Iron Man
One of my two picks for best line in the MCU - I am Iron Man. This was such a high note to end the film on and showed us that the MCU was not going to go the standard route regarding secret identities for its superheroes.
The Incredible Hulk
Betty pleading in front of the tank for her father to stop the attack on Bruce. The desperation in Liv Tyler’s voice and the pained expression on William Hurt’s face sell the emotional impact of this scene. It’s why I wish they would bring Betty back. I loved this relationship and it was kicked to the curb for one that makes little sense.
Iron Man 2
The suit up on the racetrack. The comic fumbling to deliver the package and the “hell, yeah!” moment when Tony becomes Iron Man.
Thor
I could not think of what I wanted to choose at first and skipped past this one. I then remembered the painful request Thor made to come home after finding out his father was dead. Thor is arguably the most powerful hero in the MCU (or will be) and to see this vulnerable moment of desperation gives us a glimpse into his heart. It also shows us that Hemsworth can do more than look ripped.
Captain America: The First Avenger
My other pick for best final line of the MCU. “Yeah, it’s just . . . I had a date”. Evans sells it. The music is pure melancholy at the sad realization he lost the love of his life. It’s such a gut punch and one that stays with you. Evans became my favorite over RDJ right here.
The Avengers
Pure fanboy - The tracking shot in the final battle. I had such a huge smile on my face in the theatre and I felt like a kid again. Plus, in retrospect, the juxtaposition of the shot where Tony and Cap pull off a combination move to the moment in Captain America: Civil War where they’re fighting one another. Both involve blasts to the shield and it’s a nice symmetry to their relationship.
Iron Man 3
There’s actually two action scenes I really like - the attack on Stark Manor and the Air Force One air rescue. I’m going to go with the latter. Tony’s ingenuity when told he cannot save everyone mixed with a different type of superhero action scene make for a memorable sequence. Then, of course, sadly, it’s capped with the running gag of the suit falling apart.
Thor: The Dark World
Captain America’s cameo as Thor and Loki escape the palace. Apparently Hiddleston performed the scene and then Evans did his take on that performance. It’s a nice little moment in an otherwise drab film and it’s great to see Evans having some fun.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
I clearly love this film and one of my favorite moments is Cap dropping the shield through the hole in the helicarrier as he tells Bucky he won’t fight him anymore. But that’s been discussed so I’ll go with the HYDRA reveal. While it’s not a particularly great scene, I remember sitting up and taking notice in the theatre because it was such a huge twist for that point in the MCU. The dawning realization that Cap has been working for the people he “died” to stop in World War II is a powerful one and informs his arc for the entirety of the series.
Guardians of the Galaxy
The Guardians joining hands to contain the power of the Infinity Stone. This was a culmination of their bond as a unit and their willingness to potentially sacrifice their lives to save one of their own. “We are Groot” is a close second.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
The party scene but specifically the different attempts to lift Mjolnir to prove they are worthy to rule Asgard. This film needed more scenes like this and less jerking from action set-piece to action set-piece. Thor’s look of worry when Mjolnir makes the slightest nudge from Cap is hilarious.
Ant-Man
The prologue. I want to see this film: the early days of SHIELD with Howard Stark, Peggy Carter and Hank Pym. Although the de-aging on Douglas is distracting, this opening scene felt more relevant and interesting than all that came after.
Captain America: Civil War
The airport battle is definitely worth the price of admission but I’m going to go with the group discussion regarding the Accords. This is what I needed more of in Civil War. Weighing the pros and cons of submitting to UN oversight was both intellectually interesting and gave the actors something to do of import rather than running and punching.
Doctor Strange
Another one I skipped past the first time around. I think I’ll go with the final moments of the Ancient One. It’s a quieter part of the film and one filled with emotional impact rather than visually inventive fight scenes. Strange gets the most development here from watching someone else. Swinton was an excellent casting choice and she proves it here.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2
The Ravager funeral is a great final sequence filled with both visual splendor and emotional poignancy. But I’m going to go with a quieter character moment and that’s Mantis reading Drax’s emotions as he remembers his family. The film slows down to remind of us of the tragic backstory to this fun group of a-holes and what brought them altogether. Another director may have filled this scene with a long monologue, but having faith the actors will sell it makes it a truly memorable moment.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
The car ride to the prom. Holland and Keaton are top notch in a scene dripping with tension. How Keaton pieces it together with a few details and Holland’s realization of what is happening is played out entirely by the actors’ faces. I may have issues with how Vulture was written but the scene alone cements Keaton’s place in the top section of MCU villains.
Thor: Ragnarok
Anything with Goldblum is a true gem. Did I mention how he steals the whole film? But if I had to pick one scene I actually would go with Odin’s farewell to his two sons. What comes after is a rapid fire mess of plot, but that brief moment when two brothers, who both had complicated relationships with their father and even each other, take a moment to share their grief is both understated and moving.
Black Panther
This is another I’m not sure about. I need to see the film a second time. I actually forgot this film and went straight into Infinity War making this list. I’ll go with the first waterfall battle. I was a little worried about the action in that first sequence as it was at night with a lot of quick cuts and it was hard to track what was happening. The waterfall fight was the exact opposite. A well choreographed fight in a visually interesting location that looks stunning.
Avengers: Infinity War
Hard to pick one. Do I go fanboy with Cap’s arrival in the train station or something deeper like the fall of Spider-Man? I’m actually to pick Thanos’ sacrifice of Gamora to obtain the soul stone. Thanos and Gamora were the true MVPs of this film and their relationship is the bedrock of what makes Thanos the best villain of the MCU (at least the films). The dawning realization Gamora has that she is to be the sacrifice and the pain of Thanos’ own admission is a dramatic gem in a film mostly filled with superhero antics.
Last edited by Doc755 - on 14 May 2018