Best movie attack/combat scene

[Sgt13Echo]

Empire of the Sun, P-51 Cadillac of the Skies

[Speedy]

Empire of the Sun, P-51 Cadillac of the Skies

Ah yes..."Tugboat" and "Missy Wong from Hong Kong". Wasn't that Hoof Proudfoot and one of the Hanna boys?

The scene where the Mustang comes through the smoke up over the camera, perpindicular to the runway, and leaves the swirling smoke in the wingtip vorticies is enough to give me chills every time I watch it, no matter how many times.

[maxum96]

Empire of the Sun, P-51 Cadillac of the Skies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02BBtN-P0lc&feature=related

[The Inspector]

What about Ahhhnies kick butt with the AV-8 in 'True Lies'?

'Your're fired...'

[Jarink1]

Heresy, I know....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvc70ptopqw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIpjgF6SWiU

[The Inspector]

I don't recall seeing any limits on when or if the attack took place whether over Wake Is. or Tatooney

[ripcord]

In Dr. Strangelove, the scene with Slim Pickens, James Earl Jones and the other guys as B-52 crew members reacting to getting hit by a missile seemed well done to me. And as an F-8 crusader fanatic, the scenes in Thirteen Days with the RF-8's over Cuba were good. Lastly, though not combat, all the inside the spacecraft scenes in Apollo 13 were outstanding.

[N3Njeff]

Operation dumbo drop when they put ray Lolita to the village. My 2 nd is we were soldiers during the 2nd wave when the Huey took a rpg and when the lights of the VC moving down the trail. There is a cav pilot I know that flew radio relay ship that 1st night and he described to me exactly that!!!

[Dave Homewood]

I agree that the Mustang strafing sequence in Empire of the Sun is really spectacular and thrilling to watch and must have been bloody amazing to have been on set when they filmed it, although in reality it is apparently not all real aircraft, with CGI and models cleverly unterwoven into the secene according to IMDb. I have to wonder if strafing ever was done that dangerously low though, it sees a bit foolhardy to fly at ten feet in terrain you're not familiar with, especially in a place that shoots back.

I also love the scene earlier in the film where Jamie is sitting in the crashed Zero having his imaginary dogfight with his glider that has caught the wind. It really is a very special film. I'll bet Shanghai doesn't look like that any more.

I think Battle of Britain has some of the best cinematic air combat scenes, but I also think the scene in Tora, Tora, Tora where the two P-40's are dogfighting with the Zero's in cloud just looks fantastic.

[Steve Nelson]

I don't think any CGI was used in the "Cadillac of the skies" strafing scene, just a few RC miniatures. The B-29 buzzing the camp was also a model. There was a bit of CGI earlier in the film, when the boy looks up to see formations of Japanese bombers over Shanghai. I remember reading that this was one of the first uses of CGI aircraft in a live action film, and although fairliy simple, they were still cutting edge technology in 1987.

And I have to admit, that strafing sequence does give me goosebumps. Of course, part of the impact has to also go to John Williams' incredible music score. Personally, I think "Empire of the Sun" is one of Speilberg's best films..much better than some of the more "Hollywood Blockbuster" stuff he's more well known for.

SN

[Dave Homewood]

I just watched the documentary China Odyssey about the making of Empire of the Sun - which I hadn't even realised was in my DVD set till yesterday. I think you're right it was all real aircraft and models in that scene Steve, without the CGI.

I have to say for 1987 the CGI of the atomic explosion affect on the sky was just great. That doco is really interesting too, some of the shots setup in Shanghai matched absolutely real film taken in the city in the late 1930's-1941. I agree it is one of Spielberg's masterpieces, he really knows how to get the balance right between realistic history and great entertaining storytelling.

[billtate]

I will have to admit that Steven Spielberg must share our love for Warbirds after movies like Empire of the Sun, 1941, and Always. Not mention the A-10 and AC-130 attack on the Decepticon in the desert, in the movie Transformers. He just seems to have a feel or sixth sense for the emotional way people identify with World War 2 aircraft and Warbirds.
However, this does not take anything away from the beauty and grandeur of the air battle scenes in the Battle of Britain. As a last, however, if I may add my all time favorite would be the "Charlie don't Surf" scene from Apocalypse Now. I do confess to being a closet rotor head and ex-crew chief on a Sea Stallion, so my option may be biased.

[airnutz]

He just seems to have a feel or sixth sense for the emotional way people identify with World War 2 aircraft and Warbirds.

He comes by it honest Bill, his daddy, Arnold Spielberg served in the CBI in WW2 with the 490th BS, 341st BS, Burma Bridge Busters and was an avid photographer while serving there...I'd love to see those photo albums. We discussed him a bit a while back in the FHC B-25 thread.

An interview with Arnold...
http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/Intervie ... rnold.html

[AviaS199]

TTT and BOB are the gold standards. But I still love the final attack scene in "633 Squadron." Pretty obvious that George Lucas likes it, too.

[Stoney]

Well for me, I wonder why, its the start of "Catch 22" having done it 4 times