Action. Capes. Explosions.
Emotion?
Comic book films are packed with heroes, villains, battles and world saving. Gifted actors and directors give us amazingly poignant and powerful performances and moments inspiring cheers and tears.
Heck, I choke up reading comics like Superman #51 above. Heroic moments in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Wonder Woman may have inspired you to shed a tear or two.
Before we begin this confessional countdown here’s a minor spoiler alert since this gives away endings of epics so be warned. I’ll give you the movie title first in case.
Here are the most emotional comic book movie moments that made me cry.
The Dark Knight Rises
Bruce Wayne fires Alfred? Before her tragic death orchestrated by the Joker in The Dark Knight, Rachel Dawes left Bruce a letter saying she intended to marry Harvey Dent and knew Bruce would never give up being the Batman. To protect Bruce, Alfred kept the letter secret until the crushing events of the follow up film as the devoted father figure revealed the letter to keep Bruce from challenging Bane. Angry Bruce fired Alfred in an emotional scene between Christian Bale and Michael Caine. The bond between the orphan and father figure was nearly broken like the Batman’s back and it was heartbreaking to this Batfan.
Captain America: The First Avenger
Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter were never meant to be but may be Marvel’s ultimate super couple. Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell share an incredible chemistry but would never have that dance. Comics fans knew Steve would end up frozen in ice but how would it play on the big screen? Steve knew he had to stop the Hydra weaponized plane and the only way was to crash it in the icy water before it reached America. Peggy and Steve shared one last conversation promising to finally have a date and dance but the line went cold on Peggy – and the hot tears were falling.
Spider-Man
We knew it was coming. With great power comes great responsibility. Without Uncle Ben’s death, Peter Parker doesn’t learn the painful lesson that makes him become Spider-Man. Tobey McGuire, Cliff Robertson and director Sam Raimi bring a heartbreaking moment from comics to
Superman Returns
Yes, I love Superman Returns. I love Brandon Routh’s performance. When he emerged from plane after saving it in the stadium, I choked up. It was brutal to watch Superman’s Kryptonite aided beat down by Lex Luthor and his thugs on the island. Lois, Richard White and little Jason saved the Man of Steel. Kal-El knew the risk but had to face the enemy (a growing island of Kryptonite) to save innocent lives. Kal-El saved the day but fell to Earth. Lois’s devotion and little boy’s love healed the fallen hero.
Batman Begins
“I miss them Alfred.”
The murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne is shocking and sad in every incarnation, every medium but it’s this moment in first film in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy that gets me every time. Stoic Alfred is trying to hold it together guiding young Master Bruce into Wayne Manor after the funeral. Brave Bruce finally breaks down and runs to hug his devoted Butler uttering these four words.
Logan
Ok I cried way back in the first X-Men film when Logan (Hugh Jackman) nearly died saving Rogue (Anna Paquin) but Logan was so much more than a superhero movie. Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart’s final performances were acting tour de forces under the direction of James Mangold.
X-Men: First Class
“I can’t feel my legs.”
The origin story of Professor Charles Xavier would eventually reveal how the mentor of mutants became paralyzed. Blame Magneto! Erik Lensherr’s power send the bullet accidentally into his old friend’s spine. Erik took off with Raven. Charles was left crippled physically and we were emotionally – except for the falling tears.
Superman: The Movie
Christopher Reeve made us believe a man could fly. Director Richard Donner made us believe a hero with the powers of a God could have the most human of weaknesses. After saving lives when Lex Luthor’s missiles caused chaos, Superman found his beloved Lois Lane crushed in an earthquake. The heartbreak in Reeve’s eyes. Anger and rage unleashed as Superman blasted off on a rule breaking flight to turn back time and save the woman he loved.
By Editor