Even though movies like Gambit and Sinister Six got lost on the way after being announced in 2014, this year was filled with awesome (and not that awesome, at times) comic book movies. Disney, Warner Bros., and 20th Century Fox battled throughout the year, and it’s now pretty hard to say which studio won (of course, some might say that it isn't that hard"¦).
Deadpool, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Captain America: Civil War, X-Men: Apocalypse, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (that's a mouthful for a flick that failed on so many levels), Suicide Squad, Max Steel (yes, this came out this year, as well), and Doctor Strange were the movies released this year. And while nobody saw Max Steel and the sequel to TMNT didn't impress, the others had quite a bit to offer.
So what were the best comic book movie moments of this year? This list is all about that. Obviously, there are some spoilers here - and, obviously, this is a subjective piece. So consider yourself warned!
Suicide Squad - introducing the characters
Although the DCEU hasn't yet managed to produce a film that’s been universally praised, its movies are always filled with awesome moments. Suicide Squad is no exception, with quite a few scenes worthy of being mentioned. And at number 10 sits a montage from this film - the character introductions for each of the villains/anti-heroes.
Sure, there were other moments as well - such as the whole Diablo backstory. But the way the characters are introduced seems to be taken straight out of the comic books. And if there is one redeeming thing about the entire movie, this should be it.
But you already know that the beginning of Suicide Squad was the best part of the movie; everything goes downhill afterward. So this shouldn't be too surprising.
Sweet dreams
X-Men: Apocalypse is also on this list, with what is probably one of the best scenes of 2014 - yes, you read this correctly. The Quicksilver scene, in which the mutant saves almost everybody from the X-Mansion, is just a rehash of the kitchen scene from X-Men: Days of Future Past. But this doesn't mean that it was poorly done.
On the contrary. Is there any other scene from X-Men: Apocalypse that captured your attention? Not really, right? And, yes, I’m counting the very unnecessary Wolverine cameo.
Of course, Bryan Singer did make it last longer than needed (if Quicksilver hadn't played that much, maybe he would have had time to save everybody). But it was still a blast, and the scene everybody was waiting for. Sure, I could also mention Quicksilver's fight with Apocalypse - but nothing can top the Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams.
Trolling Iron Man
Paul Rudd is awesome. He's so awesome that this is just the first moment featuring him on this list. And it is also a reminder of why Ant-Man could prove to be one of the most powerful Avengers (I know, Marvel won't go in this direction, but still"¦)
This scene follows the iconic one in which Hawkeye catapults Ant-Man using an arrow (yes, it is iconic). But what follows is even better - Ant-Man simply messing around with Iron Man, assuming the role of Stark's conscience. I knows, it is basically the same scene Ant-Man shared with Falcon in his solo flick. But it works and it works perfectly!
Sure, he gets flushed out when Iron Man realizes that he has an uninvited guest. But the damage was already done. So the miniature superhero won!
I can't wait for Ant-Man and the Wasp! Aaand…
Who are you?
As I said"¦
Marvel is great when it comes to balancing dramatic moments with comedic ones. No matter how hefty a subject is, its directors and screenwriters always find a way to insert a moment of levity. So what happens when Hawkeye scolds Tony Stark for backing the Accords and sending Cap's team to the Raft? We feel what both of the characters are feeling. Both betrayal and disappointment.
However, here comes Tony Stark's conscience once again, trying to make a point (something about not trusting the Starks). To which Tony simply replies, who are you?
This scene is hilarious. No, really - it is. Especially when you think about Scott Lang having earlier assumed the role of Tony's conscience. It also mirrors the scene from the Ant-Man solo flick, when nobody believes how ludicrous a name the titular superhero has chosen.
Great! I wish some other studios found a way to balance moments just like Marvel"¦
Enchantress proves her powers
Despite the dishonorable title it has received from Rolling Stone, Suicide Squad had quite a few awesome moments. And, surprisingly, not all of them featured Batman, Harley, or Deadshot. The moment I am talking about is from the board meeting, where Amanda Waller is pitching her idea of a Suicide Squad.
During it, she asks June Moone to transform. To which the archaeologist accepts (reluctantly). And this is indeed just a moment - she places her hand on the table, for another one to appear below it, darker, thus signaling Enchantress's coming.
It is an awesome scene - too bad it was spoiled in the trailers (hey, this is the DCEU after all) and too bad it was surrounded by so many not-that-great moments.
Doctor Strange reverse-time fight
The final fight that destroys a city is a common trope in superhero films. In Doctor Strange's case, that city is Hong Kong - and there are plenty of casualties, collateral or not. However, Scott Derrickson puts a twist on it when it comes to the battle’s finale.
As expected, Doctor Strange pushed the MCU a bit further toward the climax of its three phases with the reveal of the Time Stone. When he’s overpowered by Kaecilius and his minions, Doctor Strange uses the powerful artifact to reverse time. So, in a way, it was something new.
Of course, the same trick is used against Dormammu - but that scene is not on this list because it was rather anticlimactic. Plus, the design of the supervillain did leave me wondering what in the world Marvel was thinking (was I the only one having Galactus clouds flashbacks?)
Wakanda
The ending of Captain America: Civil War proved that, despite everything, there is a strong bond between all the superheroes. Even more, the newly introduced Black Panther seemed to realize how important superheroes can be (especially since his solo movie is around the corner and he'll probably need allies).
So that credits scene in which the Winter Soldier is frozen and T'Challa speaks with Steve Rogers needs to be mentioned. And it needs to be mentioned in here because we catch a glimpse of the actual Wakanda - we see not just the (probably) the world's top scientist, but also a bit of the scenery. And it is tremendous.
I do expect for this country to play a very important role in the upcoming Infinity War"¦
Incubus possession
As it was rumored, Incubus proved to be the other baddie of Suicide Squad. And while he is one of the most underdeveloped characters of all times, his introduction is one of the best moments of the entire flick. Yes, I know, it does mirror the Enchantress scene from the board meeting - but it still manages to surprise.
There is a horror element to it which makes it so appealing and which elevates it above other scenes from the flick.
At this point, you may be wondering whether this scene was genuinely awesome or it was just better than the rest. And if it is the former, so what? It doesn't mean that this intro shouldn't be on this list.
David Ayer could have killed it with Suicide Squad. But we guess he isn't really the guy to blame for this entire mess.
Batman's warehouse fight
There are quite a few awesome Batman moments in Batman v Superman, starting from the very first moment the Dark Knight is introduced. However, the Bat shined the most when he took down all of those Lex Luthor goons while trying to save Martha Kent.
There are quite a few people out there saying that Ben Affleck ruined the character. However, in my opinion, he made an exemplary Bruce Wayne, and an even better vigilante (I really didn't mind the fact that he was a ruthless killer).
The warehouse fight was teased in the final trailer when Warner Bros. realized that it could increase the number of moviegoers (after realizing, of course, that Zack Snyder had made a mess of the movie). So this was one of the most anticipated scenes of the entire flick. Brutal and excellently choreographed, it had the trained vigilante I always wanted to see.
It's too bad that the movie as a whole wasn't as awesome.
And next, Batman v Superman again!
Wonder Woman joins the fight
Of course, this is also the first time for DC's Trinity to appear on film - so it is, so to speak, a historic moment. But it’s made even more awesome by the guitar riff that accompanies Wonder Woman's appearance - did you really believe that this moment wouldn't be on this list?
And it is quite a brief scene, especially when compared to others on this list. But maybe that’s why it has such an impact - the princess of the Amazons arrives, with her own musical cue, and helps defeat Doomsday.
And, of course, it’s worth mentioning that she’s the only one in the Trinity who feels at home on the battlefield - even smiling when she realizes that Doomsday is a worthy opponent. Which makes that guitar riff stand out even more.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice had its fair share of awesome moments"¦
Deadpool's honest casting
This list could have been all about Deadpool and the way it mocks the superhero genre. But this first entry is about the opening credits, borrowed from Screen Junkies' Honest Trailers. And, in a way, it says everything one needs to know about the entire flick - don't take it too seriously, and don't expect anything other than action and comedy.
Even if that means that one shouldn't expect an actual plot and the greatest of all actors (what, did you think Ryan Reynolds made it this far based on his acting skills?)
And, of course, the opening credits stand out from anything we've seen before, not just because of their honesty - but also because they are, basically, a single pic from the movie, in which the viewer can see, in detail, everything that is happening in a given moment in the film. I honestly cannot recall another introduction like this one. Probably because there’s been no other!
Too bad Tim Miller won't be back for the sequel"¦
Ant-Man - Giant Man
While Marvel can be accused of sticking to a formula (who wouldn't do that, really), it still surprises the audiences with numerous awesome moments. Captain America: Civil War has plenty of them - and the Ant-Man scene towers above almost all of them.
Of course, while everybody wanted to see the minuscule superhero riding Hawkeye's arrow, the surprise came when he transformed into Giant Man. And it all worked so well because of the elements combined in this reveal: the surprise of the combatants, the quips, Spider-Man's Star Wars resolve, and so on.
But, mostly, it worked because of Paul Rudd. Because of his comedic timing, nobody was more surprised by Giant Man's appearance than Ant-Man himself.
Sure, there was a formula to Captain America: Civil War, and the plot did seem to mirror that of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. But the lighthearted moments such as this one made all the difference.
Wolverine cameo
No, it isn't the cameo from X-Men: Apocalypse, which was unnecessary and PG-13 (thank God for next year's Logan). It was the cameo from Deadpool, which came unexpectedly, when the movie seemed to have run out of surprises.
Hugh Jackman's Wolverine can be said to be present without actually being there. There is the whole Polverine quote, the Deadpool figurine from X-Men Origins: Wolverine, as well as this final reveal. So when Deadpool finally removes his mask, it isn't his ugly mug Vanessa sees. Instead, it’s a pic of Hugh Jackman, probably the one guy who’s better looking than Ryan Reynolds.
Tell me you didn't laugh at that scene.
Sure, it isn't exactly a cameo - but rather Deadpool's way of mocking this trend (maybe Hugh Jackman was too expensive for the film), after the necessary Stan Lee cameo. Deadpool's last surprise may have been the best of them all.
Captain America vs. Iron Man
The airport scene from Captain America: Civil War was probably the best scene of the entire year, when it comes to more than just a couple of superheroes. Given the fact that it also introduced the new Spider-Man, it was everything a comic book movie fan could have asked for. Nonetheless, the fight between Captain America and Iron Man from the finale was the best moment of the entire movie.
Just as the Infinity War will be the culmination of all the events thus far in the MCU, that fight was the culmination of all of the minor disputes between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark. It was teased from the very moment the two met, and I’ll go so far as to say it was necessary for both of the superheroes.
This being said, what was the best comic book movie moment of 2016? Well, in my subjective opinion"¦
Batman vs. Superman
Yes, this was the most divisive movie of the entire year, but mainly because of its plot - otherwise, Zack Snyder can be considered a genius. From a visual point of view, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was flawless, and the director delivered what had been teased for three years: a brawl for the ages, between DC's most well-known superheroes.
Some might say that the fight didn't last long enough for a film called Batman v Superman. Some others might say that the fight could have been avoided easily, just by having Superman explain his actions. But, really, this is just about the plot - the fight itself reveals why Batman is a tactical genius and why Superman is, well, Superman.
Sure, it ends with, probably, the worst comic book movie moment of 2016. But this doesn't mean a thing - the two legends have finally met on the big screen, and they have finally fought!
What do you think? Did I miss anything? Do you agree with this list? Leave your comments below!
