Disclaimer

This is the Shark's opinion, and the Top 10 scenes from CBMs that I felt were most memorable in my mind. There were several scenes that didn't make it into the list - Rorschach's death in Watchmen, the Nuada fight from Hellboy 2, the Raindrops scene from Spider-Man 2 among others...but these are the Top 10 scenes that I look forward to whenever I rewatch these films, and the ones that stay with me long after the end credits.

10. Superman - "Who's Got You?"

It would be remiss of me not to include at least one scene from the Donner films, especially one from the very first superhero feature film in cinematic history. Till this day, Reeve's Superman still holds up in a charming and quaint manner of its own. And this iconic scene where Superman makes his debut remains a CBM milestone - it must've been something to see if you were a comic-book fan back in the 70s.

Lois Lane's copter hangs off the edge of a skyscraper, and Clark knows that this is a job for his alter ego. After a cheesy super-speed-costume-change in a revolving door, Supes zips up and catches the falling Lois in his arms. Which leads to this gem: "I've got you." "You've got me? Who's got you?!". This is how Superman should be portrayed; noble, friendly, but with a glint of humor too.

9. Iron Man 2 - "Monaco"

Okay, you know what - screw you. Don't judge me. I can feel the hate emanating as your eyes gloss over these very words. Still, regardless of the actual quality of the entire film as a whole, I can't deny that I enjoyed the hell out of this scene. I remember watching it for the first time on the silver screen. My seat was right next to the wall speakers. Every time Whiplash lashed his whips, my eardrums ruptured. And I loved it.

But the real kicker comes when Tony puts on the suitcase armor. Sure, most of it is just fanservice - it was a callback to Silver-Age Tony keeping his suits in a briefcase, and the color scheme a blatant Silver Centurion reference. But that's one of the best parts of a CBM. The 'cool factor' that stems from Tony donning a new armor, particularly one as novel as the Mark V. The actual fight itself versus Whiplash was short, but still a satisfactory prelude for the action to come.

8. Batman Begins - "Backup"

Alright, so they basically cribbed took inspiration from Year One with this one, but don't pretend like you didn't pop a nerd boner with this scene. To be honest, I thought long-and-hard whether to put the DKR escape-from-the-prison scene on the list over this one. Both evoke the bat-cloud-symbolism so well, but in the end, I felt like Begins deserved the spot, as the bat cloud is a running motif throughout the entirety of the first film.

The cloud of bats begins as a representation of Bruce's childhood fear, and starts the core theme of the movie: Fear. When Bruce finds the cave, the cloud of bats reappear again as his baptism, when he first transforms his fear into the image of Batman. And as Batman, the cloud of bats come to his rescue in this scene, as a physical symbol of Bruce finally weaponizing the power of fear in his crusade against crime.

Also, the scene's f&^*%n badass.

7. X2 - "Lady Deathstrike"

I remember being a kid when X2 first came out, and reading an article where Singer said that the scene where Deathstrike sticks her claws through Logan was one of the hardest things to film. Years later, the fight between Wolverine and Lady Deathstrike still holds up as my favorite battle in the entire X-Trilogy. This is easily one of the hardcore-iest (yes, that's a word) fights in the franchise, between two ruthless adamantium killers.

It's painful, it's brutal, and it's exhilarating to see Wolverine let loose with the violence for the first time. Logan stabs Deathstrike and looks genuinely flabbergasted when her wounds heal. Deathstrike pins Logan on the platform and stabs him repeatedly like some deranged acupuncturist. And that final killing blow? Gawddamn... Easily one of the most vicious death scenes in a CBM...bravo, Logan, bravo.

6. X-Men First Class - "Rage & Serenity"

I'll admit, I had a lot of issues with First Class. The movie basically butchered the trilogy's continuity, the costumes were cringe-worthy, and there were pacing issues...but one thing I can't deny? The movie was spot-on with its casting of McAvoy and Fassbender. Just when you think the franchise couldn't get any luckier than with Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen...Matthew Vaughn and crew end up doing this.

McAvoy and Fassbender were definitely the highlights of the film, and every scene they had together was character gold...but there was none better than this one here. "Rage & serenity" - those three words connected these two friends for the first time, and it describes these two icons very aptly too. Before all the tragedy and violence to follow, this was a touching moment between Charles & Erik before they became Professor X and Magneto.

5. Captain America The First Avenger - "Compassion"

Instead of doing a write-up, I'm just going to quote myself. This was one of the earliest posts I ever wrote on the Vine, and I still feel the same way:

My favorite MU inspirational speech is probably the one that Erskine delivers to Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger. It's short, and a little more casual, but this small bit by Tucci really gave more insight into Erskine rather than just a generic comic-book scientist. He is both humorous and sincere here. This small scene with the two of them, the night before Rogers becomes Captain America and Erskine is killed, really shows a great dynamic between the two.

My favorite bit is probably this part: "This is why you were chosen. Because a strong man, who has known power all his life, will lose respect for that power. But a weak man knows the value of strength, and knows compassion."

I think that line really states what Captain America is all about. He doesn't want to become powerful just for power's sake. He wants to become powerful so that he can serve his fellow man. That's some profound sh#t right there.

4. The Dark Knight - "Interrogation"

The Dark Knight was a superhero film full of Top-10-worthy scenes, and a movie that elevated the superhero genre into something far greater. Everything was pure cinematic magic with this one: from the action, to the themes, to the characters...it remains the pinnacle of Nolan's work, and it's easy to see why TDK takes the top spot in the minds of most comic-book fans. But in what is arguably the greatest superhero film ever made, the greatest element of the movie was undeniably Heath Ledger's Joker.

And while there's the opening bank scene, and the 'Why So Serious' scenes, and even the final epic battle with Batman...this interrogation scene remains my top Joker moment. For the first time since the Joker's reign of terror began, Batman & his opposite number finally get to sit down and have a chat. This is the deepest that the movie ever goes into the relationship between the Knight & his Jester...this is the Killing Joke scene, where the two guys meet in a lunatic asylum...and where the Joker first becomes Batman's archnemesis.

3. Avengers - "Assemble"

I'd include the entire Battle of New York if I could, but that would be cheating, wouldn't it? But damn...from the first time we saw this moment in the trailer, to actually seeing it on the big screen. This is the moment when the Avengers finally came together as the world's first superhero team, and the moment when we all realized, "Holy sh&t...it actually happened. Marvel actually made an Avengers movie...and people outside fandom actually give a damn!"

From the full-circle pan of the camera as it catches the entire Avengers team assembled and facing off against impossible odds...to the sweeping orchestral score by Alan Silvestri (which is on my iPod, incidentally)...this is the moment we'd all been waiting for. Over four years of hype, dreams, and aspirations came to a stunning climax. This was it. The time when the heads of Marvel fans all across the globe simultaneously exploded, and the entirety of DC Comics was put on suicide watch.

2. Spider-Man 2 - "The Train"

I'll take Raimi over Webb any day, and when someone asks me why - I show them this scene and say, "Until the day an Amazing Spider-Man movie does a scene this good, Spider-Man 2 will remain my second favorite CBM of all-time". This is what Peter Parker is all about. Self-sacrifice, and never giving up no matter the odds. This train scene is the cinematic equivalent to Amazing Spider-Man #33.

The moment when Spider-Man has shot off streams of web and strains with all his might to stop the runaway train...as the carriage metal bends and the windows shatter....as Spidey's costume rips and Peter's face is contorted in pain and determination...my eyes were glued to the screen at this moment as a nine-year old, and they still are now. And then the final bit when all the passengers lift Spidey's body over them and one man whispers in wonder, "He's just a kid. No older than my son." That right there. That's Spider-Man to me.

1. Man of Steel - "Flight"

Love it or hate it, there is no argument that this scene from Man of Steel encompasses all the wonder and adventure that the character of Superman represents. It builds slowly. Hans Zimmer's score starts off with the gentle theme as Superman launches for an uneasy climb, soars a little, and then crashes back down to earth. The music goes silent. You hear Russell Crowe's voice narrating the words of All-Star Superman...In time, they will join you in the sun. In time...you will help them accomplish wonders. The music starts to build again. The ground shakes underneath Superman's feet.

And then Superman launches into the air like the rocket that sent him from Krypton...a ballistic streak of red-and-blue that goes supersonic across the skies...across the mountains...across the seas...and then Superman shoots up into outer-space and flies across the entire Earth...the planet of his adopted home and adopted people. I can't describe how much I look forward to this scene every time I rewatch this movie, and how it always stirs up the same feelings of childlike awe.

You really believe that a man can fly with this scene, and in many ways, the ability to fly is Superman's most iconic and important superpower. It's not the heat-vision or the strength, but this culturally-universal image of an ordinary man in a cape soaring above the clouds. That's what people think of when you say the name 'Superman'. And this is the point in Man of Steel when Clark Kent first adopts the identity of a protector, as a symbol of hope, and his mastering of the power of flight cements the beginning of Superman.