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1 Indianapolis scene from Jaws.
Robert Shaw's monologue is pertinent because the internet says he was there.
2 Bar scene from Inglorious Bastards.
Just because Taranrtino paints a picture with words and builds a palpable tension with scene and dialogue.
3 Terminator 2 bar scene. Just because.
Off the top of my head...
The Danny Boy machine gun fight scene in Miller's Crossing.
The 'when I run I feel his pleasure' scene in Chariots of Fire.
Omar Sharif riding out of the heat haze in Lawrence of Arabia.
"open the pod bay doors Hal" - 2001
I've worked in IT for the last thirty years and it still makes me laugh, he's not going to open the doors Dave and that'll teach you to remember your helmet.
"you're going to need a bigger boat" - Jaws
A bald statement of incontrovertible fact, the shark has not aged well that's for sure, but in all other respects a superb movie - as above; the monologue about the USS Indianapolis is brilliant.
"Luke, I am your father" - The Empire Strikes Back
Thirteen year old me was totally stunned; mind blown, to be honest I'm still in a bit of a daze. Stands in stark contrast to every other Star Wars Movie since; they should have just stopped right there.
The Matrix lobby shootout. The most badass thing I’d seen on film at the time. Wicked soundtrack.
The Untouchables - train station. The music. The tension!! A masterpiece. “You got him?” “Yeah, I got him.”
That bit in Flash Gordon when Brian Blessed yells out DIIIIIIIIIIVE and all the lasers go pew pew then Brian May’s guitar kicks in DRRRAAAANNNNNGGGGGGGGG. Finest moment in the history of the silver screen.
Expect some flak for this, but first Matrix, right at the start, Trinity’s fight with the police. Just remember watching it at the cinema and being blown away.
The first Bourne film, he’s in a park and is awoken by Swiss police, fights with skills he didn’t know he had.
Apocalypse Now helicopter scene. Should have put that one first, but it’s very late and past my bed time.
Loads of others being very memorable, Alien John Hurt chest scene. Das Boot when they are being hunted and everything is done via sound, crew have to whisper. Not a single scene as such but still very good.
True Romance, when Dennis Hopper realises he's getting killed and has the monologue about Moors and Italians.
Most scenes in Goodfellas
"get 3 coffins ready"
If I have time to think about it it will get better.
1) the dinner scene from Donnie Darko that family fight is just perfect.
2) the scene from 2001 where Dave goes out to rescue Poole, such an incredible sense of tension
3) probably the scene from the Matrix where Smith is interrogating Morpheus, cold brutality from Hugo Weaving
The other two matrix scenes also blew me away on first watch. It's not as awful a film as people make out - the first one anyway. I've seen it said that Equilibrium was the film the Matrix should have been but that's not doing justice to either they were both visually slick for their day but quite differently plotted and in their mood.
I was trying to decide between Tarantino scenes but there are so many, that is one of the best for sure thoTrue Romance, when Dennis Hopper realises he’s getting killed and has the monologue about Moors and Italians.
Alien Diva operatic performance in the Fifth Element was struck a chord.
The Sad Hill cemetary scene from TGTB&TU.
The dancing Scene with Stan and Ollie from Way Out West.
The opening of Once Upon A Time In The West, although the Shower scene from American Werewolf In London is a close contender...🙂
Clever girl in Jurassic Park
I have seen things Blade Runner
What strategy Homeland ( not a film I know)
Cheek to Cheek from Top Hat.
Crazy 88 scene from Kill Bill.
Tommy Caldwell deciding to climb back down to Kevin Jorgensen in The Dawn Wall.
By the way, is there anybody on board who knows how to fly a plane.
Not necessarily greatest but for me memorable for a number of reasons
1. ‘Well, Edward, you'll just need to buck up. You need to accept the fact
you're stinking rich’ Local Hero. It may sound mawkish but seeing this film made me , a southern Jessie, want to visit Northern Scotland which I have done for every year (bar this one) since 1985.
2. The take off scene with Peter O’Toole in a Grumman Duck Murphy’s War. Flown by Frank Tallman.
3.the first scene in Star Wars where the huge craft flies over the head. As a 14 year old in the Leicester Square cinema in 1977 this was astonishing
Pacino and De-Niro Having coffee in Heat.
All of Goodfellas.
Rentons toilet scene in Trainspotting.
All of Goodfellas, especially the Layla scene. Plus the Christening scene in Godfather.
And one from childhood:
The bit in Crash where the guy goes to kill someone but unknowingly has blanks in his gun
The quite large bit in Heat where they come out the bank
Well, Edward, you’ll just need to buck up. You need to accept the fact
you’re stinking rich’ Local Hero. It may sound mawkish but seeing this film made me , a southern Jessie, want to visit Northern Scotland which I have done for every year (bar this one) since 1985.
Local Hero is a flawless pearl of a film. It is sentimental but manages to avoid sentimentality if that makes sense.
Predator-helicopter scene. Jesse Ventura at his finest
Top Gun-opening sequence, still get the chills
Ghostbusters 1- Venkman getting slimed
All total cheese, but awesome nonetheless.
Someone nicked my No Country one 🙂
So -
Another bar scene - but this one from Near Dark
Southern Comfort - loads in that, but especially in the village, where the pig slaughter happens and the cajun music kicks off. So tense.
Miami Blues, scene where Fred Ward and Alec Baldwin first meet. They are brilliant
From about 1 min in here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KvfIsbhIQLA
Plus the opening scene from Star Wars.
and Jango Fett beating the shit out of this bloke.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-jGibCvZ7GY
"the last fight" from Battle of Britain music by william walton
from 4.00
and with no music just the wind pump squeak the opening scene from once upon a time in the west
simply stunning
pbr street gang this is almighty come in.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k1OYtFZs6I
Several of my favourites already mentioned, I want to add the following to the list:
Spinal Tap final scene
Collateral disco scene
Any scene from Ferris Beuller
The dance final in Strictly Ballroom
‘You think that’s air you’re breathing?’ in The Matrix
Goodfellas: "Do I amuse you?" Which way is crazy Tommy going to go?
Star Wars: Opening shot when the Star Destroyer passes overhead. I saw this at the cinema in 1977 and it blew my mind.
A Bridge Too Far: The boy on the bike and the Spitfire. So much hope that ultimately comes to nothing.
Also, the beach landing in Saving Private Ryan. But at 20+ minutes it is a film in itself rather than a mere scene.
The best movie scene ever because as a final scene it completely changes the whole film. You realise that while you've been laughing your tits off all the way through it, what you've actually just watched is a love story and a tragedy
Just bonkers, still...
I first watched this as a kid and laughed my head off. I still do now. There is still nothing funnier than farting 😀
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPIP9KXdmO0
Star Wars: Opening shot when the Star Destroyer passes overhead. I saw this at the cinema in 1977 and it blew my mind.
Have to agree with this - I still get tingles down my spine when I see any Star Wars intro.
Quite a few good ones so far not sure if any one has said the opening sequence of Raiders of the Lost Ark, about as iconic as film gets.
Also
EDIT
The Matrix lobby shootout. The most badass thing I’d seen on film at the time. Wicked soundtrack.
The helicopter rescue scene was also utterly mind blowing. It ended with a perfect pay off line too. "Now do you believe he is the One"
Also, the beach landing in Saving Private Ryan
When I watched this in the cinema the guy next to me (whom I didn’t know)was eating popcorn all the way through. There was me transfixed and feeling nauseous from what I had seen on the screen, well, I couldn’t have eaten anything at that point
As a combination of scenes, the first three of Dirty Harry (rooftop, mayor's office, then the bank job) introduce the character in a brilliant way and tell you exactly what he and the rest of the film are about.
All cliche now of course but they wouldn't have been when he was pretty much the first character of the type.
I will come up with 2 more later, this always has me in tears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoAzpa1x7jU
3.the first scene in Star Wars where the huge craft flies over the head. As a 14 year old in the Leicester Square cinema in 1977 this was astonishing
Yep, the sense of scale is amazing...
Indianapolis scene from Jaws
I opened this thread purely to check someone had mentioned that one.. so good to see it's the first one on the list!
Opening scene from Saving Private Ryan, my dad I were transfixed for the first 30mins.
Last of the Mohicans - scene where Magua gets done - the music, the aggression in DDL's dad's face when he see's his other son get his throat cut etc, powerful scene!
Bullitt car chase.
I forgot this one:
Three of mine:
Holy Grail - Killer Rabbit
Alien - Dallas in the airlocks
Reservoir Dogs - the scene just after the robbery
I don't know if it's my favourite, but the Ultimart scene in Grosse Point Blank has some very nice touches.
Shawshank Redemption - beach scene.
Team America - jeep chase scene.
Up - The life story montage.
Robert Shaw’s monologue is pertinent because the internet says he was there.
Doubtful unless the US Navy were taking 17 year old English kids on their top secret missions.
wow, so many scenes/films that I'd forgotten all about... the fight between that guy & Cusack by the school lockers is probably my favourite screen fight of all time! Brutal, brilliant choreography & dare I say it (never actually been in a fight to the death) seems very realistic! Also I love that when it's over, he is visibly exhausted (most movie fights end with the hero not even out of breath and running straight off to do something else 😃)I don’t know if it’s my favourite, but the Ultimart scene in Grosse Point Blank has some very nice touches.
Also cannot believe I forgot Saving Private Ryan, absolutely iconic scene, like most people I was glued to my seat in the cinema watching that and slightly shellshocked by the end of it! There's definitely been "gore inflation" since in films/TV and it's probably not as shocking any more but I'll always remember how I felt when I first saw it.
This
Also, the beach landing in Saving Private Ryan
When I watched this in the cinema the guy next to me (whom I didn’t know)was eating popcorn all the way through. There was me transfixed and feeling nauseous from what I had seen on the screen, well, I couldn’t have eaten anything at that point
Astonishing and mesmerising. I saw this at the cinema, I haven't seen it since and I doubt I ever will.
Popcorn... Pffffffff.
The bit in 'Life of Brian' when the space ship appears.
Only 3?? Damn.
In addition to many of the ones already mentioned....
Jurassic Park, where the 2 paleontologists see the dinosaurs for the first time. Yes, it's cheesy but it's a brilliant piece of cinema to watch.
The Longest Day, final scene with Richard Burton where he explains to the scared young soldier about the dead German who has his boots on the wrong feet.
Avengers Assemble - Hulk beating the ever-living shit out of Loki. "I am your God!" <smash-smash-smash-smash> "Puny God."
There are many better scenes, but this one just makes me laugh out loud!
But what about any number of scenes from Fistful of Dollars? Green Mile? Heat? Pulp Fiction? Thomas Crown Affair? I can't say the ones I've picked are my 3 favourite of all time, but they sprang to mind.
Si
Definite nerd choice but the music and the otherworldly view just works amazingly together.
This one has a spoiler for Children Of Men, which is an amazing film that not enough people have seen, so if you haven't, don't watch this, watch the film.
and I guess
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHhXaxgntk
Though I'd like to run it on into the gunfight.
Loads of crackers mentioned already.
I'll chip I with
Bruce Lee Vs O'Hara in Enter the Dragon
Rohirrim appearing at Helms Deep in the Two Towers
The Bride meeting Hattori Hanzo in Kill Bill 1
Life of Pi. When they are sitting totally becalmed at night, the view of the lifeboat seemingly floating in space is breathtaking.
The end of lord of the flies, as Ralph escaping being murdered, falls at the feet of the rescuer and it all ends.
Pretty much half of Apocalypse Now.(Pretty much all we got was Vietnam war as a small kid, plonked in front of the tV watching the helicopters lifting off from the embassy., so any references to it I find interesting.
I think my mum was following it. She was a bit of a beatnik, sculpting and art.
Leon- Gary Oldman “EVERYONE!!!!!”
Lock Stock - Zorba the Greek gunfight scene.
Spinal Tap - Stonehenge.
The Intouchables car scene
Matrix - "Dodge this"
Good Will Hunting - "It's not your fault".
Definitely Goodfellas - lots of fantastic scenes. Funny like a clown takes it for me. I remember it well in the Cinema. Thrilling and hilarious.
Sicario - The Whole visit to Juárez was just stunning cinema. Barely any dialogue.
Usual Suspects - Last few moments caught me completely off my guard.
Some of the best scenes are scant of dialogue.
And bonus ball Trainspotting has probably the best opening and introduction to any film ever.
(Some good mentions - Miller's Crossing is very memorable. True Romance for sure. Tarantino ? The opening of Basterds is remarkable. Almost the whole of Pulp Fiction - tricky to pick a favourite. The Eric Stoltz sequence is amazing - a drug dealer that's your mate with some sort of friendly moral compass!)
The 'what?' scene in The Fall
The opening scene of Harold and Maude
Perfumed Ponce scene from Withnail and I
I've turned your link into an actual link as it's very sweary.
Alien John Hurt chest scene
Fun fact, none of the actors knew what was coming so their shocked reactions were real.
Avengers Assemble – Hulk beating the ever-living shit out of Loki. “I am your God!” <smash-smash-smash-smash> “Puny God.”
Is that the same film where he sucker-punches him clean out of the shot? I laughed so hard at that.
So many good choices already mentioned.
In an otherwise mediocre movie, the opening five minutes of Swordfish (in the cinema / on half-decent home AV). First time I watched it I immediately restarted the film to watch it again.
When Woody H. escapes in Natural Born Killers. Also, best use of music in a film ever. I really need to watch that again.
Indiana Jones shooting the guy with the swords. Totally ad-libbed, it was supposed to be a long fight sequence but Ford had the squits.
Three seems fairly arbitrary. I'll post more as I think of them.
Lots of classics already mentioned
+1 for the predator long tall Sally chopper scene, star wars & jaws USS
Hoth assault from Empire. Seeing the At At foot through the binoculars
Joker bank robbery from the Dark Knight. The action, masks, double crossery,heist itself & intro to the character.
1: Apocalypse Now - When Wilard comes out of the water and assassinates Kurtz to The End and the people butcher a cow at the same time.
2: Big Lebowski - Saddam Hussein dream bowling sequence.
3: Is a three way tie between the following:
Weekend at Bernie’s where they vac Bernie’s corpse (especially the moustache) and have to staple his wig back on.
Warrior King - Crazy restaurant fight/stunt extravaganza that was done in one take “WHERE’S MY ELEPHANT”
Once Upon a Time in the West - The train station stand off scene.
Sorry for sneaking five in there.
Not really all-time but some which spring to mind.
The Limey - "Tell 'im I'm facking camminnnng!"
Miami Vice - The shootout. I think because it's shot documentary style and the sound is so visceral. The only movie shootout I've ever watched where I was actually kinda grimacing and shrinking into my seat. It feels like you're in the scene.
Office Space - Peter's interview with the Bobs.
Im sure more will come to me as I think about it. Beaten to the coin toss scene too...
Matrix - Neo fights Morpheus
Magnolia - TJ Mackie's seminar
Network - Howard Beales Mad as hell speach
No particular order.
Opening scene of Betty Blue. 8 minutes of non-speaking rumpy-pumpy, then subtitle "I had known Betty for 6 days" or some such.
Local Hero - boat name painting scene - "are there two L's in dollar, Gideon?". "Aye, and are there two Gs in 'bugger off'?" 🙂
Diva - naughty cop on the take blow up Bohringer's Citroen TA, or so he thinks. Bohringer steps out of the shadows and gets into a decoy TA.
The fact The Matrix has been nominated so many times AND with so many different scenes proves its class.
Lots of good selections my 3 would be
A bridge to far James Caen driving the Jeep through the German lines.
Jason and the Argonauts fighting the skeletons.
The church Fight/ massacre scene from Kingsman.
Plus loads more I can’t think of.
Sicario – The Whole visit to Juárez was just stunning cinema. Barely any dialogue.
Ultimate ratchet experience. Brilliant!
2 pages and no one has mentioned Jenny Agutter in the shower?
I don't know whether to be happy or sad.
1. The Matrix - the scene with Morpheus and the red and blue pill. The desolation, the delivery and the reflection in the glasses. Perfect.
2. Cast Away - the scene when Tom Hanks throws away Wilson in a rage and then can’t find him. The anguish.
3. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Moria. The utter magnificence and grandeur of the place totally lived up to my imagination from reading the books. The fight between Gandalf and the Balrog. The emotion of The Hobbits at the loss of Gandalf and Boromir’s delivery of “give them a moment for pity’s sake!” Just phenomenal!
@Rusty Spanner
You mentioned it a page ago.
You know when you said you'd only do it til you needed glasses... 🙂
Oh,
The big reveal in The Shawshank Redemption.
Oh,
The big reveal in The Shawshank Redemption.
👍 Yep, fantastic. Great film.
I love the smell of Napalm in the morning
[mod edit: if you haven't seen The Usual Suspects and ever plan to, this clip spoilers the entire film]
And
Bricktops “ feed em to the pigs “ speech
Huh, you can hide embedded YT videos in spoiler tags. Cool, who knew.
Wow... will try to remember to hide clips in spoiler tags in future
Thanks Mod... didn’t realise that
But it is a great film so if anyone hasn’t seen it
WHY NOT 🤣
Ok, I've given this some though...
1) Silence of the Lambs - could be any of the Hopkins/Foster scenes but I think the final one, just before he escapes, is utterly mesmerising.
2) The end of It's a Wondeful Life - a climax of emotion without equal.
3) The Biggus Dickus scene from Life of Brian. The funniest scene ever made.
Naked Patrick Bateman dropping the chainsaw onto the fleeing escort.
Some of the LoTR fight scenes were amazing in the cinema.
Free Fire- when the van is going round in circles after the driver has been shot and Annie’ song is playing on its radio- brilliant juxtaposition.
Hear no Evil, See No Evil (yes a crap film but this bit makes up for it)- just before a contract killer (a beautiful female) is about to kill them, Gene Wilder asks if a kiss is out of the question. She obliges and Richard
Pryor asks “I suppose a f***’s out the question?” Sadly dubbed to bath when it’s been on telly.
Young Frankenstein- there’s a row of skulls showing period of decay, ending with Igor who bursts into “I ain’t got no body”
Tied in third place with the Monster’s “Putting on the Ritz”