2. Seven Samurai
Akira Kurosawa's flagship movie contains one of the most thrilling battles ever filmed. As the villagers join forces with the titular samurai to help them defend their homes from bandits, we are shown a thrilling battle sequence masterfully shot in a horrendously muddy rainstorm. As they get dragged through the mud on their horses and slip in desperation at every sword swing, the bandits dwindle in numbers during the fight. The rain plagues the battle throughout giving the sequence all the more power as blood flows into puddles and honor is fought for in this 1954 classic.