Top 5 Cinematic Battle Scenes

Saving Private Ryan: Omagh Beach

As openings go, none have been more realistic or eye opening  in Steven Spielberg's career than this one. Seeing Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) and friends speeding away in a boat towards what will be a life changing event, we see soldiers being sick from nerves. The moment they hit the beach, there are no heroics, men drown from their heavy packs, bullets hover like fireflies and lives disappear in an instant. Spielberg succeeds in showing that in the heat battle, only brave and the fortunate prevail. Even today this stands as one of the great directors finest sequences!

Star Wars: A New Hope: Death Star Attack

Since its release in 1977, George Lucas' sci-fi masterpiece has a finale that has lost none of its potency. An air bound dog fight in its finest, the Rebels goes head to head with the Empire in what amounts to little more than a suicide run. The thrill factor is still very much alive and Lucas and his company Industrial Light and Magic have succeeded in keeping the effects looking timeless. But it is what's at stake that provide the audience its real nerves as the Death Star is on the verge of blowing them out of existence. Try fight not to stand up and cheer during the trench run sequence, I dare you!

Zulu: Rourke's Drift

The most endearing this about the Cy Enfield's, 1964 war film is the soldiers it is based on. 100 brave British Soldiers stood firm against the a never sea of over 4,000 Zulu Warriors at Rourke's Drift. Enfield in a pulse raising effort shows the grit and determination of the men involved. Led by aristocratic Bromhead (Michael Caine) and hard nosed engineer Chard (Stanley Baker) the red coats find the spirit in themselves to repel the rolling waves before them. The finale sequence is the one that still stands out as the weary warriors through sheer will win a deserved respect from the enemy. 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded for their courage- still a record to this day.

Apocalypse Now: Village Attack

These day's it is impossible to hear Wagner's 'Ride of the Valkyries' and not think of the memorable village attack from Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 Vietnam War classic! Emerging from the clouds like black angels of death, they quickly rain down a fiery and bloody outcome on the villagers below. Led by thrilling seeking surfer commander, Lt Colonel Kilgore (Robert Duvall) the image to this day still everlasting as he forces his comrades to surf will the tree line it set alight by napalm! As Duvall delivers the legendary line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning!" it leave us reeling from what we have just witness- this would prove to be one the last hurrah's of Coppola's career.

 Children of Men: Escape From Bexhill

If ever you needed proof that Alfonso Cuaron is one of the best modern day directors, you need only look here. Proving the master of the one take scenes, here Cuaron gives us a heart stopping escape attempt as Theo (Clive Owen) attempts to protect a mother and the first human born child in centuries. As the refugee uprising folds, the next six minutes has everything an exciting finale should have as bullets fly and explosions appear all around. However, even in the midst of a meltdown, there is a moment of beautiful serenity as both sides ceasefire to witness the miracle creation. Even in the midst of war, Cuaron finds space to reflect on what good can be find in the most unlikely places.

Through Space & Time: Review of Interstellar

Interstellar

Director: Christopher Nolan

By Alex Watson

When a Chris Nolan films rolls around you can always guarantee one thing for sure, this will be no ordinary experience. Continually over the past decade, the British visionary has made our minds bend in more ways than one. But his plots are always a closely guarded secret and when unveiled to us we are forever left either amazed or dumbfounded by what we have witnessed! This week he tackles space exploration and a mission that may just save the human race. Prepare for all kinds of theories, calculations and inspiring visuals in Interstellar.


In the future, the earth is slowly dying due to a lack of food resources, so to save its existence former astronaut Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) along with Dr Amelia Brand (Anne Hathaway) and Boyle (Wes Bentley) are sent through the universe on a deep space mission. Through this they must navigate a worm hole that may or may not lead them to a system that can sustain the survival of the human race.

Interstellar again proves that Christopher Nolan is a director at the top of his game and this proves to be an eye opening and thought provoking look at not only what exists in the universe, but humanities instinct for survival. As we open on the dusty and deprived earth, we view humanity virtually forced down onto its knees. Cooper proves to be one of Nolan's strongest leads as we see him as a conflicted former pilot who is being forced into playing reluctant hero on a mission that may not see him return! The emotional depth of Cooper gives his early relationship with his 10 year old daughter Murph (Mackenzie Foy) gives the film a beating heart and as watch him drive away teary eyed- we pray for his safe return.

Although slow starting, midway through the film smartly shifts into overdrive and the visual presented to us are remarkable. The impressive CG by Hoyte Van Hoytema show us the great unknown which includes a planet surrounded by gigantic rolling waves, which will play a key role in the events of the mission! But perhaps the smartest element to this whole equation is that the universe is filled with unknown dangers and even the slightest error could result in several years being lost! Tough decisions allow the characters to reveal their true colours and at points battle of wills surface, often to heart stopping effect. Professor Brand's (Michael Caine) quoting of 'Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night' by Dylan Thomas effectively sums up the human spirit and its determination.

But the centre of Interstellar is all about the relationship between father and daughter. Murph is a no ordinary child and Cooper has encouraged her all her life to think outside the box. As older Murph (Jessica Chastain) appears, her initial anger and betrayal him leaving transcends into love and desire to see her father again and this gives her brains she never knew. However it is watching Cooper's pain filled face as he watches the 20 years of un-viewed messages from his children that hit home with such a hard and raw agony.

Even though Nolan's film is a visual masterpiece, its content and ideas may prove to be too heavy going for fair weather film fans. Never one to shy away from smart film making, Christopher and Jonathan Nolan give us a script that is so packed full of physics and morality that it feels as if we are being given a lecture rather than cinematic piece. The final act will firmly divide viewers as we cross through the dimensions of space, black holes to arriving into a destination that will surprise along with frustrating many. But unlike his other pieces, this proves to be Nolan's most heart pouring and genuine pieces.

Matthew McConaughey is an excellent lead choice and after his brillance in Dallas Buyers Club, he shows that he anchored a blockbuster well. Demonstrating a great human touch to his character, Cooper goes down as one of the more emotionally real characters of 2014 and is played with such potent power that he appeals to us from a very early stage. Anne Hathaway is also impressive as the smart yet soulful Dr Brand. But it is Jessica Chastain who firmly claims the supporting ranks with a brief yet impressive turn as the older Murph that captures our hearts.

Interstellar is an impressive and bold blockbuster, but the weight of its own intellect makes the film crumble slightly and we are left afterwards with our minds still traveling at light speed! But it is no less impressive and on a visual scale this is unlikely to be beaten in 2014. Christopher Nolan is a director who will always be challenging his audience, best to start reading for our next encounter!