Top 5: Superhero Moments
by John NolteMy buddy and fellow Big Hollywooder Christian Toto penned a “Top 5 Superhero Moments” over at his blog which has inspired my own.
I only steal the best. Ask my wife’s first husband.
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1. Superman (1978) – Superman Saves Lois and Catches the Helicopter: “You’ve got me? Who’s got you?” The genius of this moment is that director Richard Donner makes you wait for it. There’s forty minutes of mythology and story and teases until finally, finally he hits you with the awesome. The special effects still convince, the score still makes you want to tie a bath towel around your neck and “fly” through the house (Right? Don’t leave me hanging), and in the ensuing decades this moment’s only gotten better because of my growing appreciation for just how fabulous Christopher Reeve is in the title role and in knowing that Margot Kidder as Lois Lane was one of the most perfect pieces of casting ever.
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2. Iron Man (2008) – Iron Man Kills Him Some Terrorists: How great was it to watch Iron Man fly into a sovereign nation and unilaterally dispatch evil? Iron Man could’ve rationalized that killing terrorists only creates terrorists, wrung his hands over the reaction of the “Arab Street,” waited for a United Nations resolution, argued for more diplomacy, or blamed Israel . Yep, he had all kinds of all-too familiar reasons to let innocent people die in the furtherance of “peace.” Thank heaven someone with the power to get a film made understands that real heroes don’t practice depraved indifference.
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3. Spider-Man 2 (2004) – Spider-Man Stops the Subway Car: It’s not just watching a terrified superhero using everything he can think of to save others, it’s afterwards. The gratitude and decency of the people on that subway car is a rarity in Hollywood these days – a generous look at the simple humanity of everyday people.
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4. The Dark Knight (2008) – Joker Blows Up Gotham Hospital: As incredible an achievement as Christopher Nolan’s examination of heroism is, nothing sticks in the mind like Heath Ledger’s Joker, dressed as a female nurse, nonchalantly walking away from a large city hospital as it explodes into pieces. This moment might be the purest expression of anarchy we’ll ever see. Normally, I’m not a big fan of DVD extras, but if Nolan explains how the scene was shot, it’s worth the extra bucks.
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5. Unbreakable (2000) – A Boy Learns His Father is a Superhero: The scene at the kitchen table when Bruce Willis confirms with a simple nod that in fact he is everything his young son wanted him to be is the best moment of M. Night Shyamalan’s best film.
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161 Comments
What about where Peter Parker dances in that bar in Spiderman 3?
Oh, never mind.
I have always loved that scene in Superman, but like the follow-up as well. The dialogue of the pilots in Air Force One really brought home the desperation of the moment. Brian Singer surpassed it with the visual effects from the air plane accident in his version, but it lacked any dialogue which took some of the drama from the moment.
I agree with 4 of the 5 moments (not that big a fan of Unbreakable), especially Spider Man 2. I love the kid handing him the mask and promising not to tell (or the guy realizing that he has a kid Peter's age, and how much he must have gone through to protect the city). I'd replace Unbreakable with the Fantastic Four scene on the bridge. It could have been done better, but something about them saving the firemen in New York really touches you.
I completely agree with you on the Joker scene and Unbreakable. I told my friends that exact scene was brilliant and they just looked at me like I was strange.
It's so nice to have someone else say that too!
I too, loved the "hospital go boom" scene, but it left me wondering at the time "I wonder where they were able to book a demolition?" So, I got all distracted from the film, for a sec. Looks suburban, maybe in the valley…cool, heli shots, cool…
The Joker scene was not only awesome but his reactions were kinda funny. I mean he is standing there clicking the detonator and getting frusterated and then once the explosions start he flees. The banality of evil as an old Proff would say. Awesome stuff.
In TDK when Batman decides that he needs to become the villain to save Gotham City. The idea of a hero sacrificing his own myth and image to keep the people of Gotham safe is much more profound than anything from last year's slate of best picture nominees. Batman never wavers in his belief that Gotham is worth saving…the Watchmen could learn a lot from him.
Another great list, DH. Soon someone will have to put together a "Top 5 'Top 5s.'"
Good call on "Unbreakable;" I HATED the movie but couldn't help but feel touched by that father/son moment.
Also like the "Iron Man" call, but I can't shake that disappointing feeling I had when I realized they hedged their bets and made a Jeff Daniels, a rich, white business man the SUPER-villain. One of the worst superhero movie moments offsetting one of the best. Still a top-notch action flick.
Spiderman 2 is the kind of movie that just makes you want to be a Superhero and that whole fight sequence is the biggest reason why. I also agree that the decency of the common man is a large part of the excellence of the film. Too often we are told to think the worst of strangers even when our basic experiences tell us that just isn't true.
Ah, but in the Watchmen Rorschach never wavers in his devotion to the truth. The end shows clearly how far he is willing to go to stand up for that belief.
Batman's entrance into the Museum to save Vicki Vale from the Joker is one of the best ever.
But it was a rich white business man being defeated by another rich white businessman. So its not all that bad, Ironman is still everything the liberals hate. A rich, white, sexist, business man who makes weapons so the American soldiers can kick the bad guys in their proverbial backsides.
I'd have to add the introduction of Wolverine in the first X-Men movie–Hugh nailed the character perfectly from the moment he was on screen. Also Superman 2's "General Zod? Would you care to step outside?" and Michael Keaton's intro as Batman in the suit. (I'm Batman!!")
I'm glad to see Unbreakable get some love. Though it's not my favorite Shyamalan film (and that honor goes not to The Sixth Sense, but Signs), I still hold it miles above The Village and his subsequent string of progressively worse endeavors, unlike other cinemaphiles I know.
And if I were to replace TDK's hospital scene with a more heroic one, I'd probably go with the entire batcycle sequence, particularly from the flipping of the semi all the way to "We've got you, you son of a bitch."
True…and in that moment I became a Rorschach fan. The overall tone of Watchmen leaves me cold but there were a few moments that stick with me (the moment between Dr. Manhattan and Silk Spectre on Mars when he he realizes humanity is worth saving is the most memorable moment of the book for me).
Most of it was shot in Chicago. I forget how they did that portion, but when Bruce hits the car about to hit the police car (when Joker had everyone trying to kill the guy who knew the secret identity), it was right under the L-Tracks on Lake St.
I liked Iron Man in that, even before he had his epiphany, he wouldn't have agreed to sell his weapons to the bad guys. He wasn't paying attention, which made him guilty of it, but he wouldn't have done it just to make more money.
I don't know if it ranks as a top superhero moment, but my two favorite scenes from the X-Men franchise were NightCrawler invading the White House and Colossus putting the bad soldier through a wall.
I am Iron Man's biggest fangirl (well sane one at least) and I'm just relishing in the fact that Iron Man beat out Spiderman and Batman.
For those haters who said that Iron Man was anti-American/anti-war, I pointed them to those sections in the movie where he actually fights terrorism instead of just talks about it.
For me, Spiderman 2 is the best comic movie ever made. I really really really want to say Dark Knight is, but it has too many flaws. It's mostly little things — the surveillance cell-phone technology; Bale's annoying growl; and any scene with the atrocious Maggie Gyllenhaal (except, of course, when she bites it). Spidey 2 was the perfect mixed cocktail of a superhero movie
spiderman was a long dull chick movie. the sequels were worse. how does dumping it in a river stop a runaway fusion reactor?
anyone ever see a little superhero movie called "the specials"? zero budget, starred thomas haden church. it had it's moments.
spot on for 'Spidey'… like the cartoons better. Am I nuts, or does anyone else think 'Fantastic Four' (particularly the second 'Silver Surfer' one is way better than the overlong gooey Spiderman franchise? I mean they are, after all, comic books- and 'Fantastic Four' looks, feels, (and at 90-odd minutes) is paced like a comic…
'ironman' was a minor disappointment. Not a bad film, and Downey was good. But I thought director Favreau (a real talent- loved his 'Sopranos' story arc) tried to have it both ways… in the original comics 'Ironman' was an unrepentant capitilistic anti-communist- no wobbly knees there- and this iteration seemed politically schizophrenic.
Still, I enjoyed it- but considering the raves of conservatives, all I can say is Sean Penn wasn't in it…
'Ironman' was a minor disappointment. Not a bad film, and Downey was good. But I thought director Favreau (a real talent- loved his 'Sopranos' story arc) tried to have it both ways… in the original comics 'Ironman' was an unrepentant capitilistic anti-communist- no wobbly knees there- and this iteration seemed politically schizophrenic.
Still, I enjoyed it- but considering the raves of conservatives, all I can say is Sean Penn wasn't in it…
I would posit the drive to Wayne manor in the Batmobile where Vale tried to make out Batman's features and he adjusted the mirror to glare in her face… the shot, the music- Burton's Batman at his most deliciously romantic…
Aside frin trhe Dark Knight, my favorite superhero movie is the Incredibles. I think it captures the spirit of the 60s fun superhero comics (esp the Fantastic Four) better than any movie or even most comics themselves.
Spiderman I, Kirsten Dunst's pokies while she kisses Spidey in the rain.
fantastic four worked in a b movie sort of way. you forgive a lot more.
but sam raimi really dropped the ball with spider man. i was expecting a kick ass bruce campbell of a movie.
I've got a few moments I liked, and i'm sure that some of them will make people do a doulbe take.
Superman Returns: For all of the movies faults, there is one scene I particularly liked. When Superman flies Lois into the air and is talking about how she wrote that the city didn't need a savior, but he could hear them every day asking to be saved. Trying to compare Superman to Christ went a little to far later in the film, but that scene epitomizes Christ's call for us to evangilize to the world.
X Men 2: The scene between Nightcrawler and Storm. Storm says "Sometimes anger can help you survive" Nightcrawler replies, "So can faith." A simple statement with deep meaning.
In the animated Justice League there is a scene where you have Batman arguing with the Justice Lord version of himself. Their argument comes down to the basic argument between liberalism vs convservatism. Totalitarianism or Liberty. The heroes chose Liberty, at the cost of securing Luthor a pardon, over a world of security and tyrany.
Several moments in unbreakable are worthy of mention. When Bruce Willis stands up after being rescued from the pool, When you see him standing behind the killer. The speech at the end about Batman being the hero the city deserves but not the one they need. These were really great scenes.
The hospital was an old Brach's candy factory in Chicago already set for demolition. They actually blew it up for the movie. In one take, of course.
My favorite superhero moment is when the only real Batman tries to throw the bomb from the peer, but everywhere he looks, he sees mothers with babies and nuns and the such. He finally stops, looks straight into the camera and says, "Some days there's just no getting rid of a bomb." Words to live by.
1. Iron Man getting shot out of the air by the tank and then dispatching it.
2. The Joker making the pencil disappear.
3. The Thing giving up what he wants (looks/normalcy) in order to save his friends.
4. The Incredibles…enough said.
5. Superman telling Lois Lane that hears everyone's cries for a savior.
1. Iron Man getting shot out of the air by the tank and then dispatching it.
2. The Joker making the pencil disappear.
3. The Thing giving up what he wants (looks/normalcy) in order to save his friends.
4. The Incredibles…enough said.
5. Superman telling Lois Lane that hears everyone's cries for a savior.
The hospital explosion is great, but I think the brilliance of Nolan's Bat films can be distilled with one scene: THE JOKER'S MAGIC TRICK.
My wife and I recently caught part of Schumacher's horrible Batman & Robin, and she had never seen the train wreck of a movie. I was struck with the extravagance of the production, particularly Freeze's suit, weapons, and vehicles. That wasn't a flop on a shoestring budget; the biggest flops always require tons of money.
But for all the money spent on the gear and gadgets, the villains are never truly frightening, much less frightening with pinache.
With magic trick, on the other hand, Nolan created the perfect moment of villainy for the Joker: psychotic, evil, twisted, but (darkly) hilarious.
And all it took was a pencil.
A SINGLE NUMBER-TWO PENCIL.
If genius is doing more with less, I don't know of a greater comic-book moment.
A very good list, I would add:
1. The final scene of The Dark Knight
2. Superman crushing General Zod's hand at the end of Superman II
3. "I am Iron Man"
4. Spidey vs. Doc Ock on the rooftop/train
5. The introduction of the batmobile in Batman Begins
Oh good, I am not the only one who was glad when Maggie blew up!
Since you brought up #2 (hehe), I'll provide my take here. I agree with the pencil—that killed me. The hospital scene was my other favorite part of TDK. I also liked the same scene in Iron Man. So really, I'm in agreement with a lot of points. So I'll state my disagreement: the train scene in Spidey. Am I the only one who has a problem with a few dozen civilians passing around an unmasked Spider-man? How many people know that guy's secret identity?
Which brings me to one of two problems I have in Nolan's Batman films: too many people know Bruce Wayne is Batman. The guy from Wayne Enterprises basically has to be killed at the onset of the next one (if there is one), right?
The first Spider-Man. He has the girl of his dreams, all set for a happy ending, and he has to let her go. Raimi really understood the character.
Superman II: "General, would you care to step outside?"
I noticed the favor for Superman Returns and the whole "cries for a savior" scene, but that one scene was the antithesis of everything that made the Donner movies work. Superman would never see himself as Christ-like. Blessed with alien powers? Yes, but even more blessed with a Midwestern upbringing.
"In one take, of course."
Ha ha. Although… I've worked with certain Art Directors who'd at least ask if we could shoot it again from another angle.
My favorite single "hero moment" in all of cinema history is when Tom Logan says to Robert E. Lee Clayton (Jack Nicholson to Marlon Brando) in The Missouri Breaks, "You know why you woke up? Because I slit your throat." (Quoting from memory). Sorry it's not a "superhero" movie, but it's a fine, fine movie moment.
THE MATRIX: The pivital scene when they save Morpheus and the chopper goes down. It's the first time anyone (besides Morpheus but including Neo) begins to believe he is actually a hero.
Yes I am a geek who actually likes the Matrix movies.
""Some people just want to see the world burn," should be on the walls of every military school, police academy, and foreign service school in this country. Because the world sometimes really <is> black and white, cut and dried. Sometimes, the bad guys just like being bad.
If you're going to pick a Superman movie…man, I hate to say this, but Superman Returns actually has the best scene, where he saves that jet with Lois on board. It's like the helicopter times a hundred.
And while the Spidey-train scene was the best of that particular franchise, how could you choose that over Nightcrawler PWNing the ENTIRE SECRET SERVICE and getting to the President in about five seconds?
The Iron Man scene is brilliant.
Unbreakable deserves to be on the list, definitely, and while some other scenes were better eye candy, this was the most meaningful of them.
And as for TDK…if you were going to pick only one scene besides Joker blowing up a hospital, it would have to be the exchange between Batman and Fox about the cell-phone setup. Fox argues that it's immoral; Batman knows there is NO OTHER WAY to find Joker in time. The best solution to the problem is to put the machine in the hands of a moral man.
(They do, in fact, exist).
Equilibrium—pretty much any of the moments after Cleric Preston starts to come to his senses; saving the puppy, trying to save the woman, "not without incident".
Boondock Saints—"E nomini patri, et Fili e spiritu sancti."
No one on the train knows his identity…..they saw a guy that none of them ever saw before. What are the chances they could describe him to a sketch artist with enough accuracy that they could find a complete nobody like Peter Parker. I thought that scene was the highpoint of the franchise.
No one on the train knows his identity…..they saw a guy that none of them ever saw before. What are the chances they could describe him to a sketch artist with enough accuracy that they could find a complete nobody like Peter Parker in a city the size of New York? I thought that scene was the highpoint of the franchise.
Good catch. Either then or just after when he gets up after being shot. That was an amazing moment.
Haven't seen or even heard of 'Unbreakable'. Thanks! I've got a new addition to the Netflix list.
John Wayne in True Grit. Clint Eastwood in The Outlaw Josie Wales . 'nuff said.
"The Incredible Hulk" when Bruce Banner and Betty Ross started making out but had to stop because Bruce's pulse rate was getting dangerously high. It showed just how much of a curse the Hulk is to Banner.
Not really any perfecting John's list, but the X-geek in me has to give some love to Rogue asking Wolverine if it hurts when he extends his claws. "Every time." Damn I love that scene. The angel/devil "battle" between Xavier and Magneto over the young Jean Grey one of the few truly great things about #3, too.
"My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
Go ahead. Top that. I dare you.
Not really any perfecting John's list, but the X-geek in me has to give some love to Rogue asking Wolverine if it hurts when he extends his claws. "Every time." Damn I love that scene. The angel/devil "battle" between Xavier and Magneto over the young Jean Grey one of the few truly great things I loved about #3, too.
Someone mentioned Equilibrium. The final fight scene where Cleric Preston dispatches Father. . . Father plays the "I feel too" card, but Preston dispatches him anyhow, I'd like to think he didn't just do it to avenge Mary, but just GP.
*T*
"Some people just want to see the world burn," said the great sage Alfred. The hospital scene in TDK is a perfect example of that. Destroy a hospital? Who could do such a thing? It's such a taboo that it really does stick in your mind.
Another great list, DH. Soon someone will have to put together a "Top 5 'Top 5s.'"
Good call on "Unbreakable;" I didn't care for the movie but couldn't help but feel touched by that father/son moment.
Also like the "Iron Man" call, but I can't shake that disappointing feeling I had when I realized they hedged their bets and made the Jeff Bridges rich, white business man the SUPER-villain. A disappointing moments offsetting one of the best. Still a top-notch action flick.
My favorite comes directly from the comics and Burton's Batman. The shot of Martha Wayne's pearls falling to the wet pavement as the shots begin is an homage to the comic books. Almost everytime the origin story has been told in both the comics and graphic novels, the artist devotes a single panel to that image. I was glad when I saw Burton used it too.
I second that—I have watched that sequence dozens of times and it still moves me to tears. Iron Man a close second; I'd move Superman to #4, after Unbreakable. Great reminder that when WIllis is not playing action heros, he can really act—-which is probably why his action heroes are the best of that genre, too.
Not sure if this fits perfectly into the superhero genre but I'd like to add the Bruce Campbell movies. He's kind of a tongue-in-cheek superhero. I think he's hilarious. And that chin! What's not to like?
http://the100mostannoyingthings.blogspot.com/
Modern, why didn't Maggie see it coming? After all, her eyes are on the sides of her head.
Seconded for NightCrawler. Bonus points for using Mozart's Requiem as the soundtrack.
That was the best part. The "unflinching walk" as http://www.tvtropes.org calls it, is standard fare in movies. The Joker makes it awesome again.
Ledger clip wouldn't play. Something about embedded disabled upon request. BH or my program? dunno.
By the way, I saw the last of Breitbart on Fox and Friends Pundit Pit this a.m. and he nailed it!
There's a Justice League episode where Superman gets posessed by evil aliens, and wreaks havoc on Earth. The Justice League has to page Batman to save the day. He just happens to always carry Kryptonite in his utility belt. "I call it insurance." Best part of the entire series.
Parker is a newspaper photographer. (or at least he was, then. My memory's rusty.) I'm a photographer myself, and as a whole, we try to stay on the right side of the camera. Nobody would recognize him in his dork clothes and glasses.
The Spider-Man 2 train scene was great, but an even better scene comes when Spidey rescues Aunt May from Doc Oc. She's trapped with Doc up on a building with Spidey getting ready to fling himself at the villain. She sees Doc has a hideaway knife, says "Shame on you!" and kloncks Doc on the side of the head, probably saving Spidey from getting killed. Later, Spidey swings Aunt May safely to the ground. He says, "Well, we sure showed him!" and she replies, indignant, "What do you mean, 'we'?" Even though he's wearing a mask, the "look" on Spidey's face and body language is priceless.
Dittos to whoever pointed out the scene from the first Burton Batman where Batman takes Vale to the cave. Simply a terrific piece of filmmaking.
Hell f'ing yes. On both counts. Although, I gotta say the best part of Boondock Saints is after they get the Russian Mob boss. Surveying the carnage, "We're good." "Yes we are."
But my absolute favorite superhero moments come in The Incredibles. The first comes when Dash is running at breakneck speed away from Syndrome's goons and suddenly sees he's over the water. The little laugh he gives when he realizes he can RUN ON WATER is just terrific.
He's good in Burn Notice, too.
(sorry, had to split up the comments) The other one comes when Lucius "Frozone" is getting ready for his evening with his wife, Honey. Then he sees the destruction going on outside from Syndrome's machine. He races to get his super-suit but finds the closet empty. Samuel L. Jackson plays the part perfectly:
Lucius: Honey?
Honey: What?
Lucius: Where's my super-suit?
Honey: What?!
Lucius: Where. Is. My. Super-suit?!
Honey: I, uh, put it away!
[Helicopter crashes]
Lucius: Where?!
Honey: Why do you need to know?!
[Lucius runs through the house apartment looking for his suit.]
Lucius: I need it!
Honey: Nuh-uh! Don't you think about runnin' off and doin' no darin'-do! We've been plannin' this dinner for two months!
Lucius: The public is in danger!
Honey: My evening's in danger!
Lucius: You tell me where my suit is, woman! We are talking about the greater good!
Honey: "Greater good"?! I am your wife! I'm the greatest good you are ever gonna get!
Chris Nolan warned Heath about the size of the explosions, but he didn't warn him about that particular one. TVTropes.org calls such things "enforced Method acting."
It was the fact that his weapons were getting into the hands of the bad guys that convinced him to halt manufacturing for the time being. I wasn't under the impression that he suddenly found the weapons themselves morally repugnant — it was more that they were being used by people who should never have gotten them.
Glad to see the Matrix comments, even though it's not technically a superhero movie. Thing is, you have to just pretend the 2 sequels were never made and focus on the first, and only good one.
Having said that, how do you top that ending? Neo in the phone booth giving his verbal shot across the bow to the Agents, hangs up the phone, steps out, looks up, and FLIES. Queue Rage Against The Machine and credits.
THAT'S how you end a movie.
As a bookend, I also love Nightcrawler's attack on the White House to open X-2. A virtuoso realization of one of comicdom's geekiest and coolest heroes/powers; I'd always thought there was no way it could be done properly. Being wrong felt mighty fine.
"I want my father back, you son of a bitch."
Topped.
Fortunately, the ending of the first Matrix film is such that you can easily ignore the sequels.
I could top it, but every time I try to post it the comment gets moderated.
ergo my point- 'Four' looked, and felt like comic. If you're going to raise a hot dog to haute' cuisine you make the first 'Superman', or Burton's first
'Batman' opus… Raimi's best work is 'Evil Dead', and 'Army of Darkness' is both his and Campbell's career apogee. Isn't it odd that the Campbell cameos are the best part of Spidey?
I'm sorry but "Superman Returns," not unlike the Matrix sequels doesn't exist. How can I add a moment from a film that doesn't exist?
That would be silly.
I'm sorry but "Superman Returns," not unlike the Matrix sequels, doesn't exist. How can I add a moment from a film that doesn't exist?
That would be silly.
This pick was in my list yesterday at #5 — but at the last minute I went with UNBREAKABLE.
Superman 2's — "Care to step outside" was in there as well, but I wanted to mix the list up more than have 2 Chris Reeve Superman moments.
Nothing like a challenge to start the morning:
1. from Superman The Movie: Superman makes the Earth rotate backwards in order to change history and save Lois Lane from the earthquake. The feat itself is not the most appealing part of the scene, but rather the conflict Superman instantly faces when his real and adopted fathers, Jor-El & Jonathan Kent, remind him of what is important, and what ultimately motivates Superman.
2. from Iron Man: Tony Stark tries out the modified suit at night. To see him finally come full circle as Iron Man is both thrilling and memorable. Not to mention the end of that scene, when he still hasn't quite got the landing right and is still treated as a fire hazard by his robot.
3. from Superman III: Ersatz kryptonite-exposed Superman and Clark Kent "split apart" and do battle. In what was otherwise a sadly disappointing film, the best part was Superman being in a sense possessed with and having to expel his own demons.
4. from Batman Begins: When Bruce Wayne begins fighting crime as Batman. As memorable a superhero introduction as both Superman & Spider-Man, I love when at the end of the scene, Wayne spots a homeless man he gave an old coat to years before and says "Nice coat."
5. from Superman II: Clark Kent gets even with a roughneck at a diner. After having to become normal, get beat up, become Superman again, defeat General Zod and his minions, and make sure Lois Lane forgets his secret, to see him get even with the roughneck is both funny and excellent.
By the way, Mr. Nolte, two points to make: 1) the scene you mention in Spider-Man 2 is a great scene, especially when the passengers discover what Spider-Man looks like beneath the mask, and agree to keep it a secret. What makes it better is when Dr. Octopus tries to capture Spider-Man and the passengers stand in the way. Inspirational. 2) the helicopter scene in Superman The Movie did make me want to tie a bath towel around my neck (still does, metaphorically speaking). I remember that feeling quite well.
Michael Keaton kicks the Jokers butt and he gets dropped of the cathedral like a bad penny.
And any scene with Bruce Lee kicking anyone's butt.
Yeowwwwwwwwwwww!
The final moments of Buffy, Season 7, where Willow casts a big magic mojo and turns every potential Slayer into a Slayer. The scenes of women across the world suddenly realizing they are superheroes is just incandescent.
Okay, it wasn't a movie. But it was my favorite superhero moment, and Buffy had a lot of them. Like when the giant ancient monster roars "No weapon forged can slay me!" and Buffy lifts an RPG to her shoulder and says "That was then. This is now." That's what I'm talking about. Pure superhero magic.
The Earth turning back thing in Superman I has always been a problem for me. It's a too-easy out that pretty much negates everything that comes after. Why did Superman bother fighting the three villains in 2? After he got his powers back he could have just turned the Earth back until they were back in the Phantom Zone. That would've assured them losing, brought back all the people who died, and not risked him being defeated and the villains conquering Earth.
Serenity—River Tam to her brother Simon:
"You take care of me, Simon.
You've always
taken care of me.
My turn."
Then she commences with some serious Reaver ass-kicking followed by one of the best hero shots ever put on the big screen; the hatch opening up and seeing River standing there (slightly backlit) with two bloody axes in her hands and surrounded by dead Reavers.
Agreed! Singer turned Superman into Budlight-drinking stalker.
I was glad she blew up too, but mainly because Batman made the right "wrong" choice.
I'd put the Incredibles in Unbreakables place,
I like this list but would perhaps add the first Spiderman film where Peter Parker first discovers his powers. It's funny, but also exactly what any kid would look like figuring out he has cool super powers.
THe first Matrix was a very good movie.
My favorite Justice League scene was when Wonder Woman was fighting a horde of alien rampaging killbots while holding the Atom in one hand. When she needed both hands, she put the Atom in her cleavage. In my opinion, the Atom became the greatest (and most envied) superhero ever.
In the director's cut he did.
"This is a world you'll never understand, and you always fear what you don't understand"
Carmine Falcone
Batman Begins
Can I nominate the sequence in Watchmen where Silk Spectre and Night Owl break Rorschach out of prison? Millions will love it come this weekend. It'll likely be remembered for years to come, it's that good..
John! Awsome post! Comic book movies in thier own right are really the pinacle of conservative philosphy on film today! But I have to say, "Unbreakable" has to be THE WORST choice out of the five and one of THE WORST superhero movie ever made. You really have to appreciate M. Night to put that in league with Spider-Man ANYTHING
If you are going to count any other movies, How about TRANSFORMERS ("Freedom is the right of all sentient beings") or Batman Begins "Train Scene" or Ras Al Gual "Gotham Must Be Destoryed" scene? Or Spider-Man's "Bridge Scene" All of which boast far better message, rousing action, and political sentiment then your #5
P.S. Might wanna create a # 6-10 as well because Superhero genre films are BIG now and they are a great topic for this blog (Escepially when put in the political context)
I always thought Unbreakable was underrated. It's good to see others see that as well. This should have been a top 10 though.
I'm still waiting for some forward-looking producer to option "Magnus: Robot Fighter"…
The interesting way in which the Joker stabs that guy in the eye with a pencil was perhaps my favorite moment of TDK.
Transformers is a great super hero movie–I especially liked the way the military was portrayed throughout the movie. It wasn't just the robots that were the heroes.
My favorite line ever in a Superhero movie was Alfred's reply to Bruce's asking how they stopped the bandit in Burma. The matter of fact delivery of, " We burned the forest down" For me it evoked the WWII fire raids in Europe. The ruthlessness and committment required to oppose evil.
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