If you’re a true fighting movie fan, it may be nothing short of intimidating to try to rank those scenes and come up with a list of the best ones. Luckily, we did the hard work for you. Now it’s just up to you to check out the list below and tell us whether you agree or disagree with the fight scenes we believe are the best ones you can find.
1. The Matrix (1999)
What truly sets the scenes in The Matrix apart from other fighting movies is the 360-degree camera work, especially in the showdown scene between Agent Smith and Neo. The two nearly defied gravity as they delivered blows back and forth, all while dodging trains and bullets. It made for a scene no one would ever be able to forget.
2. Rocky (1976)
Rocky Balboa, we are not sure what this man eats, but this man is a pure beast.
If you’re watching a Rocky movie, you know you’re waiting for the ultimate showdown between Rocky Balboa and his “enemy of the hour.” It can be said that no movie built up to that scene better than the first. It’s an underdog story we all love to watch. The fight against Apollo Creed forever distilled Rocky in our hearts and only made us want to see the second movie more than we already did.
3. Drunken Master 2 (1994)
It would be a sin to talk about great fight scenes without mention Jackie Chan. However, while this fight was surely entertaining, it was the combination of comedy and kick-ass violence that had us all cheering while watching Drunken Master 2.
4. Enter the Dragon (1973)
It can be argued that no one will ever do for movies, what Bruce Lee did for fighting films. In this monumental fight movie, Lee went up against the mastermind Han and his box full of tricks. They may have had to slow down the camera footage just so viewers could keep up with Lee’s quick movements, but Lee proved himself a truly talented fighter and impaled his foe on his own spear. How’s that for an epic fight scene?
5. The Way of the Dragon (1972)
Yes, Bruce Lee again. He’s just that good! This scene pins the legendary Chuck Norris against the iconic Bruce Lee. Do we really need to say more?
6. Fight Club (1999)
Ed Norton’s character takes on an angelically handsome, golden-haired Jared Leto in a bone-crunching fist fight. It’s bloody, it’s graphic, and it’s everything you want in an epic fight scene. Of course, we were on the edge of our seats the entire time. Most would argue he took it way too far, but as Ed’s character put it he “just felt like destroying something beautiful.”
Having a passion for UFC – Ultimate Fighting Championship – is easily the first step into making a profit when you get into betting. Although make sure you compare odds to turn the edge in your favor. However, being a diehard fan is not a requirement, especially if you are determined and ready to spend time and invest money. Moreover, don’t worry if you are not always on top of the newest developments. Keep in mind that it’s a good idea to know if someone is coming out of retirement, and to have information on future fights.
Betting for fun is not the way to make a profit. In fact, you might be influenced and biased by betting on your favorite fighter. To become a savvy better, or even better, a high roller, you will need to learn a lot, both about the UFC and betting in general. This means following many games, many fighters, and spending a lot of time on research before you can place an experienced bet that will win you money.
So, how do you turn from an amateur better into a high-roller that makes a profit?
Learn and understand the odds
When it comes to the UFC, one of the fighters is the underdog and the other is the favorite to win. The odds will tell you which fighter is a favorite. That’s where you start. There are three basic types of odds representations: Vegas odds, decimal odds and fractional odds. Vegas odds are used mostly in the USA; decimal odds are used in Central Europe, while fractional odds are common in the UK. So, depending on where you are in the world, you will face different types of odds.
However, the odds representations are easy to convert, and what’s even more, most sports bookies have a system to help you convert them or even do it for you.
The odds and betting
To better understand the odds, let’s take a look at an example using Vegas odds. If a fighter’s odds are -200, while his opponent’s odds are +150, it means that the fighter is the favorite, and sine the USA odds are based around a $100 bet, this means that you need to bet $200 on that fighter to win $100. If you’re betting on his opponent, then with a $100 bet you will win $150.
In general, the number after the ‘-‘ sign means you need to bet that amount to win $100, while the number after the ‘+’ sign shows how much money a bet of $100 would win including the stake.
Detailed research
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 30: (L-R) Cody Garbrandt kicks Dominick Cruz in their UFC bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 207 event on December 30, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Understanding the odds and types of bets in UFC – live betting, round betting, bout betting is only the first step. The second step is learning everything you can about UFC. You will need to research each player before making a bet, and that includes past fights and wins, past odds on that player, as well as who the player won against. If the player has not won against better opponents, then betting on him or her might not be the best idea.
Also, make sure to watch past games and look for patterns. Does the fighter settle the win in two, three, or five rounds? How often has it been a draw and against whom? If you are going for live betting, you should study the movements and the tactics of the fighters, because it will help you place the right bet at the right time.
Be patient
One does not become a high-stakes roller overnight. To turn a profit from UFC betting, you will need to make the initial investment and use it well. Otherwise, the investment becomes a loss and your enjoyment when watching UFC will diminish.
So, what can and should you do?
You need to be patient. Start small, place a few bets at a time to get the feeling of betting, learn and get used to the lingo and the terms. Do not rush into making big losing bets immediately. Get all the help you can get – from forums online or in person if you can reach a professional better. Then, when you feel confident in your knowledge of the UFC, of the fighters going in the octagonal ring and their past victories and defeats, then, you can move on to bigger bets.
Find the right sportsbook
There are two reasons why you should look for the right sports bookie. First reason is safety – you don’t want to place a winning bet with a bookie that will not pay you out. The second reason why you need to check every sports bookie beforehand are the odds. One sportsbook might, and most probably will, offer different odds for the same game compared to another sportsbook.
For that reason, before you make your first serious bet, check out every option that you have. You can use C Payment Methods to choose the right betting house for you, be it William Hill or bet365.
Live betting – yes or no?
Live betting can be really exciting. It means watching the game and placing bets live in game. There are many professional betters who do this and actually make a profit, so, it deserves special attention.
What you need to keep in mind before making a live bet are the odds. The odds will change as the game progresses, and there is always the delay of a few seconds between placing your bet and your bet being accepted as such. In those few seconds, the odds might change and so will the outcome of your bet, especially if you win.
You can also go for tabbing – bet with different sports bookies on the outcome of the same game at the same time. This can be profitable, but you are still placing multiple bets at the same time, so you might end up spending more than what you will actually make if and when you win.
When it comes to betting, the perfectly safe bet does not exist. Each win is a combination of luck and skill – so as time passes and your confidence grows, make sure it does not make you too confident. That way, whatever profits you’ve made will disappear quickly, even if you were 100% you were going to win.
You grab your bowl of popcorn and get comfortable on the couch to enjoy your favorite fighting movie. Whether you’re watching Kill Bill or Enter the Dragon, you’ve realized by now that the thrilling, bone-crunching fight scenes are your favorite guilty pleasure. But if you’re a parent, have you thought about the effect your favorite fighting movies could have on your children? Do you allow them to watch or wait until they’re asleep to indulge in a film?
According to the Office of Child Development at the University of Pittsburgh, exposure to violence, even on the television, is potentially harmful to children. A magnitude of research has been conducted on the connection between violent TV and aggressive behavior, particularly in youth. The American Medical Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Psychological Association, and the National Institute of Mental Health have all found a connection, giving parents something to think about.
“There’s no one single factor that can make a non-violent person act violent,” stated Caroline Knorr, the Parenting Editor at Common Sense Media. “But prolonged exposure to violence in media is a risk factor. And it’s kids who have multiple risk factors who are likeliest to behave aggressively.”
Research has shown that once a child is seven or eight-years-old, according to experts, they’ve reached “the age of reason.” Essentially meaning that at that age, children are better able to distinguish between reality and fantasy.
Additionally, research has also shown that there are things parents can do to help ensure exposure to violence doesn’t have a negative effect on their child. Obviously, a parent can control the types of programs their child is exposed to or how much time they’re spending watching those programs. But perhaps the most important and effective tactic a parent can use is communication. Talk to your child about what they see and even if it’s not a film you approve of, talk about it. It’s important to have a discussion with your child about how violence compares to their own values as well as the consequences they would face if they took part in a similar kind of violence. As enjoyable as a fighting movie may be for you, it can easily turn into a learning experience for your child.
As with most issues in parenting and raising children, it comes down to following what you know and feel to be right. No child is the same, which is why it’s up to you to pay attention to how your child reacts to specific situations and keep an open discussion with them. No one wants to raise a violent child but you can’t keep your child under wraps forever either. It is possible to share your hobby with your kids as long as you go about it the right way.
Sure, directing, producing, cinematography, and the like all play a huge role in the success of a film. But is there truly anything more important, particularly in a fighting movie, than the star in front of the camera? Whether you’ve actually seen the movies they star in or not, there’s a good chance you’re at least familiar with their rugged, handsome faces. We were brave enough to comprise a list of our favorite fighting movie stars, but we want to hear how you think we did. Are we missing someone? Is there someone on our list who you don’t think should be? Check out the list and leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
1. Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone is likely best known for his role as Rocky Balboa in the Rocky franchise. After all, that’s the main reason he made our list. With the body of a dancer from a Sydney Hens Night, Rocky was inducted into the National Film Registry and its props were put in the Smithsonian Museum. In other words, his starring role was in an iconic film! Stalone was even voted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the non-participant category on December 7, 2010! Incredibly, he didn’t receive a Golden Globe Award until after he reprised his role as Rocky Balboa for the 2015 movie Creed.
2. Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan is an incredibly talented entertainer known for his acrobatic fighting style, comedic acting, creative stunts, and use of random, improvised weapons. He’s received stars on both the Hong Kong Avenue of Stars and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Chan has appeared in more than 150 films, proving that not only is he a force to be reckoned with, but he will be for a long time.
3. Bruce Lee
As if starring in iconic fighting films isn’t enough, Bruce Lee is considered by a wide majority of media and other martial artists to be one of the most influential martial artists in history. He’s also considered a pop culture icon of the 20th century. It can be said that Bruce Lee changed the way Asians are perceived and represented in movies. He’s so incredibly talented in martial arts that he was able to create his own form, which he named Jeet Kune Do.
4. Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford gained worldwide attention for his role as Han Solo in the Star Wars series as well as the title character in Indiana Jones. Star Wars became one of the most successful movies of all time. He was ranked Empire’s number one “Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time” and as of 2016 he was the highest-grossing U.S. domestic box-office star.
5. Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme is a martial artist and Belgian actor best known for his roles in a martial arts action films. His breakout role was in Bloodsport in 1988. Universal Soldier was Van Damme’s highest-grossing film of his career. While he continues to work, it’s his roles from decades ago that continue to give him the title of one of the best fighting movie stars of all time.
As with just about every debate over the best anything, you’d be hard-pressed to find the same answers no matter who you talk to. With so many options out there, the idea of selecting just five of the best fighting movies of the last 100 years is nothing if not intimidating. While we’re bound to offend a handful of people no matter what movies end up on our list, we wanted to share the five we thought deserved to be named the best. In no specific order, take a look at the list below and tell us just how much you agree or disagree with our selections.
Fight Club (1999)
The talented Edward Norton and equally talented, pretty boy Brad Pitt came together to star in Fight Club, a movie that, despite the title, isn’t as much of a traditional fighting movie as the others on our list. While the film itself is more about a pathetic man’s delusions, the realistic, bloody and violent scenes displaying the world of underground fighting deemed themselves worthy of notice. The bare-knuckle fighting scenes viewers witness in Fight Club are enough to stir up something inside of you, which is exactly what a fight movie is supposed to do. If you’re in the mood for a bit more of a psychological thriller with some great fight scenes thrown in, Fight Club is the way to go.
Enter the Dragon (1973)
Can you really talk about fight movies without mentioning the one man who left a permanent impression: Bruce Lee? Over at “Crave” they named Enter the Dragon their number one fight movie and labeled the film Bruce Lee’s magnum opus. The fight scenes may be shorter than you’d prefer but rumor has it they had to slow down some fight scenes because Lee moves too fast for viewers to keep up. You’ll likely have a hard time remembering it’s just a movie because this film is just that good!
Undisputed III: Redemption (2010)
When it comes to good movies, it’s quite rare that a sequel is good enough to beat the original. But in the case of the Undisputed films, it’s the third movie in the series that takes home the prize. Avid movie-goers may argue that in terms of story line, the first or second films were better than Redemption, but for those wanting a good fighting movie, third is best. This American-made film has all the bone-crunching violence required to make it on our list.
Rocky (1976)
Similar to Enter the Dragon, it would practically be a sin to talk about fight movies without mentioning Rocky. The intense boxing scenes and inspirational story not only earned this movie recognition as one of the best fighting movies of all time, but landed it among some of the best movies ever made. It can be argued that Sylvester Stallone wouldn’t be who he is today without this franchise. It’s no surprise several fight scenes from the film are still consistently talked about today.
Never Back Down (2008)
Although this movie follows teenagers, there’s no shortage of action for any fight movie-loving viewer, no matter their age. The following was so great in fact, that they filmed a sequel. There are certainly enough bloody fights to satisfy your need if that’s what you’re looking for. With familiar faces like Sean Faris, Amber Heard, and Cam Gigandet, it’s a great movie for those looking to get into the fight movie scene, but be forewarned: once you’re in, you’re in!