Top 10 Battle Scenes in Movies
Published on September 30, 2007 - 103 Comments
This has been quite a difficult list to make because there are so many brilliant battle scenes around. Despite that, I have managed to cull the list down to the 10 best. If you think I have left a great scene off the list - be sure to add it to the comments (preferably with a link to YouTube so everyone can watch). From good to great, here are the top 10 battle scenes in movies.
10. Gladiator Battle in Germania
Classical chaos in the thrilling Germania opening battle, as the Romans pitch a mudfight against hairy, scary forest-dwelling barbarians. Russell Crowe single-handedly revived epic sword-and-sandal films; thousands of movie extras cheered, then were digitally replaced.
9. Ran Attack on Hidetora’s Castle
This scene is probably the greatest scene filmed by Japanese filmmaker, Akira Kurosawa. Ran was Kurosawa’s last great epic. With a budget of $12 million, it was the most expensive Japanese film ever produced. The film was hailed for its powerful images and use of color – costume designer Emi Wada won an Academy Award for Costume Design for her work on Ran. The distinctive Gustav Mahler-inspired film score, written by Toru Takemitsu, plays in isolation with ambient sound muted (most notably during the battle at the third castle).
8. Tora! Tora! Tora! Attack on Pearl Harbour
There are two good films about Pearl Harbor. If “From Here to Eternity” dealt brilliantly with the human drama of the event, “Tora! Tora! Tora!” captures the sheer audacity of the Japanese aerial raid on the naval base. Massively expensive for its time (it cost an estimated $25 million) and featuring three directors, one American and two Japanese, this is truly filmmaking on an epic scale.
7. Braveheart Battle of Stirling
“They may take our lives, but they will never take our FREEDOM!” Woaded-up Mel Gibson plays Scottish rebel William Wallace and tries nobly to overthrow the beastly English. His victory at the Battle of Stirling is scarcely a model of historical accuracy, but tremendous fun nonetheless and, if there were one, Gibson’s rousing taunts would have won him the Oscar for best battlefield banter.
6. The Two Towers Helm’s Deep
The battle of Helms Deep begins, and the Elves manage to hold the Uruk-hai at the wall, but it is blown up and many are killed during the ensuing attack through the breach. The Uruk-hai also manage to break the Gate despite Aragorn and Gimli’s best efforts, and they fall back to the Keep.
5. Henry V The Battle of Agincourt
Before the Battle of Agincourt, victory looks uncertain, and the young king’s heroic character is shown by his decision to wander around the English camp at night, in disguise, so as to comfort his soldiers and find out what they really think of him. Before the battle begins, Henry rallies his troops with his famous speech: “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile […]”.
4. A Bridge Too Far Parachute Drop
Thousands of doomed Allied troops are dispatched behind enemy lines in an awe-inspiring parachute drop, followed by the climactic tank and infantry battle over the bridge at Arnhem. Richard Attenborough’s cast is stellar (including Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, Sean Connery, Dirk Bogarde, Ryan O’Neal and Robert Redford) and his pre-CGI achievement staggering.
3. Glory The Storming of Fort Wagner
Glory is a 1989 Academy Award-winning drama based on the history of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment during the American Civil War. The Battle of Fort Wagner, Morris Island, was the Union attack on July 18, 1863, led by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first major American military units made up of black soldiers. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw led the 54th Regiment on foot while they charged and was killed in the assault.
2. 300 The Battle of Thermopylae
In the Battle of Thermopylae of 480 BC, an alliance of Greek city-states fought the invading Persian Empire at the pass of Thermopylae in central Greece. Vastly outnumbered, the Greeks held back the Persians for three days in one of history’s most famous last stands. A small force led by King Leonidas of Sparta blocked the only road through which the massive army of Xerxes I of Persia (Xerxes the Great) could pass.
1. Saving Private Ryan Omaha Beach Landing
The graphic depiction of the Omaha beach D-Day landing shocked audiences and even induced flashbacks in Normandy veterans. The shaky, hand held cameras, the desaturated color and the unflinching portrayal of the near-suicidal assault all add up to a sickening sense of realism that remains unmatched in war films.
Notable Omissions: Battle of Rourke’s Drift from Zulu, Enemy at the Gates
Related ListsTop 10 Depressing Scenes in CinemaTop 10 Worst Scenes In Movies Top 10 Fantasy Adventure Movies Top 15 Bathroom Scenes in Movies |
SubscriptionsLike this article? Subscribe to the RSS feed to keep 'em coming, or subscribe via email: |
If you find this site helpful, please leave a donation so you can enjoy the spirit of giving too.
Email This Post
1. jfrater - September 30th, 2007 at 9:39 am
If anyone can give me a better video clip for Braveheart, let me know please
2. Daniel - September 30th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Cool list, but surely this isn’t copyright-kosher.
This list made me mentally compile an interesting list of Great War Movies That Don’t Have A Battle Scene Worthy Of This List. I’m particularly surprised that I couldn’t think of any from Apocalypse Now or Full Metal Jacket.
3. jfrater - September 30th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Daniel: I think it is fine because it is only a small snippet from those films. It is interesting that you mention Apocalypse now - I did consider the bombing of the village from the choppers - but I left it off because it isn’t really a battle per se.
4. Cat Skyfire - September 30th, 2007 at 11:20 am
I’d give a vote to the Pickett’s charge scene in Gettysburg.
5. xdarkhorsex - September 30th, 2007 at 11:20 am
one of my personal fav’s is in The Patriot, where Gibson takes out the patrol of British soldiers. there are alot of good battle scenes in that one.
also ranking up in my fav’s is John Wayne in True Grit where he charges 6 men firing two guns
6. Patrask - September 30th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
This scene - http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rq5edjlhcaQ - from Stalingrad definitely could’ve made the list. It’s way better than the one from Braveheart, anyway.
7. steve - September 30th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
xdarkhorsex
yea, i thought of that scene in The Patriot too.
but Saving Private Ryan’s opening scene deserves the top spot i fully agree, good list.
8. jfrater - September 30th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Patrask: thanks for the addition.
9. Joe rosson - September 30th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
JF!! Dude I got a great idea for a list….the greatest car chases in movie history!! I love movies with good ol car chases:)
10. tonybrush - September 30th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
i completely agree with your #1. the opening scene of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN blew me away.
i’m not sure if the hospital scene in HARDBOILED is technically a battle scene, but it takes the cake for shootouts. its a 40 minute sequence. may be that could be another list.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4SNmELMoOaQ
11. James - September 30th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Dude i love this list. 300 is one of the best movies EVER! Although I think a great addition to the list would have been Troy.
i think you should make a list of movies that pump you up. im sure alot of these movies would definatley be on there.
12. Deus - September 30th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
awesome list, I absolutely love the saving private ryan scene
13. gabrielAmerican - September 30th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Again, well done
one other possible addition-
Seven Samurai- defending the village. Couldn’t find a clip on youtube.
14. SubliminalDeath666 - September 30th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
#2 should’ve been number one man, that movie was awesome!!
15. ben - September 30th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Hate to say it, but I actually didnt like the scene from 300 as much. It was good in its on aspect, but here im not so sure. Maybe a scene from Alexander could have been number 8 or so and bumped the rest up, but thats just my opinion. The rest are great
16. andyinsdca - September 30th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
The battle at Cassino (the French port town) in The Longest Day, while maybe not one of the greatest “battle scenes” is amazing for the long, single take/shot.
17. Kelsi - September 30th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Really really glad to see that you included the battle for Helm’s Deep. SO amazing. (Huge LOTR fan here…) But I haven’t seen a lot of the other movies on the list…so I can’t really comment on the placing, but also props for 300.
18. Borg - September 30th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
A notable omission in my opinion was The Last of the Mohicans. In particular, the scene in which Hawkeye, his brother, and his father, race through the woods weapons in hand, taking down Magua and his crew one by one. The music, which is currently featured in an NFL ad with Stephen Jackson and Shawne Merriman, is especially moving.
I couldn’t find the whole scene, but I found a montage of the film’s greater scenes with the music playing over.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KidHKZS96Qw
19. boliyou - September 30th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Definitely agree with your #1. Depending on your definition of battle, how about the chariot sequence from Ben-Hur?
20. Blendzorg - September 30th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Platoon & The Mission, are missed on the list…
21. ian - October 1st, 2007 at 12:04 am
im so glad glory finally made a main list the last 20-25 minutes of that movie are amazing and the end always makes me cry.
great list
22. jfrater - October 1st, 2007 at 12:59 am
Thanks for the comments and suggestions - there is not a single film that has been mentioned here that doesn’t deserve a mention. Maybe this can spawn a new list based on the genre of these types of movies rather than battles specifically.
23. Fe - October 1st, 2007 at 2:04 am
I’m a pacifist who sometimes forgets that, since I’m just as susceptible to a rousing battle scene as the next person. Not to put a damper on the fun, but in real life, people die and they aren’t extras who will go home with a t-shirt saying ‘I survived the Battle of Helm’s Deep.’ *another LOTR fan*
I guess what I’m trying to say - it’s way too late to be trying to think - is that I always take battle scenes and rousing speeches with a grain of salt. Man has been making war for millenia and it hasn’t changed anything. Geographically speaking, the Battle of Thermopylae took place not so far away from the desert of current-day Iraq.
24. Tim Josephson - October 1st, 2007 at 2:30 am
I would like to offer up the opening battle from Cold Mountain as one of the best. The entire shootin-Yankees-in-a-barrel was intense, war-whoops and all.
25. Punjar - October 1st, 2007 at 10:24 am
The beach landing from Saving Private Ryan definitely deserves #1, unfortunately though It’s impossible to capture the scope of the scene on the website. I remember seeing it in theaters and being blown away.
26. popcornninja - October 1st, 2007 at 12:04 pm
This is a great list! I definitely agree with most of the battles, especially Saving Private Ryan and Braveheart.
27. Juan - October 1st, 2007 at 12:19 pm
a good scene is in Enemy at the Gates, when they’re crossing the river on the boats and then must storm the hillside under fire.
28. 2overpar - October 1st, 2007 at 12:19 pm
first 30 minutes of saving private ryan - most riveting half hour in film history!
29. jfrater - October 1st, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Juan: That whole film is great - it is a shame that it never became as popular as other similar ones.
2overpar: yeah - it is pretty brilliant. There was no doubt it had to be number 1.
30. Boron - October 1st, 2007 at 12:32 pm
I don’t have a link but I think the Battle of Pellenor Fields from RotK deserves to be on here
31. jfrater - October 1st, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Boron: I was torn about adding that one so I left it off. It was pretty damned good though.
32. mjproulx21 - October 1st, 2007 at 1:06 pm
this is a great list but i think we were soldiers should deffenatly be on this list if not close to the top
33. JoeKickass - October 1st, 2007 at 2:23 pm
thats pretty good.. but what about enemy at teh gates? Full of violent good scenes. Or how could they leave out the final battle scene in LOTR return of the king? It was amazing. That was probably the only one missing from this.
34. Tongue9 - October 1st, 2007 at 3:27 pm
ya i agree. Troy definitly should have been on there.
35. Brookins42 - October 1st, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Where the fuck is the fight from We Were Soldiers? Granted, it was pretty much the whole movie, but I’d rank it right up there with Saving Private Ryan, and it tugs just as hard on the heartstrings.
36. jrob98 - October 1st, 2007 at 7:23 pm
what about the last day of the battle in the movie hamburger hill? that was a pretty good battle scene
37. derek - October 1st, 2007 at 11:44 pm
How could you possibly not include the Ride of the valkries invasion from apocalypse now?? And also what about the gunfight from Heat? The Apocalypse now battle should be rated over and CGI movie, this scene was revolutionary in film and simply breathtaking.
38. jfrater - October 2nd, 2007 at 12:57 am
derek: Ride of the Valkyries was left off because it is less a battle than a one sided attack on a village. I agree it is a great scene though.
39. Ray - October 2nd, 2007 at 9:32 am
This is a very nice list…pretty much the last 20 minutes of Last of the Mohicans would have made my list…Also, it’s a mini-series, not a movie, but Band of Brothers, which was produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Speilberg is probably my favorite war epic ever. If you haven’t seen it…check it out.
40. Ray - October 2nd, 2007 at 9:34 am
Oh, I forgot…I am not a Tom Cruise fan, but the last battle in The Last Samurai is quality…
41. Ray - October 2nd, 2007 at 9:37 am
Sorry…stuff just keeps popping in my head. The Last Castle could be one of the greatest sleeper movies ever, and the battle between the inmates and the guards in the end is incredible!
42. mysterbey - October 2nd, 2007 at 9:02 pm
One of my favourite battle scenes is in ‘Children of Men’.
43. Barb - October 3rd, 2007 at 6:14 am
What sort of list is this that leaves out the fantastic battle scene between Arthur and his knights and the French in ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’. I’m shocked, simply shocked.
44. jfrater - October 3rd, 2007 at 6:22 am
Barb: A good one nevertheless?
45. Barb - October 3rd, 2007 at 6:42 am
Yes, jf, a good one nevertheless. All is forgiven.
46. jfrater - October 3rd, 2007 at 7:56 am
Barb:
47. gm0n3y - October 3rd, 2007 at 1:24 pm
I can’t believe nobody else mentioned this, but what about either the battle of hoth or the space battle over endor or even the battle over the deathstar in ep. 4?
48. WatAbout - October 3rd, 2007 at 5:57 pm
I’m not sure if anyone’s mentioned this yet, but I get pretty sucked into some of those Star Wars battles. Darth Maul or general grievous or something along those lines comes to mind.
49. WatAbout - October 3rd, 2007 at 5:58 pm
O sorry didn’t see gmoney. (props!)
50. Anda - October 5th, 2007 at 12:59 am
i think the “Rome” episode depicting the Battle of Philippi sholud make the list.
that is if series are included too, of course
51. jfrater - October 5th, 2007 at 2:39 am
Anda: I didn’t include series - but thanks for mentioning it anyway - I have actually yet to see the series.
52. just me - October 10th, 2007 at 8:52 am
-maby the scene in kill bill v1 when the bride kills all/most off the crazy 88 i think thats a battle…
Im glad you left out Troy that movie sucked (in my opinion)
53. Jasu - October 10th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Does Sci-Fi not get included in this? I some of the Star Wars ones should be in it. XD I don’t know if it’s just me, but that scene from Saving Private Ryan just made me really dizzy. Heh.
54. Maverick22 - November 1st, 2007 at 4:02 am
X-Men 2’s Nightcrawler opening sequence is one of my favs.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qJHnQFcR1_E
While 300 was a very awesome movie. The fight scene great but not #2 great. There are some better fight scenes out there and in that list.
No Ong Bak. And sadly no Mention about any of the fight scenes from any of The Matrix movies.
Thats makes me a sad Panda. =’(
Maybe another top 10 list!
Since there are so many good fights.
55. jfrater - November 1st, 2007 at 4:05 am
Maverick22: there will definitely be another list - I did consider adding the matrix - so consider it 11 - until there is a second list
56. starfury - November 17th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
When I first saw both “Gladiator” and “Braveheart”, I kept thinking of “Spartacus”. Long before mechanical horses (”Braveheart”) and CGI (”Gladiator”) there was “Spartacus”!
57. Yogi Barrister - December 2nd, 2007 at 12:22 am
Some movies with great battle scenes:
BAND OF BROTHERS
BRAVO TWO ZERO
THE CRIMSON PIRATE
BEN HUR
SHARPE’S WATERLOO
BARRY LYNDON
THE PATRIOT
LITTLE BIG MAN
ENEMY AT THE GATES
58. BlackPaw - December 7th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
3. Gladiator
2. The Patriot
1. The Last Samurai
59. Nick - January 22nd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
What about the alice from resident evil vs. nemesis
and when she kicks all the black-helmeted guys asses! ohh ohh and the battle scene from children of men,when theyre battling with the tanks
60. Neil - February 1st, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Helms Deep HAS to be number one! Come on!!
61. lightningclash - February 26th, 2008 at 1:00 am
I agree that the opening scene in enemy at the gates was amazing! Deserves a spot on this list.
62. D300 - March 23rd, 2008 at 10:30 am
While the film was not particuarly exciting; for sheer scale I think that Sergei Bondarchuk’s 1970’s film ‘Waterloo’ contains one of the most impressive battle scenes ever put to film.
The battle of Waterloo is played out on a massive scale, with several thousand actual soldiers (no CGI effects back then) dressed in Napoleonic era costumes, fighting it out for nearly 2 hours. It’d be impossible to make a film on this scale today.
The most realistic depiction of ancient warfare on film is the Battle of Gaugamela from Oliver Stone’s Alexander. The film was a huge flop, although the costumes, weapons and tactics were rather accurate.
I was also impressed with the Siege of Jerusalem from Kingdom of Heaven, even though I thought the film was dull and uninspired.
63. skeev - April 4th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
While I love the village scene in Apocalypse Now, I can understand why it’s left off. It’s not a true battle. Maybe in a Top Ten invasion scenes it would work.
64. fantasyrocks - April 20th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
My favorite battle scene on the list would have to be Helm’s Deep. I absolutely love that battle. Palanor Fields is also a terrific battle scene from Lord of the Rings, but not the best. I also really like Henry V.
65. mike - April 25th, 2008 at 7:13 am
300 must be the first…..
come on this is history…….
300 vs hundred thousend is unimaginable man….
66. Robbie - April 25th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
There are, indeed, some great battle scenes on this list. But what about the following film battles?
1. Custer’s Last Stand in They Died With Their Boots On
2. Pickett’s Charge in Gettysburg
3. The final assault on the Alamo in The Last Command
67. Rick - May 14th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Agree with the obvious Saving Ryan, Longest day, Bridge too Far, Band of Brothers and Lord of the Rings entries.
For clearly conveying small unit actions and tactics;
Kelly’s Heroes-ambushing the German convoy and taking out the Gold garrison-the Original T-34 aka: Tiger here 30 yrs before Ryan.
Zulu-great recreation of Victorian British tactics.
Platoon-Dafoe taking on the Vietnamse squad.
Band of Brothers-the 101st being ambushed in the Dutch village and having to make a fighting withdrawl.
For sheer scope and cinematography-Last of the Mohicians when the British Column was ambushed in the meadow.
68. Alex - May 30th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
The opening from “Gangs of New York” is a classic. Next to “Gladiator” and “Saving Private Ryan”, it’s one of the three best opening battles ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
69. God - May 31st, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee!
70. T$ - June 6th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
All great picks however the most epic awe inspiring battle scene is from Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. The final fight at Minas Tirith in its entirety is just so glorious. The part when the riders of Rohan finally appear, and the ensuing speech from Theodeon gives me goose bumps. There are also some good battle scenes in the movie the 13th warrior, LOTR:FOTR, The Last Samurai, and some especially great scenes from We Were Soldiers.
71. johnny - July 24th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I think the war scene in Children of Men is simply amazing. The camera work is incredible, and it seems nothing is over-played, as in many such scenes.
The charge of the riders of the Rohan at Helms Deep and the battle for Gondor (or whatever) were pretty awesome in terms of fantasy fighting, especially as horses careened through the ranks of orcs, etc.
72. johnny - July 24th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Maybe this didn’t work the first time so I’ll try again…
I said I thought Children of Men had an awesome sequence, incredibly worked on on camera. I don’t how many have seen it, but it is definitely worth watching again.
Also, I have to agree with everyone about the Riders of the Rohan at Helms Deep and arriving to rescue Gondor, the charge that ripped through the ranks of orcs was incredible.
73. ted - July 24th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Has anyone mentioned Band of Brothers? That has to contain many battle scenes that should be ranked here.
74. leo - July 24th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
The opening sequence of Enemy At the Gates is incredible. And there are a number of Chinese films that have great battle sequences, such as The Warlords with Jet Li.
75. Cocomonkey - July 30th, 2008 at 3:47 am
Movie: The Light Horsemen (1987)
In 1917 the British and ANZAC forces in what is now Israel were runnning out of water. While the British and New Zealanders had tried to take the town for months, a last ditch attempt was devised using the Australian Light Horse.
Expecting the Australians to advance within a mile, dismount and attack on foot, as they normally did, the Australians mounted the last succesful Cavalry charge in the history of modern warfare - In three hours they achieved what the British Army had been attempting for three months.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvjE3h0Ahz8
76. Mark ywain - July 30th, 2008 at 8:39 am
ZULU was ten times better then the Two Towers siege. Peter Jackson himself admits he was inspired by it when filming.
Edward Zwick also filmed an amazing battle scene in the mediocre but entertaining “The Last Samurai”
CINEMATASTIC!
77. Double - August 1st, 2008 at 6:09 am
I agree with most on this list but see other comments below that suggest two glaring omissions. Firstly: Sergei Bondarchuk’s ‘Waterloo’ (1970) which included some fifteen thousand Soviet foot soldiers as extras and two thousand cavalrymen, some of which were cossack horsemen. Secondly: Guy Hamilton’s ‘Battle of Britain’ (1969)- an aerial epic involving hundreds of World War Two aircraft. Neither film relied on pixel trickery as with many others in this list.
78. Double - August 1st, 2008 at 6:35 am
Here are two great re-enactments from ‘Waterloo’:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97dBfdNrf9A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vlcuvrM1po
and the original trailer from ‘Battle of Britain’:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaX3m7mMmxM
79. Tivvyred - August 20th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Got to be Buzz Lightyear versus Zurg:Toy Story 2
Hands down!
80. Tivvyred - August 20th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Or maybe the House of the blue leaves from Kill Bill?
81. Jeff - August 24th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
There is a scene from the movie Battleground where the paratroopers at Bastogne are down to their last few rounds and have fixed bayonets. At that moment the sun appears and the stacked aircraft get at the armour in the open. Tied to it is one mans call to the sky “Its Shinin” has always been one scene that I always remember.
Yes to private Ryan as number one.
82. bambigbeach1023 - October 8th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
i love that the two towers is on here but why not return of the king??!! that battlescene at Minas Tirith is the best battlescene ever!
83. Dave Bell - October 11th, 2008 at 12:20 am
I wouldn’t pick any of the big battles in the Lord of the Rings movies. Peter Jackson can get a bit too fanciful: look at his cavalry charges, and compare them to historical accounts. But the battle between the Rohirrim and Orcs on the edge of Fangorn is superb. I think he has a scale problem.
“Waterloo” and “The Battle of Britain” would certainly be in a Top 20.
“Band of Brothers” isn’t a movie, but definitely full of good stuff. On the other hand, is it really as notable as “Saving Private Ryan”?
The original “All Quiet on the Western Front” comes to mind: are qe too inclined to focus on the recent, and fresh in our minds, and forget the classics?
84. Cocomonkey - October 11th, 2008 at 2:52 am
In reply to Dave Bell,
I agree.. “look at his cavalry charges, and compare them to historical accounts”.
It’s like Peter Jackson’s portrait of J.R.R. Tolkien’s battle scenes are too fanciful…meaning..
1. not based on fact
2. made in a curious or imaginative way: fanciful architecture
3. guided by unrestrained imagination: fanciful tales of fairy folk
If only Peter had stuck to the historical accounts (of mystical epic battles), they might have been more convincing.
85. womzilla - October 11th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Patrask @ 6: My first thought was, “I bet he doesn’t include the infantry vs. tank scene in Stalingrad.” So thanks for adding that.
86. guy - October 29th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
i think this is a great list with just a few exceptions. I think that the battle of stirling should be in front of 300 mainly because Braveheart and that battle has become somewhat of a classic, i think it is just a little early to rank 300 so high. also i know that you are probably trying to keep the list a little more diverse but the lord of the rings has so many great battle to choose from and i think that it is without a doubt to consider them some of the most mind blowing battle scenes in cinema history. i think lord of the rings at least deserves two of their battle on this list.
87. Morecoal - December 2nd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
A battle scenes list without the rhythmic machine gun sequence of the French attack on the German line in the 1932 version of “ALL QUITE ON THE WESTERN FRONT” is surely incomplete.
88. tsum - December 10th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Zulu. You feel like you’re an eyewitness observer just as in the opening scene of Private Ryan. Also the background noise in the opening scene of Gladiator is the marching cadence called out by the Zulu’s as they charge the british. Black Hawk Down is intense from beginning to end and I like that the good guys show heroism in spite of a command mistake.