Movies can be derivative at the best of times - action movies tend to be filled with obligatory heroics feats, incredible over-the-top stunts and near-death experiences. The good-versus-evil concept is typically contrived into a one-on-one battle as the film's grand finale.
Most scenes are consigned to the also-ran time-filler category but there are occasional on-screen bouts that are worthy of cinema recognition. These scenes are not a collection of pointless punch-ups but highly stylised forms of physical art.
Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Ben Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) vs. Darth Maul (Ray Park) - Star Wars, Episode 1: The Phantom Menace
Before the belated sequels arrived from the pen of George Lucas, the use of a lightsaber was slow and deliberate - Jedi masters didn't need to over-exert themselves (ala Obi-wan and Darth Vader in Star Wars) and took controlled strikes to outmanoeuvre and out-think their opponents.
The younger Kenobi and his master Jinn, showed us that youth was definitely a factor when their battle with Darth Maul took place. The speed and reflexes involved in the ensuing lightsaber confrontation was nothing short of spectacular; given more gravitas by the fact that actor Ray Park (Darth Maul) was trained in sword-play and martial-arts previously - was involved in every move that Maul made on-screen. The choreography was sharp and made for breathtaking action.
Kham (Tony Jaa) - Tom-Yum-Goong (aka Warrior King)
Among many fantastic scenes in the film - in the hope of finding his village's sacred elephants (that were stolen and taken to Australia) he enters a conference hall where the movie's protagonists are to be found. The scene sounds quite a standard premise until you take notice of the editing; Kham steadily makes his way up the circular stairway dispatching all manner of bad guys (punching, kicking and throwing over balconies) in one entire take. The camera follows his every move in one fluid motion; the sense that you're there over Kham's shoulder is enthralling and nothing like you've ever seen before.
Jaa is understandably exhausted on-screen after three-to-four floors of fights with no break; quite how many times they'd go through this to get it right is a mystery but remains a remarkable scene to watch.
Gino Felino (Steven Seagal) - Out for Justice
Easily one of Seagal's best movies - the fight scenes are brutal and wince-inducing (leading to some scenes being cut from certain versions of the film). Gino is out to avenge the death of his cop partner with long-time trouble-maker Richie Mandan (William Forsythe) the killer. Looking for him all over Brooklyn, he finds himself asking around in a bar owned by Mandan's brother.
The best Seagal moves are on show here - his aikido moves and technique cause all manner of mayhem on the opposing thugs - bone-crunching deadly force are the answers you'll find in this interrogation. Showcasing Seagal in his absolute prime with a well-staged fight that makes you believe every move you see is as real as it feels.
Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburne) - The Matrix
With its dazzling array of special effects - a training session threatens to be the highlight to a classic sci-fi movie. Neo and Morpheus face-off in the matrix; still coming to terms about what the matrix is and what an individual can do in it, Neo is encouraged to show Morpheus what he can do regarding "Kung-fu".
What follows is fast-paced sparring between the two, set to pumping music and extremely quick martial-arts style moves. The fact that this isn't your predictable good-versus-evil scene makes it even more memorable.
Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) versus Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) - Rocky
The first fight that spawned all the other Rocky sequels; the classic underdog coming good over the proven champ. The unrelenting pounding that both fighters supposedly take may be a tad overdone but it works on a primal level, you feel for Rocky and his character.
Any real fight would have been stopped long before this momentous battle reaches its dramatic conclusion; it works in every way, Apollo dominates early, Rocky comes back, they pummel each other until both men are close to collapse! Later Rocky films would exaggerate the punching sounds even more to add weight to the moves - the original still feels connected more to reality and visceral.
Just a few movie fight-scenes that standout as classics in the world of cinema. Ding! Ding! Round one!