It is December, the month during which each film of the The Lord of the Rings trilogy was released. The films are epic and there are tons of moments I would label “BADASS,” but if I had to choose just one, it would have to be the climactic moment in the last installment, The Return of the King.

It is the ultimate battle and The Witch King, the general of Sauron’s army, has landed in the middle of the battlefield. King Theoden is down and innocent Eowyn leaps in to protect her uncle. This scene is the ultimate underdog moment, for when it seems that Witch King is about to end Eowyn’s life, little Merry steps in for his moment of glory, followed by Eowyn’s. Now, who says girls can’t fight? Or stab evil Nazguls that first, smash your only tool of defense, cause you to drop your only weapon, then lift you by your neck, calling you a fool, and finally, claim no one, specifically no man, can kill them? And then she removes her helmet (BADASS) and says the bone-chilling line that made everyone in the theater clap and cheer like crazy: “I am no man.” BAM! That scene alone was a movie in itself, having a steady build, then a climax where we question if she’ll even make it, and lastly, the moment of triumph and the great satisfaction of knowing she kicked ass!

If you’ve been inspired to feel the chills again, watch it here!