This list was comprised by my personal choices of Top Ten Battle Scenes of all time. Not to be confused with Top Ten Fight Scenes, this is all about Epic Battles in one form or another. It could be massive armies or one versus one hundred, but either way there is some form of Epic destruction and sacrifice involved. As always I’m sure there will be some cries of missed ones, or forgotten, but I have added a lovely runner up list here to pay homage to those that were considered but didn’t make it. Here are the movies that almost made it:
Runners Up:
Kingdom Of Heaven
Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring
The Patriot
Kill Bill
The Last Samurai
Transformers 2
Apocalypse Now
We Were Soldiers
Flags Of Our Fathers
Ernest Vs. Miners (camp)
South Park vs. Canadians
The supernatural skills of the characters send them almost floating across the sky, giving them the abilities to jump enormous distances, and even fight off an entire armies archers that’s arrows darkened the day lit sky. The skills of two of our heroes block the majority of these arrows as though they were dancing with them. The grace and elegance of the martial arts in this movie allow the viewer to really sit back and take everything in while an enticing soundtrack plays in the back round.
Black Hawk Down offers a very profound view to an event that really transpired in Somalia during the Clinton administration. It clearly sets itself apart from other War films or epics by short-cutting back and forth between the individual experiences of the men during this surmountable mission gone bad. The brutality of war, the violence of war has all been portrayed before, but not in the way that Ridley Scott shot this film. It almost felt more documentary at times, connecting the viewer directly to the military men you were focused on. By the end of the film you don’t ask yourself if it was worth it, you don’t reflect on the political aspect of the situation, nor do you reflect on the aspect of the battle and war itself. You simply think about the men. It’s as complicated and simple as that.
Battle For Freedom
The battle for Freedom might be something to visual behold but mostly it’s a cry against oppression. Like a few other battles here, they may feel slightly BLANK but there is a reason for that. The power of freedom, the fight for freedom has been something ingrained in our minds and the most important thing worth fighting for. Braveheart, Gladiator, and 300 are all movies that defend the human rights of man. The right to be free. There is no stance more powerful to get behind, and though Braveheart started out being driven by vengeance it evolved into a film that is iconic because of the strength of it’s message. The sacrifices of freedom, of choice, and that along with great action and effects is what made the battle in Braveheart so earth shatteringly good.
The cinematography in this film is groundbreaking, and quite possibly the most amazing visual effects I have ever seen on film. It was beautiful, gritty, and seemed to make the screen itself come alive. Visually it stimulated you, but also it’s nonchalant brutality separates it from other films in this genre in a way that really does make it an original film. In the mix of the unapologetic violence there is an excellent mix of humor and otherwise entertainment. 300 doesn’t try and make all of it’s action a reflection of realism but rather a fictional interpretation of that realism, and it doesn’t try to capture that realistic violent perspective other films often do. It let itself wallow in it’s brutality with a smile on it’s face, but still managed to emote more than a superficial front. 300 and it’s horrific battle is one in a million.
There is amazing character development and plot twists, but there is also one of the most overwhelming battles scenes ever onscreen. Weta not only needed to construct a massive attack with tens of thousands of Orc’s attacking Minas Tirith, but they also had to make the White City itself, which was an enormous undergoing. With special effects including giant Olyphants, a towering city, the giant spider Shelob, Barad-Dur, Mount Doom, The Witch King, 10,000 Rohirrim, and a ghost army, Return Of The King was a special effects dynasty. The emptiness of hopelessness is grasped so clearly in this film that it evokes real emotions. The battle of Minas Tirith is painful and awful to watch. It has amazing action sequences, but there are so many cuts to the actual demise of the city, and it’s people, despair is a greater emotion conveyed than the excitement of a great battle scene. When the Rohirrim show up and the light of the sun is behind them, facing overwhelming odds, yet giving that brief feel of hope, I choke up each time I watch it. It is one of the most powerful moments in cinema history. That one moment captures the entire essence of the entire story and brings it to a crashing pause of reflection, fear, and hope.
When Maximus (Russell Crowe) tells them to unleash hell it’s hard to ignore his enthusiasm for battle, nor is it possible to forget Commodus’s taunting disgusted voice uttering, “Don’t a people know when they are conquered?” Besides setting a very distinct tone for the film it also shows the very different perspectives of the protagonists and antagonist of the story. The first scene overwhelms you with gregarious but poignant violence. It depicts the ruthlessness of battle and the differences the ideology of a man can make in the way he fights. Maximus was shown threw brute physical force throughout the film, but it was here in this scene as a leader that we began to understand the simplicity of the man who was revered as a warrior and capable of such brutal carnage. The scene is aesthetically pleasing to the yes and you may find yourself holding your breath throughout, but it hits on many more profound and significant levels.
The battle of Helm’s Deep is one of the most intense and technically challenging battle scenes ever on film. The degree of emotional points countered with some of the most hardcore action sequences to date makes this forty-five minute battle go by quickly, but at the same time tortuously slow. The time it takes for Dawn to come and the circumstances it takes to get there is entirely authentic. By the time this film is over a feeling of complete mental exhaustion will settle over you.
As brutal as this unforgiving and relentless part of Saving Private Ryan is, the physical and the personal points it burns with is a wicked combination of entertainment and the painful and awful realization that this is as true as fiction has come to showing us what war is truly like. For the same reasons Black Hawk Down was so engaging and touched me so personally is the same feel I have for this scene in Private Ryan. Each time I watch it I feel my eyes burning from holding back tears, and my throat dries with apprehension and fear. It’s a physical response to something that says a hell of a lot more than big booms and stuff exploding. It is both riveting and tragic and nothing comes close to it.
F–K!!! Great list again. Maybe you should leave Mobsters and come write for my site. Hero is a great choice that I don’t think I woulda thought of but since you did it should be higher. I love everything else.
Kai B. Parker recently posted..THE HAPPY 101 AWARD
Oh, and your love of Troy is disturbing!!!
Kai B. Parker recently posted..THE HAPPY 101 AWARD
No it’s not. It’s a good movie.
Encore Entertainment recently posted..Encore’s Greatest Voices- 20-11
I know, why do you hate on Troy so much?
Maybe Kai has Brad Pitt pectoral envy (who doesn’t?)
Encore Entertainment recently posted..Encore’s Greatest Voices- 20-11
i also hate Troy , but only because it’s so historically inaccurate!!!
I love the list Heather but did the marines getting their arses kicked under the atmosphere processor not enter the running…or was that not quite large enough in scale?
Saving Private Ryan is a perfect choice for number 1. Aesthetically, I can’t think of a war film putting the viewer inside war as well as this scene.
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I can’t think of another film that comes close to depictig what real battle must’ve felt like. That opening is a shock to the system.
Kai B. Parker recently posted..THE HAPPY 101 AWARD
It is without question one of the best moments in movie history ever. Disturbing and incredible.
I watched Saving Private Ryan w/my dad, a WW2 vet & my son Jon who was 14 at the time. When it was over Jon asked Grandpa how real it was. Grandpa’s response the only they could have made it more realistic would have been to actually shoot the actors.
Wow.
Awesome Top 10. Guess you had to make something up really quick after your Top 10 Nude scenes fell through. Can’t argue with any of those picks, Saving Private Ryan obviously is going to top the list of most people while I also found the Gladiator opening battle absolutely epic! I might put a scene from Enemy at the Gates in there as well.
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Enemy At The Gates was a very solid movie. I haven’t seen it since it was released in the theater. I should prolly check it out again.
Favorite Beach scene…..bar none……..
Oh Marc. WEll played.
Something else is coming to mind, but I can’t remember what. Drats. Helm’s Deep would top my list, but I wouldn’t argue with the list either way.
Encore Entertainment recently posted..Encore’s Greatest Voices- 20-11
Helms Deep is EPIC.
It’s weird, if forced The Towers IS my least favourite but that battle is so brilliant I don’t really care to rank them even if it doesn’t have Miranda “I am no man” Otto fighting too.
I have my feelings about them, and I love them all differently for many reasons, but The Two Towers is by a longshot the most suspenseful of them all, and the battle of Helms Deep was certainly my favorite of the trilogy.
Was there a battle scene in Ben Hur or The Ten Commandments? I’m seeing a biblical type battle in my head…but I have no idea what it’s from. Aaaaaaaaaargh.
I think Ben Hur Andrew, but it’s all blurry to me.
Heather recently posted..The Film Enigma- Episode 2
Return of the King would probably be my #1. I’m not sure what would follow after that because I’m not the hugest battle fan and didn’t actually like half of the movies on this list.
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Ha!
Well, anyone who didn’t at least appreciate the Red Dawn, I feel would have a hard time understanding.
Great list. Helm’s Deep would probably be my #1. While Pelannor Fields is on a bigger scale, the built-up tension and intensity of Helm’s Deep was so much greater.
Red recently posted..Movie News Weekly Round-Up- August 7- 2010
Appreciating the love for Helm’s Deep.
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Fantastic list, Heather! Lots of great ones indeed here. You can’t have a complete list without 300 of course, I like the part when there was rumbling on the ground and the Captain asked Leonidas, ‘Earthquake?’and the King answered, ‘Battle formation.’ You realize then the scale of Xerxes’ massive army!
I LOVE the battle scenes of Gladiator and LOTR, they’re all well-done and very intense!
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Thank you Red!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Um… I’m not Red
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Ha! I meant Ruth. I was split screening between this and AM. Whoopsies!
Excellent List Heather!! I remember watching Saving Private Ryan with my Dad in the theater and watching his reaction truly sealed the deal for me. So real and brutal..really gives the sense that you as a member of the audience are in combat.
The only two films I can remember feeling that realism with right now is Black Hawk Down and Flags Of Our Fathers, and even those weren’t as intense as Omaha Beach.
Heather recently posted..The Film Enigma- Episode 2
Me too, Black Hawk Down is very well deserving to be on this list, excellent movie.
Omaha beach just had me so sick I couldn’t even imagine being there.
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Without question agree with you on your choice for number 1. I’d have Black Hawk Down a little further up the list, though, but otherwise a great selection!!!
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Thank you Rodney!
Awesome list. Well thought out. Glad Kingdom of Heaven didn’t make the final list.
I’ll be one of the cry babies complaining about my movie not making it, but I don’t know if Seven Samurai is epic enough for the list, but I wish Akira Kurosawa had made it.
Was this list purchased at the safe bland and predictable store? 300? GTFOOH
Okay then, what’s this guy’s problem?
Great list! I love all the answers! I have a feeling we’re going to have to add a new one this July when Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 is released!
Jeff recently posted..Makenna wrote me this letter about her trip to Greenfield
this list is awful, braveheart first battle sequence is number 1 by far