Great idea!
My issue is that for some of these movies it will be tough to pick just one, and for others it will be hard to FIND just one.
I'll go by my rankings...
1) Captain America: Civil War
The airport battle - this is just an orgasmic fight scene, with some great action choreography, clear photography (you never get lost amid the explosions and foot chases), witty banter, and some interesting character moments (Nat letting Cap and Bucky go; Vision's shot going astray as a symbol for his deep focus on Wanda; Tony chiding Cap; Scott just happy to be there; T'Challa blinded by revenge)
2) Captain America: The Winter Soldier
*Gonna go with a surprise pick here: "Captain's orders." Not specifically Steve's broadcast to the SHIELD faithful in the final act, but Cameron Klein's reaction to them. When Rumlow insists Klein send the Helicarriers airborne, he says "I'm not gonna launch those ships...Captain's orders." It's a incredibly tense scene but also a meaningful one. It's a small, helpless man taking a stand, even if it will kill him. It also demonstrates how many people still show faith in Cap
3) Iron Man
"Yeah, I can fly." The best parts of Iron Man are the building/training scenes, either in Afghanistan or California, but this one is particularly good. We see Tony make a huge step forward with his invention, we get some laughs courtesy of Jarvis, and we witness another step on the hero's journey.
4) Guardians of the Galaxy
Easy. "We are Groot." There's one reason I ranked Guardians ahead of The Avengers and it's this scene. This makes me tear up every time. It symbolizes the hard-won friendship among this rag-tag group, and how death isn't such a bad thing when you finally have something worth dying for.
5) The Avengers
Another hard one, but I think I have to go with the bromance between Tony and Bruce. Their scenes in the lab on the helicarrier just sparkle. Tony feels at home with a fellow genius, and Bruce starts to open up.
6) Avengers: Infinity War
Infinity War is unfortunately short on great scenes, although its individual moments are pretty darn good. I'll go with Peter "killing" Gamora on Nowhere. This is a hard sequence to watch, with Gamora articulating her feelings for Peter (finally), Peter willing to kill the love of his life to fulfill his promise, and Thanos, in a fatherly gesture, approving of his daughter's boyfriend. Lot going on there.
7) Spider-Man: Homecoming
Gotta go with the car ride to homecoming. Keaton is a master in this scene. It's goofy, it's funny, it's scary as hell, and it sets up Peter's fateful choice.
8) Thor: Ragnarok
My favorite moment in Ragnarok should have been the final line in the movie. Damn you, Taika Waititi! "I'm here." This is such a nice bookend to the dramatic, often antagonistic relationship between brothers. It's a line rich in subtext, and I just love it.
9) Iron Man 3
Iron Man 3 is especially good for all its reversals and subverted expectations, so I will go with Tony breaking into a mansion sans suit. It's good action, yes, but it shows how clever, crafty, and confident Tony is outside of his armor.
10) Black Panther
Uhhhh. Maybe the first scene in Oakland?
11) Captain America
"I had a date." Jesus, what a gut punch. Evans slays this scene. We see Cap realize that decades have flown by and the world as he knew it is long gone, and then...he remembers Peggy. This is the best final line in the MCU.
12) The Incredible Hulk
The scene in the motel where Betty is cutting Bruce's hair, and then he gets too "excited." This is a really nice, understated scene. We see the intimacy, we see how these two former lovers have missed each others, and we see (frustratingly) how Bruce's condition makes him unable to be with Betty physically.
13) Avengers: Age of Ultron
Party scene, all the way. This really plays to Whedon's strengths as a writer/director. Lots of fun banter and good character writing, and the hammer sequence is a riot.
14) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Another easy one. The ravager funeral. Visually fascinating and emotionally powerful.
15) Doctor Strange
Dormammu. All these superhero movies end with blue sky lasers and hordes of disposable monsters. This was a intelligent and different way to reach a conclusion.
16) Ant-Man
Thomas the Tank Engine battle. Ant-Man is best when it's playing with Scott's tiny dimensions. This is a slick way to stage an action scene.
17) Iron Man 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sypG5KoKbDY
18) Thor
Oh lord. Um, probably the drinking contest. Selwig is very protective and fatherly here, and there's some good old-fashioned male bonding going on too.
19) Thor: The Dark World
Let's see. I guess the scene on the magic gondola with Thor and Loki. "I wish I could trust you." Which, again, would make "I'm here" all the better as a final line in Ragnarok. Damn you, Taika Waititi!
Last edited by Veknoid_Outcast - on 13 May 2018
