Movie swordfights

[Broadsword2004]

Hey, I know this is a little off-topic, but I figure it fits enough, plus I am bored right now (go figure) just wondering what people think of the movie swordfights these days?? They seem to alternate between semi-real and realistic, like "Braveheart" was very realistic (I always cringe with that move where the guy slams the sword in the guy's groin, then yanks it out, basically slashing his groin up :::cringe::::cringe:::. Then there was "The 13th Warrior" which I thought was pretty good, and then there was "Gladiator," which was pretty good. Then there was those "Lord of the Rings" pieces of crap that couldn't show any swordfighting since they were partially for kiddies, so what you got was a ton of quick cut scenes that passed as fights. And then "The Last Samurai," which was decent, though I think a little glorified. Then there was "Troy," which wasn't as bloody as "Gladiator" or "Braveheart," but had decent sword-fight scenes individually I thought. Then there was "King Arthur" which I thought was pretty cool (I like that cold barbarian's philosophy, "Burn the village, kill everyone. Never leave an able-bodied man, woman, or child who can pick up a sword behind you." Okay, very cruel, but he just says it so dark and sinister-like ). And now there is that movie "Alexander" which I have yet to see.

[LoneWolf1]

I guess it all depends on what u want to see in a movie swordfight. As far as realism most movies display "sword clashing" fight scenes instead of how it really was, short and simple. But for entertainment a good long sword fight vs unbeatable odds is always good.

[MatthewAlphonso]

Most movie Fight scenes suck from a realisitc standpoint. Swords would never cut through armour as easily as they do now. For example, Braveheart, the part where he cuts the guys arm off, would most likely have never . If you're really interested in comparing movie fights try www.Arador.com or www.swordforum.com, they are both free forums dedicated to medieval combat. rather interesting. And remember, a Katana CAN NOT cut through a gun barrel, I know no one mentioned it, but it is bound to pop up sometime.

[Broadsword2004]

Hey, there are people out there who actually believe a katana can cut through solid steel Yeah, most real swordfights involved the two swordsman facing off with each other and being very careful so as not to get slashed by the other guy; they looked for that perfect striking point.

Same with modern boxing I think too. In the old bare-knuckle matches, they never punched each other that much because it was bare-knuckle (at least from what I've read). I am sure in the old Pankration and gladiator matches, they did, as those men's faces often became horribly disfigured, plus they wore iron knuckled gloves I believe (or something like that).

Yeah, I never could understand that scene in Braveheart where he cuts off the guy's arm, but I love it when the one soldier comes charing up going, "Ahhhhhhh!!!" and he just throws the sword straight at the guy, that was so funny.

[Broadsword2004]

Oh yeah, and thanks for the links.

[MatthewAlphonso]

You'd actually be surprised at all of the mythology behind the equipment of the samurai, both in armor and weapons. For example, a friend of mine convinced me that a period piece of Japanese armour could stop an M-16 round , if this is so, why isn't it still used. Also, someone trued to tell me that Katana were so sharp that you could sever a person's neck and not kill them. However, as soon as they moved, their head would fall off. What kind of BS is this? Though it seems not as many people blast Kenjutsu or Iaido practicioners for these myths. Odd eh?

Back on topic however, I believe the Pankrationists and Greek boxers wore leather strapping on their hands, but the more brutal ones (cheaters) would put pieces of lead between layer, ouch . And yeah, the whole Braveheart (as well as a lot of other edutainment movies) have several pages dedicated to their fallacies and shortcomings on both of those pages, have fun just remember it's not chainmail or plate mail, it's Maille or Plate Armour.

[Broadsword2004]

Braveheart I mostly loved for the character he played. Braveheart wasn't a battle movie. It was a movie about a very strong character and man that just happened to include battles (my opinion anyhow). It had a real storyline, and real character. Whereas other movies, like King Arthur, and Troy, etc...they had potential, but they were strictly battle movies.

[Broadsword2004]

Stop a bullet, LOL. And sever someone's head but they live unless they move their head, sheesh.

That reminds me of the scene though in the movie "Ghost Ship" I think it was called, at the beginning where the assassins have that cord snap right through the whole crown of couples dancing, then they all fall apart in half, that made me cringe.

Imagine, out dancing with your wife whom you love on a cruise, then SNAP!! and you're each two pieces, and then your top halves separate from the bottom halves, even though you are still holding onto each other....that part of that movie actually disturbed me a lot now that I think about it; I haven't watched that movie since.