# Perfect scenes in movies/TV shows/plays **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 22, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326 "2010-05-22T01:26:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/81 "2010-06-04T16:49:19Z")
I just rewatched _ **Snatch** _ on HDNET Movies last night, and it has a lot of great scenes but the one that I thought of when I saw this thread was the scene where the two dogs are chasing the rabbit (Turkish and Tommy’s bet with Mickey), intercut with a parallel scene of Bricktop’s two thugs chasing down Tyrone on the street and then menacing him with two Rottweilers to get him to talk. Everything is in slow-motion (and the rabbit scene is beautifully filmed actually–it looked awesome in HD) and there is that throbbing-bass-synth-club-music playing over it all. Even though I’ve seen it several times and I know how it all is going to turn out, I find myself anxious over the rabbit’s plight every time I watch it. A great scene in a great movie! ---
**Author:** ![Tierce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@Tierce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tierce)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/82 "2010-06-04T17:54:00Z")
**Raising Arizona**. Best chase scene ever. **Yes, Prime Minister** – in the episode “A Diplomatic Incident”, Bernard trying to manage about 20 things at once dealing with a state funeral, a puppy in quarantine, and God knows what else. “No, we can’t have alphabetical seating in the Abbey, we’d have Iraq and Iran next to each other. Plus Israel and Jordan all sitting in the same pew. We’d be in danger of starting World War III. Yes, I know Ireland begins with an I, but no! Ireland doesn’t make it any better, Ireland doesn’t make anything any better. Oh, and make sure everyone one knows that when the Papal Envoy says ‘We desire to wash our hands’, it means he wants to go and have a pee. Yes, that’s a royal ‘We’. Followed by a royal flush…” ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/83 "2010-06-04T18:00:30Z")
Some that come to mind immediately for me: _Lost_ - the launch of the raft _Touch of Evil_ - the opening scene _Six Feet Under_ - the last few minutes of the the last episode ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/84 "2010-06-04T18:32:24Z")
The juxtaposition of the Michael’s nephew’s baptism with the hits on the other familys’ bosses in _The Godfather_. The opening scenes of _Up_. The car chase scene in _Ronin_. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/85 "2010-06-04T18:49:36Z")
The scene from **Close Encounters of the Third Kind** where Richard Dreyfus is stopped in a rural area at some train tracks in his work truck looking at a map. Some headlights come up behind him and he sticks his arm out the window to wave them around. Some more headlights come up behind him and he waves them around. Instead of going around they rise up with him being oblivious. It’s an alien ship and his truck is bathed in bright light as it scans him. Everything in the cab is briefly weightless including him and he’s totally freaked out. Awesome scene. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/86 "2010-06-04T19:25:25Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I’m too delirious with lust for Day-Lewis and fascination that he and the female lead whose name escapes me could be that jaw-droppingly gorgeous. They are like gods. Her name is Madeleine Stowe. And yes, she was clearly the daughter of Hera. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/87 "2010-06-04T19:30:55Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > There’s a scene in _All in the Family_ where Meathead gains some insight to Archie’s childhood. I think they were trapped in the basement. That scene gave me goosebumps when Mike realizes why Archie acted like Archie. So what is Archie’s story? ---
**Author:** ![ajdebosco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@ajdebosco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ajdebosco)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/88 "2010-06-04T19:48:48Z")
Just rewatched **The Man Who Would Be King**. Wow! They simply do not make films like that anymore. Two scenes that were absolute cinematic perfection: Danny (Sean Connery) and Peachy (Michael Caine) were being shown around the Holy City’s treasure troves. Their Gurka translator, Billy Fish, is explaining how as “Son of Secunda” it is all theirs, in his clipped British accent. Danny produces an uncut ruby bigger than a baseball, and Peachy then says look at this one, bigger than a football, followed by a protracted, perfect awed silence. Early in the film, the duo are asking Billy Fish about the version of polo being played by the Kafiristanis. “Do they always play with such a big ball?” He answers “Depends. Big head, big ball, small head, small ball.” :eek: When Danny and Peachy comprehend and recover from their initial shock, they ask: “Who’s head is that?” To which he replies, “Oh, that is big dumb head of Bashkai man.” Priceless. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/89 "2010-06-04T20:01:23Z")
there’s a fine moment in _E.T_. where true, realistic emotions come out. When the kids show their mother the body of the extraterrestrial creature, and she at first laughs, assuming that it’s a Halloween trick, and then slowly realizes that it is real. The acting is great…The expression on her face changes–from a happy smile ,to a confused stare, to a look of terrified fear. ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/90 "2010-06-04T20:54:05Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > The scene from **Close Encounters of the Third Kind** where Richard Dreyfus is stopped in a rural area at some train tracks in his work truck looking at a map. > Some headlights come up behind him and he sticks his arm out the window to wave them around. Some more headlights come up behind him and he waves them around. Instead of going around they rise up with him being oblivious. > It’s an alien ship and his truck is bathed in bright light as it scans him. > Everything in the cab is briefly weightless including him and he’s totally freaked out. > Awesome scene. One of many. That movie may bring a sense of wonder to the screen better than any other film ever has. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/91 "2010-06-04T21:18:30Z")
Wow… 90 posts in and not a single mention of Alec Baldwin’s “[Coffee is for closers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TROhlThs9qY)” scene in _Glengarry Glen Ross_? One of the most amazing scenes I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/92 "2010-06-04T21:46:43Z")
In the original **CSI** , in season 3 there is a second episode featuring the professional dominatrix, Lady Heather. The episode is called “Lady Heather’s Box”, and she is suspected of committing murder. The scene in particular shows her being interrogated by Brass in the interrogation room. She “knows” that Grissom is watching her through the one-way glass and steps over to him, even though she cannot see him. She looks directly into Grissom’s eyes while answering Brass’ questions. The camera angle is slightly offset from over Grissom’s shoulder, and so we can see Lady Heather with Grissom’s face reflected in the glass. Amazingly haunting. Also, the scene in **The Bone Collector** where a murder is committed in the street in Manhattan, and then the camera zooms out from that spot, all the down that street for a mile or two without turning (rising slightly all the while), until the camera ends in Lincoln Rhyme’s (played by Denzil Washington) eye. ---
**Author:** ![JuliaSqueezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/82dd89/32.png) [@JuliaSqueezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JuliaSqueezer)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/93 "2010-06-04T22:00:56Z")
\*\*The Man Who Would be King \*\*and **Last of the Mohicans** , as mentioned upthread would be two of my movie choices also. For television, I have to go with the final scene in the final episode of **Six Feet Under** , as Claire drives off to her future and we see the future flashing before us in a gorgeous montage, with the music of Sia sweeping it along. So satisfying and emotionally wrenching at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/94 "2010-06-04T22:12:00Z")
> [@BobArrgh](#): > > The episode is called “Lady Heather’s Box” :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/95 "2010-06-04T23:43:34Z")
I don’t know if anyone would find it _perfect_, but I really love the “Times Are A’Changin’” sequence in The Watchmen. It struck a perfect note for me. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/96 "2010-06-04T23:47:17Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > The fistfight scene in [_They Live:_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Live) The two leads (portrayed by actors who are also pro-wrestlers) fight on, and on, and on, and on, and some more, just because one is trying to persuade the other to put on a pair of special sunglasses so he can see the aliens. A perfect thing of its kind. I especially like when The Protagonist has the glasses on and walks into the bank with the shotgun. It’s at this point he realizes exactly what’s going on, and he wants these mutherfuckin aliens gone! He is now a rogue on a mission and announces it by saying “I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass…and I’m all out of [bubblegum](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp_K8prLfso).” ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/97 "2010-06-05T10:17:23Z")
The one the stands out for me is in “ **Big Night** ”. The scene takes place the morning after the eponymous night, in the kitchen of the restaurant around which the movie revolves. It is probably the longest almost entirely silent single take scene I’ve ever seen and yet the actions, body language and what few words there are make the emotion in the air absolutely palpable. It’s a great film anyway, but it’s worth watching just for that scene. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/98 "2010-06-05T12:31:54Z")
From _Magnum, P.I._ right after Mac is killed. Magnum is distraught over his death, when Mac’s boss walks in. Whenever Colonel Flagg appears in an episode, he is always involved in some espionage scheme, technically legal but morally bankrupt. When he enters the room, Magnum erupts in righteous fury and demands to know what’s going on. Flagg simply replies, “You tell me. It was your car they blew up.” ---
**Author:** ![AllFreedomUnlessDefyingScience](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@AllFreedomUnlessDefyingScience](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllFreedomUnlessDefyingScience)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/99 "2010-06-05T20:22:27Z")
The fight scene in the Star Trek: TOS episode: Shore Leave between Kirk and his academy nemesis Finnegan, for my money still the best fight scene in TV history with the insane Irishman (how odd that he’s Irish… 🙂 ) laughing like a hyena. Kirk: “I always DID want to beat the tar out of Finnegan” The final scene in “Ravenous” (a dark comedy/horror film about cannibalism) with Ives’ last line “You know, if you die first, I am _definitely_ going to eat you, the question is, if I die first, what are you going to do? Bon appetite” The Wild Bunch : Everything after “Let’s go” til the end Risky Business the first sex scene “Are you ready for me… Ralph?” Fritz Lang’s “M” The scene where the thieves tear apart a whole office building looking for Peter Lorre American Beauty: The scene where Lester quits his job and blackmails his boss into giving him a fortune in severance pay and benefits The TV show “Soap” the scene where Jody hides Chuck’s dummy Bob (see it here, if you don’t laugh, see a doctor, there is something wrong with you) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTeppN1PwH8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTeppN1PwH8) The ending of the first Cohen brothers film “Blood Simple” where Frances McDormand kills M. Emmet Walsh thinking he is her husband and Walsh says as he is dying “When I see him lady I’ll give him the message” The ending of John Carpenter’s “The Thing” with Kurt Russell and David Keith still unsure if the other is a “Thing” I have lots more but I’ll quit now ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326/100 "2010-06-05T21:16:04Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > The one the stands out for me is in “ **Big Night** ”. The scene takes place the morning after the eponymous night, in the kitchen of the restaurant around which the movie revolves. It is probably the longest almost entirely silent single take scene I’ve ever seen and yet the actions, body language and what few words there are make the emotion in the air absolutely palpable. It’s a great film anyway, but it’s worth watching just for that scene. That was an amazing scene. When I saw the movie on tv recently, they cut it. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-scenes-in-movies-tv-shows-plays/540326.md?page=6)