10. The Dark Knight-Joker chases Harvey DentThis sequence begins with Dent sacrificing himself to lure out the Joker. It ends with a flipped Semi, a wrecked Batmobile, and the Joker in custody. Dent, Batman, and Gordon left behind them a city devestated by the chaos of the chase. Chaos that the Joker was in control of the whole time.The effects team shut down parts of Chicago and flipped a real semi. Awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81LeooTiKI0

9. Aliens-Ripley vs. the Alien QueenThere is so much subtext going on in this battle of mothers. The technical effect of the Alien queen is masterful and a testement to the greatness of Stan Winston. The queen was essentially a giant puppet. One of the best Sci-Fi movies ever and a top notch action film to boot. This was the first r-rated movie my mom let me see. It kicked off my love of special effects and space marines. It carries on in my love for Halo

8. Return of the Jedi- Assualt of the Second Death StarI really do not like ROTJ. I hate the ewoks, the Jabba scenes are pointless, the whole endor battle is stupid, not to mention the scenes of the heroes among the ewoks. Did I mention I hate the ewoks?The one bright spot in the whole movie is the attack on the Death Star II, all of that is done with models and stop motion. Really amazing and thrilling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGMvadAFqLQ

7. Raiders of the Lost Ark- truck chaseIndy must rescue the Ark from the Nazi's. This scene is a throwback to all the great western and b movie serial chases Spielberg and Lucas grew up on. And it is injected with about 10,000 times more awesomeness. How cool is the whole Indy climbing on, over, under, behind, and in front of the truck? Again all done with practical effects and stuntmen. Awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQW14cbjD6c&feature=related

6. The Empire Strikes Back-Assualt on HothThis attack on th Rebel Base sets the tone for the rest of the movie, our heroes are screwed. From the first scene of the Super Star Destroyer to the first thud of the AT-AT feet, you know how scary the Empire really is. The rebel's do not have a prayer. Seeing this powerful empire be being defaeted by ewoks in ROTJ is blasphemy. The Empire in ROTJ is not the Empire of ESB. The Empire in ESB is a terrifying entity worthy of respect. Powerful and deadly. Good-bye rebel scum. Oh and one more thing, Han should have died as was originally inteneded.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWjj8EKTkWE

5. The Road Warrior-Final ChaseThis movie is the perfect hybrid of Sci-Fi and action. Here Mel is helping a group of Post-Apocolyptic survivors protect their gas. Mel Gibson rocks as a man on a mission tearing up everything in his way. Again all done with practical effects and real bodies in motion. This is why we see action movies, and the twist at the end is classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmf-HCCZYOg&feature=related

4. Saving Private Ryan-D-Day Battle and Guarding the BridgeThe 1st 20 minutes of this movie brought home the reality of D-Day. For years D-Day had been presented as a heroic and glorified triumph to be celebrated. Now we know it was hell. Men, some boys, never made it out of the landing boats. Youknow the rest. Spielberg puts us right there in the action and shows us what real heroes did. Ever wonder why super heroes comics flurished in WWII, casue the real heroes were experiencing something for more horrific, and we needed to be detatched from that reality. The guarding of the Bridge at the end of this movie illustrates what it meant for men to love and honor the man next to him in a battle. Hank's character's final words to the found private Ryan, "earn this" echo to any one that has lived through sacrifice. MOstly practical effects with some digital help, but all masterful stroytelling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDEeO57PpLEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?
feature=related&v=zFmDErnW-14
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0WBZab8SWE&feature=related
Guarding the Bridge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLsO2ckxqEU&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRhqWtjuiao&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_CS-kedegA&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRPOlZob-hs&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnzzGGqkIpI&feature=related

3. Seven Samurai- the Final BattleIf you have ever seen a movie where one man collects a team of specialists to complete a task, it was becasue of Seven Samurai. Kurusawa's epic is quite possible the greatest film ever made. Hugely influential, Stunning cinematagrophy, great story, and thrilling action combine to make a movie that transcends genres, languages, and streotypes. Ever single frame of this movie could a professional photograph. This story of seven samuari protecting a village from bandits is heart-wrenching in its sense of what it means to be honorable. The final battle in the rain is beautiful, exciting, and sad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uu40a3ANFw

2. King Kong -1933-Kong vs. T-RexKing Kong was the 1st movie that made me love movies. I saw it when I was six and have loved it ever sense. It is a mixture of horror, sex, race, mystery, and fantesy. The hell of Skull Island is only bearable because you know that he is King Kong for a reason. Teh fight with a T-Rex proves just that. Stop motion pioneer Willis o'Brien is the special effects messiah. All work since this has been influenced be him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9im7lRUFQ_Y

1. Ben Hur- The Chariot RaceThe biggest, and best action sequence in any movie. ever. no comupters, no stop motion. Men steering chariots. This sequence took 3 months to film. Rumors persist that men died during it's filming. This scene plays out not just for the action but for the underlying plot of Ben-Hur racing for vengence against his former best friend (and lover?) Messala. It was all done practically with stunt men and real chariots. It still holds up as a thrilling spectacle of mayhem and blood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjxR40S4Tb0&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_O94EwEjfk&feature=related

Agree or Disagree? Have any suggestions?