Scene It!

 

Movies come and go but every once in a while there’s a scene that “clenches” the entire film for us.  Days, weeks, months or even years later, if someone mentions the film we’re reminded of that one particular scene.  Here are a few of my favorite memorable movie scenes. 

 

Beware!  This may contain spoilers!

 

13th Warrior

Near the end, the outnumbered Norsemen and Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan (Antonio Banderas) face the approaching Wendol.  A mortally wounded Buliwyf (Vladimir Kulich) begins the Viking’s prayer and is joined by Ahmed, Herger (Dennis Storhoi), Edgtho (Daniel Stern) and Weath (Tony Curran).

 

Bowfinger

Hollywood superstar Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) thinks he’s being stalked through a parking garage.  Actually it’s Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin) and his crew filming him and the footsteps he hears are from a pet dog with shoes on, walking through the garage.

 

The Changeling

John (George C. Scott) throws his daughter’s small, rubber ball off of a bridge and sees it hit the water.  When he arrives home, he hears a noise and the same rubber ball bounces down the stairs towards him.

 

Clerks II

Randal (Jeff Anderson) gives Elias (Trevor Fehrman) and a patron (Kevin Weisman) his take on the three Lord of the Rings movies and even includes an interpretation of the ring toss.

 

Death To Smoochy

A highly angered Rainbow Randolph Smiley (Robin Williams) calls Sheldon a.k.a. Smoochy the Rhino (Edward Norton) and threatens him by saying he’s going on safari!  He even includes animal noises!

 

Face/Off

“It’s like looking in a mirror, only, not!”  Castor Troy (now being played by John Travolta) comes face to face with Sean Archer (now being played by Nicolas Cage) for the first time after the surgery switching their appearances.

 

A Fish Called Wanda

Otto (Kevin Kline) discovers Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Archie (John Cleese) at a rendezvous in a nearby flat.  An altercation between Otto and Archie ensues resulting in Otto holding Archie upside down out of the window while he (Archie) gives an apology.  (The “Mr. Manfredjinsinjin” scene is a very close second.)

 

Forrest Gump

Forrest (Tom Hanks) is talking to Jenny (Robin Wright Penn) at her gravesite.  He tells her how much he misses her and starts to cry.

 

Four Rooms

In the “Misbehavers” segment, Ted the Bellhop (Tim Roth) is put in charge of watching Sarah (Lana McKissack) and Juancho (Danny Verduzo) while their parents (Antonio Banderas and Tamlyn Tomita) go out for New Year’s Eve.  Over the course of the evening everything goes haywire.  The source of a disgusting smell that’s been plaguing the room is discovered just at the parents return from their evening out.

 

From Dusk Till Dawn

“Psychos don’t blow up when sunlight hits them.  I don’t care how crazy they are!”  Seth (George Clooney) yells at Carlos (Cheech Marin) after being rescued from the vampires’ lair that masqueraded as a bar.

 

The Full Monty

Gaz (Robert Carlyle) and Dave (Mark Addy) are walking along the road when they come upon Lomper (Steve Huison) sitting in his car (with windows rolled up and an exhaust pipe coming in).  The engine won’t start so Dave helps with the car and walks off.  Dave goes a few steps and then realizes what Lomper is trying to do.  Dave jerks Lomper out of the car, saving him.  When Lomper makes a remark to him, Dave opens the door and pushes him back in.

 

Harlem Nights

Quick (Eddie Murphy) is driving when the Crying Man (Arsenio Hall) and his cronies start following him.  A three on one shootout follows!

 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) are cornered in the Shrieking Shack by Professor Lupin (David Thewlis) and Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) when Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) suddenly appears.  The altercation between Sirius and Snape indicates they’re not exactly the best of friends.

 

Jane Eyre

Jane (Joan Fontaine) returns to find Thornfield Hall destroyed and a blind Edward Rochester (Orson Welles) roaming the ruins.

 

Jurassic Park II – The Lost World

The T-Rexes are attacking the base/trailer/camp.  The end of the trailer is pushed over the edge of the cliff.  Sarah (Julianne Moore), who is inside, lands on a glass window, above the cliff, and we can hear the glass slowly begin to crack.

 

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) are near the top of the mountain.  Frodo can barely go on due to the weight of the ring.  Sam, realizing he can’t take the ring himself, picks up Frodo to carry him the rest of the way.

 

Man In The Iron Mask

Aramis (Jeremy Irons), Athos (John Malkovich), D’Artagnan (Gabriel Byrne), Porthos (Gerard Depardieu) and Phillippe (Leonardo DiCaprio) are cornered in the Bastille by Louis’ (also Leonardo DiCaprio) guards.  The outnumbered musketeers storm the guards who are apprehensive when Louis gives the order to shoot.

 

The Mummy

After returning from the desert, Beni (Kevin O’Connor) is ransacking the room when Rick (Brendan Fraser) shows up.  Beni tries to escape but Rick picks up a chair and throws it.  The chair hits Beni, knocking him down.

 

The Patriot

Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) is leaving headquarters after a parlay with Cornwallis (Tom Wilkinson).  Before he reaches the gate, he encounters Colonel Tavington (Jason Isaacs).

 

Pulp Fiction

Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent (John Travolta) are talking in the car after the apartment incident.  Marvin (Phil LaMarr) is in the backseat.  Vincent has a gun pointed at Marvin that accidentally goes off.

 

Raising Arizona

Gale (John Goodman) and Evelle (William Forsythe) have taken Nathan Jr. (T.J. Kuhn) and have just held up a small grocery store.  They’re driving down the road, making their getaway, when they realize they’re missing one thing…Nathan Jr.

 

The Ring

There were plenty of moments to choose from with this movie.  The one that always gives me the “creeps” is at the beginning when Ruth Embry (Lindsay Frost) comes home, opens the closet and discovers her daughter Katie (Amber Tamblyn).

 

Se7en

William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) tries to get David Mills (Brad Pitt) to give him the gun that he has pointed at John Doe (Kevin Spacey) while David keeps asking “What’s in the box?”  (We didn’t need to see what was in the box to know what was inside!)

 

Sense And Sensibility

Edward (Hugh Grant) is talking to Elinor (Emma Thompson) near the end of the movie.  Elinor, who’s had a strong demeanor through the entire film, breaks down and starts to sob.

 

The Shining

Wendy (Shelly DuVall) looks through the manuscript that Jack (Jack Nicholson) has been working on during their stay at the hotel.  He has written over and over on every page “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”.

 

The Sixth Sense

Malcolm (Bruce Willis) is talking to a sleeping Anna (Olivia Williams) when she suddenly drops his wedding ring.  Malcolm then understands everything that’s happened since he was shot.

 

Star Wars : Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) strikes Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) down during their final confrontation.  A badly injured (and burning) Anakin screams “I hate you” at Obi-Wan, who turns around and tells Anakin that he loved him.

 

Song Of Bernadette

A dying Bernadette (Jennifer Jones) sees the Virgin Mary (Linda Darnell) waiting for her.

 

Throw Momma From The Train

Owen (Danny DeVito) returns home to find Momma (Anne Ramsey) still alive and Larry (Billy Crystal) has fallen down the steps.  Momma immediately tells Owen that Larry’s dead and to bury him in the back yard.

 

Titanic

The sinking ship is partially out of water when the rivets start to give way.  The ship breaks apart and the stern comes crashing back down into the water.

 

Trainspotting

A delirious Renton (Ewan McGregor) is trying to kick his drug habit.  During a moment when he’s hallucinating, he thinks he sees the baby crawling on the ceiling.

 

Vampires

Jack Crow (James Woods) and the others are forming a plan to get to Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith).  We see that the sun is setting and Valek and the other master vampires rise for the night by coming straight out of the ground.

 

What Dreams May Come

In the afterlife, Chris (Robin Williams) tries to save a doomed Annie (Annabella Sciorra) but is running out of time.

 

The Whole Nine Yards

Jimmy (Bruce Willis) shoots Frankie (Michael Clarke Duncan) while they’re on the boat with Oz (Matthew Perry).  Jimmy then throws a beer to a stunned Oz who doesn’t even blink as the can goes sailing past him.

 

The Wizard Of Oz

Dorothy (Judy Garland) is being held captive.  She’s watching the hour glass when she suddenly sees Auntie Em (Clara Blandick) calling for her.

 

Do you have a favorite memorable movie scene?  Tell us what it is in the forum!

 

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© 2007 by Tammy Cordani.  To use the above content you must first obtain written permission.  Please contact Tammy Cordani.  All rights reserved.

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