Warning this list contains some spoilers if you have not seen any of the films mentioned in this list please make sure to not to read it.
This week I will be counting down the top 10 memorable movies scenes. Now I’m sorry for the lateness of this one, I have just been a bit busy lately and found it hard to get time to do this, that and the fact I really had to think hard for this list because there are so many memorable scenes to pick from.
10. The Joker’s parade – Batman
This in my opinion is Jack Nicholson’s crowning moment as the Joker in this film because it is entertaining, little bit epic and has a great gothic theme. This is by far the best scene from the film and is still enjoyable every time I watch it because it was so well made.
Joker's parade
9. Riding the bomb – Dr Strangelove
This scene comes at the near the end of the film were a plane is carrying a nuke is badly damage but the crew is continuing with their mission unaware that the mission was a lie and the coming consequences. There is a bit of a build up which only helps with the end result and makes it all the more enjoyable.
Riding the bomb
8. No I am your father – Star Wars the empire strikes back
One of the biggest movie twist of all time and shocked audiences everywhere. One thing to note is that the line of this scene is often misquoted people think Darth Vader says “Luke I am your farther” but in matter of fact he really says “No I am your father.” Another thing to note that it is said that George Lucas wanted to stop the this scene being leaked out so he had David Prowse (Vader’s voice) say the line “Obi-Wan killed your father” but then had it budded over with the actual line later on.
No I am your father
7. Earth all along – Planet of the apes
Another great movie twist, after leading the audience to believe that it was just a random planet ruled by apes the movie then reveals the shocking truth.
Earth all along
6. The chestburster – alien
This scene helps shows one of the key features of the creatures we call the Aliens which is shown in each film, book etc as how the Aliens are born. For the chestburster sequence, John Hurt stuck his head, shoulders and arms through a hole in the mess table, linking up with a mechanical torso that was packed with compressed air (to create the forceful exit of the alien) and lots of animal guts. The rest of the cast were not told that real guts were being used so as to provoke genuine reactions of shock and disgust.
The chestburster
5 .On top of the empire state building – King Kong (original)
One of the greatest film climaxes of all time, the effects are just brilliant even by today’s standards. Showing Kong fighting to defend himself a the woman he loves against a world that hates him making this a master peace in cinema history inspiring film makers such as Ray Harryhausen and Peter Jackson.
On top of the empire state building
4. Opera/fight scene – Fifth Element
In my opinion the best scene in the movie, the music and the fighting just go hand in hand for a great sequence. The one thing I’m never sure of is if she is singing about the events happening while she is sings or if it is just a strange coincidence, either way Inva Mula Tchako (the person singing but not acting in the scene) has an amazing voice that makes the scene even more enjoyable. For most people the scene really starts at around 3 minutes and 25 seconds in but for me the whole thing is enjoyable from beginning to end.
Opera/fight scene
3. Horse head – The Godfather
This scene comes after an actor asks the Don to help him star in a movie that director will not allow him to do. The Don sends someone to reason with the director about letting the guy have the role but negotiations fail and after saying some anti – Italian slurs he still refuses to bargain. This all builds up to one of the most shocking moments in film history, it is interesting to note that before the actual final shooting of the scene the director had the fake horse head replaced without telling the actor who will be in the bad with a real one that they got from a dog food factory so the reaction you see in the film was real.
Horse head
2. The guy with the sword – Indiana Jones and the raiders of the lost ark
The funny thing about this scene is that it wasn’t originally meant to happen, there was suppose to be a bit of an action scene involving the sword being whipped out the guy’s hand. The reason why this was dropped was because at the time Harrison Ford (as well as most of the crew) was still a bit ill from food poisoning, so Ford suggested that he should just shoot the guy and Spielberg took up the idea straight away and the rest is history.
The guy with the sword
1. Frankly my dear I don’t give a dam – Gone with the wind
This scene makes it to number one mainly because of it historical mark in the film industry, this being saying the word “dam” in it which back then was a big deal. The only way I can really explain why this was a bit of a big deal back then is with this info I got from imdb.com. In 1939, the Hollywood Production Code dictated what could and could not be shown or said on screen, and Rhett Butler's memorable last line presented a serious problem. A few of the suggested alternatives were "Frankly my dear... I just don't care," "... it makes my gorge rise," "... my indifference is boundless," "... I don't give a hoot," and "... nothing could interest me less." Although legend persists that the Hays Office fined Selznick $5,000 for using the word "damn", in fact the Motion Picture Association board passed an amendment to the Production Code on November 1, 1939, to insure that Selznick would be in compliance with the code. Henceforth, the words "hell" and "damn" would be banned except when their use "shall be essential and required for portrayal, in proper historical context, of any scene or dialogue based upon historical fact or folklore ... or a quotation from a literary work, provided that no such use shall be permitted which is intrinsically objectionable or offends good taste." With that amendment, the Production Code Administration had no further objection to Rhett's closing line, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."
For a film to kick up such a fuss and still have one have the best line in movie history it disserves its place at the number one spot.
Frankly my dear I don’t give a dam
I don’t know yet what my next list might be or when I’ll be able to get round to posting it so there might not be one next week.
This week I will be counting down the top 10 memorable movies scenes. Now I’m sorry for the lateness of this one, I have just been a bit busy lately and found it hard to get time to do this, that and the fact I really had to think hard for this list because there are so many memorable scenes to pick from.
10. The Joker’s parade – Batman
This in my opinion is Jack Nicholson’s crowning moment as the Joker in this film because it is entertaining, little bit epic and has a great gothic theme. This is by far the best scene from the film and is still enjoyable every time I watch it because it was so well made.
Joker's parade
9. Riding the bomb – Dr Strangelove
This scene comes at the near the end of the film were a plane is carrying a nuke is badly damage but the crew is continuing with their mission unaware that the mission was a lie and the coming consequences. There is a bit of a build up which only helps with the end result and makes it all the more enjoyable.
Riding the bomb
8. No I am your father – Star Wars the empire strikes back
One of the biggest movie twist of all time and shocked audiences everywhere. One thing to note is that the line of this scene is often misquoted people think Darth Vader says “Luke I am your farther” but in matter of fact he really says “No I am your father.” Another thing to note that it is said that George Lucas wanted to stop the this scene being leaked out so he had David Prowse (Vader’s voice) say the line “Obi-Wan killed your father” but then had it budded over with the actual line later on.
No I am your father
7. Earth all along – Planet of the apes
Another great movie twist, after leading the audience to believe that it was just a random planet ruled by apes the movie then reveals the shocking truth.
Earth all along
6. The chestburster – alien
This scene helps shows one of the key features of the creatures we call the Aliens which is shown in each film, book etc as how the Aliens are born. For the chestburster sequence, John Hurt stuck his head, shoulders and arms through a hole in the mess table, linking up with a mechanical torso that was packed with compressed air (to create the forceful exit of the alien) and lots of animal guts. The rest of the cast were not told that real guts were being used so as to provoke genuine reactions of shock and disgust.
The chestburster
5 .On top of the empire state building – King Kong (original)
One of the greatest film climaxes of all time, the effects are just brilliant even by today’s standards. Showing Kong fighting to defend himself a the woman he loves against a world that hates him making this a master peace in cinema history inspiring film makers such as Ray Harryhausen and Peter Jackson.
On top of the empire state building
4. Opera/fight scene – Fifth Element
In my opinion the best scene in the movie, the music and the fighting just go hand in hand for a great sequence. The one thing I’m never sure of is if she is singing about the events happening while she is sings or if it is just a strange coincidence, either way Inva Mula Tchako (the person singing but not acting in the scene) has an amazing voice that makes the scene even more enjoyable. For most people the scene really starts at around 3 minutes and 25 seconds in but for me the whole thing is enjoyable from beginning to end.
Opera/fight scene
3. Horse head – The Godfather
This scene comes after an actor asks the Don to help him star in a movie that director will not allow him to do. The Don sends someone to reason with the director about letting the guy have the role but negotiations fail and after saying some anti – Italian slurs he still refuses to bargain. This all builds up to one of the most shocking moments in film history, it is interesting to note that before the actual final shooting of the scene the director had the fake horse head replaced without telling the actor who will be in the bad with a real one that they got from a dog food factory so the reaction you see in the film was real.
Horse head
2. The guy with the sword – Indiana Jones and the raiders of the lost ark
The funny thing about this scene is that it wasn’t originally meant to happen, there was suppose to be a bit of an action scene involving the sword being whipped out the guy’s hand. The reason why this was dropped was because at the time Harrison Ford (as well as most of the crew) was still a bit ill from food poisoning, so Ford suggested that he should just shoot the guy and Spielberg took up the idea straight away and the rest is history.
The guy with the sword
1. Frankly my dear I don’t give a dam – Gone with the wind
This scene makes it to number one mainly because of it historical mark in the film industry, this being saying the word “dam” in it which back then was a big deal. The only way I can really explain why this was a bit of a big deal back then is with this info I got from imdb.com. In 1939, the Hollywood Production Code dictated what could and could not be shown or said on screen, and Rhett Butler's memorable last line presented a serious problem. A few of the suggested alternatives were "Frankly my dear... I just don't care," "... it makes my gorge rise," "... my indifference is boundless," "... I don't give a hoot," and "... nothing could interest me less." Although legend persists that the Hays Office fined Selznick $5,000 for using the word "damn", in fact the Motion Picture Association board passed an amendment to the Production Code on November 1, 1939, to insure that Selznick would be in compliance with the code. Henceforth, the words "hell" and "damn" would be banned except when their use "shall be essential and required for portrayal, in proper historical context, of any scene or dialogue based upon historical fact or folklore ... or a quotation from a literary work, provided that no such use shall be permitted which is intrinsically objectionable or offends good taste." With that amendment, the Production Code Administration had no further objection to Rhett's closing line, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."
For a film to kick up such a fuss and still have one have the best line in movie history it disserves its place at the number one spot.
Frankly my dear I don’t give a dam
I don’t know yet what my next list might be or when I’ll be able to get round to posting it so there might not be one next week.
