The ultimate superhero collection

If you enjoy a good superhero film, then there are certain DVD/Blu-ray movies you really shouldn’t be without. With the release of Marvel’s Iron Man 3 on September 9^th, we take a look at the ultimate superhero film collection…

The Spider Man Trilogy

Who would have thought that being bitten by a radioactive spider would end up being a good thing? Well it certainly was for young Peter Parker, who gained his spider-like powers after a run in with a rogue spider at a genetics lab during a school trip. He goes from school nerd to superhero overnight! As a superhero, Spider Man is one of the best, his ability to shoot webs out of his wrists and climb up buildings means that he can roam New York foiling petty robberies and muggings without even breaking a sweat. However, leading a double life proves difficult for old Spidey, especially when it comes to fighting arch nemeses like the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, the Sandman and Venom.

The Incredibles

Retired super heroes Mr. Incredible and his wife Elastigirl (also known and Bob and Helen Parr) reluctantly trade crime-fighting for a “normal” suburban life in Metroville when a string of lawsuits from people they’ve saved forces the Government to ban super heroes saving the day. They’re given new identities and 15 years later are living the quiet life with their three kids, Violet, Dash and Jack Jack, each secretly born with super powers. But Bob, who used to be one of the greatest super heroes, longs for the good old days. When he’s offered the chance to be a hero again, he jumps at it, totally unaware that a former fan is hell bent on revenge. It’s up to his family to use their powers together to save Bob, and Metroville!

The Avengers

When one superhero just isn’t enough to save the world, what can you do? Well, if you’re Nick Fury, you assemble an all-star line-up to fight evil; after all, six is better than one, right? Nick, who is the director of S.H.I.E.L.D, an international peace keeping agency rounds up Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and the Black Widow to fight against Loki (who just happens to be Thor’s step brother) and his Chitauri army. With a line up like this, we’d say this is a must for any super hero fan.

The X Men trilogy

Whilst we’re sure it’s every child’s dream to have super powers, to those born with these genetic mutations in the X Men films it’s not necessarily a good thing in the eyes of the US Government. Mutants and humans both are very fearful of each other, which forces many mutants to resort to desperate and deviant actions. However, a group of good mutants are assembled by Professor Charles Xavier at his academy for gifted mutants, which includes; Beast, Cyclops, Storm, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Iceman, Rogue, Angel, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Kitty Pryde and many more. Magneto is one of the X Men’s most dangerous foes alongside Colonel William Stryker, Mystique, Sabertooth, The Phoenix, and not to mention Magneto’s army ‘The Brotherhood’. Catch the mutants in action in X Men, X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand.

Fantastic Four and Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer

When a group of astronauts gain super powers after an accident in space from radiation exposure, it brings to the table a whole host of new and exciting super heroes. Their destiny? To fight their enemies and protect their planet! Let us introduce you to Johnny Storm (the human torch), Sue Storm (the invisible woman), Ben Grimm (the thing) and Reed Richards (Mr Fantastic). This crime-fighting team have to battle super villains like Dr Doom (a gifted sorcerer and inventor) and the Silver Surfer (who has destructive cosmic powers).

The Incredible Hulk

This is second (and slightly different) film released by Marvel which follows Scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) who is desperately looking for a cure to his unique condition which causes him to turn into a huge green giant when angered. He scours the earth for an antidote whilst on the run for the military, but when Banner does comes close to a cure he soon discovers he has other important business to attend to. When power-hungry soldier Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) is injected with Banner’s blood he gains the same endurance and strength as the Hulk, but it mutates him and drives him to complete insanity (there he adopts the name Abomination). Banner soon releases he’s the only one who can stop him, cue the incredible action packed fight scenes!

Captain America

Set in World War two in America, the story follows sickly Steve Rogers, who is desperate to enlist in the Military. After being rejected he’s taken in by Dr. Erskine who recruits him for a secret project called ‘Project Rebirth’, but what Steve doesn’t know is that Dr.Erskine is looking to recruit super soldiers. The procedure works making Rogers more muscular and taller. The Government soon take over and make him tour America in a superhero costume for their war drive propaganda, calling him ‘Captain America’. It’s not until he finds out his best friend has been captured that he has to finally step up and become the man that America has painted him to be and stop Nazi Johann Schmidt from destroying the land of the free.

Thor

Thor, a warrior and heir to the throne of Asgard, is banished to live a power-less existence on earth after disobeying his father, Odin when he wages war against the Frost Giants of Jotunheim. When he lands on earth he’s discovered by beautiful scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) whilst the Mjølner (Thor’s trusty hammer) is found and taken by S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Phil Coulson. When S.H.I.E.L.D refuse to give it up he resigns himself to exile on Earth where he falls in love with Jane. Meanwhile on Asgard, Loki (Thor’s stepbrother) seizes the throne when he discovers he was adopted by Odin after the war and that his real father is their enemy, Laufey. This triggers Loki’s path of destruction and only Thor can stop him…

The Iron Man Trilogy

Last, but of course not least, is the Iron Man trilogy. The films follow wealthy industrialist genius Tony Stark, who builds an armoured suit to save his life after being captured and badly injured whilst building weapons in Afghanistan. But the suit doesn’t just help him survive; he uses it to fight the evil within his own company when his father’s old partner and manager is up to no good. In Iron Man 2, when the world discovers Stark’s dual life, he faces pressure to share his technology with the military as well as a dangerous foe wanting revenge.

Iron Man 3 see’s Stark’s personal world destroyed at the hands of the Mandarin, he vows to make whoever responsible pay, but he soon realises that more dangerous minds are at work…

Click here to read our 5* review of Iron Man 3

Marvel’s Iron Man 3 is released on Blu-ray and DVD, September 9^th and Thor: the Dark World is in cinemas October 30^th.

Click here to buy Iron Man 3

TM & © 2013 Marvel & Subs.

I grew up on Marvel comics, have watched Iron Man and pretty much every other Superhero movie countless times, and am pretty sure Spidey is real. Many thanks to Ella for compiling this great round-up of superhero movies in collaboration with our friends at Marvel.