# What are the best action sequences ever(spoilers within) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 3, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475 "2003-06-03T23:27:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/1 "2003-06-03T23:27:31Z")
Rule #1: Each sequence must have a beginning and an end. No, “the action is really good in this one part…”. I mean sequences that are masterpieces in and of themselves, even if the moives around them suck. Well, that’s the only rule, but it’s a good one. Two of mine come from Matrix Reloaded, but I guess I’ll spoiler box them if you haven’t seen it(sigh). Here they are, numbered but in no particular order: 1. **Obi Wan vs. Darth Maul**. It starts when the red force field opens and ends when, well, when one of them falls into the pit. 2. **Cave Troll Sequence from Fellowship of the Ring** : It starts when the drum beats the first time and ends when the Troll falls. Beatufiuly edited and even better in the extended version. 3. The 14 minute car chase sequence in the Matrix Reloaded. It starts when the siren outside sounds and ends when Neo flies in and saves Morpheus and the Key Maker. 4. **Yu Shu Lien vs. Jen Yu** in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Girl on girl action at its finest! I love this whole sequence! 5. **Lobby Shooting Spree** in the Matrix. Begins when they walk in, ends when they take the elevator. 6. Neo vs. 100 Agent Smiths in Matrix Reloaded. Some think it goes on too long, I think it’s perfect. 7. The sword fight at the end of the terrible Musketeers movie. Great sequence, miserable movie. 8. The entire final sequence in the factory in Drunken Master II. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/2 "2003-06-03T23:50:46Z")
**Once Upon a Time in China** : the entire last fight between Wong Fei Hung and, er, whatshisname. Especially the bit with the ladders, which I understand the most recent “Musketeer” film lifted. **Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon** : damn near all of them. **The One** : Lawless versus Opening Sacrificial Cops, beginning with him diving out of the OSHA-required Huge Ventilation System, ending with him just breaking into a run as he leaves the garage, shooting someone casually without even looking. **Scanners** : okay, this stretches the boundaries of what an “action sequence” is, but I still consider it one. The final psychic duel between Cameron Vale and Daryl Revok. **Last Man Standing** : Yojim…er…I mean, John Smith blowing away about thirty mafia goons to rescue the bartender (who I’m utterly unable to divorce from portraying Larry of bros. Larry, Daryl and Daryl on “Newhart”). It’s like a lightgun arcade game put on screen. **Hard-Boiled** : a) Three Minutes, Thirty Seconds. One continuous take of Tequila and Tony killing down several corridors and two hospital floors. b) Tequila and the Last Baby. For a minute or so, Chow Yun Fat is dancing; the beginning of life cradled in one arm; the ending of it in the other. Very nicely done. **Desperado** : “I’m just…looking for…a man…who calls himself…” “Mata lo!” “Not yet!” The whole barfight scene from that moment until our Banderasized Mariachi staggers, kill-drunk, out the door with an “oh toilet bowl, I promise I’ll never kill another drop.” ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/3 "2003-06-03T23:52:01Z")
The bank robbery shootout in Heat. The car chase in Ronin. The car chase/shootout in Matrix: Reloaded. The car chase in Bullitt. ---
**Author:** ![Quack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e99b99/32.png) [@Quack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quack)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/4 "2003-06-03T23:56:20Z")
Best action sequence: I really like the sniper sequence in **Full Metal Jacket**. ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/5 "2003-06-03T23:58:22Z")
Well, it’s not really an “action scene” … but it does it involve blazing guns and burning buildings … The “Danny Boy” sequence from Miller’s Crossing. Also, the airplane scene from North By Northwest. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/6 "2003-06-04T00:19:19Z")
Obviously… the opening sequence from **Raiders Of The Lost Ark**. How much fun was _that_! Short but superb - the ‘New York’s Finest’ heist from **The Usual Suspects**. I second the vote for most all the action sequences in **Crouching Tiger**. The **T.Rex** attack from Jurassic Park. Trinity’s escape at the start of **The Matrix.** The attack on **Pearl Harbour.** The opening scene from **X-Men 2** , with the blue-tailed guy breaking into the White House, was amazing. The AT-AT attack from **Empire Strikes Back.** Whichever **Bond** movie has him skiing off the cliff, jettisoning the skis and then opening a Union Jack parachute. D-Day landing from **Saving Private Ryan**. ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/7 "2003-06-04T00:32:11Z")
To go completely old school on you, the carousel scene in \*\* Strangers on a Train \*\*. Comes as a great release after purely psychological suspense. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/8 "2003-06-04T01:55:50Z")
When I saw the thread title, I knew I had to nominate the hospital scene in _Hard-Boiled_. I see **Drastic** beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/9 "2003-06-04T03:02:21Z")
The car chase scene in **The French Connection** is said to be one of the best chases of all time and I agree. I’ll also second the shootout in **Heat**. There were also some excellent action scenes in **Black Hawk Down** , but I watched it in ages so I can’t place them at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![king\_of\_spain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7cd45c/32.png) [@king\_of\_spain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/king_of_spain)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/10 "2003-06-04T03:13:15Z")
The fight in the trees and the girl-on-girlfight seem to get the most attention in **Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon** , but for my money by far the best was Jen Yu rampaging through the restaurant, shouting “I am a dragon in the desert! I am the Invincible Sword Goddess!” I could watch that forever. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/11 "2003-06-04T03:26:26Z")
The ending fight in **Fist of Legend** , with Jet Li. The whole movie is great, but the finale, in which the two enemies keep showing off by switching to their opponent’s fighting style (Kung-fu vs. Kempo Karate), is just perfect. And long. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/12 "2003-06-04T03:37:49Z")
The freeway chase in **The Matrix: Reloaded** The opening swordfight in the club in **Blade** - Cue the “Blade” music to the dad from Grounded for Life bursting into flames. The highway chase in **Terminator 2: Judgement Day** - “Come with me if you want to live” to the Ahnold pointing his shotgun at the burning tire. The Hummer/Ferarri chase in **The Rock** - “Can I have your hand on that Womak” to “Dude!..You trashed your Ferarri!” “It wasn’t mine.” Opening battle in **Gladiator** The first large scale battle in **Braveheart** Bond dives after a free-falling airplane in **Goldeneye** Special Agent Johnny Utah chases Bodhi out of an airplane sans parachutte in **Point Break** ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/13 "2003-06-04T03:57:17Z")
The fight between Carlo and Sonny in **The Godfather**. The final shootout in the graveyard in \*\*The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly \*\*. Maybe not a lot of action, but a lot of suspense leading up to the action. The Marines Abortive Hostage Rescue mission in **Aliens**. The fight between Ripley and the Alien Queen in **Aliens**. The Car Chase in **The French Connection**. The 10 minute fight in **They Live**. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/14 "2003-06-04T04:43:03Z")
**Rendezvous** , the entire movie. [sub]If you’ve heard of it, you know what I’m talking about.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/15 "2003-06-04T04:51:28Z")
The car chase in **The Bourne Identity.** The rest have already been mentioned, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/16 "2003-06-04T05:07:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ianzin \* > \*\*Whichever **Bond** movie has him skiing off the cliff, jettisoning the skis and then opening a Union Jack parachute. > \*\* That would be “The Spy Who Loved Me,” one of the best Bond films made by Roger Moore. No trick photography was used for the stunt; that’s a real guy going over a 2,000 foot cliff and parachuting to the ground. I’ll second the D-Day scene in “Saving Private Ryan.” It’s the only sequence I can think of that frightened me _before_ it started. The sound of the crashing surf, the looks on the mens’ faces. . . The opening fight in “Blade.” It ends when he leaves and literally _everyone_ in the room is dead. (They were all vampires.) Oops! Looks like I’m seconding that as well. And, hey! I never noticed it was the same guy from “Grounded For Life”! ---
**Author:** ![Sqube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Sqube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sqube)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/17 "2003-06-04T05:31:49Z")
I’m gonna come from left field and say the gun kata scenes from **Equilibrium**. ---
**Author:** ![Daydreamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@Daydreamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daydreamer)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/18 "2003-06-04T05:41:19Z")
The Neo v. Morpheus fight in **The Matrix** “Don’t think you are, know you are” The mental institution escape from **Terminator 2** Love the T-1000’s theme The first drunken fight in **Legend of Drunken Master** “What do the skulls mean” “[slurred]thats good stuff” The Death Star run from **Star Wars: A New Hope** “Use the force, luke” ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/19 "2003-06-04T05:52:01Z")
The opening fight in Blade 2… I liked it more than the first one. The bit where the camera stays on while he jumps out of a building, does a flip, and lands 5 stories down… well, I wish they’d had some shots like that in Spider-man. Also, it’s got the only original bullet time effect since the original Matrix (and I’m including Reloaded) right after he lands. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475/20 "2003-06-04T06:07:35Z")
The opening robbery sequence in **Strange Days**. Shot completely from one character’s POV and seemingly (though not actually) cutless, it’s a brilliant piece of work. The first time I saw the film, it just about knocked me out of my seat. It ends when the guys drops off of a roof. And just for sheer over-the-top fun, the police car chase at the end of the original **Blues Brothers** … how many police cars got destroyed in that? Ending with Jake and Elwood at gunpoint by about 200 cops. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-action-sequences-ever-spoilers-within/179475.md?page=2)