What makes a great fight scene? Guns, explosions, one against many and the asskicking spree that follows? All fine suggestions, but if you’re planning on creating a memorable fight scene in your own work then I would advise focusing more on purpose than performance.
Owh, it was a good ending, wasn't it?
Now, before I start, I just want to explain the difference between a fight scene and an action scene. In fact, a good example of a movie that distinguishes between both very well is The Matrix. The, ‘Guns. Lots of guns’ lobby shootout was an action scene. As badass as it was, it didn’t really move the plot forward. We could have skipped the entire scene and cut to straight to the rooftop and the plot would not had changed at all. It was more a spectacle – eye candy, if you will – for we the audience to engage and be blown away by. As fun as it is to watch our heroes smash through endless swarms of enemies (and it is fun) you should be concerned that while all of this is going on, your plot is remaining static.
