The Musings of Scott

ven·geance
Pronunciation: \?ven-j?n(t)s\
Function: noun
: punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense

10. Rocky IV

While this movie has many concurrent themes, most notably the Cold War and the authenticity of athletes, it’s easy to see the main force driving the plot of this movie: revenge for his killed friend and mentor.

9. Afro Samurai


In this story, the best warriors battle each other for the opportunity to wear numbered headbands, the #1 head band being the equivalent of a crown for the best warrior on the planet. Our story begins with Afro’s father with the #1 headband… you can see where this is headed.

8. Gladiator


This trailer speaks for itself. I’ve hated Russell Crow ever since learning how he is as a person after this film’s popularity, but it remains on of my favorites.
7. The Crow


Brandon Lee plays a former musician turned karmic device, when murdered after being forced to watch his true love raped and killed. The forces of Justice allow Lee to defy the laws of mortality to exact his revenge and purge the city of the evil he fell victim to. It’s truly sad that Lee died during the filming of this movie, as his promise as an actor shows strong.

6. The Godfather

Anyone who says that The Godfather isn’t a Revenge flick hasn’t watched the scene above. ‘Nough Said.
Hamlet

An excellent cast help translate this epic stage drama into a palatable cinema experience. One of the original revenge stories, often imitated but rarely emulated.

4. Memento

A man no longer capable of functioning in the real world, dedicates his hours to hunting down the person who raped and murdered his wife (I see a trend here…) and handicapped him. Great cast, excellent director, and outstanding writing.

3. Kill Bill


I’m a huge Tarantino fan, but I doubt he’ll ever be able top Kill Bill. A pregnant bride gets attacked on her wedding day, which sends her into a coma for four years while she was… you guessed it, raped. If you haven’t seen the Blu-Ray version where the films are recut into the original single viewing, do so. This homage to Spaghetti Westerns and Samurai Films is laden with nonstop action, sexy characters, as well as great story telling & acting.

2. V for Vendetta


An intelligent main character dedicating his vast abilities to end tyranny and exact justice. A powerful post 9-11 film, this movie delivers a lot of quotables and symbolism. V’s wit, creativity, and elegance propelled it to the #2 spot on this list.

1. The Count of Monte Cristo

The granddad of revenge stories, while not the oldest, it is surely the finest. While not a perfect adaptation of the book (alas, they are different mediums purists), this still translates to an amazing story of revenge. Falsely accused of treason, Edmond is betrayed by both his best friend and the local keeper of the peace. Torn from a promising life, and his loving fiance, Edmond spends the next 13 years in a hellish prison. He finds solace in befriending a priestly fellow inmate, who educates him, trains him in the sword, and shows him the location of an enormous fortune. Not satisfied with gaining both his freedom and infinite wealth, he seeks out those who have wronged him. But simply murdering them won’t do; rather he devises a plot to “rip their lives from them, as they ripped his away.” After completing this story, you’ll find that many things that define a revenge story started with our good Count Edmond.

I know of at least one great revenge movie that didn’t make this list, what would have made your Top 10?

Popularity: 12% [?]