Sharpen your blade! This week on Enjoy Stuff we duel through the best sword fights in movie history, from Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone to Luke Skywalker and The Bride. En garde and Enjoy Stuff!

Whether you’re swinging a wrapping paper tube, a sharp saber, or just a stick, we all love the romanticism of sword fighting. Let’s look at the best ones in the movies. 

News

Discover magical new treats: Harry Potter Krispy Kremes 

 

The new A Book of Dragons by Mike Witwer is now available

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Hello Kitty at McDonald’s? Sounds like a match made in heaven

 

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What we’re Enjoying

Jay celebrates Texas Massacre Day (Aug 18) with a special screening of the 1974 horror classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Shua dives into the fascinating world of Disney fandom with AJ Wolf’s book Disney Adults

 

 

Sci-Fi Saturdays - 

This week on Sci-Fi Saturdays Jay takes a look at Coherence (2014), a twisty tale that truly defines the meaning of “coherence,” both in its story and its theme. Read Jay’s full breakdown on RetroZap.com. Also check out his latest work on MCULocationScout.com. Plus, you can tune in to SHIELD: Case Files where Jay and Shua talk about great stuff in the MCU.

Enjoy Sword Fighting! 

Sharpen your blade and tighten your grip! This week Jay and Shua celebrate the art of the sword fight, both in history and on the big screen. From legendary real-world figures like Miyamoto Musashi, Joan of Arc, and Julie d’Aubigny to Hollywood’s masters of swashbuckling like Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone, they slice into the roots of swordsmanship and how it translates into movie magic.

 

They look at the evolution of sword fights on screen:

 

Silent Era swashbucklers like The Mark of Zorro (1920) with Douglas Fairbanks

 

Golden Age Hollywood spectacle in The Adventures of Robin Hood

 

Post-War Realism in Japanese samurai cinema (Seven Samurai)

 

Modern Era duels ranging from Star Wars lightsabers to Game of Thrones brutality

 

Plus, they salute the fight choreographers who make it all possible, Nick Gillard, Bob Anderson, Donnie Yen and break down famous sword fighting techniques like the parry and riposte, feints, disarms, and Iaido precision strikes.

 

Finally, they take a tour through some of cinema’s greatest sword battles:

 

The Princess Bride’s witty duel

 

Rob Roy’s brutal finale

 

Pirates of the Caribbean’s rolling water wheel fight

 

Kill Bill’s unforgettable Crazy 88 showdown

 

The operatic lightsaber clashes of Star Wars

 

And many more from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to The Lord of the Rings

What makes a sword fight truly great? Choreography? Stakes? Cinematography? First person that emails me with the subject line, “En Garde!” will get a special mention on the show.  Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to [email protected]