#4 Top 10 Most Breathtaking Film Scenes

topic chosen by Chris

Voting ends April 9th at midnight

Now that I'm in college, I spend half of my minimal waking hours panicking and hysterically flustering over the work content. So what do I do to cool my jets? Alike 99.9% of my fellow students, I procrastinate the hell out of everything whether it's a simple survey or a twelve page anthem of a paper on the ultimate demise of Mexico City. Seriously, it's in shambles about to crack. But the main blame cast upon this common affliction is movies. Films let you forget about your troubles whether or not you placed them upon you own self or otherwise. This is true especially for those select scenes that tug at your heart, make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, and pour an overall tingle of awe from head to toe. So get your Netflix queues ready because CvsC is proud to bring you our feature presentation of List #4, top ten most breathtaking movie scenes.

forewarning - The content may include spoilers, so if you haven't seen the film, you may not want to watch the clip. Also, it must be known that to fully appreciation the impact of these scenes is to watch each film in it's entirety.

---------- C o n n o r ----------
"watch the clip and try not to piss your shitters"

10. - EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH
Obi-Wan Chops Off Anakin's Legs and Arm - Easily the most disturbing and graphic scene of the Star Wars saga, this scene is the turning point of the Star Wars saga.




09. - ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
Cars Fall Along The Sidewalk As Clem Walks Away From Joel - Perhaps a subtle moment in Michel Gondry's masterpiece, this is the most brilliant scene in the film in my opinion. It marks the beginning of Joel's journey through his mind.

Skip to the 8:53 mark



08. - GLORY
Final Battle Scene - Although America's first all-black battalion was unsuccessful in their battle in North Carolina, this scene is as good a chance as any to root for a side you know is going to lose. It is easily one of the most brilliant scores in cinematic history.






07. - THE SIXTH SENSE
First Ghost Appearance - Forget "I see dead people." When I see Haley Joel Osment walk in to the hall to see what teenage voice is in his hallway and discover a boy that has the back of his head blown off by his father's gun, it makes me never want to get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night EVER AGAIN.

(no found video) :(

06. WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
"What Is This...A Freak Out?" - While Johnny Depp did a great job portraying Mr. Wonka in Tim Burton's remake, Gene Wilder is as untouchable as an actor can be. His performance is as hilarious as it is frightening and odd. The best example of this is when he takes the lucky members of his tour for a wild ride with surreal images of Clockwork Orange-like businessman and psychedelic colors.

(no found video) :(

05. - CONTACT
Jodie Foster's Mysterious Flight - Whether or not you believe Jodie Foster's character in Contact truly embarked on her journey to visit extra-terrestrials or just dreamt the mission that was in reality roughly less than 10 seconds, the scene of her journey is one of the most mesmerizing in science fiction history.




04. - APOCALYPSE NOW
Opening Scene - The film that best represents the torrid conditions of the Vietnam War begins with the most chilling song of all time: "The End" by The Doors. In the era of fragging (murdering your commanding officer), the music goes perfectly with the scene.




03. - THE SHINING
Danny Meets The Twins On His Big Wheel - Nothing needs to be said, just watch the clip and try not to piss your shitters. It's so surreal I can't even speak.




02. - DR. STRANGELOVE
"We'll Meet Again" - Stanley Kubrick's true masterpiece ends as satirical as it begins with the world leaders preparing for the ensuing nuclear holocaust they have caused. Their preparation fades in to a rousing rendition of "We'll Meet Again" set to numerous atomic bomb explosions. You won't know whether to laugh or cry.




01. - SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
Normandy Beach Invasion - There are few movies that truly make you feel like you're in the scene. WWII veterans agree that Steven Spielberg portrayed the event perfectly.

---------- C h r i s ----------
"I dropped my from-home bag of dry cereal"

10. - THE PIANIST
Chopin's Ballade No.1 In G Minor - Roman Polanski's Cannes Palme d'Or (best picture) winning WW2 masterpiece would not have had been anywhere near emotionally draining without the inclusion of this scene of Adrian Brody's character clinging on to the last prized aspect of his former shattered life





09. - THE GODFATHER
Sonny At The Tollbooth - It's been very difficult in selecting these scenes, but choosing just one scene from this movie was especially grueling. I chose the scene that is personally most memorable when Sonny goes to the tollbooth with a surprise.





08. - AMERICAN BEAUTY
The Death of Lester Burnham - This is the most lingering scene I've ever witnessed. A perfect closing to a spectacular film, the scene affects the way you act and feel for the next few days afterwards.





07. - THE TWO TOWERS
Sam's Speech - Again, tough cookies on choosing specific scenes from each of the films in the trilogy, but a true standout is Sam's putting it all in perspective motivation speech that proves that there is still some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for.





06. - THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU
"I Wonder If He Remembers Me" - One of the most perfect song/scene pairings, "Starálfur" by Sigur Rós gracefully haunts the depths and compliments the tragic emotions of Wes Anderson's worst film (but I still like it a lot, you've got to remember I'm a silly indie kid).


By the way, check this out -> [mp3]


05. - SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
D-Day Omaha Beach Invasion - There's no way a list like this should exclude something as realisticly terrifying as this scene


Bonus! Badassness defined - [YouTube] (0:52-1:50)


04. - THE USUAL SUSPECTS
"The Greatest Trick The Devil Ever Pulled Was Convincing The World That He Didn't Exist" - WARNING! If you have never seen The Usual Suspects, DO NOT WATCH THIS clip, it will ruin everything.





03. - THE TWO TOWERS
Gandalf And The Balrog - Two from one movie I guess is ok now, especially if they hail from The Two Towers. When I saw the underground lake in theaters for the first time, I dropped my from-home bag of dry cereal (Golden Grahams of course!) all over the floor and didn't care because my body was frozen in wondrous fixated awe. The second time I saw it in theaters even though I knew what was coming, my jaw still dropped like it was hott, The third time (yes, third time) I saw this in theaters, my heart simply stopped, instantly died and became a phantom which I have maintained to keep a secret until now. (boo!)




02. - FIGHT CLUB
"You Met Me At A Very Strange Time In My Life" - Who ho ho! What an ending. The perfect pairing of the psychological jigsaw swamp that is Fight Club tandemed with the striking eeriness of the Pixies "Where Is My Mind." The is also and ending, so if you haven't seen Fight Club (first of all, for shame!) do not watch this.




01. - CHILDREN OF MEN
Single Take Tenement Complex Scene - Utterly breathtaking. Too bad after scouring the internet, it is nowhere to be found, but those who have seen Children of Men know what I'm talking about (it's not the scene pictured at the beginning) and those who haven't seen Children of Men are hereby exiled from my friendship.

NOW GO VOTE!