12 Reasons Captain America Makes The Best Standalone Marvel Movies

10. An Element Of Vulnerability

Man Of Steel's fighting grew old for many after the novelty of finding out what happens when an unstoppable force meets an easily destructible object wore off. For action to thrill rather than just being a controlled demolition there needs to be an element of vulnerability; a chance the hero may not make it through. Which in the confines of a type of film where the heroes survival is confirmed is tricky. To do it right requires some clear strengths and weaknesses of the hero; a tangible threat and the presence of hope. Now which Marvel hero does that? Not Iron Man. His suits are Mjölnir-proof unless the plot needs them damaged, while the percentage of power left is always a delightfully inaccurate reading. Thor faces the same problems as Superman, needing a non-physical threat to weaken him (which makes the action often superfluous). And it's such a problem with Hulk that he's been stuck in the ensemble movies (for now). Oh, so it's Captain America, what a surprise. He's the only Marvel hero where the dangers of falling from great height or being riddled with bullets are a constant threat and not just plot-convenient.