My favorite movie swordfight was between Yu Shu Lien and Jen Yu in CTHD.
Hells yes. Both fights between those two women in that movie stand out for me as masterpieces of
storytelling
through fight scenes. They're not fighting just to fight or just for action. Vitally important messages about those two characters, and about the themes of the film, are being communicated through the medium of the action in those scenes. Even now I find the magic and artistry of those scenes a little breathtaking.
Also, even if you want to be Eurocentric doesn't the swordfight at the end of Scaramouche qualify? That might make the top 20 even with Asian sword fu fights included, or at least get credit for being one of the best of its time. OK, nobody dies or even bleeds in this so it does not qualify as "manly" by the author's standard. But still a freaking classic. All right, really someone mentions movie sword fights and my "pimp the ending of Scaramouche" reflex kicks.
doesn't the swordfight at the end of Scaramouche qualify?
They really did the Fandango in that one.
Yeah, the opposite of the kind of swordfight the author likes. A dance. But what a fucking dance!
They really did the Fandango in that one.
okay, so not only did this crack my shit up, but I am now humming "Bohemian Rhapsody" and I started at the beginning.
I'll be here for awhile.
Scaramouche is a great swordfight - incredibly dramatic.
My favorite screen swordfight is with Paul Henreid in The Spanish Main.
Though I do really love Flynn's in The Seahawk.
Cornel Wilde was a collegiate fencer and generally regarded as one of the best screen swordfighters.
There are so many samurai films it's tough to choose. It really deserves its own category since it's such a different fighting style, and you could still do a top twenty and they'd all be spectacular. Yojimbo, Zatoichi, Hanzo the Razor, Lady Snowblood, Lone Wolf and Cub...
You know, I've never seen Scaramouche, although I've read it a couple of times.
You know, I've never seen Scaramouche, although I've read it a couple of times.
It has Stewart Granger at his most handsome and dashing.
We just put on the Nicholas Cage "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." The first five minutes are an infodump in which they use the phrase "Prime Merlinean."
Isn't it a great phrase? I enjoyed the movie; it was fun.