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February 11, 2011 at 6:00 am

In the history of cinema there have been plenty of great battle scenes but there are clearly some that rise above the rest.   It takes a great deal to make both an accurate and action packed scene.

First of all, it takes a ton of people (before there was computer animation), even more money, and an incredible amount of precision.

Here are seven awesome movie battle scenes……

Gladiator -- Battle in Germania

Classical chaos in the thrilling Germania opening battle, as the Romans pitch a mudfight against hairy, scary forest-dwelling barbarians.  Russell Crowe single-handedly revived epic sword-and-sandal films; thousands of movie extras cheered, then were digitally replaced.

Tora Tora Tora! -- Attack on Pearl Harbor

“Tora! Tora! Tora!” captures the sheer audacity of the Japanese aerial raid on the naval base. Massively expensive for its time (it cost an estimated $25 million) and featuring three directors, one American and two Japanese, this is truly filmmaking on an epic scale.

Braveheart -- Battle of Stirling

His victory at the Battle of Stirling is scarcely a model of historical accuracy, but tremendous fun nonetheless and, if there were one, Gibson’s rousing taunts would have won him the Oscar for best battlefield banter.  Too bad he’s a psychopath in real life.

The Two Towers Helms Deep Charge

The battle of Helms Deep begins, and the Elves manage to hold the Uruk-hai at the wall, but it is blown up and many are killed during the ensuing attack through the breach. The Uruk-hai also manage to break the Gate despite Aragorn and Gimli’s best efforts, and they fall back to the Keep.

A Bridge Too Far -- Parachute Drop

Thousands of doomed Allied troops are dispatched behind enemy lines in an awe-inspiring parachute drop, followed by the climactic tank and infantry battle over the bridge at Arnhem

Glory -- Storming of Fort Wagner

The Battle of Fort Wagner, Morris Island, was the Union attack on July 18, 1863, led by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first major American military units made up of black soldiers. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw led the 54th Regiment on foot while they charged and was killed in the assault.

Saving Private Ryan -- D Day

The graphic depiction of the Omaha beach D-Day landing shocked audiences and even induced flashbacks in Normandy veterans.