3. Peter's Goodbye To Uncle Ben - Spider-Man
Yes, even the comics-averse among us are all well-acquainted with Spider-Man's origin story now, the tale having been told twice on the big screen in less than a decade. This doesn't make it any less hard-hitting watching Sam Raimi's 2002 original, particularly once it comes to the pivotal moment when Peter learns about great power and great responsibility, the hard way. As the film follows the same essential beats as Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's original Amazing Fantasy story which introduced Marvel's most beloved superhero way back in 1962, anyone who knows how it goes should already be on tenterhooks once Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson) drives Peter (Tobey Maguire) into the city, believing he's taking his nephew to the library, when in fact the newly super-powered teen is off to make some money as an amateur wrestler. Confronting him about a fight at school, Uncle Ben tries to impart some wisdom about right over might, dropping the immortal power/responsibility line in the process, but Peter doesn't want to know; and then, as Uncle Ben sighs, "I know, I'm not your father," his angry nephew spits back, "Then stop pretending to be!" The sad smile on Ben's face says it all - and to everyone familiar with the story, it's like a knife in the gut, because we know very well that's the last thing Peter will ever say to the man who raised him. Obviously it's still a tearful moment when Peter later reunites with his uncle as he dies from a gunshot, but it's those foolish, spiteful words that hurt the most. Oh, and not to put too fine a point on it, but Man Of Steel tried its damnedest to replicate this moment by having teenage Clark tell Jonathan Kent that he isn't really his father, minutes before the old boy gets killed by a twister. A more spectacular demise, but also a rather more manipulative moment.