Forum:Top Ten Favorite Live-Action Fights

Forum → Top Ten Favorite Live-Action Fights

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[[Category:{{{1}}}|Top Ten Favorite Live-Action Fights]]

Much of the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z fights are orchestrated in a similar fashion to legendary Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Bolo Yeung, etc. battles. (ie Hsiao Mi v. Lee = Tao v Goku). What are some of your favorite live-action martial arts and physical combat/fighting/dueling/swordsmanship, etc. moments from martial arts/action/adventure/etc. flicks and series; a top ten is notable, but a top 20 is welcome (please keep it at a top 20 or less). These lists are exclusive to live-action material, all animated and such goes in the previous forum already created.

PrinceZarbon's picks

My list primarily revolves around the faster-paced and synchronized fights (both in terms of choreography and musical matching) that are over faster and involve a rapid flurry of attacks as opposed to having a long duel and dragging on. These are the most impact-driven fights to me in Live action as "Zarbon v. Vegeta", "Recoome v. Vegeta", "Android 19 v. Vegeta," and "Spopovich v. Videl" are the most brutal fights in DB history for me.

1. Reptile versus Liu Kang (Mortal Kombat) - Reptile enters his humanoid form and slam-kicks Liu Kang through the wall; bouncing in after him and launching a parallel kick at Kang's neck. After downing him, the two engage in an epic blocking and punching parade where they both nail each other. Reptile falls, fuming from beneath his ninja mask, and Liu Kang uses a spinning stone to slam into Reptile. Then, Liu Kang unleashes a ruthless combination of dominating punches, sending Reptile backwards and out of breath. Before Reptile can recover from the onslaught, Liu Kang fiercely charges his massively painful bicycle kicks, sending Reptile out of the wall whence they came. He then jumps through and steps on what remains of Reptile, eliminating the awesome ninja warrior. All this plus the excellent track of "Control" (Reptile's Theme) completely dominates and adds depth to this fight scene.
2. Darth Maul versus Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace) - I enormously enjoyed the character of Darth Maul, performed by expert martial artist Ray Park, who had the best fight scene in all Star Wars history with his exquisite backflips and astonishingly awesome posture as a gallant warrior, ruthless, yet elegant. He was the lone powerhouse in this flick. Qui-Gon's eventual brilliant demise was extremely memorable at the hands of the awesome Darth Maul, who slayed him with unflinching nerve, turning to take down his next opponent in a fierce thunderous rage, striking like lightning, yet remaining collected and calm as the flow of water; maintaining his physical composure as an expert martial artist. Of course, he was in turn halved by Obi-Wan, who managed to trick him and use Qui-Gon's lightsaber to bisect the deadly combatant. Due to this movie, Lord Maul quickly became my favorite Star Wars character and had one of the all-time greatest fight scenes and entrances in movie history. All this plus the BG features the inter-cut action of "Duel of the Fates" perfectly in sync and matching Maul's movements.
3. Deacon Frost versus Blade (Blade) - Frost steams of bloody goodness here as he has a rapid clash with Blade, in which Blade uses his deadly katana-esque sword, slicing with the sharp edge of the blade. Frost, however, uses his own arms to deflect the rapid blows. Eventually, he is halved by the swift strikes... although when Blade turns to move away, Frost recombines his upper and lower half as any blood god would. He then swiftly unleashes a repertoire of kicks, sending Blade flailing around. As Blade notices the deadly serum, he uses a swift strike to obtain the needles, quickly sending them at Frost's body. After Frost is nailed with a consecutive barrage of these needles, Blade delivers a crushing good line and slam-kicks the last needle at Frost's head, which proceeds to force Frost's body to bulge to the max and explode from the chemical reaction. Wonderful Frost had an awesome struggle.
4. Toad versus Storm, Cyclops, and Jean Grey (X-Men) - Likely the best fight in X-Men movie history, the tricky and acrobatic Toad uses his tongue to propel Storm into the second level and double-kicks Jean Grey and Cyclops in opposite directions as he makes a pretty landing. Cyclops is sent crashing as Toad begins to hop around, teasing Jean Grey, who then attempts to use her telepathic powers against the sadistic Toad... who spits a nice gooey substance in her face to halt her in her tracks. Toad then scales the wall to crash into Storm, who is sent down an elevator shaft. As Cyclops attempts to help Jean Grey up, Toad is attacked from behind by Storm, who is infuriated and uses her power to send Toad out of the floor and into the sky. Toad barely manages to cling for his life using his tongue before Storm delivers a thunderous lightning attack to fry him in midair, sending him to his death in the water around the Statue of Liberty.
5. The Kingpin versus Daredevil (Daredevil) - Daredevil launches a full-scale assault against Kingpin, who is unaffected by his attempt and uses his body as a ragdoll, slamming him into the ceiling and ground. Kingpin's awesome bulging muscles pound Daredevil around, making sport of his adversary. Eventually, Daredevil slams into a tube on the wall and releases a shower of water from the ceiling, which he uses in an infrared-esque fashion to devastate his opponent. Daredevil slides on the ground and slam-kicks Kingpin in the knees, busting his legs and forcing him to slam into the ground. Daredevil allows him to live, with the Kingpin swearing vengeance for his defeat. Kingpin was one awesome fighter here.
6. Hsiao Mi "The Boss" versus Cheng Chao-an (The Big Boss a.k.a. Fists of Fury) - Likely the best choreographed fight scene in all Bruce Lee flicks. The calm and collected Hsiao Mi fights Cheng in a rapid progression of masterful stances and uses his finesse with his feet to pin his opponent. Eventually, Cheng gets infuriated and manages to get the upper hand, unleashing a furious combo of punches, and an aerial assault that sends Hsiao Mi crawling on the ground. Of course, Cheng doesn't let him slip away and brutally uses his fists to dig into him, bleeding him to death.
7. Morgan's Hitmen (Ron Smoorenburg and Yung Kwan) versus Jackie Chan a.k.a. Who Am I? (Jackie Chan's Who Am I?) - This scene needs to be watched in order to fully understand what an excellent fight scene is composed of. The two hitmen attack Jackie Chan's character in a flurry of systematic kicks and punches, in an explosion of double trouble. Eventually, they grow tired of Chan's relentlessness and are slammed into the cement and painfully struck down. However, both of these baddies put up such a great fight, it's likely the best choreographed one in all of Jackie Chan's flicks.
8. The Twins versus Morpheus and Trinity (The Matrix Reloaded) - As the Twins attempt to use Trinity to get Morpheus to drop his weapons, the unflinching fighter unleashes a slew of bullets, which go directly through the Twin. With Trinity out of the way, the ghostly Twins disappear and reappear as they dodge the blade-wielding Morpheus' assault with rapid blocks and fades.
9. Chong Li versus Frank Dux (Bloodsport) - Chong Li attempts to blind Frank Dux, but is repeatedly pounded by the relentless fighter, who proves you don't need eyes to defeat an opponent, sensing the coming blows with the movement around him.
10. Mephistopheles versus Xena (Xena: Warrior Princess - Episode: The Haunting of Amphipolis) - Mephistopheles, the king of Hell (and likely one of the best designed villains in this series), proceeds to spin his trident in fierce motion, rotating it in rapid succession as he blocked Xena's blows. Xena sends him flying into the air as he slows down in midair and regains his grip in an awesome slow-mo moment. Mephistopheles is seen grabbing Xena from behind, pulling her hair, and kicking her forward. As Xena regains consciousness, she turns to stab him in the belly, extinguishing his life.
11. Yodoshi versus Xena (Xena: Warrior Princess - Episode: A Friend In Need Part 2)The soul-stealing tattooed Japanese warrior Yodoshi unleashes a combo of blows against Xena, who blocks him and kicks him into the area behind. As his body is bounced back at her, she nails him with her sword, while facing away from him... and proceeds to pull the blade from his belly and slice off his head in rapid succession, allowing his lifeless body to fall to the ground.
12. Hakim versus Billy-Lo (The Game of Death) - The tall and deadly Hakim's long legs slam into Billy, sending him sprawling. Of course, once Hakim is caught in a neck hold, he is choked to death by the relentless combatant.
13. Najara versus Xena (Xena: Warrior Princess - Episode: Crusader) Najara's fight with Xena is likely one of the best ones in this series, respectively. With a flurry of table-cracking, wall-smashing, ground sliding techniques in rapid succession, Najara sends Xena flailing in what appears to be Xena's defeat in combat. Of course, Xena returns later and fights her again, but the first time around is a masterpiece of combat to the greatest magnitude - in essence, the zenith of pulse-pounding, bone-cracking maneuvers that two females showcase in a single brawl.
14. Darth Sidious versus Yoda (Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith) - Maul had the best fight scene, but this would likely be my second choice in Star Wars movies. I loved the way Sidious propelled the senate pods at Yoda, who attempted to use the force to shift their direction. Palpatine fought so well, deflecting the rapid Yoda's attacks, sending the pesky little critter down the corridor and running for his life; as Yoda went into exile, the ruthlessly awesome and brilliant Sidious clinged to a pod, laughing in harmonious yet wicked glory, his voice echoing in the entire Galactic Senate grounds.
15. Nomak versus Blade (Blade II) - There's lots of grappling and body launching involved here. Nomak pummels Blade in a good combo, flexing and fixing his busted arm back into place... and Blade retaliates by sending him up and down. Nomak is eventually pierced through the heart, where he himself continues to pierce himself in order to end the suffering.
16. Petrov versus Chen Zhen (The Chinese Connection) - The expert Russian merc is kicked around by Chen Zhen as he is sent sprawling and in front of the Japanese katana-wielding madman who hired him. As he is slammed through the wall, Chen grabs his head, allowing his lifeless body to fall to the ground.
17. Emperor Commodus versus Maximus (Gladiator) - Commodus poisons Maximus prior to their battle in the arena in order to guarantee his victory. However, the resilient Maximus deflects his blows with every last ounce of energy, capturing Commodus' strike and allowing a hidden knife to pierce the emperor's throat.
18. Colonel William Tavington versus Benjamin Martin (The Patriot) - Tavington almost gets the upper hand and attempts to slice at Martin from behind as the noble fighter turns to impale his opponent and slice both swords through the ruthless and awesome Tavington's neck, leaving him for dead in great posture.
19. Sinteres versus Xena (Xena: Warrior Princess - Episode: The Royal Couple of Thieves) - Sinteres and Xena engage in a combination of pulse-pounding pinch moves, which incapacitate the limbs based on which nerves are struck. Eventually, Xena puts the fatal pinch on Sinteres, extinguishing his onslaught.
20. Han versus Lee (Enter the Dragon) - Lee shatters the mirrors around him, destroying the possibility of Han using the mirrors as a clever camouflage to continue slicing at him repeatedly; and Lee proceeds to nail Han, sending him to get skewered through a spear in one of the most legendary fight scenes in movie history.

Note: One of my least favorite fight scenes is actually Bruce Lee versus Chuck Norris in "Way of the Dragon" a.k.a. "Return of the Dragon." I think it's just liked because of the whole east v. west trivia, but the fight itself is quite lame.

I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's selections. - PrinceZarbon (talk) 00:36, January 30, 2014 (UTC)