A good fight scene isn’t just an action star beating on some goons. It shows who the characters are and progresses the story. It has a unique style, a gruesome ballet of extraordinary human movement.
Here are my three favourite recent examples.
Daredevil’s Hallway
Netflix’s Daredevil had a lot of action. But my favourite part came in episode two:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B66feInucFY&w=560&h=315]
Two things I love about this scene:
It’s stylistically unusual, the movement on and off screen creating a novel perspective and engaging the viewer’s imagination in working out what’s happening out of shot.
It shows the protagonist’s character, and that the violence is affecting him. He’s so exhausted he keeps having to stop and rest against the wall, but nothing’s going to stop him reaching his goal.
Snowpiercer’s Sense of Direction
Snowpiercer uses fights not as interruptions to the characters’ dilemmas and journey, but as part of that journey. By continuing its left/right breakdown of shots, and using this to show characters making decisions as well as making progress, it connects the action in to a cohesive and powerful narrative.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X05TDsoSg2Y&w=560&h=315]
The Raids
The Raid and The Raid 2 feature some of the most breathtaking fight scenes in modern cinema. Sure, their plots are primarily vehicles for those fight scenes, but from the floor-by-floor carnage of the first film to the punch-up in the confines of a car late in the sequel, and right through to its brutal climax, they keep showing something new.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ6yUHHfZ04&w=560&h=315]
Agree, disagree, can’t see the point in on screen violence? Share our thoughts, and great examples I’ve missed, in the comments below.