20. Captain America: The First Avenger
Steve Rogers steps forth from Dr. Erskine’s man-machine and goes right into battle. The chase following the good doctor’s assassination is a thrilling pursuit. The production hired a few speedy runners to double Chris Evans, but the actor runs a particular way and replicating it proved challenging. So, director Joe Johnston slapped some fake feet on Evans and kept the action star front and center as much as possible. Marvel would perfect fast-running (stunt people barreling down treadmills attached to cars) in future movies, but this one is dynamite as far as first efforts go. Climaxing with Rogers using a cabbie door as his first shield makes for an excellent punctuation point.
19. Iron Man 3
Tony Stark without Iron Man is still Tony Stark. That’s the message Shane Black wanted to ram home with Iron Man 3. The gadgets are an extension of his brilliance. If you take them away, the genius billionaire playboy philanthropist will simply find new ways to eradicate the competition. Stark’s escape from the faux-Mandarin’s compound is a mini-Lethal Weapon segment plopped in the center of the MCU spectacle. Stark is Riggs, Don Cheadle‘s Polo-shirt lovin’ Rhodey is Murtaugh. Their bickering is spot-on Shane Black dialogue. Robert Downey Jr. looks good slinging both a repulsor glove and a handgun. I wish we got more of this vibe throughout the franchise before Stark’s final snap.
18. Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange engaging the Time Stone during the film’s climax makes for a brief but gleeful action number. Just as Kaecilius is about to jam a spike into Stephen’s eye, the Sorcerer Supreme halts the flow of time and sends it running backward. Kaecilius and his squad break free from the spell, but the world around them continues in reverse. It’s not quite Tenet, but it’s close. The backward fight is a fun one to track and helps set up Strange’s Dormammu bargain, not to mention Thanos’ diabolical perversion inflicted upon Vision during Infinity War.
17. Captain Marvel
Carol Danvers freeing herself from Kree constraints and then turning her entire power against their invading armada is pure joy. And it’s a joy she fully recognizes, taking great glee in obliterating her opponents. The shot above is when she realizes these chumps have nothing on her. She doesn’t even need to aim her fist in their direction. She can simply fall into them, and they will explode. Captain Marvel makes her enemies go boom with her belly. The MCU Superman has arrived. Hot damn, that’s rad.
16. Guardians of the Galaxy
“Oh yeah.” We’re all Rocket the second he gets his mitts on that giant ass sci-fi space cannon. The Guardians of the Galaxy Kyln escape is when our loveable a-holes come together to serve a common goal for the first time. The MCU would never be the same afterward. James Gunn pumps gobs of humor and character into the action, but when Rocket goes off, and Groot gives his roar, the crowd is on their feet. This Star Wars packs heat.
Related Topics: Action, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios
