The 6 Best Moments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Have you seen the new “Doctor Strange” trailer? Anyone excited for “Captain America: Civil War”?

Yes I realize that some are getting tired of comic book movies, but not me! I’m a big Marvel fan and have been enjoying the ride. So one clarification, this is for little specific moments or scenes. You may be wondering about a lack of moments from “Captain America: Winter Soldier.” The reason is simple, it’s too hard to pick just one moment because that film is consistently excellent throughout.

And if you think I’m praising them a little too much, check out next week’s article.

6.) Young Michael Douglas (Ant-Man)

This isn’t an amazing moment for character or story, which is why it’s at the bottom. We have Hank Pym confronting an early version of S.H.I.E.L.D. and showing what led him to walk away from the superhero game. I was just amazed by the effect here. We’ve seen digital de-aging in movies before (“X-Men: The Last Stand”) but it’s never looked right. I can remember when my step-mom and I went to see the third X-Men movie and “young” Professor X and Magneto first came on-screen. We knew something was off, but we couldn’t figure out what at the time. Since then it’s remained in that weird, not quite real looking area. This is the first time I can remember it looking realistic. You almost wonder if they somehow filmed the scene in the 90s and just sat on it until this ha-ha. On top of all of that it speaks to my only real problem with “Ant-Man,” I mean aside from the lack of Wasp. I am far more interested in Hank Pym and his story than Scott Lang’s. A prequel would be awesome for me and in general I only see benefits to this technique in the future of movies.

5.) Loki’s Breakdown (Thor: The Dark World)

The “Thor” movies are the weak link of the MCU. Part of it may be the fact that I’m not a big fan of Thor from the comics. While Marvel has yet to make a completely awful film, both “Thor” movies have some major problems. That being said, they are at their best when they’re dealing with the family drama of the Asgardians. The best example of this comes from “Thor: The Dark World.” After Loki has been imprisoned the only person still willing to talk to him is his mother Frigga. It’s not only nice to see them let Rene Russo do something else in these films, but how we see Loki drop some of his defenses when he’s around her. So (Spoilers) when she is killed during a dark elf attack it actually does a good job of affecting the audience as well as Loki and it’s done completely with no dialog. Just him hearing the news standing in his prison and boom, the furniture flies against the walls. Then when we later see Thor break him out and Loki turns off his illusions we’re told entirely visually how much his mother’s death has affected him. Needless to say the “Thor” films need more moments like this.

4.) The Purple Man’s Police Station Visit (Jessica Jones)

Yes I said Purple Man and NOT Kilgrave because he’s The Purple Man dammit! Yes, I know it’s strange, but it’s a comic book and if that’s something you gotta ignore then you shouldn’t be adapting comics. Sorry that just irritated me a bit. I wasn’t as completely in love with the Netflix “Jessica Jones” series as some, but it was pretty darn good. A big part was because of how good David Tennant was as The Purple Man. I never could get into Jessica Jones as a character so this is what really saved the series for me. To put what made him so great in a simple way, they took a minor Z-list villain and turned him into one of the best of the whole Marvel canon. First it made me realize just how terrifying it would be to have someone like this walking around in the real world. His motivations were great in that it’s scary that there are people who really think like this, but also that he can’t comprehend that others don’t agree with him. His backstory was changed from the comics, but made much stronger by it now being that he was experimented on as a child. Thus he almost acts like a man child who can’t fully grasp the implications of what he constantly does. Finding the exact moment to embody this was tough, but I’d have to go with the police station scene as for me it’s where all of this is on full display. Needless to say I was glued to my seat. I honestly don’t know how Season 2 can function without him.

Click “Next” to see the rest of the list!

3.) Star Lord’s Mom (Guardians of the Galaxy)

“Guardians of the Galaxy” was an incredibly fun little ride with one heavy as crap opening scene. No one coming into the theater to see the space raccoon movie expects to see said movie begin with a mother dying from cancer. They really don’t pull any punches; no jokes or anything. You’re watching a young child (Star Lord) see his mother one last time before she dies. On top of that when she asks for her son to hold her hand, the kid understandably is resistant and hesitates and it’s at that moment where she flatlines. This is something he’s going to have to know for the rest of his life, that his last interaction with his mother was essentially rejecting her dying wish. And if this day wasn’t already shaping up to be the best ever, after he runs out of the hospital crying he gets abducted by aliens. Yes, that’s how this film begins and I love it! I think most people who had relatives die when they were younger can identify with this (I still regret not spending as much time as possible with my grandfather when I had the chance) aside from the alien stuff… obviously. I know some may question and for me it’s like when I say that the beginning of “Godzilla (2014)” is my favorite part. When I go to see a film I want to feel something. I want the high emotional drama and it’s always great when even a silly space comic book film can do that. Also, I love how it all ties into the ending with the now adult Star Lord facing off against Ronan and as he holds one of the infinity stones and is near death he can see the image of his mother on her death-bed again asking for him to take her hand. Which doing so with the other members of the Guardians of the galaxy (thus all sharing the power of the stone) is what saves the day at the end. Wow all of that in the climax and there are still people who fixate on the 5 sec dancing diversion. SMH.

And just an aside: I know some people say it’s a problem for them that something like Rocket Raccoon exists in the same universe as the Punisher, but honestly for me it makes it feel like a bigger, more real universe to have such wildly different types of characters inhabiting the different corners.

2.) Jack Murdock’s Death (Daredevil)

Yes I know that hallway scene was great, and EVERYTHING to do with Kingpin was amazing but I have to give it to this moment overall. Everything about the tone, lighting, and editing is so on point here. In the flashback we have Jack Murdock (father of Matt Murdock aka: Daredevil) told to throw a fight. However, he takes the opportunity to make sure all of the money he gets off said fight goes to his son Matt while also gaining his respect. From the talk to the fight with each bang of fists together almost sounding like an epic drum beat, to after the fight where we and Jack can hear the crowd finally cheering for him. He turns around in the locker room to be bathed in the light in his final moments as a dark shadow creeps in. Jack and the audience know this is his final moment, but for this one moment the man finally had all that was important to him. It’s so well-done that it doesn’t matter that we don’t see ANY of the actual boxing match. The music, acting, cinematography, and editing all come together to bring us this moment that perfectly captures the feeling of letting go of this life.

1.) Hawkeye’s Speech (Avengers: Age of Ultron)

This moment to me encapsulates all that the superhero genre is supposed to do when working right. More on that later. For now, the recap. Towards the end of the film, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” we have a huge battle of the Avengers vs Ultron’s army of robots. Scarlet Witch is beginning to freak out in a house from the stress of battling an army of robots when Hawkeye finds her.

“Ok, look, the city is flying, we’re fighting an army of robots, and I have a bow and arrow. None of this makes sense. But I’m going out there because it’s my job, okay, and I can’t do my job and babysit. Doesn’t matter what you did or what you were, if you go out there you fight, and you fight to kill. Staying here you’re good, I’ll send your brother to come find you, but if you step out that door – You are an Avenger.”

Shortly after that we have Scarlet Witch triumphantly exiting the house (little bit of slow-mo) as she rejoins the fight and kicks some serious ass. One part of why I like this happens to speak to why I enjoyed the film as a whole and that’s the film’s grasp on characters. It’s no secret that Hawkeye in the first film got shortchanged and writer/director Joss Whedon really makes it up to him here. Not only does he get humanized by us getting to meet his family earlier in the film, but we finally get to see the real Hawkeye from the comics. By that I mean he’s the cynic of the group, he knows that fighting these Avenger level fights with just a bow and arrow is stupid, but he’s going to do it anyway because that’s what makes him a hero. Which leads back into my earlier point of what the superhero genre should do. I feel when a superhero story is really working right, it should inspire you, it should make you realize why it’s the right thing to do. You see this and it makes you want to get out and start help making things better. It’s why Captain America is one of my favorite characters as that’s kinda his MO. I never would have imagined one of the best examples of this would come from Hawkeye of all characters, but there it is. My favorite moment from the MCU thus far.

What do you think? What are your favorite moments of the MCU so far?