Ten Striking Movie Sequences

1) The Godfather - the final assassinations of all the Corleone enemies juxtaposed with the baptism of Michael Corleone's godson.
"So what, you like the mafia or something?"
"No."
"Well, the godfather movies sort of have you rooting for the bad guys, don't they?"
"Kind of."
"So how do you justify yourself?"
"Fuhgeddiboutit."
"Isn't that from Donnie Brasco?"
"Yeah."
"Do they even say that in the Godfather?"
"I don't think so."
"You should have said something about making me an offer I can't refuse if I shut it"
"That's cliche."
"And fuhgeddiboutit isn't?"
"Moving on."
2) Platoon - The sequence, largely shot from above, of Sgt. Elias Grodin, stumbling out of the forest surrounded by Viet Cong and, with arms upraised, finally succumbing to the bullets as the helicopter flies right over top of him.
"Actually John, that sounds disturbing."
"Well yes, it is."
"Then why do you like it?"
"I find it effective?"
"Isn't it also a little bit of pedagogical propaganda? After all, this is Oliver Stone."
"Whether you agree with him or not, the movie portrays the ennui, madness, and terror of war quite well."
"Ooooh, ennui, what are you some kind of intellectual?"
"No."
"Then stop using that word."
"Fine."
3) Dead Poets Society - The sequence where many of the students stand on their desks and say, "Oh Captain, my captain" to the departing Mr. Keating.
"You sappy saccharine sentimentalist!"
"Nice alliteration."
"Why thank you."
4) City of God - The opening sequence where Lil' Ze and his gang are chasing the chicken through the bustling, energetic streets of Rio de Janeiro's slum and then come across Rocket with his camera.
"Why do you enjoy movies that glorify crime and violence?"
"I don't believe crime or violence is glorified in this film. In fact, I find their portrayal quite disturbing."
"Why do you like disturbing things?"
"It makes me think."
"What are you, some kind of thinker?"
"In a way."
"In what way?"
"Cogito ergo sum."
"What did I say about posing as an intellectual?"
"Fuhgeddiboutit."
5) Amistad - The powerful scene where Cinque jumps overboard after the Amistad is captured and swims desperately towards the rising sun.
"That movie is not great."
"Well, it's good."
"But it's not great."
"I'm just talking about that particular sequence."
"Fine."
6) Hero - The amazing dual between Nameless and Broken Sword over top of a serene mountain lake. The colours in this movie are absolutely breath-taking.
"That movie is like one long Kodak commercial with a heavy dose of Chinese nationalism."
"But the cinematography is beautiful."
"Birth of a Nation also had good cinematography for its time."
"I don't think you can compare a movie glorifying the KKK with a movie that promotes the idea of a unified China."
"Whatever, comrade."
7) Mystic River - The scene interspersing Dave's forced false confession with the actual events that led to him being covered in blood and with Brenden's confrontation of his brother.
"Disturbing."
"The tension in this scene is palpable."
"Palpable, nice word."
"Thank you."
8) Lawrence of Arabia - The scene in which an Arab has fallen off of his camel and is trudging through the blazing hot desert. The desert is simply striking and the figure of the Arab looks so forlorn.
"Booooooooring."
"Go watch MTV."
"Yawn."
"Seriously, go watch MTV."
"Trudge rhymes with drudge, you know."
"Yawn rhymes with moron, you know."
"Yeah, but the words don't match rhythmically."
"*sigh*"
9) The Godfather Part II - The juxtaposition of the religous parade with Vito Corleone's assassination of Ciccio/ or --- The last scene where Michael Corleone's loss of his soul is shown in the murder of Fredo contrasted with the young alienated Michael before the war.
"Choose one or the other, you indecisive flip-flopper."
"I can't."
"Just as I thought."
10) Last of the Mohicans - The final sequence, set to the music of Clannad, in which Uncas dies fighting for Alice, Alice commits suicide, and Chingachgook avenges his son's death. This is all ended of course with this speech: "Welcome him and let him take his place at the council fire of my people. He is Uncas, my son. Tell them to be patient and ask death for speed; for they are all there but one - I, Chingachgook - Last of the Mohicans."
"Do you like the sequence or the quote?"
"Both."
"You know the movie barely even resembles the book."
"Yeah, so?"
"That entire scene is Hollywood-inspired ludicrity."
"The word is ludicrousness."
"Exactly."