
5 BALBOA v CLUBBER LANG
Rocky 3 (1982)
Featuring: Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa
and Mr T as Clubber Lang.
As a movie it may have paled when compared with its predessessors - I mean, Apollo now traing Rocky? What the ...? But the intensity of the fight scenes here cannot be matched, particularly the second bout between the two main adversaries. It was shorter and snappier than any other Rocky fight and also borrowed heavily from the legendary Ali-Foreman Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight clash from almost a decade earlier, with the underdog, in this case Rocky, wearing his opponent out before smacking him out ...
"No, I don't hate Balboa. I pity the fool, and I will destroy any man who tries to take what I got!" - Lang being interviewed.
Trivia: The bouts between Rocky and Clubber were the only ones in the series that do not go the maximum number of rounds (there were 15 rounds in I, II and IV and 10 in Rocky Balboa), these lasting only three.
4 RIGGS v MR JOSHUA
Lethal Weapon (1987)
Featuring: Mel Gibson as Sgt Martin Riggs
and Gary Busey as Mr Joshua.
Two complete psychopaths, one Gibson's suicidal cop, the other Busey's crazed right-hand man of a drug smuggler, go at it on the front lawn of a house in the suburbs. What must the neighbours think? 'Just another crazy night at the Murtaugh house'?. Gibson and Busey are at their best in this gripping finale to one of the great action movies of all-time, holding nothing back in the driving rain and the spotlight of the police helicopter ...
"The guy who shot me. He's the same albino jackrabbit son of a bitch who did Hunsacker!" - Riggs referring to Mr Joshua.
Trivia: Busey says he was hired to play Joshua, that's Mr Joshua to you, because the producers were looking for someone big and menacing enough to be a believable foe for Gibson ... even though Gibson isn't really that big and he isn't that menacing. Way to blow your own trumpet Gary.
3 THORNTON v DANAHER
The Quiet Man (1952)
Featuring: John Wayne as Sean Thornton
and Victor McLaglen as Will Danaher.
This Academy Award-winning tale about The Duke's retired American boxer who moves to Ireland, falls in love and marries, but then gets more than he bargains for with his new brother-in-law, the resident bully. Duking it out in and around the local village for over 10-minutes, everyone is keen to see the two big sluggers go toe-to-toe - even the old priest gets caught up in the moment ...
"I'll let you buy me a drink, at your wake! Ha!" - Danaher to Thornton.
Trivia: It wasn't actually McLaglen who is punched by Wayne into the river but the director John Ford's son, Patrick Ford, doubling for McLaglen.
2 NADA v FRANK
They Live (1988)
Featuring: Roddy Piper as Nada and Keith David as Frank.
A classic case of back-alley brawling. Nada, a down-and-out construction worker stumbles upon a pair of sunglasses that allows him to see what is a growing number of alien invaders pretending to be humans, but no they're not Scientologists. And so he attempts to put the said sunnies on the face of one of his work colleagues, but the big black dude ain't buying the story and he ain't wearing the damn sunnies. They're not the most atractive pair afterall. What results is eight-minutes of good old fashioned none-crunching slam-dancing in an alley ...
"I'm giving you a choice: either put on these glasses or start eatin' that trash can" - Nada.
Trivia: This John Carpenter B-Grade classic is also home to the great line, "I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubble gum", delivered by a gun-tottin' bank-robbin', mullet-wearin' hero, Nada, played by ex-wrestler Rowdy Roddy.
1 BALBOA v CREED
Rocky II (1979)
Featuring: Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa
and Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed.
Sure, we all loved the long drawn-out sentiment of the first Rocky movie and found the corniness (and quickness) of Rocky III (as stated) and Rocky IV entertaining, but out of all the Itallion Stallion's fights what was the most memorable? It has to be his second heavyweight title bout with old sparring partner Creed, most notably because of the way the two, after trading a ridiculous amount of blows to each other's head for almost a full 15 rounds (in true Rocky tradition), fall to the canvas and struggle to regain their feet. It's so contrived, but so intense at the same time. And it all starts when Rocky's missus Adrian, laying in her hospital bed after giving birth to their son, says 'Win Rock! Win! ...
"This man is dangerous?! ... I'm dangerous! I'm dangerous!" - Creed questioning his trainer's pep-talk.
Trivia: Stallone began working on the Rocky III script immediately after completing Rocky II, with the intention of the series being a trilogy. Originally, he had no plans to make a fourth film.
Honourable mention goes to ...
THE TRAMP v THE BOXER
Charlie Chaplin's City Lights (1931)
Featuring: Charlie Chaplin as The Tramp
and Tom Dempsey as the Boxer.
In this classic love story, the legendary Chaplin plays a tramp who meets a blind girl selling flowers on the sidewalk, but who mistakes him for a wealthy duke. When he learns that an operation may restore her sight, he sets off to earn the money she needs to have the surgery. It leads him to the boxing ring and some pretty funny and inventive fighting manoeuvres ...
"Tomorrow the birds will sing" - The Little Tramp.
Trivia: Despite this being Chaplin's first film made during the sound era, he resisted pressure to make it a 'talkie' such was his popularity and power in Hollywood at the time.
And one of the worst fights captured on film ...
KIRK v THE GORN CAPTAIN
Star Trek - Episode 19: Arena (1967)
Featuring: William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk
and Ted Cassidy as Gorn.
Not a movie, but this episode of the legendary sci-fi series transcends all boundaries. When aliens known as the Gorn destroys an Earth colony, the Enterprise pursues the fleeing vessel until another race of powerful aliens intervene and force Captain Kirk and the Gorn captain to face-off in one-on-one combat in which the winner will be released and the loser, his ship and his crew destroyed. Though neither seemed that interested in winning ...
Trivia: In the original script, Kirk and the alien captain's battleground had translucent walls, making it seem as though they were in a giant terrarium. Things just didn't go right for the makers, the actual fight included, did they?
Now feel free to leave your thoughts below, but remember to watch the high blows and especially watch the low blows ...
Trivia courtesy of imdb.com
While lists such as these have been around almost as long as fighting itself, I've tried to be a little different here by listing the respective 'confrontations' in three main categories (of 20) so as to keep it all fair in love and war.
Up first we've got 'Biffs, Boxers and Brawlers', which are your good old fashioned fisty-cuffs between trained and untrained 'boxers' of the movie world, so while there is a little bit of wrestling and the odd kick, this list has no martial arts and only minimal weapons usage. This one is pretty much special effects-free too.
Following will be 'Swords, Sabres and Sledgehammers', where the use of a weapon in whatever form other than a gun is a necessity, and finally 'Kung-Fu, Karate and Kicking-Ass', is obviously one for any type of martial arts, but it does not include the use of a weapon - that would put it in the second category. Entries in the next two lists can be special effects-driven, because, let's be honest, sometimes a little CGI can go a long way.
Well, I hope that's all clear. Obviously the line is going to be a little blurred in some areas, but, you get that with these sorts of things.
Without any further adue, let round one begin ... Ding. Ding.
20 LA MOTTA v ROBINSON
Raging Bull (1980)
Featuring: Robert De Niro as Jake La Motta
and Johnny Barnes as Sugar Ray Robinson.
De Niro's Oscar-winning portrayal of the tormented boxer of the 1930s, features the former champ at his best and worst, in and out of the ring. Here, it's the last hurrah for La Motta as he gets the living suitcase punched out of him by black fighter Sugar Ray Robinson. Not as exciting as any of the Rocky fights, but just the fact it was based on a real fight carries much weight ...
"You didn't get me down, Ray" - LaMotta trying to find a positive.
Trivia: The television commentary during LaMotta's last fight with Robinson, when he loses the title, is the actual TV broadcast of the bout.
19 BEDDOE v MURDOCK
Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
Featuring: Clint Eastwood as Philo Beddoe
and Walter Barnes as Tank Murdock.
Before going on to become one of the great directors of our time, Eastwood, of course, was the consumate movie tough guy, most notably as Dirty Harry, but also as Philo Beddoe. Forget guns, this guy knew how to use his fists and whoever was on the end of them wasn't such a lucky punk. With his friends, including Clyde the Orangutan, tagging along Beddoe would drift from town to town making a fistful of dollars, taking part in bare-knuckled fights such as this classic confrontation with the big Tank ...
"I like you. Don't worry kid, we're gonna get this over in a hurry and take care of you here" - Tank to Philo, Eastwood's 'kid'.
Trivia: Eastwood's boxing coach for the film was Al Silvani, who had recently prepared Sylvester Stallone for Rocky (1976). Also, the script originally was intended for Burt Reynolds.
18 DUTCH v THE PREDATOR
Predator (1987)
Featuring: Arnold Schwarzenegger as Major Alan 'Dutch' Schaefer
and Kevin Peter Hall as the Predator
Despite being one the greatest action movie heroes of all-time, big Arnie hasn't had a lot of great fights. There's been a lot of great beatings dished out by the former Austrian bodybuilder, but few real 'contests'. It's due mainly to the fact Arnie was always so dominant over his 'opponent'. It took a game-hunting alien to bring him back to earth as far throwing one's weight around is concerned. This actual coming to grips between the commando and his predator didn't last long, but it showed Arnie was human afterall ...
"If it bleeds, we can kill it " - Dutch stating the bleeding obvious. Boom Boom.
Trivia: The original concept for this film originated as a joke. Someone said that the only person Rocky Balboa of the Rocky series had yet to fight was E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982).
17 DARCY v CLEAVER
Bridget Jones Diary (2001)
Featuring: Colin Firth as Mark Darcy
and Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver.
Okay, so not quite an action film, but even I admit, it does have its share of moments, particularly when these two Pommy pansies go toe-to-toe out in the street, fighting over the mixed-up Ms Jones. Who would really want her anyway? Anyway, they certainly don't hold back, even smashing through a restaurant window - and having enough courtesy to stop for a rendition of 'Happy Birthday' - and for that, they must have some respect ... Three cheers ...
"Aww, fuck me, that really hurt. What the fuck do you think you're doing?" - Cleaver after copping one.
Trivia: The two went at it again in the sequel, Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason, but didn't have the same impact, splashing about in a damn pond. What is this? The end to European Vacation?
16 LUKE v DRAGLINE
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Featuring Paul Newman as Luke
and George Kennedy as Dragline.
Luke is a wild child who refuses to conform to life as a prisoner in a Southern chain gang, and here refuses to stay down in a 'fight' with his massive gangmate. Luke may not win the fight, in fact he barely gets a punch in what is really just an out-and-out pummelling, but he does win respect. It was one of Newman's best ever roles and one of the great prison films ...
"You're gonna hafta kill me..." - Luke not about to give in.
Trivia: The film is also famous for the classic line "What we've got here is failure to communicate".
15 FOXX v SVELGEN
2 Days in the Valley (1996)
Featuring: Teri Hatcher as Becky Foxx
and Charlize Theron as Helga Svelgen.
Theron proves a big hit in more ways than one in her first Hollywood movie, catfighting her way around a hotel room with Hatcher's Foxx. Fists and feet, and then finally bullets, fly between the two in this Pulp Fiction-esque thriller. Apparently one of Hatcher's punches, and there were some beauties, actually hit Theron for real, which created simmering tension on set. No real catfight though.
"Lower your voice you little bitch" - Helga to Becky.
Trivia: The part of Helga Svelgen was originally written for Daphne Deckers (who has basically gone on to do nothing of any note, certainly hasn't won any Best Actress Oscars). But at that time she had other contracts and so Theron got her big break, and later on, that Best Actress Oscar.
14 GILMORE v BARKER
Happy Gilmore (1995)
Featuring: Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore
and Bob Barker as Bob Barker.
The story of a down and out ex-hockey player who not only discovers he's a natural at golf, but also not to mess with veteran TV celebrity Barker. Overrated comedy, but has its moments like when Gilmore and Barker are partnered for a golf tournament. The two start trading insults, before trading blows. Sandler cops most of them via some very nice Barker jabs. But don't you just wish it was you delivering them ...
"You know what's driving me crazy? You not getting the ball in the hole!" - Barker pissed off with Happy.
Trivia: Barker wasn't sure if he wanted to be in the movie but when he learned that he was going to win the fight with Sandler, he accepted the role.
13 BOND v GRANT
From Russia with Love (1963)
Featuring: Sean Connery as James Bond
and Robert Shaw as Red Grant.
In his hunt for a decoding device - on one of his first missions - Connery's original Bond has one of his first and biggest one-on-one dust-ups on board the Orient Express, though it wasn't with the ticket collector, but Shaw's blonde-haired secret Russian operative. This is Shaw before he was taking on sharks in Jaws (1975) ...
"My orders are to kill you and deliver the Lektor. How I do it is my business. It'll be slow and painful" - Red Grant keeping secrets from Bond.
Trivia: Shaw and Connery did most of the fight on the train themselves. I guess it was a pretty big deal 45-years ago.
12 JONES v THE BIG GERMAN
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Featuring: Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones
and Pat Roach as the German Mechanic
No whips and no guns for Ford's iconic archaeologist adventurer Indy this time around - just his bare fists and one big motha of a shirt-less bald Nazi mechanic. Simply trying to catch a plane, well steal it, Indy is set upon by the monster. Though he probably cops the biggest beating of his four-movie career (so far) Indy still manages to keep his trademark hat on while doing so ...
"You want to talk to God? Let's go see him together, I've got nothing better to do" - Indy on the meaning of life.
Trivia: Roach, a six-foot-five former professional wrestler, appeared in the first three Indiana Jones films. He also auditioned for the role of Stars Wars' Darth Vader in 1976. He died in 2003.
11 THE NARRATOR v HIS OWN FIST
Fight Club (1998)
Featuring: Edward Norton as The Narrator
and Zach Grenier as Richard Chesler
While the movie lives up to its name by featuring so many great fight scenes (many of which involve Brad Pitt's scene-stealing Tyler Durdon), the most shocking and sadistic has to be this one with Norton's deranged albeit unnamed main character knocking himself senseless in front of his boss. Not the best way to ask for a raise. Make Norton angry ... Norton smash! ...
"... this button-down, Oxford-cloth psycho might just snap, and then stalk from office to office with an Armalite AR-10 carbine gas-powered semi-automatic weapon, pumping round after round into colleagues and co-workers. This might be someone you've known for years. Someone very, very close to you" - The Narrator to his boss about someone he knows.
Trivia: Norton lost 17-20 pounds for this role after having to beef up to play a Neo-Nazi skinhead in American History X (1998). He achieved this by running, taking vitamins and ignoring the on-set catering.
10 MICKEY v ANDERSON
Snatch (2000)
Featuring: Brad Pitt as Mickey 'One-Punch' O'Neil
and Scott Welch as Horace 'Good-Night' Anderson
He may not feature in the most memorable Fight Club scene (in this writer's view anyway), but Pitt gets in here as the Irish Gypsy prize fighter who does most of his talking with his fists, well, talking you can understand anyway, with Pitt's accent almost as memorable as anything he does in the boxing ring. After his mum is burnt to death, Mickey must resist knocking out his big opponent, 'Good-Night' Anderson, in this rigged bout otherwise it will be good night for him as well. Great music accompanies ...
"Turkish, the fight is twice the size. And me ma still needs a caravan. I like to look after me ma. It's a fair deal. Take it" - a mumbling Mickey on lookin' after his ma.
Trivia: Pitt, who was a big fan of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), approached director Guy Ritchie and asked for a role in this film. When Ritchie found Pitt couldn't master a London accent, he gave him the role of Mickey the Irish Gypsy.
9 THE PUNISHER v THE RUSSIAN
The Punisher (2004)
Featuring: Thomas Jane as Frank Castle aka The Punisher
and Kevin Nash as The Russian.
While mourning the loss of his entire family, Jane's Castle gets an unexpected visitor - a seven-foot visitor wanting to pound the living shit out of him. What results is a fiercly brutal exchange between two beefed-up characters and the total destruction of a couple of apartments. The confrontation is not completely weapon-free with household things like a toilet and a fridge used to smash our hero ...
"Those who do evil to others - the killers, the rapists, psychos, sadists - you will come to know me well. Frank Castle is dead. Call me... The Punisher" - The Punisher warns.
Trivia: While filming a knife fight scene, Jane accidentally stabbed Nash, a professional wrestler who would make Arnold Schwarzenegger look as big as Danny De Vito.
8 GIRL SCOUT v GIRL SCOUT
Flying High/Airplane (1980)
Featuring: A couple of unknowns.
While on board the plane he is later forced to land, that former fighter pilot Ted Striker recalls those rough nights spent in bars while stationed with the airforce in 'Drambuie' during the 'War'. Cue flashback sequence. Before a Saturday Night Fever-esque dance scene involving the tough bastards you'd expect to be doing the fightin', it is the two young blonde girl scouts who go at it hammer-and-tong, after a dispute about the price of baked-cookies ... or was that cards ...?
"Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. It's a dumb question... skip it" - Rex Kramer about nothing really at all, especially girl scouts fighting.
Trivia: David Letterman actually screen-tested for the role of Ted Striker, a part that eventually went to Robert Hays, which again, has nothing to do with girl scouts, but it's really that sort of entry.
7 NIKOLAI v THE CHECHANS
Eastern Promises (2007)
Featuring: Viggo Mortenson as Nikolai Luzhin
and David Papava and Tamer Hassan as the Chechens.
Has there ever been a more realistic, yet revealing, fight scene captured on film. And I said realistic, so that leaves out any porn. The 'barney in the baths' wasn't just bare-knuckled, but also bare-naked, well, in Nikolai's case anyway. This humble mob driver (or is he?) is just trying to relax when he is set upon by a couple of knife-wielding goons. Viggo showed he still had some of that Lord-of-the-Rings magic by showing some brutal moves ...
Click HERE for video
"I am driver. I go left, I go right, I go straight ahead - that's it" - Nikolai on his 'career', not his fighting technique.
Trivia: The scene took two days to shoot on location in London, so that means a lot of time with Viggo's arse hanging out, as well as his other bit.
6 WILLIAMS v HIS OWN HAND
Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn (1987)
Featuring: Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams
and Bruce Campbell's hand as Ash Williams' hand.
You know the phrase, 'get your hand off it'? Well, here Campbell's cult favorite Ash takes it to the extreme. While he does resort to use of weapons - a knife and a chainsaw - it is after a titanic struggle between a man and his demon-possessed right-hand. You've really had to hand it to Campbell for his amazing acting ability here, in fact, you would almost think it was the ghost of Charlie Chaplin that is doing the possessing ...
"Gimme back my hand ... Gimme back my hand!" - Ash wanting his hand back.
Trivia: One of the books on the can that traps Ash's possessed hand is called 'A Farewell to Arms'. Very clever.
5 BALBOA v CLUBBER LANG
Rocky 3 (1982)
Featuring: Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa
and Mr T as Clubber Lang.
As a movie it may have paled when compared with its predessessors - I mean, Apollo now traing Rocky? What the ...? But the intensity of the fight scenes here cannot be matched, particularly the second bout between the two main adversaries. It was shorter and snappier than any other Rocky fight and also borrowed heavily from the legendary Ali-Foreman Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight clash from almost a decade earlier, with the underdog, in this case Rocky, wearing his opponent out before smacking him out ...
"No, I don't hate Balboa. I pity the fool, and I will destroy any man who tries to take what I got!" - Lang being interviewed.
Trivia: The bouts between Rocky and Clubber were the only ones in the series that do not go the maximum number of rounds (there were 15 rounds in I, II and IV and 10 in Rocky Balboa), these lasting only three.
4 RIGGS v MR JOSHUA
Lethal Weapon (1987)
Featuring: Mel Gibson as Sgt Martin Riggs
and Gary Busey as Mr Joshua.
Two complete psychopaths, one Gibson's suicidal cop, the other Busey's crazed right-hand man of a drug smuggler, go at it on the front lawn of a house in the suburbs. What must the neighbours think? 'Just another crazy night at the Murtaugh house'?. Gibson and Busey are at their best in this gripping finale to one of the great action movies of all-time, holding nothing back in the driving rain and the spotlight of the police helicopter ...
"The guy who shot me. He's the same albino jackrabbit son of a bitch who did Hunsacker!" - Riggs referring to Mr Joshua.
Trivia: Busey says he was hired to play Joshua, that's Mr Joshua to you, because the producers were looking for someone big and menacing enough to be a believable foe for Gibson ... even though Gibson isn't really that big and he isn't that menacing. Way to blow your own trumpet Gary.
3 THORNTON v DANAHER
The Quiet Man (1952)
Featuring: John Wayne as Sean Thornton
and Victor McLaglen as Will Danaher.
This Academy Award-winning tale about The Duke's retired American boxer who moves to Ireland, falls in love and marries, but then gets more than he bargains for with his new brother-in-law, the resident bully. Duking it out in and around the local village for over 10-minutes, everyone is keen to see the two big sluggers go toe-to-toe - even the old priest gets caught up in the moment ...
"I'll let you buy me a drink, at your wake! Ha!" - Danaher to Thornton.
Trivia: It wasn't actually McLaglen who is punched by Wayne into the river but the director John Ford's son, Patrick Ford, doubling for McLaglen.
2 NADA v FRANK
They Live (1988)
Featuring: Roddy Piper as Nada and Keith David as Frank.
A classic case of back-alley brawling. Nada, a down-and-out construction worker stumbles upon a pair of sunglasses that allows him to see what is a growing number of alien invaders pretending to be humans, but no they're not Scientologists. And so he attempts to put the said sunnies on the face of one of his work colleagues, but the big black dude ain't buying the story and he ain't wearing the damn sunnies. They're not the most atractive pair afterall. What results is eight-minutes of good old fashioned none-crunching slam-dancing in an alley ...
"I'm giving you a choice: either put on these glasses or start eatin' that trash can" - Nada.
Trivia: This John Carpenter B-Grade classic is also home to the great line, "I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubble gum", delivered by a gun-tottin' bank-robbin', mullet-wearin' hero, Nada, played by ex-wrestler Rowdy Roddy.
1 BALBOA v CREED
Rocky II (1979)
Featuring: Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa
and Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed.
Sure, we all loved the long drawn-out sentiment of the first Rocky movie and found the corniness (and quickness) of Rocky III (as stated) and Rocky IV entertaining, but out of all the Itallion Stallion's fights what was the most memorable? It has to be his second heavyweight title bout with old sparring partner Creed, most notably because of the way the two, after trading a ridiculous amount of blows to each other's head for almost a full 15 rounds (in true Rocky tradition), fall to the canvas and struggle to regain their feet. It's so contrived, but so intense at the same time. And it all starts when Rocky's missus Adrian, laying in her hospital bed after giving birth to their son, says 'Win Rock! Win! ...
"This man is dangerous?! ... I'm dangerous! I'm dangerous!" - Creed questioning his trainer's pep-talk.
Trivia: Stallone began working on the Rocky III script immediately after completing Rocky II, with the intention of the series being a trilogy. Originally, he had no plans to make a fourth film.
Honourable mention goes to ...
THE TRAMP v THE BOXER
Charlie Chaplin's City Lights (1931)
Featuring: Charlie Chaplin as The Tramp
and Tom Dempsey as the Boxer.
In this classic love story, the legendary Chaplin plays a tramp who meets a blind girl selling flowers on the sidewalk, but who mistakes him for a wealthy duke. When he learns that an operation may restore her sight, he sets off to earn the money she needs to have the surgery. It leads him to the boxing ring and some pretty funny and inventive fighting manoeuvres ...
"Tomorrow the birds will sing" - The Little Tramp.
Trivia: Despite this being Chaplin's first film made during the sound era, he resisted pressure to make it a 'talkie' such was his popularity and power in Hollywood at the time.
And one of the worst fights captured on film ...
KIRK v THE GORN CAPTAIN
Star Trek - Episode 19: Arena (1967)
Featuring: William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk
and Ted Cassidy as Gorn.
Not a movie, but this episode of the legendary sci-fi series transcends all boundaries. When aliens known as the Gorn destroys an Earth colony, the Enterprise pursues the fleeing vessel until another race of powerful aliens intervene and force Captain Kirk and the Gorn captain to face-off in one-on-one combat in which the winner will be released and the loser, his ship and his crew destroyed. Though neither seemed that interested in winning ...
Trivia: In the original script, Kirk and the alien captain's battleground had translucent walls, making it seem as though they were in a giant terrarium. Things just didn't go right for the makers, the actual fight included, did they?
Now feel free to leave your thoughts below, but remember to watch the high blows and especially watch the low blows ...
Trivia courtesy of imdb.com
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Comment by Rachel H
Freedom in a Fishbowl
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Current Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
theres a similar fight scene between Hugh Grant and Mr Darcy in the sequel!
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
hahahahaha loved both fights with Daniel Cleaver and Mark Darcy! Classic and without doubt one of the best ever ...
But my hero has to be Charlie Chaplin ... what a guy.
Aah that Trekkie fight was awesome, I used to only watch it because Captain Kirks shirt would get ripped in each episode, at least once. This fight was exemplary in that regard *lol*
What a GREAT POST!
Can we have the best sword fights next, like in Princess Bride?
Lilla ...
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
That reminds me - my man and I have been going through the old X Files....Dead set, every scene where Skinner gets half a chance, he punches on...Now everytime he enters a scene we go - "Watch out dude! He punches on!"
And what about Rocky Four? "He's not a man. He's like iron" Love that fight, not to mention Stallone accustoming himself to shocks by chopping down frozen trees. Genius.
Still, for me, best fisty fight is the opening of Kill Bill, Beatrix and Vernita Green. Thats total commitment to the fight! And the explanation - "That dog a yours got hisself in here and made himself a dang fool, thats what happened".....Yeah right!
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Great post.
On the extremities I would submit the following:
Biff Tannen vs. George McFly, "Back to the Future"
Daniel LaRusso vs. Johnny Lawrence, "The Karate Kid"
Jason and the Argonauts vs. skeletons, "Jason and the Argonauts"
King Arthur vs. The Black Knight, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"
And my personal fav
. . . drum roll please
Blazing Saddles Mongo parks in the red zone
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
The Quiet Man was a whole film aout getting ready to brawl. Good stuff.
Comment by Movie Mall
Strange Corridor
Movie Catcher
The Invisible Sky
Yep, took me bloody forever to put together, but you already know that ...
Thanks for the support.
MM
Comment by Movie Mall
Strange Corridor
Movie Catcher
The Invisible Sky
Just between you and me, I've had to watch that bloody movie about six times I reckon ... the blue's a definite highlight, along with Ms Jones running down the street in her undies.
MM
Comment by Movie Mall
Strange Corridor
Movie Catcher
The Invisible Sky
I don't want to give too much away for the next list (which will be up in the next day or so) but you can be assured Princess Bride will get a mention. Love that film.
The Kirk fight was hilarious. Big Shatner fan though.
Chaplin had some moves on him for sure.
Thanks for reading ... and liking
MM
Comment by Movie Mall
Strange Corridor
Movie Catcher
The Invisible Sky
Thanks for the kind words. Really appreciate it.
On Rocky 4, I thought long and hard about getting it in, but there were better Rocky fights, and I've always had problems with that one mainly because of the way the Russian crowd starts chanting 'Rocky'. I mean even for Rocky that was pretty corny.
Liked the Bride-Green fight from Kill Bill, but, again, there are better and they may appear in the next two lists. so keep reading.
And yeah, Skinner was a pretty badass sort of character.
MM
Comment by Movie Mall
Strange Corridor
Movie Catcher
The Invisible Sky
Loved Blazing Saddles and that knock-out blow is one of the best scenes, but just couldn't fit it in. Maybe if it had've gone on longer, with the horse getting a few jabs in ....?
McFly punch was also memorable ...
I might have to do a 'One-Hit Wonders' list - not so much 'fights' - with those two leading the way.
Karate Kid may or may not get a mention in Episode 3, and The Holy Grail may or may not get a mention in Episode 2.
Stay tuned hehehe
MM
Comment by Movie Mall
Strange Corridor
Movie Catcher
The Invisible Sky
Yep, that Quiet Man fight is a classic.
Comment by Anonymous