Top (TV) Firefights

A return to last year's popular series - I was collating a similar series of posts for my top ten hand-to-hand fights when I realised I never did my top firefights from TV...

#5 Strike Back: Project Dawn (Episode 9)



Scott and Stonebridge are following terrorists working on some VX rockets. but they find themselves ambushed, outnumbered and outgunned and unlike the usual Hollywood shenanigans are forced to retreat.

#4 The Pacific (Peleliu Hills)



While as a whole I wasn't a fan of The Pacific, individual scenes like this were exceptionally well done. This captures the brutal and claustrophobic nature of bunker-clearing

#3 Generation Kill (A Burning Dog)



Iceman shows what's running through his veins as his platoon undertakes to pet a burning dog

#2 Justified (Bulletville)



Head to 1:57 for my favourite as Raylan Givens takes on a host of gun-thugs sent to kill him

#1 Band of Brothers (Day of Days)



To be honest, I could've picked anyone of a half a dozen firefights from this show and it'd be at #1. Famously, the Brécourt Manor Assault (June 6, 1944) during the U.S. parachute assault of the Normandy Invasion of World War II is often cited as a classic example of small-unit tactics and leadership in overcoming a larger enemy force.

To round things off, here's the best non-firefight from a TV show. Ever.

#0 Spaced (Cougar Town)

Top (Film) Non-Firefights

When I was gathering my Top Ten Film Firefights I looked up quite a number of scenes which in the end didn't really count as firefights as all the gunfire was going one-way

#5 Robocop (The Future of Law Enforcement)

I can't remember from first viewing if this outcome seemed inevitable, but the pure menace from ED209 is palpable

#4 Pulp Fiction (Pop Tart Surprise)

Surprised the hell out of that guy!

#3 The Fifth Element (Negotiation)

Anyone else want to negotiate?

#2 The Losers (Secret Government Experiment)

I imagine there's some kind of Fantastic Four reference in there, but this one did catch me by surprise @2.48

#1 Road to Perdition (I'm glad it's you)

With the direction and sound, we it's hard not to be moved by this scene (though of course in context it's much more effective). Technically I guess the bodyguards are firing back, but not that anyone would notice.

In the new year I'll do a matching series from TV.

Top (Film) Firefights: #3, #2, #1

While I upload my photos from the weekend of gaming, here are my top three

#3 Hard Boiled (Hospital)

Wonderfully over-the-top Hong Kong action! I think this was my first John Woo movie and is notable for the long take and minimal fancy camera work



#2 Way of the Gun (Free Cheese)

This is an exceptionally underrated (or just unknown) film, with several other brilliantly done shootouts. Well worth your time. Just remember: there's always free cheese in a mousetrap.



#1 Heat (Heist)

It's a Michael Mann film, so we can't be surprised at the cinematography, but hell, this is a full-on long-range shootout with tactical movement. (No embedding allowed on this one, so you'll just have to click through the link above)

Also seriously considered:
Open Range
The Kingdom
The Killer
Four Brothers
Three Kings

Let me know if any of your favourites didn't make my list...

Top (Film) Firefights: #6, #5, #4

With Gaelcon swiftly approaching I'm (as usual) working hard to get my game up to speed. By Tuesday or Wednesday next week you'll see some early results hopefully, but in the meantime here's the next few of my favourite film firefights

#6 Unforgiven: What happens to assassins around here


Skip to 2.25 if you are impatient

There is a dark poetry to this scene. There's absolutely no glorification when William Munny follows his victim's advice on the best way to win a gunfight. Indeed I always feel like Munny's deliberate and terrible procession places the audience as WW Beauchamp (the writer), fearful of this new unearthed truth of the nature of violence.

#5 Leon: SWAT raid the apartment


Fast forward to 3.40 if you don't want any character development

What can I say, a classic Luc Besson film. Gary Oldman plays a blinder as the incredulous crooked cop. My favourite moment - the hand that closes the door.

#4 The Matrix: The Lobby



I understand it's fashionable to scoff at the Matrix these days; given the disappointment of the second two films this is understandable - though a mistake. One has to stop to admire the sheer majesty of this gunfight.

Top (Film) Firefights: #10, #9, #8, #7

In my 300-post review I promised a top ten of my favourite firefights on film (TV series will have to wait until another time)

#10 The Wild Bunch (Final Shootout)

Peckinpah gave us a completely new way of doing westerns (and firefights) in this film. The opening shootout sets the scene but this one is a masterpiece of mayhem




#9 Appleseed (Opening vs. Droids)

Beautiful stuff and the only anime on the list. The first time I watched it I didn't realise until the end of the scene that I was watching it without subtitles: I just had to rewatch the whole thing from the start




#8 Where Eagles Dare (Stairwell)

Super cheesy stuff from Eastwood who probably sets some kind of killcount record here. Is the twin MP40s too much? Who cares!




#7 Proof of Life (Tecala Rescue)

A nicely executed attack with a small team. Unusually for the list they try stealth at the start. Bonus points for good camouflage and using smoke!



Doubtless you'll have your own ideas, and this is a perfect topic for conversation over a few pints.