Greatest Modern Battle Scenes

[Kam]

I know we've had a few threads along this vein, but here's one interesting take on it by a guy making it from 1960 onwards:

http://www.doubleviking.com/great-mo...es-4361-p.html

in no particular order:
The Alamo (1960) - the whole damn thing
Zulu (1964) - the battle of rorke's drift
Empire strikes back (1980) - battle of hoth
gallipoli (1981) - the running of the mel
glory (1989) - the charge on fort wagner
spr (1998) - the storming of omaha beach
the thin red line (1998) - the battle for the line
gladiator (2000) - the first arena battle
the two towers (2002) - the battle for helm's deep
braveheart (1995) - the battle of stirling

He has some good choices in there. What say the group? what's missing/ what should be cut out of his list?

-k2

[eisforelectronic]

Revenge of the Sith - Opening battle
300 - whole damn thing
Gladiator - opening battle
Return of the King - battle for Minas Tirith

[topspeed]

First thing that came to mind off your title:

Saving Private Ryan - opening sequence

[eisforelectronic]

First thing that came to mind off your title:

Saving Private Ryan - opening sequence

but, that's already on the list...

[Groundbeef]

I would have added Black Hawk Down. It was realistic, and didn't polish the edges to make mistakes that were made on the US side appear minor.

It did however, show off the dedication and tenacity of our troops under relentless attack by superior (but hardly trained) numbers.

It left me drained at the end.

Bravehart is an awesome flick. However, if you REALLY watch the background after the huge battle it is pretty funny. Some of the extras kinda goof off, and stop fighting. This is while in the foreground they are mouring the loss of their breathren, and in the background two "enemies" are clowning around. Makes me laugh everytime.

[PeruvianSkies]

WE WERE SOLDIERS (any portion)
WINDTALKERS (any portion)
X-MEN THE LAST STAND (The Stand)
MASTER AND COMMANDER (final ship battle)
THE LAST SAMURAI (early battle or finale)
SPARTACUS
STARSHIP TROOPERS
OPEN RANGE (ending)
TOMBSTONE (Ok Corral)
YOUNG GUNS (standoff)
PEARL HARBOR
TORA TORA TORA
A BRIDGE TOO FAR
ALIENS
KILL BILL VOL 1
LAST OF THE MOHICANS
THE FIRTH ELEMENT
LEON THE PROFESSIONAL
INDEPENDANCE DAY
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA

and so on and so forth...so many great battles.

[Gerald Cooperberg]

I'm no fan of "cool" war movies (Black Hawk Down, guys? Come on!), but even I found the opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan queasily effective, or the "Crazy 88" fight scene in Kill Bill exhilarating. Here are a few more that leap to mind:

Apocalypse Now - Kilgore's "calvary" attack to the tune of "Ride of the Valkyries" has got to be one of the iconic sequences of contemporary film, from the initial flyover to ground troops charging past a camera crew on the beach.

Princess Mononoke - The savage power of the wild boar is already established in the intense opening chase scene, but the real eye-popper comes later in the film as hundreds of the beasts charge into battle in crazed fury (even if Miyazaki is quoting his own depiction of advancing Ohmus in Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind).

City of God - The opening sequence of this gangland thriller sets the tone for the entire film, as the protagonist, Rocket, is caught in the eye of a perfect storm between thugs and cops, pausing to consider his predicament and listen to a few of his own desperate heartbeats before chaos erupts around him in the form of an extended gun battle.

I'd be remiss, too, if I didn't tip my hat to some of the sequences in two of my favorite films of the last two years, Children of Men and A Very Long Engagement...

-Coop

[Gerald Cooperberg]

Ohh! And how about Full Metal Jacket? Man, that sniper scene still gives me nightmares.

-Coop

[kexodusc]

I gotta go with Gladiator - say what you want about the movie, that genre's been re-hashed a million times - but those battle scenes were intense, the DVD's in DTS put you right in the middle of the action. The picture is great. The music is a perfect fit. Damn, it's just bone-chilling. You can taste the blood spraying on your face.

Can't wait for 300 - I bet that's gonna be damn good on DVD.

Honorable mention to Saving Private Ryan - total chaos - might have been just a bit too much though.

[Worf101]

I'll give you my fave battle scenes. All the good "modern" ones are taken so here's my list un-modified.

1. "Charge of the Light Brigade" (1936) (1968) - Take Flynn's for the spectacle. Take the latter if you want some real idea as to what the hell went wrong.

2. "Zulu Dawn" (1979) - Told the story of the Battle of Liswanda (sp). The battle that took place BEFORE Rourkes Drift. In this battle the British play "Custer" and the Zulu's do their best impression of the Souix.

3. "War and Peace" (1968) - This 8 hour Russian epic features one of the most amazing battle scenes I've ever witnessed! The Battle of Borordino was breathtaking..

4. "Heaven and Earth" (1990) - Huge Samurai Battle between rival warlords. NOT Kurasawa, but not bad either...

5. "Gettysburg" (1993) - Say what you will about Ted Turner but this film was amazing. Grand doesn't even begin to chracterize it. Puts "Gone With the Wind" to shame.

6. "Waterloo" (1970) - With Rod Steiger tearing up the scenery as Napolean Bonaparte... As a military historian I loved this flick.

7. "Aliens" (1986) - Vasquez's rear guard action is one of the most stiriing I've ever scene.

8. "Battle of the Bulge" (1965) - Yeah the history's ALL WRONG but who cares. You've got Fonda, Robert Shaw, Telly Savalas and Charles Bronson kicking ass all over Europe and taking names. I still sing "Der Panzer" to myself from time to time...

9. "Enemy at the Gates" (2001) - Long overdue for recognition, "The Eastern Front" (remeber from Hogan's Heros) finally gets some long overdue recognition. Stalingrad was/is the most horrific battle to ever take place in the memory of man... it should be remembered.

10. "Dune" (1984) - "Long Live The Fighters!!!!!"


Da Worfster

[Groundbeef]

I'm no fan of "cool" war movies (Black Hawk Down, guys? Come on!), but even I found the opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan queasily effective, or the "Crazy 88" fight scene in Kill Bill exhilarating. Here are a few more that leap to mind:


I'd be remiss, too, if I didn't tip my hat to some of the sequences in two of my favorite films of the last two years, Children of Men and A Very Long Engagement...

-Coop

Please define "cool" as it pertains to Black Hawk Down? I am not sure what you mean. That was a fine movie, based on real events, without the usual "Hollywood" treatment of the US army. We got to see it all, mis-steps, and bad decisions..

And then to throw in "Children of Men", talk about ugh... That was a TERRIBLE movie. It was so bad, I can't belive that I even made it through the mess.

Clive Barker I like, but not in that piece o'crap.

I think one of the dumbest moments of the film is when he cant get the car to start by rolling down a 700' incline, and popping the clutch, so he gets out of the car at the bottom, and PUSHING IT UPHILL, gets it to start in 20'. Incredible writing there.

That was a highlight. The rest of the film was utter crap.

[Troy]

The final battle sequence in the British Seaside town turned internment camp at the end of "Children of Men" is a stunner. Hand held, 7 minute shot running in and out and up and down a beseiged apartment building. It really is spectacular. The "ambush on the car" sequence where the camera spins inside the car as it travels backwards at high speed while being chased by psychos on motorcycles is amazingly harrowing. Great film, just came out on DVD. Don't listen to groundbeef. Rent it. Now.

There were some amazing battle sequences in most episodes of "Band of Brothers" which uses the same exact production team as "Saving Private Ryan" BoB is a better film overall, less schmaltzy, less Hollywood with the same level of realism.

I find the battle for the bridge at the end of "Saving Private Ryan" to be even more exceptional than the opening beach sequence. That may just be me, I guess.

Yep, as already mentioned, the Calvary Attack in "Apocalypse Now" and the largely forgotten "Enemy at the Gates" deserve recognition.

[daviethek]

[QUOTE=Troy]The final battle sequence in the British Seaside town turned internment camp at the end of "Children of Men" is a stunner.

Man, I'm with you on that one.

Prior to that, the beach landing scene from Saving Pvt. Ryan did it for me. Also, there was a movie about the Boer War. It might have starred Mel Gibson in an early role. It was old time charge the machine gun type of movie. The battle scenes were realistically portrayed and very brutal. Can't remember the film though. I hate getting old. .

By good I guess we mean realistic, which means senseless and cruel when it comes to warfare. Making it realistic gives credit to those who fought. My dad always hated those really bad WW II movies. dk

[Groundbeef]

The final battle sequence in the British Seaside town turned internment camp at the end of "Children of Men" is a stunner. Hand held, 7 minute shot running in and out and up and down a beseiged apartment building. It really is spectacular. The "ambush on the car" sequence where the camera spins inside the car as it travels backwards at high speed while being chased by psychos on motorcycles is amazingly harrowing. Great film, just came out on DVD. Don't listen to groundbeef. Rent it. Now.

Yep, as already mentioned, the Calvary Attack in "Apocalypse Now" and the largely forgotten "Enemy at the Gates" deserve recognition.

Hold on there partner. If you want to talk about cinematography, and the directors intentions, then yes, the battle scene in Children of Men is VERY well executed.

However, camera tricks, directors eye for detail, and uninterruped battle sequences DONT make a good film. The fact is, the plot line, dialouge, writing, and general theme of Children of Men SUCKS. The film was crap.

I'm no Bush lover (president), but the crux of the film seemed to be some sort of anti-US thrust.

Keep in mind that the 'film' takes place in 2027. Nothing is explained as how the world went to crap. Has the world been post-apocolyptic since 2008? You are left to 'assume' that somehow the US was behind it. And thats it. How did Brition remain untouched? What about Austrailia, New Zealand, Greenland, and any other developed island nation?

And where are all the 'immigrants' coming from?

Not to mention that Brition has no natural source of oil, so where are they getting the fuel to run the country?

And why for 20 years have their been no children? And why has there been no research, or at least an explanation as to the cause?

So consider yourself warned. Here's the crux of the film. Great Camera Work. Piss-Poor Story!

[Gerald Cooperberg]

Please define "cool" as it pertains to Black Hawk Down? I am not sure what you mean. That was a fine movie, based on real events, without the usual "Hollywood" treatment of the US army. We got to see it all, mis-steps, and bad decisions...

I apologize; that was overly dismissive. Let me compose my thoughts for a moment and see if I can articulate the way I feel about this...

[Gerald Cooperberg]

All right, here's my deal:

My first instinct was not to respond to this thread at all, because I don't get off on violence. That's not limited to the cinema, it's just part of who I am and how I look at the world. Since that pertains to my personal belief, you don't have to agree or disagree with it (although sometimes I feel like life would be simpler if we weren't so violence-obsessed). Consequently, my reservation with the war-pic genre in general, even when battle is depicted in a realistically horrific manner, is that it tends to be glorified or at least afforded a nobility that I'm not necessarily in camp with... [before I continue, let me say that I know a few of the regulars here are actual veterans, and I'm definitely not trying to slander them in any way or diminish what they went through... to me, the courage they showed and the respect due to them are separate from questions about whether war is necessary or just; veterans' rights are a passion of mine and advocacy for U.S. military vets is actually something that I do on both a professional and volunteer basis in my "real world" life... but I'm really digressing, and I really do not want this thread to turn into a discussion of those issues; let's stick to the movies]... taking it a step further, a lot of these Bruckheimer-Bay endeavors and the imitators they've spawned seem to turn war into a bloodsport for us to ooh and ahh at. Glory may have had its merits, but you will not count me among those who freeze-frame through the shot of a soldier being decapitated by a cannonball. I've sat through a lot of those type of films, trying to latch onto what others seem to see, but I just get no enjoyment out of Braveheart, or Windtalkers, or Gladiator, or I'm guessing, 300 (although I haven't seen the last one, so I'm loathe to pass judgement). Still, I decided to try to think a few examples that I did genuinely enjoy within this genre constraint-- titles like Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket, Three Kings... I do count a lot of war films among my favorites, but it seems that the ones I enjoy usually have an anti-war slant or at least use the absurdity of war to examine the human condition. Problem is, it's almost as if singling out the battle scenes as "cool" reduces the films around them. I'm not sure how to reconcile that. So that's where I stand, and I'm sorry if it seemed like I was talking down to you.

As far as Children of Men goes, I'm sorry that you didn't like it. I found it totally exhilarating in almost every sense and I wish that everybody was getting that same feeling when they went to the movies. I think you're projecting a little with the anti-U.S. sentiment that you saw in it-- I don't think that those themes are as explicit as you seem to, although I won't deny that they are sometimes implied. I liked the fact that a lot of the explanation of the premise was in the details, that they didn't spell it out and hit you over the head with it. Why do you need to know why women are infertile to enjoy the picture? I enjoyed the open-endedness of it; much better than "master, sir, I've been wondering, what are Midichlorians?"...

-Coop

[Groundbeef]

All right, here's my deal:

I'm not sure how to reconcile that. So that's where I stand, and I'm sorry if it seemed like I was talking down to you.

No, you weren't talking down to me. Nor did you answer the question either. If you didn't like Black Hawk Down, ok, thats fine. I must admit it was a difficult watch. But it wasn't a "War" film in the typical sense.

It was basically about 1 pitched battle in Somilia that frankly shouldn't have worked out the way it did. Our boys made plenty of mistakes, but performed very well under difficult circumstances.

The problem as I saw it, was that you felt that Children of Men was a better film either cimatecially, or plotwise. I disagree, and it happens, don't worry about it.

But please explain what it was about BHD that you didn't like. I'm curious. Was it the premise, the film, or the way it was filmed.

As far as Children of Men goes, I'm sorry that you didn't like it.

Me too. I don't normally buy films before watching it on rental. This one I took a chance and got the $34.00 HD-DVD version. It'll be on Ebay before the week is out.

I found it totally exhilarating in almost every sense and I wish that everybody was getting that same feeling when they went to the movies. I think you're projecting a little with the anti-U.S. sentiment that you saw in it-- I don't think that those themes are as explicit as you seem to, although I won't deny that they are sometimes implied.

Watch again. How many times do you see "Bush...." "Blair....." newspaper clippings on the hippies desk? About 20? The only assumption you are left to make is that somehow the US/Blair governements were responsible for the mess that was not explained.

I liked the fact that a lot of the explanation of the premise was in the details, that they didn't spell it out and hit you over the head with it. Why do you need to know why women are infertile to enjoy the picture? I enjoyed the open-endedness of it; much better than "master, sir, I've been wondering, what are Midichlorians?"...-Coop

Well, for 1, infertility was the central theme of the movie was it not? After all, wasn't it a bit Christian for the 1 and only pregnant female to revel here status in a STABLE. I mean comon for Pete's sake. Couldn't have hit you over the head with a hammer there eh? So what makes her so special? And why wasn't she seized by the troops after the baby was spotted if she was so valuable? They had the presence of mind to stand down until she was out of the apartment, why not cram her into an APC and get her out?

Not likely. It was like...Ohhhhh everyone look at the first baby in the world in 18 years. Getta move on, we got's more fightin' to do. Improbable at best.

The problem is that its too open ended. I don't like to be spoon fed, but I do like a movie to make sense. And this one just didn't do it for me.

Again, some of the filming techniques were great, but the plot, and movie sucked.

[Troy]

I'm no Bush lover (president), but the crux of the film seemed to be some sort of anti-US thrust.

Anti-US? Where on EARTH do you get that? The US was mentioned breifly only a couple of times, and only in the context that anarchy reigns there, like everywhere else in the world. On the news: "The seige of Seattle is in it's 1000th day." etc.

Keep in mind that the 'film' takes place in 2027. Nothing is explained as how the world went to crap.

The movie made it clear that within 60 years, mankind would no longer exist. Civilization had gone to seed with this knowledge. What's the point in moving civilization forward when it won't exist in 60 years, right?

Has the world been post-apocolyptic since 2008? You are left to 'assume' that somehow the US was behind it. And thats it.

You know what they say about assuming something . . .

How did Brition remain untouched? What about Austrailia, New Zealand, Greenland, and any other developed island nation?

Again, it was made quite clear that the UK was the world's last bastion of some semblance of civilization, including all those places you mentioned. Why doesn't matter in the context of the film. It's simply a plot device for the story.

And where are all the 'immigrants' coming from?

Many of the immigrants were already in the UK. The country wanted everyone out that wasn't UK born.

Not to mention that Brition has no natural source of oil, so where are they getting the fuel to run the country?

Were those few cars in the film gasoline powered? That was never explained, and it simply doesn't matter in the context of the movie. The movie wasn't about that.

And why for 20 years have their been no children? And why has there been no research, or at least an explanation as to the cause?

Actually, the film made it pretty clear that much of the small, overworked technocracy was trying to figure it out, to no avail.

The movie also made it pretty clear that pollution was somehow the crux of the problem. That women had probably become sterile because of some toxic reason, tho it is never really explained.

And so what?

It doesn't matter why women can't get pregnant in the film. The movie was not about that, specifically. That was really only a launching point for the film. It's a MOVIE, not a documentary. Some supension of disbelief is required, just like ANY other movie.

So consider yourself warned. Here's the crux of the film. Great Camera Work. Piss-Poor Story!

Well, no. That's only one person's opinion. Fact is, this movie was chosen as the film of the year at The Onion and is one of the highest rated films of 2006 according to the review compilation metacritic site: http://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/childrenofmen For me personally, it's the best, most thought provoking film I've seen in 10 years.

I've noticed that this movie tends to piss of people who choose to ignore that humanity is bumbling down the path to self destruction similar to the one depicted metaphorically in this movie. They still think this is a left / right issue, so they think that this movie has a political bias. They can't get their heads around the basic concept of the story because they so polly-anna-ishly choose to think that everything is fine.

Clearly, you came into this film with a political agenda and your mind already made up for you. Too bad.

[Gerald Cooperberg]

But please explain what it was about BHD that you didn't like. I'm curious. Was it the premise, the film, or the way it was filmed.

Well, it's admittedly been a while since I saw it, so I might have to concede that I can't defend my argument with anything better than hazy memories. Maybe if I happen to see it again (unlikely but possible), I'll post some detailed thoughts.

Watch again. How many times do you see "Bush...." "Blair....." newspaper clippings on the hippies desk? About 20? The only assumption you are left to make is that somehow the US/Blair governements were responsible for the mess that was not explained.

Ah, see, but I took that more as characterization than narrative. It immediately gives us (the audience in 2006) some context for Michael Caine's character-- a sort of shorthand to depict him as an aging activist.

After all, wasn't it a bit Christian for the 1 and only pregnant female to revel here status in a STABLE. I mean comon for Pete's sake. Couldn't have hit you over the head with a hammer there eh? So what makes her so special?

Are you familiar with any of the backstory of the book? The Christian themes are much more overt in the novel and some of that is residually present in the film, although I think that the scene you mention (along with the later "I'm a virgin" exhange) are sort of a tongue-in-cheek nod to that. I personally got a chuckle both times.

And why wasn't she seized by the troops after the baby was spotted if she was so valuable? They had the presence of mind to stand down until she was out of the apartment, why not cram her into an APC and get her out? Not likely. It was like...Ohhhhh everyone look at the first baby in the world in 18 years. Getta move on, we got's more fightin' to do. Improbable at best.

See, perhaps this is why we'll never agree on this... you're bothered by stuff like that and the car starting, and I'm simply not. The fact that everybody pauses to let them pass with the baby is admittedly implausable, but it's a hell of poetic image! I don't think that any amount of explaining will make you like that kind of thing and me not.

-Coop

[nightflier]

Not to mention that Brition has no natural source of oil, so where are they getting the fuel to run the country?

Actually they do, in the North Sea. I haven't seen the movie yet, so I can't comment on the battle scenes, but here's a few that haven't been mentioned:

- V for Vendetta: Final Battle, although V has some very Leon-type moments throughout the film. By the way, if you're looking for something anti-Bush from across the pond, that's a pretty safe bet. Ironically, the supreme leader (Bush-Hitler-Stalin-type fellow) is played by John Hurt, who behaves surprisingly like he did in 1984 although in the opposite role. There's a lot of good material in this film.

- LOTR - FOTR: Battle in Moria, I know it's old news now, but that was some great CGI with the cave troll. The battle at Helms Deep in TTT was pretty good too.

- Chronicles of Riddick: The invasion of Helion Prime by the Necromongers is pretty cool.

- The Bourne Supremacy: Final car chase. I didn't know that Mercedes was that tough.

- Matrix II: although it had some really lame scenes like the oversexed techno dance sequence, it also had a great car-chase battle sequence, in my opinion better than the final battle in Matrix III.

- Equilibrium: Awesome swordfight-gunfight in the final action sequence - wouldn't want to be Brandt (Taye Diggs) in that one...

And if I can also give my opinion of the worst battle scenes I have witnessed in a movie: every single one of the battles from Alexander. And in particular, I have never seen a more confusing, more murky, more anti-climactic battle depiction as the battle of Gaugamela. This is perhaps the most studied example of battlefield strategy ever, presenting an incredible opportunity to demonstrate a synergy between military and film-making genius and Oliver Stoned craps all over it. I hope that dill-weed is remembered for this movie above all others.

[Groundbeef]

The movie also made it pretty clear that pollution was somehow the crux of the problem. That women had probably become sterile because of some toxic reason, tho it is never really explained.

And so what?

It doesn't matter why women can't get pregnant in the film. The movie was not about that, specifically. That was really only a launching point for the film. It's a MOVIE, not a documentary. Some supension of disbelief is required, just like ANY other movie.

Ok, so if it doesn't matter that mankind is sterile, then what is the point of the movie? To see how we struggle to survive in 19 years from now? What exactly is it about. The movie is written around getting this girl out of England. For what purpose exactly? The Human Project? What the hell good are they?

And thanks for the tip on suspension of disbelief. I fully realize that to enjoy a movie you need to overlook some creative license. But when the license is squandered on stupid things, it makes it harder to get back into the film.

Case in point the car scene. I was pretty into the whole rolling start, and the guy chasing the car down the hill, and him having trouble getting it started popping the clutch. But then to have it dead at the bottom of the hill, with the crowd gaining on them, and Clive Owens then PUSH IT UP HILL IN THE MUD< and then the car "starts". Unneeded and it takes away from the film. Why add it in? It only served as a distraction.

And thank GOD Julianne Moore was killed early. After her piss-poor showing in Freedomland, I about puked when she showed up on screen. I was waiting for her to die from the first moment.

Well, no. That's only one person's opinion. Fact is, this movie was chosen as the film of the year at The Onion and is one of the highest rated films of 2006 according to the review compilation metacritic site: http://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/childrenofmen For me personally, it's the best, most thought provoking film I've seen in 10 years.

Great, and not every review was positve. Plenty thought the cinematography was great (As I did, BTW, but the story was lacking....just like I said)

As far as thought provoking? How exactly? The only thoughts I had were, why were there so many holes in the plot. When are they going to explain what this baby is going to do? And on and on.

I've noticed that this movie tends to piss of people who choose to ignore that humanity is bumbling down the path to self destruction similar to the one depicted metaphorically in this movie. They still think this is a left / right issue, so they think that this movie has a political bias. They can't get their heads around the basic concept of the story because they so polly-anna-ishly choose to think that everything is fine.

Clearly, you came into this film with a political agenda and your mind already made up for you. Too bad.

Actually, I went into the movie based on positive reviews. I think that you have an impression I am on the right, but I'm not. I couldn't wrap my head around the story because it was so poorly written.

And I guess your political agenda is that you hope the world dissolves into anarchy so you can point and say "I told you so?".

[kexodusc]

Just saw Children of Men yesterday...I liked it a fair bit...plot holes and everything. I've seen films and read books with similar plots/concepts before so I didn't find it terribly groundbreaking. It was a pretty good film, though it didn't evoke any political or emotional response from me like it seems to have done with many fans. I actually didn't find the camera work all that appealing until the battle scene at the end. Good pick for this thread though. The dialogue was kinda good though - Bazooka! Priceless!

For me personally, it's the best, most thought provoking film I've seen in 10 years.

Wholly crap! Best and most thought provoking film you've seen in 10 years? Wow. It really struck a chord with you, huh? I felt Blood Diamond hit closer to home for me than this.

My only gripe was that the concept was really interesting, if somewhat unoriginal, but instead of pursuing it further, it turned into a suspense/action film - which I enjoyed. I won't call them plot holes, since there was never any intention to reveal all the circumstances leading up to the plot, nor any intention to wrap the story up with a "happily ever after ending" or anything. So the questions that remain may drive some people nuts, but shouldn't take away from the film.

But what made the movie so good was the level of background details in every scene which explained this vision of the future to the audience. Interesting to see how civilization could deteriorate to such lows. Reminded me of the whole Hurricane Katrina fallout.

So, I put it somewhere in between greatest movie of the last decade, and sucks donkey balls.

[Smokey]

One battle scene I remeber from childhood was army of Skeletons battle from the movie Jason and the Argonauts. They had an eerie grin on their faces even as they were chopped up to pieces.

[kelsci]

I liked the battle scenes in two Japanese Science Fiction "Oaters". The first was THE MYSTERIANS. I love the two giant marc-o-light rayguns taking on the helicons. The second film was BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE. There is a scene where the earth forces try to make it back to their own space ships in some kind of land rovers while being pursued by flying saucers of the planet Matal firing back at their saucers with a heat ray canon. IMHO rally well done and produced 17 years before STAR WARS.

[Kam]

One battle scene I remeber from childhood was army of Skeletons battle from the movie Jason and the Argonauts. They had an eerie grin on their faces even as they were chopped up to pieces.

and harryhausen's work on clash of the titans, the battle with the Kraken was really sweet.