List is in no particular order.
Oldboy
This unedited, fluid, somewhat operatic fight is captured in the essence of a 2D side scrolling beat ’em up. Yet, its brutality and hauntingly tragic charge proves that this scene’s realism is part of an art form far beyond the typical mayhem seen in any fighter game. Driven by his thirst for revenge, Oldboy’s protagonist, Oh Dae-Su, carries himself into an outnumbered battle, only to come out alive because of his machinelike fighting style. A tint of noir from the lighting and music resonates a sadness that comes as a side dish to the unscrupulous ultraviolence onscreen, and it is satisfying.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Ang Lee’s penchant for serenity is best seen here. The bare setting. The sleek choreography. The minimalistic music. Yet, this scene’s intensity is due to all of these perfectly molded elements, amounting to a graceful flow of perfect maneuvers that are all caught in the eye of a patient director. Beauty and danger are not only exemplified by the two wielders, Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) and Jen Yu (Ziyi Zhang), but by the entire atmosphere of the fight, itself.
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Comical bits of tongue in cheek absurdity manage to slip their way into an epic duel between Elle Driver and The Bride in Quentin Tarantino’s second installment of the Kill Bill saga. Elle’s inability to draw her sword is done to a subtly humorous end, and both fighters are forced to engage with what they have in a trailer. The claustrophobic setting makes this scene a tense frenzy, but it manages to be so well done because of its pace and the way it is shot. The climax of this scene is incredibly badass, and the tense buildup preceding it is one of my favorite moments from the entire 2 movies.
The Empire Strikes Back
Neglecting this fight from this list would be kicking my 12 year old self in the balls. Now while my 12 year old self was pretty much just a piece of poo, this fight still stands firm against the unforgiving hand of time. The iconic image of the silhouettes of father and son fighting with beautifully colored lightsabers is unforgettable for a reason. As one of cinema’s greatest secrets is revealed in the climax of an emotionally founded feud, a brilliant shrill of coldness comes to heart that can only be cured by what happens in their second bout in Return of the Jedi.
The Matrix
Arguably the most fun fight on this list, Neo fighting Morpheus enstills not only stunning choreography, but great characterization through their fighting styles and what is said between punches. While I know nothing about martial arts, it’s still noticable that Neo’s diversified, technical aptitude alone cannot beat Morpheus’ liberation of thought whilst in the Matrix. As Morpheus drops knowledge on Neo’s ignorant ass, we begin seeing the maturation and letting go that Neo endures to understand Morpheus’ philosophy.
The Ender Play 