Worst/Best Fight Scenes
- Thread starter EnsignTOS
- Start date
We all know that the fight scene in "Arena" is the worst one of all. Maybe even the worst in television history. But feel free to discuss what you think here!
The Gorn was so freaking slow, all Kirk had to do was run around him and make the big, green lizard dizzy. I think that the restrictions of that heavy latex costume must have limited the stuntman's movements and hence the director's choices for action scenes. Plus those phony, paper mâché boulders laying around the planet just made me laugh.
One of the "Bill and Ted" movies had a brief scene at Vasquez Rocks. When the shot came on the screen, you could tell from the audience reaction that they knew that was where a ST episode was filmed.
No, do not presume to speak for us all.
Well, what's your choice, then?!
My picks:
Worst = Lazarus versus Lazarus in the corridor between universes in "The Alternative Factor".
Best = The barroom brawl in "The Trouble with Tribbles".
Runners Up = Kirk versus Spock in "Amok Time" and the landing party versus Mirror Spock in "Mirror, Mirror".
Best with energy weapons = Defeating Kras in "Friday's Child".
Worst = Lazarus versus Lazarus in the corridor between universes in "The Alternative Factor".
Best = The barroom brawl in "The Trouble with Tribbles".
Runners Up = Kirk versus Spock in "Amok Time" and the landing party versus Mirror Spock in "Mirror, Mirror".
Best with energy weapons = Defeating Kras in "Friday's Child".
No offense, but I prefer serious fight scenes, not comedic scenes like in "Tribbles."
I think the best fight was Kirk vs. Mitchell in WNMHGB. Runners up: Kirk vs. Tracey in "Omega Glory," Spock vs. Kirk in "Amok Time," Decker vs. generic redshirt in TDM, and the sickbay brawl "Mirror, Mirror."
What is it with these starship captains liking to fight?
My guilty pleasure: Kirk "killing" Hengist in "Wolf In the Fold," just based on this:
[FONT=Arial]KIRK: Now then, Mister Hengist
(But Hengist tries to make a break for it, even landing a very good kick on Kirk, who repays him with an even better right cross. Hengist falls to the floor.)
MCCOY: He's dead, Jim.
KIRK: But that's impossible!
(The lights dim eerily.)
VOICE [OC]: Redjac! Redjac! Redjac! Redjac! Redjac! (maniacal laughter) [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial](Thanks to http://www.chakoteya.net/startrek/index.htm for the transcripts!)[/FONT]
I think the best fight was Kirk vs. Mitchell in WNMHGB. Runners up: Kirk vs. Tracey in "Omega Glory," Spock vs. Kirk in "Amok Time," Decker vs. generic redshirt in TDM, and the sickbay brawl "Mirror, Mirror."
What is it with these starship captains liking to fight?
My guilty pleasure: Kirk "killing" Hengist in "Wolf In the Fold," just based on this:
[FONT=Arial]KIRK: Now then, Mister Hengist
(But Hengist tries to make a break for it, even landing a very good kick on Kirk, who repays him with an even better right cross. Hengist falls to the floor.)
MCCOY: He's dead, Jim.
KIRK: But that's impossible!
(The lights dim eerily.)
VOICE [OC]: Redjac! Redjac! Redjac! Redjac! Redjac! (maniacal laughter) [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial](Thanks to http://www.chakoteya.net/startrek/index.htm for the transcripts!)[/FONT]
Assuming that's directed at me, why would I take offense at you stating your personal preferences? It's not like you are presuming to speak for everyone.
When I want a dose of serious, TOS dematerializations are the place to go. It's why I went with the scene in "Friday's Child" for energy weapons. Despite some clichés, such as the way that Capellan falls off the ledge after getting shot by an arrow, that segment really works for me. One of my favorite lines from TOS is:
The Gorn fight is both the best and the worst fight scene in Trek.
Assuming that's directed at me, why would I take offense at you stating your personal preferences? It's not like you are presuming to speak for everyone.
Naughty! I see what you did there. Apparently you took offense at my statementーthat was actually intended to be humorous. Sorry if I upset you, but I mean, think about it, honestly. Everyoneーyes, everyoneーat *least* knows that they could have done better with the scene. Like in terms of directing and stuff. Nothing to be offended or make snarky remarks about.
This is a message board, not YouTube. We Trekkies have to stick together! Logically....
^ The Gorn scene was brilliantly lampooned in Galaxy Quest.
QUOTE=CrazyMatt;10297762]No offense, but I prefer serious fight scenes, not comedic scenes like in "Tribbles." [/QUOTE]
Yes, that was more of a wild free-for-all, but it can be excused, considering the light nature of the episode.
). the emotional investment was there (always a crucial component of a successful fight scene), so Kirk no longer seeing Mitchell as his friend intensified the brutality. Kirk's inspired use of the Phaser rifle literally capped off a great fight.
Yes, that was more of a wild free-for-all, but it can be excused, considering the light nature of the episode.
I must agree (though I was not fond of the outcome
). the emotional investment was there (always a crucial component of a successful fight scene), so Kirk no longer seeing Mitchell as his friend intensified the brutality. Kirk's inspired use of the Phaser rifle literally capped off a great fight.The Kirk vs. Tracey battle(s) comes close to matching WNMHGB's fight. Shatner and Woodward performing their own stunts displayed their believable ability, with both men selling the all or nothing stakes.
Great selections. I love Kirk's flying kick over the sickbay bed in "Mirror, Mirror," along with Decker's expression of total confidence facing off against the younger, seemingly tough Montgomery.
Was it the rock creature fight you were referring to? I thought that was actually more of a homage to stv and shatners original idea for a rock creature that didn't work in the pre cgi days
I don't have a clip handy, and I might be misremembering, but, in the clips shown in the background at the convention, I thought there was one of the Commander fighting an alien moving in exaggerated Gorn-like slow motion.
THE BEST FIGHT SCENE:
"Kirok" vs. Salish, because, as far as I'm aware, it was the only time when Kirk fought someone who was in the right. Salish had been too civil for entirely too long, considering all that he'd lost, being usurped by The Good Captain. And when Salish cut Kirok's hand and took such pleasure in knowing he could be hurt, who could blame him?
WORST FIGHT SCENE:
Kirk vs. Khan - oh, that a Navy SEAL would've had the foresight to beat Khan the Tyrant with a piece of pipe, then oh, how peaceful the year 1996 would've proven to be ... for everybody. But you go, Kirk ... do that pipe-pounding thing you do and finally rid us of Khan ... forever!
"Kirok" vs. Salish, because, as far as I'm aware, it was the only time when Kirk fought someone who was in the right. Salish had been too civil for entirely too long, considering all that he'd lost, being usurped by The Good Captain. And when Salish cut Kirok's hand and took such pleasure in knowing he could be hurt, who could blame him?
WORST FIGHT SCENE:
Kirk vs. Khan - oh, that a Navy SEAL would've had the foresight to beat Khan the Tyrant with a piece of pipe, then oh, how peaceful the year 1996 would've proven to be ... for everybody. But you go, Kirk ... do that pipe-pounding thing you do and finally rid us of Khan ... forever!
Sailsh was a dickhead supreme--fueled by childish jealousy. Maybe he should have spent less time scowling, and more on his medicine man skills...like knowing how to resuscitate a person from inhaling water.
In any case, the fight was good, and we were treated to more Shatner stunt work, like the tree-braced swinging kick. Nice work.
What I like best about that sequence is earlier in the show, Kras tells the Capellans that Kirk might call down an attack force armed with phasers. But he himself is the first to actually use one against the Capellans, so he has to die, by their own "primitive weapons".
I still think the best fight scene is Kirk getting his ass kicked in "A Taste of Armageddon".
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