Choosing the greatest fight scene ever depicted in film is a seriously tricky bit of business. After all, there have been countless showdowns on the silver screen over the years that have filled audiences with sheer adrenaline while watching. Some are so memorable, though, that viewers think about them again years later. Here are a few scenes that have had that effect.
Mickey v Gorgeous George – Snatch
Many people will remember the way Guy Ritchie introduced viewers to the bare-knuckle boxing champion Mickey O’Neil in the 2000 classic Snatch. The character, who was brilliantly played by Brad Pitt, first comes onto the scene when Stephen Graham’s Tommy goes in search of a caravan. Mickey ends up in a boxing match against Tommy’s muscle, Gorgeous George.
At first, it seems like the big man played by Adam Fogerty is going to wipe the floor with Mickey. But the viewer quickly learns that Pitt’s character is merely warming up to lay down the one punch he requires to take out George. He kisses his necklace and plants the perfect blow on his opponent, knocking him out cold. This was not only a great fight scene, but it also set up the premise of the whole film really well.
Staircase Fight – Casino Royale
Casino Royale marked the beginning of Daniel Craig’s successful tenure as James Bond, and the 2006 offering directed by Martin Campbell is considered to be one of the best outings of the MI6 spy. The reason it is so loved could be because the casino industry is booming, with a multitude of casinos and sites offering the full casino experience. Another reason why it was so popular was the fact that it had some incredibly memorable scenes, such as the epic staircase fight between Bond and Steven Obanno. This battle incorporated hand-to-hand martial arts, along with Bond’s traditionally clever use of his surroundings. It has to go down as one of Bond’s best ever scraps ever.
Neo v Agent Smith – The Matrix
Forget the fact that the overall trilogy slipped massively in terms of quality, the original Matrix from the Wachowski brothers in 1999 is a classic. As Neo began to get to grips with the Matrix and the powers that he could wield there, the audience sees Keanu Reeves’ character become the Jesus-like figure that Morpheus believed he would be. This all culminates in an epic battle between Neo and Agent Smith in the subway towards the end of the film. There was awesome fight choreography thanks to the instruction of Master Yuen Woo Ping, along with highly original camera effects. The final result was a fight scene for the ages.
While it would be possible to go on all day about amazing fight scenes in films, these three have to be up there with some of the all-time greats. If you don’t agree, you could always watch Jet Li’s showdown with Billy Chow in Fist of Legend, or what about when Jackie Chan fought Ken Lo in Drunken Master II? The list goes on.
Source: Mickey- Snatch via Facebook
