10 Best movie scenes (ever)

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Updated: 18/02/2007

In no particular order and "very" subject to change the more I think about titles.

Send me the ones you think should be included. seansshack@oceanfree.net  

1) AT-AT attack the planet of Hoth (The Empire Strikes Back:1980)

Nothing like it had been done before. The moment the AT-AT's graced the screen and the battle started, was a real WOW moment in cinema. The action scene of the original trilogy. Considering the age of the movie, even today looks great. 

 

2) Attack on Omaha Beach (Saving Private Ryan:1998).

This scene left you exhausted. I remember sitting "open mouthed" for about the first fifteen minutes of it. Spielberg and his DOP use every trick in the book and visually it is simply both shocking and amazing. People criticise this morning for not living up to the opening scenes. But I think it is full of wonderfully defining moments: The tins of soil from different countries, Ryan trying to remember his brothers, the final battle, the German that was left away.... In my opinion, the anti-war movie.

 

3) T-Rex attack (Jurassic Park: 1993)

Proof that CGI mixed with Stan Winston's excellent creature effects can merge into well, brining Dinosaur's to life. 1993 and still not outdone. Even king Kong's effects looked ropey in comparison. Excellent scene were the main characters come face to face with the rex. Fantastic sound and visual effects, merged with excellent paced tension.

 

4) Kong battles the three V-Rexs (King Kong: 2005)

Peter Jackson's King Kong promised a lot, but the one scene in the movie that lived up to the massive budget and hype, was the fight with Kong and the Rexs. Amazingly well constructed and scripted. Not one, not to but Jackson goes all out with three Rexs battling the king.

 

5) Opening scene in the Matrix as cops close in on Trinity (Matrix: 1999)

Simply jaw dropping scene that defines the series. The 2nd ad third movies fell flat, well because there simply was not enough concept. Should have stuck with two good movie. This scene (if you didn't know the plot) showed you the money shot, with trinity slow motion kick with "that camera" as we are spun around here 360 degrees. Physically she makes short work of the police, with abilities just too inhuman. Leaving you think how the hell could she do that.

 

6) The real identity of Keyser Soze is revealed and the cup hits the floor (Usual Suspects: 1995)

The movie keeps tricking you with who the real Soze is. You think it's Byrne and then isn't etc etc. Even suggesting that the man was made up. The final scene shows how Spacey plays the cop during the interview. As he looks at the wall, visually starts to piece together that the story he had just been spun was being told by the real Soze, who has just pieced it together by using everything in his surroundings. Brilliant.

 

7) Andy finally escapes (Shawshank Redemption: 1994)

After a life time of abuse and injustice. That fantastic voice over by Freeman "Andy Crawled To Freedom Through Five-hundred Yards Of Shit Smelling Foulness I Can't Even Imagine, Or Maybe I Just Don't Want Too. Five-Hundred Yards... That's The Length Of Five Football Fields, Just Shy Of Half a Mile." Now tell me again that Voice over doesn't work. Andy stands and washes himself clean of everything in the freedom of the rain. A movie filled with amazing moments. Sadly overlooked at the time. But I fell in love with it from the first frame when I saw it on release.

 

8) Indy tries to get the Idol (Raiders of the lost ark: 1981)

This scene threw enough action to leave the average audience of 1981 exhausted and it was only the opening scene. A perfect introduction for Indiana Jones and a defining scene for movies since. Leave the audience breathless and hook them at the start.

 

9) Quint's speech aboard the Orca (Jaws: 1975)

Some believe that Shaw ad-libbed this, other writers claim they wrote it during script doctor duties during filming. No matter who came up with it. Set the pace beautifully for what was to come.  "Sometimes that shark looks right at ya. Right into your eyes. And the thing about a shark is he's got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll's eyes. When he comes at ya, he doesn't even seem to be livin'... 'til he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white and then" A movie full of wonder moments and scenes, this one just stuck with me since I first saw the movie.

 

10) The aliens attack (Aliens: 1986)

The aliens start to advance on the position of the last survivors. The distance getting shorter and shorter until it so close it doesn't make sense. Cameron borrows the familiar sonar scenes used in submarine movies with hand held proximity meters to perfection. brilliant tense lines like "What do you mean "THEY cut the power"? How could they cut the power, man? They're animals!" As the secret emerges, the meters are right, the aliens are above them. The sequels never came close to Cameron's vision. This is one of the finest Sci-Fi action films ever made.