I agree that Branagh’s “Much Ado” was very good. However, he has a LOT of ground to make up since his “Frankenstein” debacle!
Personally, though, I think Emma kicked his butt with her “Sense and Sensibility” adaptation.
From Spartacus, the scene where the revolution starts. “No talking in the kitchen, slave.” And the look on Kirk Douglas’s face are great.
In Ransom, when Gary Sinise realizes that he has to turn on the other kidnapper’s to get the ransom.
One Flew Over the Coockoo’s Nest. Near the end when Nurse Ratchet calmly asks Billy what his mother would think of what he had done. You see the happiness leave his face. For me, that’s when I realized how evil Nurse Ratchet was.
“Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent” Isaac Asimov
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The shootout with the Bolivian bandits with the slow-mo camera.
The Mighty Quinn
The quarter mile tracking shot when Pearl Bailey’s house is on fire.
Cocoanuts
"Why a Duck?
“I’m fine, how are you?”
The Wild Bunch
The final shootout.
Warren Oates: “Why not?”
Robin Hood Men In Tights
Rabbi Tuchmann meets the Merry Men.
“Fegalahs?”
Indy I: Indy and Karen Allen on the tramp steamer. “It ain’t the years, it’s the mileage.” (Possiby the best adlibbed line of all time).
Indy II: The big Indian dinner party with all the gross, creepy critters and monkey brians.
Indy III: Sean pops outa the tank and demands “You call this archeology??”
Animal House
The horse in the Dean’s office.
“Just blanks right?”
BANG!
THUMP!!
History of the World, Part I
King Louis shooting “skeet”.
“They are my people, I love them”
“Pull!”
“AIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!”
BAM!
Silence of the Lambs
The final phone call.
“I’m having an old friend for dinner.”
And, no intro needed:
Rick & Louie walk off into the fog.
“This looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
JB
Lex Non Favet Delicatorum Votis
Ferris Beuler’s Day Off - The entire “Ferrari thru the plate glass” scene.
Ghostbusters - The banquet hall scene (“The flowers are still standing!”) and of course Stay-Puft.
Godfather - Vito Corleone mocking Johnny Fontaine for crying like a woman, and the scene where Vito dies.
Jaws - The look on Roy Scheider’s face when he’s dumping chum in the water and the shark pops up suddenly.
Clerks - Silent Bob speaks words of wisdom.
Midnight Run - The last scene. “You got change for $1000 bill?”
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - the three-way duel in the cemetary.
I used to rock and roll all night and party every day. Then it was every other day. Now I’m lucky if I can find a half an hour a week in which to get funky.
Oh, my Lord! What a topic! I love this! I can hardly think of anything that hasn’t already been posted, and I don’t want to repeat. Off the top of my head, here are a few of my favorites:
FERRIS BUELLER: The scene where his sister and Charlie Sheen have their talk in the police station. Also, the scene in the classroom (“Bueller…Bueller?”)
THE SIXTH SENSE: The scene toward the end when he sees that his wedding ring isn’t on his finger, and then he (and we) figure out what’s going on.
ROMY & MICHELE’S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION: The dance sequence.
RUDY: The scene where everyone is chanting his name, and he gets to play.
BRAVEHEART: “Hold…Hold…”
SPINAL TAP: “You can’t really dust for vomit.”
THE FIFTH ELEMENT: “Anyone else want to negotiate?”
I’m sure I’ll think of more…
So many great ones have already been mentioned. I’ll try not to duplicate, but I can think of quite a few more, as well.
E.T. - The bikes flying through the air scene.
City Slickers - So many. The scene where Billy Crystal has to help deliver the calf and then Jack Palance has to shoot the mother. Crossing the river in the rain storm and BC saving Norman (the calf).
Vertigo - Jimmy Stewart in the bell tower.
The Trouble With Harry - Any scene where Harry’s dead body keeps reappearing.
The Star Chamber - The warehouse scene near the end where the hired assasin gets it in the back. The end when Michael Douglas and the cop are in the car recording the secret “trials” that are being held by the judges.
The Birds - The scene where the crows are seen blanketing the playground equipment by the hundreds for the first time.
The Shawshank Redemption - When Morgan Freeman’s character finally tells the parole board off. When Morgan Freeman finds his way along the rock wall. When Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins meet up on the beach at the end.
Dave - When Sigourney Weaver walks in on Kevin Klein in the shower.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s - The end, when they order nothing but engraving.
Citizen Kane - Orson Welles calling out “Rosebud!”
My Cousin Vinny - The courtroom scene when Marisa Tomei’s character is spouting off all her knowledge about cars and then declares that it isn’t possible that the accused are the perpetrators and explains why.
War Games - When the computer finally figures out that global thermonuclear war cannot have a winner and asks if they’d like to play a nice game of chess.
Tootsie - When Dustin Hoffman pulls his wig off and reveals that he’s a man during the shooting of one of his soap scenes.
Yentl - The scene where Barbra Streisand finally confesses she’s a woman and that she’s in love with Mandy Patinkin, and he admits he loves her too.
Presumed Innocent - When Harrison Ford’s character finds the bloody hammer in his tool box and realizes his wife killed his lover and set him up to stand trial for it.
Lost Horizon - Either version (the original 1937 b&w or the hokey musical remake) when Richard finds his way back through the blinding, snow-covered mountains to the entrance of Shangri-La.
Raiders of the Lost Ark - The cave scene when the gigantic rock comes rolling after Harrison Ford.
Prince of Tides - The scene where Nick Nolte finally recounts the events of the rape.
Schindler’s List - The scene at the end when all the people Schindler saved are placing stones on his grave and they show Schindler’s real-life wife in the wheelchair.
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank
What a great thread, if I do say so myself. I’m going to print this off for the next time I’m at the video store. There’s about 20 movies in here I really want to see again. (and some for the first time)
Enright3
Hey, Narile, Thanks! 
I saw that Danny Kaye movie in the theater about 40 years ago, I remember that scene; but I’d forgotten the title of the movie!
To AWB, etc.: I did see Stalag 17 once; that was a real good scene, and the guy getting the time zone wrong re what he was doing when Pearl Harbor was attacked–that was a zinger!
It’s a Wonderful Life: George’s scene with Mary, which ends with him dropping the phone and kissing her passionately, and her mother looking away aghast.
The ending, especially after Mary comes back into the house and George, with the kids in tow, runs downstairs to meet her.
Around the World in 80 Days and The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze: the scen at the end, in London, where it turns out “THIS is the eightieth day” and not the 81st!!
Mighty Joe Young (1949, with Terry Moore and Robert Armstrong): The tug-of-war, when Primo Carnera and the Swedish Angel (boy, was he UGLY!!) chortle as Joe gives up the tug-of-war; Joe gives Carnera his come-uppance, after the boxer cuffs him the way he did Joe Louis and Max Schmeling, by picking Carnera up and throwing him into the audience.
The whole chase scene, beginning with O’Hara’s fake heart attack, to distract the policeman in the basement guarding Joe and ending with Joe’s successful rescue of three terrified children in a burning orphanage.
The Kid from Left Field (about 1952), in which, near the end, a star pitcher for the team moves to third base for one player–who hits this pitcher like he owns him–and another pitcher gets the guy out; then “Bermudas” returns to the mound.
Monkey Business"–where the brothers run out into the promenade of the ocean liner; Chico sits at the piano and the others wail on saxophones for about ten bars, then leave to the applause of the audience.
The Caine Mutiny–the court-martial scene.
Li’l Abner–the scene in the ballroom, where the “ricochet truth-whammified General Bullmose,” under the influence of Evil Eye Fleegle, confesses to the police his plot to have Abner killed.
The Time Machine–the latter part of Wells’ battle with the Morlocks, where he has rescued Weena and now, wielding a torch, mows down the Morlocks–then kills two of them as he starts up his time machine.
The Long Hot Summer: the picnic scene where Paul Newman tells Joanne Woodward to run.
Last of the Mohicans: Where Alice jumps. (right on Poysyn)
Jaws: “We need a bigger boat!” 'nuff said!
Any Jackie Chan movies (right on Arg) JC rocks!!!
Forrest Gump: Where Forrest tells Jenny that she was with him to see the things he saw. I choke up everytime.
Ghostbusters: the last scene on the building where they call her a prehistoric bitch and they ask Ray what he thought of. Also the scene in prison where they ask if everyone is getting the story and Ray tells Vankeman that “they never made them like this”
Braveheart: he is disemboweled and he still finds the strength to yell “Freedom!!”
Empire Records: pretty much the whole movie
Tombstone: Val Kilmer says “I’ll be your huckleberry” Awesome!
Jurassic Park: the T-rex scene at the end where the “Dinosaurs Rule” banner falls in front of T-Rex, and the first T-rex scene with the tour where the crap hits the fan.
Jerry Maguire: the whole “you complete me” scene. . .call me corny if you must, but I like it
Sniper: Billy Zane falls down the mountain and when Tom Berenger tells him he did good, Zane asks “You mean there’s a wrong way to fall down a fucking mountain!?!”
Dumbo: Poysyn, I still cry everytime the Momma rocks dumbo in her trunk too. Great scene!
Can’t Hardly Wait: “Nobody drink the beer, the beer has gone bad!”, and when Amanda finds Ethan’s character in the station.
The Sandlot: the end scene with Benny and Herc, and the scene where Smalls says “no, no, I don’t know nothin’ about it.”
Lost in Yonkers: where the younger boy tells the older boy about moxy, and where the gramma says she heard them threaten to cut off her braids.
Independance Day: Where Smith and Goldblume are flying to the mother ship to blow it up. Great chemistry between two actors.
Okay, I better stop now. . .I watch too many movies, Ughola!
Oh some more…
BladeRunner ‘I have seen ships aflame in the light of the tanhauser gate…’ The death of Roy Batty…simple elegance and poignance.
The Sting The twist at the end with the Gman actually being a con, and Newman and Redford still alive.
>>Being Chaotic Evil means never having to say your sorry…unless the other guy is bigger than you.<<
—The dragon observes
Okay a few more:
Forrest Gump: When Forrest asks Jenny if their son is smart or stupid (it gets me everytime)
Moll Flanders: Just a good albeit really sad movie
Face-Off: When Nicolas Cage steps out of his car as Castor and his coat blows back, beautiful scene.
Dangerous Minds: when the principal admits he sent the guy away because he wasn’t “polite” and didn’t knock
Mr Holland’s Opus: when Richard Dryfuss’ character and his wife argue about not being able to communicate with their deaf son (my oldest sister is deaf)
The American President: When Annette Benig comes out of the bathroom wearing only a dress shirt
Bevery Hills Cop: When he goes to the snooty restaurant and does that whole bit. Also when he jumps in the backseat of the poilce car and cackles
A League of their Own: The whole telegram part, it rips my hert everytime - also the umpire and Tom Hanks’ argument I laugh everytime
Bull Durham: when Kevin Costner calls the ump a cocksucker and when Susan and Kevin’s characters have sex on the table with wheaties and milk all around
The Lion King: Just a really touching movie
The Sixth Sense: everyone in the theatre cried when he was talking to his mom about his grandma seeing her dance and being proud of her
That should be enough, no?
Shayna–
You mentioned Presumed Innocent and The Prince of Tides. In both cases, the book is better than the movie, especially the latter. If you haven’t read them, hie thee to a bookstore!
I’ll repeat some movies, but add my favorite scenes from them.
Braveheart: The part where William loses his father, and little Murron(sp?) gives him the flower as he mourns.
Mr. Holland’s Opus: Where Mr. Holland sings to Cole
Sandlot: (Which is one of my most favorite movies) When they “kick the crap” out of the other baseball team.
Forrest Gump: My favorite movie of all time…too many to list. But, I love the part when Lt. Dan yells at God during the hurricane. “Is this the best you can do!?! Whoooo!!” Then he gets pummeled by tons of water. Also when Lt. Dan finds his “peace with God.”
A Night in Casablanca: (It’s a Marx brothers film) When they play the harp and piano. I was truly dumbfounded at the talent of those guys.
Adam
“Life is hard…but God is good”
My favorite scenes from Mr. Holland are when the son confronts the dad, in sign language, with the mom translating, and the beginning of the last scene, with “our esteemed governor, the honorable Gertrude Lang”.
Remember, I’m pulling for you; we’re all in this together.
—Red Green
When we first see Rita Hayworth’s face.
The chase sequence, Butch Cassedy.
“The fall will probably kill you.”
Anything from the Holy Grail.
“What if I called myself an emperor because
some aquatic tart lobbed a scimitar at me?”
Sorry, I shouldn’t misquote stuff to people who already know the material better than I do.
Demi Moore crying in Ghost.
The scene where Captain Bligh orders Clark Gable to fraternize with the chief’s daughter. “You have my full attention, sir.”
The big we’re-taking-dad’s-car-out-scene where the music quits when the motor does, and then the music resumes when the motor starts again. From that movie, you know, where Cruise dances in his underwear.
So many scenes from Harold and Maude. Let’s say the three dates, oh, and the three professionals responding to the announcement of Harold’s impending wedding.
Before the credits in Top Gun. Dawn on an aircraft carrier.
Before the credits in Stealing Arizona. The romance between the recidivist and the police photographer.
>When Harry Met Sally: I bet everyone thinks I’m going to say the >Deli scene, but no.
Then I’ll say it.
Jackie Chan and the stepladder. Awesome!
When they fly over the waterfall in The Rescuers Down Under.
An old vampire movie: The vampire climbs in the girl’s window. She cowers as he approaches, and then she abruptly brandishes a cross. He responds, “Boy have you got the wrong vampire.”
The hotdog scene in Dirty Harry.
Deerhunter. The wedding.
Oh, this is such fun! Movieline magazine every month has a little feature asking stars what their favorite movie moments are, but now I have a chance!
a) Beauty and the Beast, the old French black-and-white version. Every scene is amazing, but there’s one where Belle is running in what appears to be slow motion. A scene directly out of a beautiful dream!
b) King of the Gypsies - where Eric Roberts is ice skating (badly) with his middle class girlfriend, and he’s yakking away non-stop and wearing an inappropriate black leather jacket and has a cigarette dangling from his lips. He’s a real fish out of water, totally out of place, you wonder what the hell she is thinking making him do that, and then you look at him and he is so eyeball-searingly gorgeous that you just stop wondering.
c) The Miracle Worker - scene at the water pump near the end - God, I’m tearing up right now!
d) The Wicker Man - when the religious detective meets his destiny, inside the wicker man, and tries to set some of the animals free.
e) The Child Stealer, an old made-for-TV (?) movie starring Blair Brown as a divorced mother who hires a detective to find her children. Their father has taken them and told them she is dead. The children are tracked down. Ms. Brown and the detective follow them down the street in a van, and the scene is so intense I have never forgotten it in all these years.
f) Giant - when James Dean’s character strikes oil
g) Sometimes A Great Notion - Paul Newman’s companion is trapped in a lake, the tide is coming in, his head is going to be covered with water, and Paul Newman keeps diving beneath the surface to blow air into the guy’s lungs…
h) The King and I - The March of the Children number where young Prince Chulalongkorn makes his entrance and Mrs. Anna makes a deep and respectful curtsey.
How about:
A Christmas Story when the father mispronouces “Fragile” with great florish: FRA-GEEL-AY! Must be Italian.
Titanic: (yeah, I know, but…) As the ship is sinking and people are falling into the water, there is that one guy that falls…and hits the propeller on the way down! Even Letterman made fun if this one!
The final “'ere’s to him” scene in “Waking Ned Devine.”
Christopher Lloyd’s repeated yelps as everything goes wrong while he’s hanging from the clock tower in Back To The Future I."
The very first time you ever saw Jessica Rabbit. “I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way.”
Like everyone else, there are plenty more. (Start this conversation with your friends at your next get together and see what happens!)
My fate keeps getting in the way of my destiny.
Didn’t notice anyone else mentioning this:
The Thin Man, when Nick Charles (William Powell) and the police lieutenant are walking down the street outside the Charles’ apartment, accompanied by Nora Charles (Myrna Loy) and the Charles’ terrier, Asta. I still giggle each time I see it at its subtlety (I’m a sucker for sight gags anyway).
Or:
Local Hero, one of my sentimental favorites, has a lots of moments I particularly like, but most of them depend on things that have been hinted at or mentioned earlier. The only one that more or less stands alone as a set piece is the scene where Mac (Peter Riegert) is discussing with Roddy and several of the locals that they all have several jobs, while they’re surprised that he only has the one job. This phase of the conversation ends with Roddy (I think) saying: “Aye, we all muck in together and do whatever needs doin’” (or words to that effect). Throughout the entire scene, a baby in a stroller is sometimes visible, sometimes audible, sometimes both. As the conversation lags, Mac takes up a new topic, “So, who’s baby?”, and is met with only uneasy glances and uncomfortable silence.
It’s rather clichéd to say it, but the opening tracking shot in Touch of Evil.
Likewise, the tracking shot at the end of the Battle of Agincourt in Branagh’s Henry V.
Cocoanuts, the “viaduct” scene.
Ack. Let’s make that “whose baby?”
More proof that the human brain requires more than three hours per night of sleep, at least over any four day period, and that coffee, while ameliorative, cannot fully compensate for deficiencies in this department.
This is better than the AFI list of 100 great movies. So many great scenes to
The Godfather is an all time favorite for many reasons but Sonny’s righteous wingtip shoe ass kicking of Carlo is a terrific scene as well as Clemenza’s payback to Carlo later on. I suspect the Corlenone’s neighbors would tend to ignore a guy kicking out the windshield of a car as he’s being strangled.
George C. Scott getting so excited he trips over himself in the war room in Dr. Strangelove. it was actually a mistake but was left it because it fit the character so well.
Matthew Broderick being deflowered by hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold Park Overall in Biloxi Blues. Could Eugene have been more of a nebbish? “You come to mama now.” “Would it be alright if we didn’t use the word ‘mama’?” “Breathe darlin, breathe.”
The giant squid scene in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea for no reason in particular.