6. Rachael Weisz vs Patricia Velasquez, The Mummy Returns
Hear me out on this one. The Mummy Returns is best remembered as everything a sequel should try not to be. It was a bloated, hackneyed, pedestrian mess, with an overabundance of CGI (who can forget the Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson/scorpion hybrid) and a low supply of good ideas. I won't waste time describing the plot. It's a beat by beat copy of the first film, only not as convincing and not nearly as fun. The only time the film shows a little spark of life and invention is during a mid-film showdown between Evelyn O' Connell (played by Rachael Weisz) and Anuk-Su-Namun (played by Marta, I mean Patricia Velasquez). The who and the why is a tad convoluted, even when laid out clearly before you. Through a mess of reincarnation, Egyptian voodoo, and daydreaming we find that Evelyn (an Egyptian pharaoh's reincarnated daughter) must engage in a gladiator-type battle with Anuk Su Namun, who is the pharaoh's mistress. Forget all that garbage and enjoy the fight, cause it's a doozy. Wonderfully staged with a bit of camp thrown in for good measure, it brings a bit of fun and historical intrigue to a film that was otherwise all flash and no substance. And yes, I realize that the women are a bit under-dressed, but don't be offended; I'm arguing for historical accuracy here. Even if you don't buy that, give the director credit; he never took advantage with cheap boob and butt shots (are you listening McG?). The camera is not made to be a pervert and keeps its distance so we can take in both the ambiance and the action of an ancient Egyptian sparring match. If anything, it's an example of how to do a fight featuring two beautiful women without objectifying them. Also, give it up for the weapon used in the fight scene, the sai, which hasn't had a finer demonstration on film since Raphael was running with the turtles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8svNN8saeU