Movie Swordfights
It's a fact in fencing that whenever a movie comes out that features sword-fights and/or fencing there is always a slight increase in people coming along to clubs to try it out. This was particularly noticeable after the first "Zorro" film and I know some clubs that did demonstrations before showings at cinemas in an attempt to drum up some business. I think that it also a fact that most people who come along because they 'saw it in the movies' also quickly give up. Unfortunately fencing as a sport is nothing like anything you see in the cinema. even the recent James Bond film "Die Another Day", which initially featured some proper club fencing (executed by good fencers) deteriorated into a farce (see below) which the actual fencers involved in were almost embarassed to be associated with. Modern sport fencing is not swash-buckling; it's rules and forms do not allow that to happen and any attempt to promote it as such is misleading. It is however dynamic, exciting, demanding and both mentally and physically challenging. If you are prepared to go beyond expectations of derring-do you will get a lot from pursuing it.
Nevertheless as a fencer and a film buff, here's my opinion on some of the best (and worst) sword fights in cinema history. In no particular order I give you....
The Last Samurai
This one contains probably the best realistic Japanese sword fighting I have seen; particularly the Ninja fight scene and the scene where Tom Cruise takes out three bad guys and then has to figure out what he just did.
The Princess Bride
For sheer tongue in cheek fencing the duel between the Dread Pirate and the hero is hard to beat. The swapping from left to right, the flicking swords into the air, classic stuff. The rest of the film has some good moments too, particularly when the hero confronts his arch nemesis, issues a challenge he has been waiting all his life to say only to have the bad guy leg it. Priceless!
Star Wars IV.
The duel between Obi-Wan (Alec Guiness) and Darth Vader at the conclusion of which Obi-Wan is struck down. This to me looks more like a proper duel and is not reliant on CGI like the latter ones (see below). I also rate the battle in Star Wars I between Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Darth Maul. Ray Park who plays the Sith is a very proficient martial artist and this really shows in his use of the double bladed light-sabre staff thing.
Kill Bill Volume 1
The fight between the Bride and the Crazy 88s is very well done, very bloody and just about technically accurate to make this list and is nicely topped off by her climactic confrontation with O-Ren-Ishi-I
Robin Hood
Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone have a very good duel at the end. Rathbone was actually a pretty accomplished fencer in real life which adds to the authenticity. The rest of the film isn't great it has to be said and the tights don't help.
Scaramouche
This is a fencing classic. The story of Stewart Granger as the masked avenger on the trail of his enemy is very well done.
Pirates of the Caribbean (Curse of the Black Pearl)
Some of the duels in this are not sufficiently OTT to be excluded. The first meeting between Will Turner and Jack Sparrow in the forge is a great example of win at all cost tactics.
Zatoichi
There are a couple of good fights in this one and it's worth checking out.
The Seven Samurai
The iconic and very brief duel in the first third of this film is a classic and very good recreation of the probable outcome of a duel between two evenly matched Samurai
Matrix Reloaded
Included because Morpheus takes out a car with a Katana. Not realistic at all but VERY cool!
And the really bad ones....
Star Wars II
Yoda duelling with Count Dooku. Far too silly for me. It was like Kermit on a pogo stick and didn't get better in the final instalment.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Shia LeBouef and Cate Blanchett duelling on bonnets of racing truck? No thanks.
Die Another Day.
Started well in a salle to die for but degenerated swiftly into panto. Madonna in a leather bodice as fencing master? Do me a favour. And do we really need a past-it Piers Brosnan making double-entendres about his weapon? Short answer; no.
Nevertheless as a fencer and a film buff, here's my opinion on some of the best (and worst) sword fights in cinema history. In no particular order I give you....
The Last Samurai
This one contains probably the best realistic Japanese sword fighting I have seen; particularly the Ninja fight scene and the scene where Tom Cruise takes out three bad guys and then has to figure out what he just did.
The Princess Bride
For sheer tongue in cheek fencing the duel between the Dread Pirate and the hero is hard to beat. The swapping from left to right, the flicking swords into the air, classic stuff. The rest of the film has some good moments too, particularly when the hero confronts his arch nemesis, issues a challenge he has been waiting all his life to say only to have the bad guy leg it. Priceless!
Star Wars IV.
The duel between Obi-Wan (Alec Guiness) and Darth Vader at the conclusion of which Obi-Wan is struck down. This to me looks more like a proper duel and is not reliant on CGI like the latter ones (see below). I also rate the battle in Star Wars I between Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Darth Maul. Ray Park who plays the Sith is a very proficient martial artist and this really shows in his use of the double bladed light-sabre staff thing.
Kill Bill Volume 1
The fight between the Bride and the Crazy 88s is very well done, very bloody and just about technically accurate to make this list and is nicely topped off by her climactic confrontation with O-Ren-Ishi-I
Robin Hood
Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone have a very good duel at the end. Rathbone was actually a pretty accomplished fencer in real life which adds to the authenticity. The rest of the film isn't great it has to be said and the tights don't help.
Scaramouche
This is a fencing classic. The story of Stewart Granger as the masked avenger on the trail of his enemy is very well done.
Pirates of the Caribbean (Curse of the Black Pearl)
Some of the duels in this are not sufficiently OTT to be excluded. The first meeting between Will Turner and Jack Sparrow in the forge is a great example of win at all cost tactics.
Zatoichi
There are a couple of good fights in this one and it's worth checking out.
The Seven Samurai
The iconic and very brief duel in the first third of this film is a classic and very good recreation of the probable outcome of a duel between two evenly matched Samurai
Matrix Reloaded
Included because Morpheus takes out a car with a Katana. Not realistic at all but VERY cool!
And the really bad ones....
Star Wars II
Yoda duelling with Count Dooku. Far too silly for me. It was like Kermit on a pogo stick and didn't get better in the final instalment.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Shia LeBouef and Cate Blanchett duelling on bonnets of racing truck? No thanks.
Die Another Day.
Started well in a salle to die for but degenerated swiftly into panto. Madonna in a leather bodice as fencing master? Do me a favour. And do we really need a past-it Piers Brosnan making double-entendres about his weapon? Short answer; no.
posted by Dave at
10:17 AM
2 Comments:
Just because all sword-fighting scenes are not executed utilizing the proper techniques, doesn't mean they are not entertaining.
Hi Anonymous,
Firstly, thanks for taking the time to comment.
Secondly, I quite agree; entertainment is not dependent on technical accuracy. However, that was the particular yardstick I had chosen to measure by for the benefit of the topic at hand. i.e. the fact that people can be surprised that 'real' fencing is not like the movies. (OK I included the matrix so you've got me there). One person's entertainment can be another person's outrage. Don't even get me started on war films where they use the wrong tanks, airplanes etc....!
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