5. V - V For Vendetta
Comics' most famous (or infamous) anarchist, V is a dark glass of refreshing wine to what we see as comic book films nowadays. Sometimes you have to tear down to build back up, and the man from room 5 tore down a lot. Blowing up Parliament, blowing up statues, blowing up concentration camps...he had explosives for every occasion, but unlike typical action movies, every single explosion served a purpose to his agenda. He was a true connoisseur of the big bangs. What really impressed me was how successful this movie was in ignoring typical comic drama. We didn't see the hero get really emotional. We didn't see him cry, or laugh, or
anything. We didn't see the character period! For all the charisma of Hugo Weaving's V, we never saw any part of him. V was truly a symbol, as what he had been, what he was beneath the mask, did not matter. He was truly a man beyond himself. I mean, he gave up Natalie Portman. That shows how little he cares about his personal happiness.
4. Wolverine - X-Men Series
We only go to X-Men movies for Hugh Jackman. I said it, you know it, let's just get through. I know there are some big names in the series (and no one can ever discount the geniuses Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart), but we all go to see the Canadian do what he does best. X-Men has to stay iconic, because it was the first real hit for Marvel that didn't include vampires. All that we talk about for Phase 1, Phase 2 and the creative teams working together, none of this happens if Wolverine doesn't shock and awe at the box office. And he doesn't disappoint, even over a decade later.