...it was because Archie was just too damn good, Liam couldn't have possible won a fair match. So the director had to come up with something that's out of the blue.
Seeing Avatar is one of the best things that has happened to me.
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That ending was great. For Rob Roy to come so close to losing, and take the painful route of damaging his hand for the victory. Grabbing the sword's blade was brilliant. Rob was honorable, self-sacrificing, and brave. I cheered when he struck that blade through that limey bastard's torso like that (I have a Scottish heritage).
I would think the two were evenly matched in terms of sword fighting skills. It's just that Archie had the lighter sword, which gave him speed and expended less of his energy, making him last longer. The brute force power of Rob and his heavy Claymore made it a one-strike kill, though. Whereas Archie's "death of a thousand cuts" made him less effective in the battle.
I think even if Archie hadn't hesitated, Rob would have won the same way.
Note how this exact trick--taking hold of the opponent's sword--was foreshadowed early in the movie when Rob is challenged in the inn and deliberately cuts his hand on the man's sword. Great story-telling. I know nothing of swords, but agree with other posters that the essential point here is that the two men are as different in their approach to life and to fighting as their two weapons--not to mention their nationalities. Perhaps even if Cunningham COULD physically have pulled his sword free--he may have been so taken aback when Rob grasped it that he was unable to react quickly enough.
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Archie was fatigued, as well. He didn't have Rob's iron constitution, and was slowed by fatigue at the fatal moment.
"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae
The ending of the duel is ridiculous because it is a typical underdog victory.
Realistically, "Archie" would have pulled the sword out of "Liam's" hand because it is just a natural reaction. He would not have stood there like a frozen turd and allowed himself to be cleaved. Hollywood again has *beep* on an otherwise very entertaining scene.
Hollywood again has *beep* on an otherwise very entertaining scene.
Oh, Hollywood is in Scotland now, is it?
Or are you saying Alan Sharp originally wrote his script so that Rob died at the end and United Artists made Michael Caton-Jones change it?
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Lazy + smart = efficient.
Cool it. I am simply saying that the end duel has flairs of typical Hollywood fluff in it. I am not accusing Alan Sharp, or anyone else of anything.
shareI think Archie tried to pull the sword from Rob's hand. It looked like he wasn't able to. Realize that Rob is MUCH stronger than Archie.
Archie's apparent lack of reaction seemed a little unrealistic, yes. But what was he to do? He would have to let go of the sword to get out of Rob's way and avoid being cleaved. He simply had never been in this situation before, and didn't know what to do. I doubt his life was ever in danger before. He's used to dominating his opponents.
Rob, on the other hand, has been in life-threatening situations, and has twice before this moment, surprised and defeated Archie: with his quick blade that he threatens Archie with, and with the rope he nearly choked him to death with.
I thought the sword fight was amazing but the ending could have been done in a better way.
What they were trying to get across was that Rob "wanted it more", and just used his strength and determination to win. Archibald was toying with him the entire fight and could have basically killed him at will. I would have liked it more if he had gotten caught being careless during the actual fight than when he had him absolutely dead to rights (it just seemed very Hollywood-esque in an otherwise realistic film). Just because people can justify it doesn't mean it's the best way to do it.
I think Archie tried to pull the sword from Rob's hand. It looked like he wasn't able to. Realize that Rob is MUCH stronger than Archie.
Eh, I thought it was an inevitable ending.
The character was so vile, so full of himself and wicked that there was no way, absolutely no way for him to see the credits role without getting a good slash across his torso.
Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down and a Wagging Finger of Shame