#8  Smallville 2001-2011



I was totally hooked on this show . From the soap opera type Spider-man angst , to the young Kent learning to be a hero. In many ways Superman is my favorite hero for one reason- he does what’s right without repayment and he has a moral high standard to help others. But in this weekly tale, we are witness to Clarks powers slowly unfolding while trying to live a life as a teen in Kansas. Kristin Kreuk plays an absolute babelicious Lana Lang who is the primary love interest for the first 5 years or so and is just one part of an excellent cast for this show.

Clark played by Tom Welling is perfectly cast and has a smile that inspires confidence and goodness. Cast as his friend and eventual enemy is Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor and you see the friendship deteriorate like a shakesperian tragedy as the show goes on. later on in the series, they have Lex’s father Played by excellent actor John Glover and the show only gets better. Another plus , was the great soundtrack of modern songs that became part of the landscape of the show. Available on Itunes, natch. The show loses it’s luster for me as the last 4 years or so become “ superhero guest star of the week”. I liked it simple.



The producers vowed that there would never be capes or tights but the very last scene in the last episode has him ripping open his white shirt to reveal the world famous “S”. Ahhh, that’s the stuff.

Nostalgia is an important part of these Classic Comic Christmas'. Good Memories are a blessing.

I adored both the film and the soundtrack when they first came out. Time has not been kind to the film, but the soundtrack just keeps getting better.

#8: 300 (2006)




My number 8 pick is Zack Snyder's adaptation of Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's 300.

Roquefort Raider already did a great job of describing what exactly it is that is so great about this film on the fourth day of this event. I can only echo his sentiments that, as ridiculously over-the-top as this might be, as a pure, action-packed spectacle it's thoroughly engrossing. Historically, it takes a LOT of liberties, but it hardly matters, since, early on, the film clearly establishes itself as historical fantasy, rather than historical fiction (yes, there is a difference). The artificial looking and heavily stylised CGI effects that everything from the action sequences to the background scenery is drenched in serves to give this film a dream-like (or nightmare-like, on occasion) quality, making it feel as if you're watching some half remembered fantasy.

I took a girl I really had the hots for on a date to see this movie, which may've been a mistake – hey babe, look at all these incredibly buff guys, while I try to woo you with my puny physique. And even though I totally failed to get off with her, I still love the hell out of this film. It's pure escapism, dressed up in eye-popping special effects. No more, no less.

Last I heard, it was dead in the water.

Day 5 brings Captain America, The First Avenger.



After 3 live attempts, somebody (Joe Johnston) finally got it right. This is Captain America, for all the ages. It has Simon & Kirby, Stan & Jack, Engelhart & Busceme, Byrne and Sterne; you name a classic Cap run and the spirit is there. It's also got the fantastic Peggy Carter, who Hayley Atwell raised from love interest to hero in her own right. It's got the Howling Commandos, minus Nick Fury (plus Union Jack). It's got the Red Skull. The film is exciting, yet never loses sight of Steve Rogers, the man. He is given a real personality, before he is given muscles. You root for the skinny little target of bullies, who just won't stay down. You cheer when you see a tired Cap leading a a crowd of freed prisoners, after being told that a rescue isn't feasible. You chant F@#$ yeah, as Cap takes out Nazis left and right.

My only quibble is that the second act crams a lot of cool stuff into a montage, and the third act feels a bit rushed. If it were up to me, the film would have ended in WW2 and the sequel would pick up the story and end with his final mission. But, the studio had to get to Avengers quickly, since no one can wait for things anymore.

For my money, this is the height of the Marvel films.

On the 5th Day of Christmas, the Russos gave to me 12 superheroes, 2 super-villains, and a really cool airport fight scene

8. Captain America: Civil War (2016)

I love the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I could have put half its films on this list. But I'm not. I only made room for one. Iron Man was a great film. I loved it more than I've ever loved the Iron Man comic. Robert Downey Jr. created an iconic character. The Avengers was perhaps the best pure-fun rollercoaster blockbuster I had yet seen. The movie didn't capture for me anything much of what I love about Avengers. But it didn't matter. It was such a nonstop thrill ride. I laughed and gasped at every moment it wanted me to. I was completely under its spell. And Guardians of the Galaxy... is a movie whose existence made me so ridiculously happy.

I consider this film released earlier in the year to be the height of the MCU. At least so far.

I think Cei-U! was generous in allowing us to include films from up to this year. Including 2017 films might have been pushing it. But I'm already pretty convinced that Spider-Man: Homecoming is my favorite superhero film of all time.

Superhero action. I just hadn't yet been that impressed with the films. Some hints of cool powers seen in a couple X-Men films, as I mentioned before. But this is what I was looking for. An all-out brawl where people are using their powers. I wanted Ant-Man riding Hawkeye's arrow and getting inside Iron Man's circuits. I wanted Spider-Man grabbing Captain America's shield with his webbing and quipping during the fight to the annoyance of others. I wanted Ant-Man to become Giant Man. I love that airport fight scene.



And then the climax. About 95% of superhero movie climaxes disappoint me. But the pathos of the final battle between Captain America and Iron Man. Those actors exuded the emotion of the moment. I felt every blow. I felt like a saw a friendship crack further with every blow.



And, as alluded to, that was Spider-Man. My favorite superhero. Perfectly captured on the screen.

This was it. This was the superhero movie I wanted.

For now. I expect the MCU to top it several times yet.

Tomorrow's entry is a film I have a history with.