Top 10 Scenes that Almost Redeemed Bad Movies

Like the other villains in this overstuffed superhero flick, the Sandman mostly fell flat on a character level, but at least his powers made leeway for some stunning special effects. Flint Marko’s transformation into the Sandman is easily among the most atmospheric and breathtaking moments in the film. After becoming one with the sand, Flint has trouble pulling himself together. Upon spotting his daughter’s locket however, the newly born Sandman summons the strength to push forward. Rather than relying on dialog, this scene allows the visuals to tell the story. Every grain of sand brings out Flint’s confusion, shock, and ultimately… determination - exploring a wide array of emotions in just a couple of minutes.

#9: Battle Through Time “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009)

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The “X-Men” franchise hit a low point with this frustrating origin story. During its opening credits though, audiences likely thought they were about to watch a solid film. The sequence follows half-brothers James and Victor as they fight through several wars. Beginning in the American Civil War, we jump from World War I, to World War II, to Vietnam. Aside from to showing how much time has passed, the scene effectively conveys the carnage these two ageless mutants have endured over the years, and the toll it’s taken on their humanity. The slick editing and powerful imagery makes the entire sequence feel like a living graphic novel.

#8: History of Baseball “The Ridiculous 6” (2015)

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During their travels, our heroes cross paths with Abner Doubleday, the man once widely believed to have invented baseball. According to this Adam Sandler comedy, Doubleday actually intended the sport to be called Sticky McSchnickens. He also apparently made up all the rules as he went along. When you really think about it, the guidelines of baseball do sometimes seem haphazard in nature. Why are players allowed to steal bases? How did they decide on three strikes? Why are there only 9 innings? This scene provides several ridiculous explanations, hitting it out of the park with one big laugh after another. Too bad the rest of the film is more of a strikeout.

Character development might not be his strong suit, but we’d be lying if we said Zack Snyder didn’t know how to shoot a cool action sequence. Interestingly enough, the best set piece in this film wasn’t the titular fight between Batman and Superman, but the Dark Knight’s warehouse assault. On a mission to save “Marthaaaa,” Batman crashes in on Lex Luthor’s kidnappers for hire. Thus ensues an exceptionally choreographed scene that showcases Batman’s stealth and fighting skills to their fullest extent. He also breaks out plenty of neat gadgets in the process, taking down multiple thugs simultaneously. Batman truly feels like a one-man army here, reminding us why criminals everywhere fear the cape and cowl.

#6: Final Shootout “Miami Vice” (2006)

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Following in the footsteps of many other movies based on nostalgic TV shows, “Miami Vice” failed to capture the appeal of its source material. With director Michael Mann behind the camera, however, this 2006 adaptation did offer one striking scene. The film naturally builds up to a final shootout, where Sonny and Rico blow away a slew of human targets. Cinematographer Dion Beebe throws us right into the middle of the action, making the surrounding gunfire all the more heated. The audience can feel every brutal kill, particularly when Rico takes down cartel security and intelligence man José Yero. Though thoroughly forgettable as a whole, “Miami Vice” certainly manages to go out on a high note.

Even if you thought Darren Aronofsky’s biblical epic was a total shipwreck, it’s hard not to appreciate this particular scene. Early on, Noah tells his family the story of their world’s creation. While Noah’s words are reminiscent of what you’d read in the Bible, the images onscreen feel like a highly stylized science program. Mixing elements of both creationism and evolution, we’re taken on a journey through time that starts with the Big Bang and leads up to Adam and Eve. Bound to spark some interesting debates, there are numerous different ways to interpret this sequence, which quite frankly, would’ve made for a great standalone short film.

#4: First-Person Shooter “Doom” (2005)

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Video game movies are notorious for being dead on arrival and “Doom” is no exception. During the film’s climactic battle, however, we’re finally treated to five blissful minutes of pure fan service. Paying homage to its source material, the film shifts to a first-person perspective as Reaper shoots his way out of a research facility. Navigating through a dark, creepy environment with deadly predators lurking around every corner, the audience feels as if they’re part of the action. For a few fleeting moments, this film successfully brings the original survival horror game to life. If only the rest of the movie went all out with a “Hardcore Henry” approach.

#3: Battle of Britain “Pearl Harbor” (2001)

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One gets the sense that Michael Bay was trying to make the next “Titanic” with this historical love story. Instead, Bay proved once again that he’s not exactly a thinking man’s director. With that said, Bay’s knack for action is put to effective use in a couple of scenes. The highlight of the film isn’t the main attack on Pearl Harbor, but rather the Battle of Britain. Volunteering to fight alongside the British Royal Air Force, American pilot Rafe McCawley takes off for the most intense flight of his life. The cinematography, sound, and visuals create a genuine sense of dread, especially as Rafe’s plane plummets down to what looks like his watery end.

As much as everybody wanted to like “The Matrix Reloaded,” we just couldn’t forgive the film’s meandering dialog and unfocused plot. Nonetheless, the Wachowskis did deliver one action sequence that lived up to the first instalment. With the Twins and multiple Agents hot on their trail, Morpheus and Trinity attempt to get the Keymaker across a crowded freeway. In what could’ve been a standard car chase, the filmmakers throw kung fu, gunplay, and explosions into the equation, amounting to an insanely inventive spectacle that never slows down. The fact that this set piece was primarily executed utilizing practical effects only adds to the awe factor, leaving the audience struggling to catch their breath. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - Elevator “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (2014) - Final Train Chase “The Lone Ranger” (2013)

Although we’ve all taken shots at the prequel, the utter awesomeness of this sequence is hard to deny. Facing off with Darth Maul, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi engage in a lightsaber duel of epic proportions. With the fight choreography and John Williams’ rousing musical score firing on all cylinders, audiences briefly forgot how they felt about this otherwise divisive flick. The scene additionally marks a pivotal moment for Obi-Wan as he promises his fallen master that he’ll train Anakin Skywalker, who will inevitably become Darth Vader.