My friends and I were having a discussion on this some time ago. No one is immune to the Sucker Punch. One of the most BADASS martial arts masters, one Bruce Lee, is not immune to the sucker punch in movies. You can kick ass, you can probably kick the guy's ass who's going to sucker punch you, but you're going to take that sucker punch and have to roll with it. Of course, the term sucker punch (the way I use it) can go beyond just a blow from someone's fist. It includes any kind of cheap shot using any appendage or weapon to hit, hurt, maim or otherwise incapacitate the recipient.

All hail the art of Sucker Punching.

OK, picture this, the raptor's chasing you down the corridor and you run into a room, closing the door behind you. Because he's a smart bastard the door starts to open, so what do you do? You grab anything blunt and arm yourself, prepare yourself for the abomination coming through the door. Use your combat boot if it's all you have handy. Then, when it starts to play with the handle, swing the door open wide and brain it!!! Why? Because no one is immune to the sucker punch in the movies (excluding the samurai test where there's a man hiding behind the door, such a man to pass that test is truly a god amongst moviemen for he has transcended the sucker punch).

Hmm. No specific movies mentioned at all. Interesting.

But you're right. The sucker punch is a fool-proof tool. Works against EVERYONE.

Hmmm, you know, no particular movie comes to mind. I can remember scenes, but I can't remember which Bruce Lee movies they go with. I remember a brawl and Bruce Lee just kicking the shit out of one guy only to be sucker-punched by the next random Bad Guy.

There's a scene in "Ong Bak" where Tony Jai (sp. on his name) is fighting guys in that fighting ring. He just defeats one guy, tries to get out of the ring, then gets blown away by the next fighter (the Asian guy with the black suit). Tony Jai gets up and proceeds to beat the hell out of this guy before going up against the dude that tears up the scene and throws random things like bottles and plates because he knows he's outmatched (or maybe it was this guy who uses the sucker punch *shrugs*).

There are also some Disney made-for-TV movies where the nerdy main character, or the main character's love interest, or one of the supporting characters, drops the bad guy with a sucker-punch and is then commended for his/her ability to kick ass. Hey, if it will cause the bad guy to be incapacitated and make you look good, do it.

Back to the Future, when George McFly knocks out Biff Logan with one punch while his arm is being twisted back.

But still, much love for BTTF.

That about says it all. (That's The Life Aquatic, for anyone who didn't see it)

and... why was this thread started?

Inspiration to start a movie chaulk full of sucker punches?

I just wanted to popularize the notion that no one is immune to the sucker punch. It's just one of those things that people see but don't quite realize it for what it is or the kind of impact it has (no pun intended) in the movie. When my friends and I were discussing it I never even considered how often it's used and who it's used on. Perhaps it's used to show early on that the hero is not invincible or that the guy throwing it is clearly labeled the Bad Guy. Then again, when the hero uses it (as in BTTF) it's accepted and applauded, well, because he/she's the hero.

Indiana Jones of course. You could also use sucker punches in Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis.