# Amazingly well done scenes that leave you breathless **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 25, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985 "2004-10-25T03:05:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/61 "2004-10-27T00:36:51Z")
> [@cbawlmer](#): > > Also from _X-Men 2_: Magneto’s prison break. 🙂 Seconded. “There’s something different about you” ---
**Author:** ![Matroshka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Matroshka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matroshka)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/62 "2004-10-27T07:53:49Z")
For me, it’s that final scene in the original Planet of the Apes when we first see the Statue of Liberty sticking out of the sand. When I first saw that, I just sat there with my mouth hanging open. “God, how could they DO that”! I felt like the world had turned up side down. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/63 "2004-10-27T10:55:04Z")
After reading through the various submissions, I realize that I really like scenes where horse riders are flying along at full gallop. With that in mind, I’d like to add: Fellowship of the Ring, when Liv Tyler is riding with Frodo being chased by the dark riders. Awesome. First Knight, when all the Knights, and in particular Julia Ormond, go riding at full gallop to save her home town. Excaliber, when young Arthur first rounds up support, and then rides out to help save Picard’s (Gwenivere’s father’s) castle. That song, which I should know the name of, gets my blood pumping every time. The song gets me again toward the end, when Arthur is revitalized by the Holy Grail, and rides out one final time, reviving the land as he rides. There’s something about a full gallop that seems so primal. Also, I agree with the X-Men 2 Magneto jailbreak scene. I can’t turn away if the movie’s on and that scene is coming up. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/64 "2004-10-27T11:12:02Z")
Now they’re coming to me left and right. Gladiator, the beginning montage, when the Romans annihilate the, uh, Germanic horde? Who is that battle against, again? “On my signal, unleash Hell.” (Was “Hell” the dog’s name?) Braveheart, the battle sequences, plus the scene at the beginning when Mel’s wife has her throat slit. Kill Bill, when Beatrix fights Gogo and her ball of death. Also, when Beatrix calls out Oren Ishii-i. Very short, but what a great single line. I wish I could preonounce it. And finally, the sequence when Beatrix flies to Tokyo. Not for the scene itself, but for that astounding double-tongue trumpet score. Wow what skill that riff must require, as it goes fluidly from double-tongue to sluring and back again. Reservoir Dogs, when Harvey Keitel finally understands that Tim Roth is a cop. The Ring, when whats-her-face crawls out of the tv. Requiem for a Dream, the final montage when all four main characters plunge into hell on earth. No Way Out, the chase scene on foot when Kevin Costner is mere feet ahead of his pursuers. Terminator 2, the chase scene with the 18 wheeler. The Matrix Reloaded, sure the movie sucked, but the highway scene was awesome. And in comparison with the third movie, the second was actually quite good. ---
**Author:** ![LuckyMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e36b37/32.png) [@LuckyMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LuckyMe)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/65 "2004-10-27T11:18:57Z")
I have 2 that leave me breathles every time. In Men of Honor… [spoiler]I can’t really remeber, but it had something to do with Cuba Gooding taking steps in a one of those old scuba outfits to show that he despite his various injuries could go on. Someone please help with the details./[spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![LuckyMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e36b37/32.png) [@LuckyMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LuckyMe)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/66 "2004-10-27T11:20:43Z")
I have 2 that leave me breathles every time. In Men of Honor… I can’t really remeber, but it had something to do with Cuba Gooding taking steps in a one of those old scuba outfits to show that he despite his various injuries could go on. Someone please help with the details. ---
**Author:** ![LuckyMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e36b37/32.png) [@LuckyMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LuckyMe)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/67 "2004-10-27T11:28:27Z")
Also there is the scene in Remember the Titans. Actually its a good bit of the movie that gets me, but the nail in the coffin is when the one guy gets into the car accident and his black friend said somethign to the effect that he and his friend hope to see a day where there is no black and white. I know thats not what was said but you can should be able to get the gist. That scene chokes me up eveytime. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/68 "2004-10-27T13:01:25Z")
> [@LuckyMe](#): > > I have 2 that leave me breathles every time. > > In Men of Honor… > > I can’t really remeber, but it had something to do with Cuba Gooding taking steps in a one of those old scuba outfits to show that he despite his various injuries could go on. Someone please help with the details. He is in front of some military panel, trying to prove that he is physically capable of diving despite the fact that he has a prosthetic leg. One of the challenges presented is the fact that the new suits weigh much more than the previous suits did. Robert DeNiro falls back into his instructor mode, yelling at him the way he did when Cuba was training. Definitely one of those edge of the seat moments - even the panel that he is appearing before seemed to be literally on the edge of their seats. IIRC, the head of the panel actually did half-rise out of his seat as he watched. An amazing, amazing scene. ---
**Author:** ![Balle\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/69 "2004-10-27T15:47:02Z")
> [@Agent Cooper](#): > > Band of Brothers > > I think there were a couple of moments in every episode that hit me like that. I could go on, but anyone who watched it knows, and anyone who didn’t needs to. One that gets to me is at the end of the first (I think) episode when Lt. Winters sits in the door of the C-47 and the camera slowly pans out showing the entire air armada heading to France. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/70 "2004-10-27T15:56:45Z")
In **Return of the King** , so many moments, but especially when Pippin is riding with Gandalf to Gondor and then all of a sudden you see Minas Tirith appear over the hill with Howard Shore’s beautiful score in the background. Puts a tear in my eye every time, it is so perfect. The **The Matrix** , the lobby shootout and the subway fight between Smith & Neo. In **Fellowship of the Ring,** when the fellowship is riding down the Anduin and the Argonath appears towering before them. I have that image as a poster on my wall. Scenes too numerous to mention in **Hero**. Basically the whole film. Every shot is more visually rich and more gorgeous than the last. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/71 "2004-10-27T16:44:38Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > Excaliber, when young Arthur first rounds up support, and then rides out to help save Picard’s (Gwenivere’s father’s) castle. That song, which I should know the name of, gets my blood pumping every time. The song gets me again toward the end, when Arthur is revitalized by the Holy Grail, and rides out one final time, reviving the land as he rides. > > There’s something about a full gallop that seems so primal. Carmina Burana: O Fortuna by Carl Orff ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/72 "2004-10-28T06:28:48Z")
—In the other thread, I mentioned the “Knights of the Round Table” number from **Holy Grail**. Yes, it’s comedy, but the first time I saw it I was completely flummoxed. “…_What_ about Clark Gable?” — **Hoffa**. James Hoffa and DeVito’s character, I forget his name, have been indicted, and are in the van being transported to prison. Protracted shot of the two of them sitting opposite each other, glumly silent. Then… you hear shouts and horns honking from outside. They look out the windows to see trucks parked alongside the road, and Teamsters alongside them, waving and cheering. “Yeah, Jimmy! A’right, Jimmy!” Crane upwards to show that the line extends for miles, all the way up to the prison. Also, the final scene. In the 1975 scenes, Frank “Because of the metric system?” Whaley has been hanging around the diner, waiting for a mechanic. [spoiler]In the last scene, DeVito gives him the number to call and get a mechanic right away, then tells him to bring the tray of coffee outside and personally thank Mr. Hoffa. Hoffa is sitting in the driver’s seat, and barely looks up as Whaley sets the coffee tray on the roof of the car. So he doesn’t notice, as the viewer does, that something’s not quite right about his movements. Indeed, instead of extending his hand for a shake, he reaches for the gun in the back of his pants. DeVito starts running, but it’s already too late—BANG.[/spoiler] —The final scene in **Cinema Paradiso**. —The last scene in **Mr. Holland’s Opus**. At the retirement ceremony, Mrs. Holland announces a special guest, [spoiler]“Our esteemed governor, the honorable Gertrude Lang.” Alicia Witt’s character as an adult. Because thirty years earlier, Holland had helped her realize that she was worth something.[/spoiler] —Another **Sixth Sense** scene: Cole and his mom in the car. [spoiler]“She said to tell you, ‘Every day.’…What did she ask you?” “Do…I make her…proud.”[/spoiler] —Another comedic scene: The freeway sequence in **Clueless**. I rarely laugh out loud in movies; just the way I am. But as someone who became licensed in California and got her fire baptism on freeways, I can completely relate to Stacey Dash’s panic. The old woman flipping her off is enough to double me over, but then the closeup on Donald Faison seeing the grill of an 18-wheeler inches from the car’s back bumper, sends me to the floor. ---
**Author:** ![Matroshka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Matroshka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matroshka)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/73 "2004-10-28T07:34:56Z")
Another one would be the James Bond movie (can’t remember which one but it was one of the Roger Moore ones) at the beginning when he’s skiing and being chased by the bad guys and skis right off a cliff. His parachute opens and it’s in the Union Jack colours. Awesome! ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/74 "2004-10-28T08:07:03Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > —Another **Sixth Sense** scene: Cole and his mom in the car. [spoiler]“She said to tell you, ‘Every day.’…What did she ask you?” > > “Do…I make her…proud.”[/spoiler] That is bar none my favorite Shymalan scene. It just tears me up. You know that this scene is coming; you know that he must reveal the truth to his mother. And he does it in the most matter-of-fact way, to make the unbelievable truly believable with the least amount of drama. And knowing the truth not only makes her finally understand her son, but answers the one question in her life that she knew she would never have answered. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/75 "2004-10-28T08:37:40Z")
1. I know most people don’t love the rest of the movie as much as I do (and even I’ll admit it’s pretty flawed), but the opening sequence of **Gangs of New York** is an amazing piece of cinema. From Liam Neeson slowly shaving, to the gathering of the forces and march through than enormous building, to Brendan Gleeson kicking open the door to all that pristine whiteness, to the Natives seeming to crawl out of the woodwork, to the mutual challenges and airing of grievences, to the fight itself, to “ears and noses shall be the prizes of the day”… it’s utterly flawless (well, the sudden rock soundtrack is a bit jarring - but maybe that’s the point). 2. The asteroid chase scene in **Empire Strikes Back** is still the geatest special effects sequence ever made. Just a perfect melding of visuals and music - when the _Falcon_ does that slow, gracefull loop at the end I always tear up a bit. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/76 "2004-10-28T10:22:38Z")
> [@Matroshka](#): > > Another one would be the James Bond movie (can’t remember which one but it was one of the Roger Moore ones) at the beginning when he’s skiing and being chased by the bad guys and skis right off a cliff. His parachute opens and it’s in the Union Jack colours. Awesome! For Your Eyes Only ---
**Author:** ![Sat\_on\_Cookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@Sat\_on\_Cookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sat_on_Cookie)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/77 "2004-10-28T17:44:11Z")
> [@gum](#): > > Not a well-known movie at all, I believe. Nor a ‘four stars’ one. > > **’Without a Trace’** > > Judd Hirsh [_as always, excellent - I’ll never forget his acting in ‘Running on Empty’_] is the police officer who has to tell the mother [Kate Nelligan] her young son - who had been missing for a long time - is dead\*. > > He rings her doorbell, she opens, \*And they don’t say a word! \* Just his facial expression - then she knows. He nods - and then she moans: “Nooooooooo” > > That’s it. Beautifully done. > > [\*turns out later, he isn’t] Same movie, but the last scenes. Judd is bringing the son home and all the police cars are escorting them, which is juxtaposed with Kate doing her everyday shopping, etc., and then returning home to her street where she sees her son. I get chills every time I see it. Also, Ordinary People (funny how Judd is in two of my all-time favorite scenes and I never realized it). When Conrad flips out in the middle of the night and has an emergency appt. with Berger. He’s trying to figure out why he’s so mad at himself and finally looks up at the good doc (after being prodded) and realizes his big mistake. “I held on?” he says, quietly. (which was a big Bing-O; he and his brother had been caught in a squall while sailing and his brother drowned while Conrad clung to the boat and lived and suffered tremendous guilt). ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/78 "2004-10-28T18:22:49Z")
Also the scene where Hal Moore’s wife delivers the news (in lieu of the cabbie) to one of the officer’s wives that her husband is dead. Her initial refusal, “Nmm-mm. Nmmm-mmm!” and ultimate acceptance were very well portrayed, as well as the rest of the scenes that show Madeleine Stowe and Keri Russell making the dreadful rounds. And one of the final scenes in the movie as well - the one where you’re just sitting there telling yourself you _know_ how it’s going to turn out, but are still holding your breath the entire time anyway. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/79 "2004-10-28T18:23:51Z")
:smack: The above-described scene is from “We Were Soldiers”, in case anyone was wondering. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985/80 "2004-10-28T18:35:57Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > For Your Eyes Only No. **The Spy Who Loved Me**. Also, in order to actually contribute to this thread, The scene in Blue Velvet where the hero is hiding in the closet and watching Frank assault the Isabella Rossellini character. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazingly-well-done-scenes-that-leave-you-breathless/270985.md?page=5)