Automoderated users, Autopatrolled users, Bureaucrats, Comment administrators, Confirmed users, Forum administrators, Interface administrators, Moderators, Rollbackers, Administrators
116,199
edits
Sword Fight: Difference between revisions
replaced redirect to work with direct link
m (revise quote template spacing) |
Looney Toons (talk | contribs) (replaced redirect to work with direct link) |
||
| (9 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{trope}}
[[File:
{{quote|'''Wilfred Woodruff''': You should know that I was thrice named ultimate sword master at the Southern Area Regional Volunteer Infantry Reenactment Regiment!
'''Ned''': ''I'' wanted to be a [[Star Wars|Jedi]]!
|''[[Pushing Daisies]]'', "[[The Fun in Funeral]]"}}
[[Implausible Fencing Powers|Rapiers]], [[Pirate|Cutlasses]], [[Katanas Are Just Better|Katanas]], [[Laser Blade
In any given story, [[Heroes Prefer Swords|the main character is fairly likely to be somewhat proficient with a sword]]. In video games, anime, and certain scifi-fantasy stories, indeed, large segments of the population prefer swords as their primary weapons, over any firearms that may be available. This is true even in many cases where it would be far more intelligent to use a firearm.
Line 12:
Bonus points when it's a modern setting, and using a blade provides almost no advantage and the hero is far less likely to possess the training needed to use a sword.
Exactly why this is the case varies. In some settings, swords offer advantages [[Guns Are Worthless|that guns do not]]. Perhaps the predominant defensive system is effective against firearms and not against blades, a la ''[[Dune]]''. Or perhaps the [[Katanas Are Just Better|people using swords or edged weapons]] are just ''that'' [[Rule of Cool|cool]], a la the Jedi. Sometimes the enemy is [[Immune to Bullets|invulnerable to conventional weapons]]
A similar trope results when two characters choose to battle each other [[Good Old Fisticuffs|with their bare hands]], for absolutely no reason at all. Even if one of them (usually the hero) has a gun, he will throw it away, preferring the visceral satisfaction (and added chance of failure) of beating his rival's face in. Again, this has no practical value in nearly all cases.
Line 41:
{{examples}}
== Anime & Manga ==
* In ''[[Vision of Escaflowne]]'', much of the fighting is done with swords, whether it's people or [[Humongous Mecha]].
* ''[[Great Mazinger]]'' -the sequel to ''[[Mazinger Z]]''- was the first [[Humongous Mecha]] used swords like weapon (even before ''[[Voltes V]]'' or ''[[GoLion]]''). [[The Hero]] Tetsuya was quite profficient using them, and he even did [[Dual Wield]]. Naturally he had several sword duels throughout the series, the most famous and most fondly remembered against [[Badass]] [[The Dragon]] Great General of Darkness.
* Mobile suits in ''[[Gundam]]'', in addition to their gun and missile armaments, are usually also equipped with some type of sword, usually an energy saber. {{spoiler|At the end of [[Mobile Suit Gundam|the original series]], the main character Amuro Ray and his rival Char Aznable had an honest sword (rather rapier) fight in the middle of the collapsing A Baoa Qu.}}
** Similarly, early in ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam Wing|Gundam Wing]]'', [[Arrogant Kung Fu Guy|Wu Fei]] gets out of his Gundam to have a fair swordfight with [[Magnificent Bastard|Trieze]]. {{spoiler|He loses.}}
** And ''[[Turn
* A staple of ''[[Rurouni Kenshin]]'', since the good guy is a swordsman.
* Most fights in ''[[Bleach]]'', since the primary power source of a Shinigami is their swords.
** Actually, many fights that are sword-on-sword haven't yet become actual fights, since most characters' weapons change as they power up.
* ''[[X 1999]]''. With living swords for the end of the world, no less.
* In ''[[Ranma ½
* ''[[One Piece]]'' has about one per arc to showcase Zoro's three-sword style - he has declared that he will refuse to back down from any enemy swordsman and gets plenty of chances to put his money where his mouth is. Enemy pirate crews seem to have top-notch swordsmen often enough that it would fall into [[This Looks Like a Job For Aquaman]] for Zoro if it didn't make a lot of sense.
* [[Fullmetal Alchemist|Ling Yao]] fight with Bradley.
* [[The Five Star Stories]] is loaded with these.
Line 63:
* When Guts isn't fighting demons in ''[[Berserk]]'', he's squaring off against other swordsmen. This is especially true in the Hawks arc, which has a number of duels among the main characters.
* In ''[[Soul Eater]]'' the final fight between Black Star and Mifune in the manga ends with this.
* [[Sword of the Stranger]] culminates in one of the most technically impressive fight scenes ever animated, and can be seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xryoNr_qhyI&feature=related here]
== Fan Works ==
* A number in ''[[With Strings Attached]]''
** Also, when As fights the brought-to-life statue of “Biggus Dickus,” who is fighting back with his [[Gag Penis|leg-long penis]].
* Everywhere in ''[[Undocumented Features]]'', given the preponderance of Jedi, samurai and sword masters among the cast. If the name isn't clue enough, ''The Symphony of the Sword'' storyline is ''filled'' with them. Expect at least one in any story where Utena or Kaitlyn is a main character, and if they're ''both'' in it, [[Foregone Conclusion|well...]] Not to mention the Duelists.
== Film ==
Line 75:
* ''[[Kill Bill]]'' features a number of fights with swords and knives. Appropriately, the only two characters to pull a gun have the hero completely at their mercy.
* ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]'' has a memorable fencing scene, in part due to its use of [[I Am Not Left-Handed]]. The footwork is actually pretty accurate to real fencing.
* In ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'', Neo has a swordfight with several of the Merovengian's Mooks, after they try shooting him with a wide variety of guns. However, because he is The One, [[Guns Are Worthless]] against him.
* ''[[Rob Roy]]'' features a magnificent duel at its climax that does a terrific job of telling a story and showing character through the fight choreography. Rob Roy is a [[Mighty Glacier|plodding]], grim, and determined hero fighting a slender, flashy, [[Complete Monster|sadistic]] [[Fragile Speedster|fencer]] who toys with him like a cat.
* One of the longest sword fights in cinematic history is from ''[[Scaramouche (film)|Scaramouche]]'', at six and a half minutes long. It is also the longest single-take sword fight ever put on film. It had to be single take because they had over 800 extras in full pre-Revolutionary France costume. They couldn't trust the actors with it, so they filmed it longshot using the fight director and his sparring partner, and came back later to film close ups of the leads at significant points. They didn't even stop for two nearly fatal accidents.
* ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' films:
** ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'' famously teases a swordfight when a Indy is faced with a scimitar-wielding baddie, [[Just Shoot Him|only for Jones to whip out his gun and shoot him]]. Harrison Ford had dysentery the day of the shoot and did not want to perform the scripted sword fight scene.
** In the ''[[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom|Temple of Doom]]'' Indy fights some of Mola Ram's henchmen.
Line 91:
* Some of the most realistic swordfights can be found in ''[[The Duellists]]''. Three of them, in fact.
* The second ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean]]'' movie features an ''epic'' three-way sword-fight between Jack, Will, and Norrington. Including, at one point, all three men taking the fight onto a water wheel (which for some inexplicable reason is attached to a ruined church), which promptly comes loose and rolls away down the beach taking them with it. They ''still keep up the fight''.
** Meanwhile, the first ''Pirates'' movie has the classic duel in the blacksmith's shop between Will and
* ''[[Star Wars]]'' with the iconic Jedi/Sith [[Laser Blade|lightsaber]] duels.
* ''[[The Three Musketeers (1973 film)|The Three Musketeers 1973]]'' (directed by Richard Lester) takes pride in giving fiction's most famous swashbucklers decidedly non-Flynn moves. Examples include sucker punching, groin kicking, blinding with cloaks or laundry, bashing with convenient chairs, and ''reversing the sword to beat the bad guy with the grip''.
Line 112:
* What started out as a somewhat friendly fencing match turned into a "first blood drawn from the torso" in the James Bond film ''[[Die Another Day]]''.
** Also the duel between Miranda and Dual Wielding Jinx.
* Happens in the first ''[[Three Ninjas]]'' movie, the super awesome ninja grandpa Mori Shintaro vs. the evil big boss Hugo Snyder have a fight with katanas which in the end becomes a hand-to-hand fight.
* In the ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film)|The Lord of the Rings]]'' films.
** First, Aragorn fighting the Ring Wraiths off with a sword in one hand and a torch in the other.
Line 124:
** Weird the second movie Robin Williams is in that has a sword fight.
* Speaking of [[Peter Pan]], hook constantly locks blades with Peter Pan. The weird part? Hook wields a saber but Peter wields a dagger.
* ''[[Waxwork II Lost in Time]]'' climaxes with a sword fight that takes its combatants through several alternative dimensions.
== Literature ==
Line 159:
** "The King's Demons", against Sir Giles Estram. The Doctor defeats Estram who then threatens him with a Tissue Compression Eliminator. {{spoiler|He is actually the Master}}
** And then his duel with {{spoiler|Count Grendel, best swordsman on the planet,}} in ''The Androids of Tara''.
*** A lovely parting shot from that gentleman, as he leaps from a high tower into the moat to escape: "Next time, Doctor, I shall not be so lenient!". Apparently Tara is the universe's primary source of both [[Soft Water]] and [[Magnificent Bastard
** Also in ''The Sea Devils'', where he dueled the Master (because it's apparently standard practice to hang swords on the wall outside the cell of the most dangerous and evil man on the planet).
** And then there's the massive sword fight between Rory, Vastra, and Jenny against the Headless Monks.
Line 177:
** Back when Sting worked for Xaviax, he tried to eliminate Wing Knight and Wing Knight wound up fighting Sting with his own sword. Sting used his Copy Vent and fought Wing Knight with another Wing Lancer.
* In R L Stine's ''[[The Haunting Hour the Series|The Haunting Hour]]'' four kids get sucked into a video game and when they get to the final boss he breaks out his twin dao and fights the other four and all the have are baseball bats, chains, and other around the house stuff.
* Happens a lot 1n [[Charmed]]
* Sword fights happen often in ''[[Power Rangers]]''/''[[Super Sentai]]''.
* In the recent ''[[iCarly]]'' episode iStill Psycho Freddie's mom has a sword fight with Nora and her mom who wield fireplace equipment.
Line 183:
== Tabletop Games ==
* [[Warhammer
** Nope, [[Evil Weapon|Daemon]] [[Soul Cutting Blade|Swords]]. Now 'nough said.
* [[Traveller]] dueling is still a custom in the Traveller universe.
Line 194:
* In ''[[Henry IV|Henry IV, Part I]]'', the fight between Prince Hal and Hotspur usually takes the form of a sword fight; however, in many productions it ends up suffering a [[Combat Breakdown]], usually serving to highlight (intentionally or not) the massive amounts of [[Foe Yay]] going on between the two characters.
* A sword fight is a stock element of the [[Mummers]] play, common to most (if not all) versions.
* [[Cyrano De Bergerac]]: At Act I Scene IV, Cyrano and Viscount de Valvert engage in one and Cyrano wins, at Act V Scene VI, Cyrano raves another
* [[Macbeth]] vs. {=[[Mac Duff]]=}.
* ''[[Twelfth Night]]'' has quite a lead-up to a swordfight set up by Sir Toby because [[It Amused Me|he thought it would be funny]]
* ''[http://angevin2.livejournal.com/148520.html The Things I Will Not Do When I Direct A Shakespeare Production, On Stage Or Film]'', #187: "If the play I am producing does not have a swordfight, I will resist the urge to add one."
== Video Games ==
Line 205:
** You do use bullets, sometimes. Ranged weapons that bypass shields are variously explained as being "disruptor" weapons or as being actual projectile weapons (the best of which is the Mandalorian Ripper). Of course, said weapons tend to do [[Only a Flesh Wound|crappy damage]] relative to melee weapons anyway.
** KOTOR 2 tried to fix that problem by increasing the damage that ranged weapons do. It helped, but they were still no match for a lightsaber.
* Played straight ''and'' subverted in ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]''. The final, final battle is Cloud and Sephiroth, one on one with swords. However, earlier in the game, Barrett fights his old friend Dyne ... and both wield their [[Arm Cannon
** Scenes from Crisis Core and Advent Children offer a potential justification for the fact that [[SOLDIE Rs]] wield large swords: They have a small ability to block bullets with the large weapon, especially from their vitals.
* ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'' starts with Squall and Seifer dueling each other with their gunblades.
Line 211:
** There is also a similar mission in ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]: Liberty City Stories'' mission, titled Waka-Gashira Wipeout, that ends with you facing off against a Yakuza boss sword-to-sword. If you opt to go with guns instead, he'll order his men to respond in kind.
* Played straight in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess]]''. Both Zant and {{spoiler|Ganondorf}} go through various stages until finally duking it out with Link in a straight one-on-one swordfight.
** Actually, most games in the series since [[The Wind Waker]] have had a some sort of
** Not to mention various minibosses in the series that use swords. These enemies, if appearing in pairs, usually even have the decency to fight you one at a time.
* Played straight in [[Red Steel]]. Every level had you fighting a [[Mini Boss|boss-type character]] one on one with a sword. This in spite of the fact you just blew away hordes of [[Mooks|cannon fodder]] with all sorts of weaponry. Not to mention the advantage of [[Bullet Time|slowing time to be able to shoot the guns from their hands]]. Nope, had to be a sword duel. And even then, you had [[Dual-Wielding|two swords]] to use.
Line 218:
* A number of the Ranking Fights in [[No More Heroes]] and its sequel are of the good ol' fashioned "One-on-one sword fight" variety, albeit with laser swords and Mexican Luchador wrestling thrown in. Off the top of the head, the battles with Death Metal, Shinobu, Harvey Moiseiwitsch Volodarskii, Dark Star, and {{spoiler|Henry}} in the first game are all sword duels. The sequel gives us Skelter Helter, Kimmy, Ryuji, and technically Alice Moonlight, if you count "Swords being held by armored frame" as the proper type.
* In ''[[The Witcher]]'', less common but more climactic encounters are sword duals. All of Geralt's techniques are [[Slice And Dice]], and his Group and Fast styles employ the maximum [[Flynning]].
* In ''[[Mario
* You can have a sword fight In ''Wii Sports Resort'' in the swordplay part, not only can you fight just one person but in a different mode you can fight a whole horde of Miis.
* You're pretty much forced to do this in ''[[Lego Adaptation Game|LEGO Indiana Jones 2]]'' with the guys with black swords.
** Similar to in the movie, in ''LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean'' whenever you face any character with a sword you have a sword fight with them.
* In [[Super Smash Bros.]]. Brawl Marth fights Meta Knight briefly but they both learn the other is the good guy and team up.
Line 237:
* This is a recurring theme in [[Shadowhunter Peril]]. It was originally subverted by [[Guns Akimbo|the Architect]], but then ultimately played straight when it was revealed that he [[Hidden Weapons|keeps a collapsible sword inside his sleeve.]]
** [[Manic Pixie Dream Girl|Veronica]] and [[The Stoic|Osiris]] take it [[Up to Eleven]]: Veronica has a [[Bag of Holding]] that holds multiples of nearly every kind of sword. She'll often grab a bunch and distribute them among her allies. Osiris has seven magical swords, and an [[Improbable Weapon|improbable sword.]]
** Many superpowered beings such as Oblivion and Umbra will create a sword out of thin air to fight with, just because they can.
Line 254:
** In a later episode they have a sword fight with a hot dog and a bratwurst that make sounds similar to lightsabers clashing.
** In the episode "No More Bunnies", Perry and Dennis the evil bunny fight with barbeque equipment.
* ''[[Thundercats 2011|ThunderCats (2011)]]'':
** In "Omens Part One" King Claudus has a sword fight with Lion-O to show off the Sword of Omens' power.
** In "Legacy", Leo has a sword fight against his commander, both using their respective [[Cool Sword
** In "The Duelist and the Drifter" there are multiple fights against [[Master Swordsman]] The Duelist.
** In "Between Brothers" Lion-O and Tygra have a sword fight both using the Sword of Omens, one the real version, one created in the astral plane. In the end Tygra said he would never betray Lion-O and both put their swords away.
Line 267:
== Real Life ==
* [[wikipedia:Jack Churchill|"Mad Jack" Churchill]] remarked that "any officer that goes into combat without his sword is improperly dressed." ''During [[WW 2]].'' He also carried a longbow, and used them both on several occasions.
* Clemenceau, the nineteenth and twentieth century French politician was notoriously quarrelsome. He was also so good with a sword that anyone who gave challenge to him always chose pistols. With a sword Clemenceau generally left his opponent cut up but not fatally injured. Whereas a pistol's lack of precision makes it hard to controlling the injury dealt out. Because of this Clemenceau's opponents could usually count on him deliberately missing, a thing he would not do with a sword.
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Fight Scene]]
[[Category:
[[Category:
[[Category:
| |||