Number 7

Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)

Attack on Pearl Harbor

The setup: It's December 7, 1941, and Japanese naval forces are launching a surprise attack on the Hawaiian military base, Pearl Harbor. The attack would leave claim more than 2,000 lives, wound nearly 1,200 others, and leave an indelible mark on history.

The battle: An oldie but goodie Tora! Tora! Tora! is a war movie favorite because it strives for accuracy and exists before the days of computer-based effects (which were used extensively in 2001's Pearl Harbor). In fact, it won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Originally divided into two productions (American and Japanese), the film used full-scale replicas and modified American planes and fleets to serve as American and Japanese military hardware. The Pearl Harbor battle scene sequence is fast and furious as Japanese planes swoop over the base and U.S. soldiers race for their anti-aircraft artillery. There's also no soundtrack during the battle scene, which adds to the tension-filled atmosphere. The most unforgettable moment is a group of soldiers running to a window after learning they're under attack, and a bomb dropping on them only seconds later.  

Number 6

300 (2007)

The Battle of Thermopylae

The setup: In Sparta, a Persian army of 1 million is expecting to conquer King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and his 300 Spartans. Their initial fight would be only the first in a grueling three-day ordeal that still holds strong as a symbol of courage.

The battle: After the Persian forces demand their enemies put down their weapons, the Spartans boldly yell, "Come and get them." What follows is a claustrophobic battle with both sides pushing against each other before Leonidas leads a valiant and bloody onslaught against the Persians. The scene's calling card is a slow-motion, sword-slicing charge by Leonidas that results in prolific (and stylish) carnage. There's also a visually arresting cliff-side confrontation that leaves the Persian enemies falling to their deaths. The battle's ultra-stylized look stays true to Frank Miller's graphic novel and was accomplished by filming on a Montreal soundstage and digitally adding the backgrounds later.  

Number 5

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Helm's Deep

The setup: Transplanted from Tolkien's Battle of the Hornburg, this epic duel pits the domineering Saruman army against the outnumbered Rohirrim and Elf defenders. Not only are their lives at stake, but so is control of the Helm's Deep fortress.  

The scene: LOTR fans were delighted that Peter Jackson left no stone unturned in his cinematic retelling of the classic Tolkien novels. If you read the word "battle" on the page, you could expect a very big one on-screen -- and then some. With the Helm's Deep battle, Jackson raised the bar for movie battle scenes. Rain-drenched fortress defenders fire arrows at what feels like a never-ending army of Orcs. All the while, Rohirrim innocents look on helplessly as their shelter is under attack. As the scene grows, so does the intensity. Dawn's early light brings with it a smartly choreographed moment of Rohirrims on horseback, battling Sarumans in every direction. It's not until the arrival of Gandalf and his white riders that the enemies can finally be sent back where they belong.

Number 4

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)

Battle of the Pelennor Fields

The setup: An army of Orcs, led by the disfigured Gothmog, wages war against the city of Minas Tirith as Gandalf and his followers try to protect it. A full-scale battle ensues with every Orc, Nazgul, Rohirrim, and Oliphaunt duking it out.

The scene: Some LOTR devotees will prefer Helm's Deep over this battle, while others will argue that Peter Jackson one-upped himself and saved the best for last where Pelennor Fields is concerned. Needless to say, most people will agree that Pelennor is a sequence that boasts top-notch choreography, seamless CGI, and an impressive lot of big, bad Orcs. The result is a battle scene that serves the dual purpose of wowing audiences and also stirring up emotion. The "wow" factor in this battle scene comes from magical moments like a mass Rohirrim charge that sends Orcs flying and horses to the ground. Equally enchanting is the triumphant arrival of Aragon and the ghostly warriors known as the Army of the Dead. For emotional highlights, the stunning confrontation between the heroic female Eowyn and the Witch-king easily takes the prize.

 

Number 3

Apocalypse Now (1979)

The Helicopter Attack

The setup: In Vietnam, Lt. Colonel Bill Kilgore (Robert Duvall) sends his AirCav of Hueys and H-6s to destroy a nearby beach village, in part so he and his boys can enjoy a bit of wartime surfing.  

The scene: In making Apocalypse Now, director Francis Ford Coppola was intent on recreating Vietnam, not making a movie about it. With a bloated budget and a disastrously long production that sent him stumbling toward bankruptcy, the film had everything working against it, but it still defied the odds. Coppola's incredible attention to detail and big-budget theatrics are evident in the film's centerpiece -- an unforgettable helicopter strike. Looking like a slice of documentary footage, helicopters bomb their way through the village while "Ride of the Valkyries" plays in the background. The battle scene's conclusion is also its hallmark: As surfing soldiers ride the battle-soaked waves, a bomb drop leads Lt. Colonel Kilgore to rave about "the smell of napalm in the morning."

Number 2

Braveheart (1995)

The Battle of Stirling

The setup: A group of soldiers and weary Scottish clans, led by William Wallace (Mel Gibson) square off against their larger and more powerful English counterparts. The Battle of Stirling, as it is known in history, would be part of Scotland's First War of Independence.

The battle: No matter what your personal feelings toward Mel Gibson, his talent as a filmmaker is undeniable for anyone who has seen his restaging of The Battle of Stirling. Fans of the film know Gibson's pre-battle speech by heart, but once the fighting starts, it's a brutal and bloody scrap between the underdog Scots and the robust English army. The battle scene is punctuated by a chorus of swords, battle axes and horse hooves before Gibson takes part in the battle's climactic moment: a beheading. Historians will note that the on-screen events aren't entirely accurate (Braveheart doesn't include the Stirling Bridge), but that's a minor quibble. We can thank Mr. Mel and Braveheart's success for many of the historical epics that are in cinemas today.    

Number 1

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Omaha Beach

The setup: June 6, 1944. Captain John H. Miller (Tom Hanks), Sergeant Michael Horvath (Tom Sizemore) and Private Daniel Jackson (Barry Pepper) are among the allied forces arriving by sea to Omaha Beach to face the German army.

The battle: With this merciless and shockingly realistic 24-minute battle, Steven Spielberg proved once again why he's one of the best. The sounds of crashing waves against the fleets of dedicated (and seasick) soldiers make for a chilling opening of what is arguably the most true-to-life war scene ever filmed. To bring this historical battle scene to life, $11 million was spent on the scene, which features genuine WWII crafts and more than 1,000 extras (among them Irish soldiers). Not content to focus solely on the land elements of the battle, Spielberg also utilized dozens of underwater cameras and fake blood to reenact the plight of soldiers who were fighting from the water.

We're not alone in naming this battle scene the best. Empire Magazine and TV Guide have both recognized it for its gripping visceral qualities and its lasting memories for any viewer who witnesses it. There simply isn't a signature moment to choose from when the entire scene functions at a level above the rest. It's all top-notch.   

let the battle begin

Movies with battle scenes are still hot tickets at the multiplex and will continue to be until you get sick of them. With bigger budgets and more elaborate special effects developed every year, the next groundbreaking innovation in battle scenes is just around the corner and waiting to attack.

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