Best portrayal of heroism in a CBM

[OcStat]

Kind of riffing off Green Goblin's thread to pose another question to you all:

We have many super hero movies now, but usually the main character is fighting on their own personal journey that teaches them how to be the hero they are destined to become. Sometimes the films plot doesn't provide the opportunity for some of the kind of heroics we see month to month in a comic book, and other times we see more of the Super hero's super-heroics. When those moments happen it is a sight to behold!

Even though I have quite a few coming to mind, I will start us off with one, an undeniable classic.

Spider-Man 2: The Train scene. Yeah, Peter gets back into the fight for a very personal reason, but before he can save his lady, he has to save an entire train from an extra limbed psycho. Dr. Octopus grabs random people chucking them off in any direction off a moving train and Spider-Man saves them, finally using all of his strength to stop the train after Ock ruins the controls. And after it all, the very people he saved do their best to protect him in return.

So pick the absolute best in your mind, or pick a few; what are the defining moments of heroism that we have seen thus far in super hero comic book films?

 

[The Batman]

Batman saving James Jr. in TDK

Batman sacrificing his reputation to save Harvey's in TDK.

Batman saving Gotham in TDKR

Superman during the Earthquake sequence in STM.

Superman flying away from the Metropolis Battle in Superman 2

 

[CountOrlok]

Batman (1989-1997):

When Batman (Michael Keaton) ties the gargoyle to Joker's leg.
When Batman (Michael Keaton) foils the Penguin's plots.
When Batman (Val Kilmer) takes out the Riddler's machine with a batarang.
"Hey Freeze. The heat is on."

The Crow (1994):

"Not a good day to be a bad guy, huh Skank?"
"I'm not Skank. That's Skank right there. Skank's dead."
"Exactly." (throws him out the window)

I'm a bit old-fashioned. I just like to see the hero defeat the villain after an epic battle.

 

[The Joker]

Batman saving all the hospital hostages in the Prewitt Building in TDK.

 

[MadVillainy]

Iron Man 3: Tony saving all the flight attendants/pilots/workers from the falling plane

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

I know people don't like this movie, but one of the most heroic things in a superhero film was Harry Osborn coming to the rescue and sacrificing his life to save Peter and MJ from Sandman and Venom.

 

[psylockolussus]

Spider-Man 2: Stopping The Train

X-Men 3: Wolverine Killing The Phoenix

Fantastic Four 2: Silver Surfer Versus Galactus The Cloud

X-Men 2: Jean's This is the Only Way

 

[StarkTheProdigy]

Every action Batman did in the Dark Knight.
Jean Grey at the end of X2: X-Men United.

That's all that I can think of at the moment.

 

[Batmannerism]

I know people don't like this movie, but one of the most heroic things in a superhero film was Harry Osborn coming to the rescue and sacrificing his life to save Peter and MJ from Sandman and Venom.

Yup totally agree !

That was one great moment in a film that had a few of them,
but not a lot. I thought that was a very good resolution to the Peter-Harry-MJ triangle and it redeemed Harry, at the end I feel sorry for him not for Peter.

Some other good ones...........

Iron Man saving those villagers in Afghanistan from the ten rings terrorists (so really the Taliban)

Definitely Spider Man 2 saving those people from the train.

Nolan's Batman's sacrifices at the end of TDK "He's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs..."
and at the end of TDKR.

The Crow "Thirty hours of pain....all for you." taking down Top Dollar at the end.

In Man of Steel, young Clark saving the busload of kids, and the bully. Nice !

Also.....and here's me bucking the trend, I can hear keyboards around the forum clicking with rage in response but
......Superman killing Zod at the end of Man of Steel. There was no other option, it had to be done, so he did it. Snap !
Not a great choice, but understandable (kind of like Wolverine killing Jean at the end of Last Stand).
the circumstances completely justified.

And while we're on Superman... okay....I love it and hate it at the same time, but Superman turning back time to save Lois at the end of Superman the Movie, mostly because Reeve pulled it off so well, and William's heroic score is hard to frown on.

peace out super fans !

 

[Visceral]

I'm with you bucky til the end of the line.

 

[FeedOnATreeFrog]

Wolverine sacrificing himself for Rogue atop the Staue of Liberty.

Spider-Man saving the kid on the bridge.

Spidey saving people in Times Square.

Spidey saving the kid from the bullies and hanging with him for a bit.

Thor walking up to the Destroyer and trying to talk Loki out of destroying the town.

Cap jumping on the grenade.

Cap walking the platoon back into base.

Cap flying the plane into the ice.

Supes getting up and destroying the world engine.

Jim Gordon taking down Joker and telling his kid how this time, he saved Batman.

Batman getting the bomb out of the city.

 

[Uncle Radiation]

I'm a bit old-fashioned. I just like to see the hero defeat the villain after an epic battle.

That's not old-fashioned - it still happens in every movie, you know.

 

[agentorange]

I think the end of TASM2 was pretty dope when Peter was ready to give it all up cause of Gwen Stacy's death but then he throws the suit back on saves the kid and New York City. I think that was a good ending.

 

[Batmannerism]

I think the end of TASM2 was pretty dope when Peter was ready to give it all up cause of Gwen Stacy's death but then he throws the suit back on saves the kid and New York City. I think that was a good ending.

Agreed ! That was a much better ending than Spider Man 3 (or TASM for that matter). He suffers, he grieves, he moves on - good message there.

All in all I didn't like TASM, but I think TASM 2 raised the bar (not in terms of action or villains, that's slightly better, but not a lot) what really comes out is how much better Andrew Garfield is getting as Peter Parker/Spider Man, I would say he is as least as good as Maguire in TASM 2, and perhaps in a few moments, better.

 

[CountOrlok]

That's not old-fashioned - it still happens in every movie, you know.

Not like how it used to. Now it has to be more of a downer ending. Like Batman having to die at the end of TDKR.. or taking the fall for Dent's crimes in TDK.. or Superman killing Zod and wasting Metropolis at the end of Man of Steel.

 

[Batmannerism]

Not like how it used to. Now it has to be more of a downer ending. Like Batman having to die at the end of TDKR.. or taking the fall for Dent's crimes in TDK.. or Superman killing Zod and wasting Metropolis at the end of Man of Steel.

Just a thought dude. Sometimes heroic moments are about triumph,
sometimes about sacrifice.

Me, I kind of like the end of MOS and TDK/TDKR, as the hero has to make a tough choice. To me that means more, but I do enjoy a bit of triumph too. The end of Spider Man 2, go get 'em tiger is pretty cool, as was the end of Superman II, and Batman '89.

Avengers has a pretty cheerful ending, all things considered.

Just personal taste I guess.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

I like this thread
And there are a bunch of good examples here

In Amazing Spider-Man movies, when Spider-Man talks friendly to people
Talking to Jack in the burning car (Amazing 1)

Spoiler

Talking to Max in Amazing Spider-Man 2, convincing him he's important
Talking to the young boy with the turbine
Talking to mutated Max, trying to calm him down, and telling the cops to not shoot

 

[CyclopsWasRight]

Spider-Man saving the train passengers.

Spider-Man saving the kid on the bridge

Spider-Man saving the kid from the bullies

Superman saving Lois and the people below the falling helicopter

Superman rescuing the Man from drowning in his car

Hellboy rescuing the Baby

Kick Ass defending the Man from the gang

 

[Zarex]

Yinsen saving Tony Stark's life and soul.

 

[Uncle Radiation]

Not like how it used to. Now it has to be more of a downer ending. Like Batman having to die at the end of TDKR.. or taking the fall for Dent's crimes in TDK.. or Superman killing Zod and wasting Metropolis at the end of Man of Steel.

But the hero still defeats the villain at the end of an epic battle, in all those movies.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

How was TDKR a downer ending? The city was saved and Bruce gets to retire. Things work out well for both Gotham and all the main good guys.

 

[Brother Jack]

How was TDKR a downer ending? The city was saved and Bruce gets to retire. Things work out well for both Gotham and all the main good guys.

It's pretty much the happiest ending possible, really. Bruce gets to have his cake and eat it to, so to speak. The city's saved, Batman lives on, and he gets to move on from his burdens in Gotham and start a new life. Granted, there's a lot of failure and tragedy leading up to that but that's what makes the ending feel earned.

 

[Smilodon]

I really enjoyed the ending of the TDKR. The entire Dark Knight Trilogy lead up to the realization for Bruce that Batman had to die in order for Bruce Wayne to live and I think Nolan manifests the idea brilliantly (even if Batman's escape at the end is a bit unrealistic, I think it's almost left intentionally vague in order to deify Batman even more as that symbol of hope for Gotham). Batman was a crutch for him - a method of easing his guilt and pain over his parent's death and later Rachel's death and Harvey's fall from grace, and I think the ending was very poignant since it shows Bruce finally being able to move on and let go of the past.

I think one of my favorite 'hero' moments in the CBM has to be Tony's conversation with Pepper who threatens to leave him if he goes to fight the terrorists whom Stane had been dealing weapons under the table for. It's not a big action scene but for someone as egotistical as Tony Stark, seeing him finally stand up and care about those who had suffered as a result of weapons was really heartfelt. It was that heart that made the first Iron Man really something special and something the MCU has almost lost touch with some of their other franchises. The first Iron Man dealt with its emotional moments with such warmth and care, and the conversation and subsequent fight against the Ten Rings is really one of my favorite moments in CBMs. Tony deflecting the nuke in the Avengers was cool and emotional for sure, but we've seen him become the lovable jerk turned hero multiple times at that point. The first time he did it though, was really something special.

I know this isn't a direct portrayal of heroism on the part of the protagonist but I also think Aunt May's speech to Peter in Spider-Man 2 about heroes could also be considered one too. It's probably my favorite moment of all the Spider-Man films thus far and I just love how Maguire and Harris play this scene out. It's again a really intimate scene and un-bombastic scene but I think it just shows how much Raimi understood Spider-Man and what makes Spider-Man and Peter Parker so special. "I believe there's a hero in all of us." The whole idea of Spider-Man is that he's an ordinary person who has risen up to become a hero, and that all of us have it within us to make the sacrifices necessary for the wellbeing of others and become heroes of our own. I think that's definitely one of the characteristics The Amazing Spider-Man lacks a lot of, and Andrew Garfield, as talented as he is, isn't given material with enough heart.

 

[Batmannerism]

It's pretty much the happiest ending possible, really. Bruce gets to have his cake and eat it to, so to speak. The city's saved, Batman lives on, and he gets to move on from his burdens in Gotham and start a new life. Granted, there's a lot of failure and tragedy leading up to that but that's what makes the ending feel earned.

Tru dat. Nolan gives us the emotional payoff we've just sat through 2 and a bit hours for. I reckon if it had just ended with Batman's death quite a few people would have felt cheated. IMO !

 

[Spider-Goblin]

The Dark Knight, despite my gripes did it well.

ASM2 handled it very well, the best in a CBM. I liked him saving Jack in ASM too.

The Avengers is my favourite CBM and Tony saving NY was heroic

Don't get what made SM2 heroic? The train scene was it but Maguire looks like he's going for a poo