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After wrapping up the epic Infinity Saga with Avengers: Endgame, Marvel Studios faced a time of change as they moved into a fresh phase for Marvel storytelling. The MCU’s Phase 4 focused on cleaning up the debris left by the Infinity Saga, introducing new characters and dangers to define what the MCU would look like post-Endgame. Though change can be difficult, Marvel’s phase four was filled with remarkable moments that propelled the franchise into intriguing and dynamic realms.
The fourth phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) marked a change from team-oriented Avengers films to individual, character-centric stories. This shift introduced intriguing and unique action scenes for new heroes such as Shang-Chi and Moon Knight, making Phase 4 stand out with some of the most creative and thrilling solo hero actions in any Marvel movie.
The Fist of Khonshu introduced a more brutal style of combat
Marvel’s Phase Four direction introduced MCU television series, which functioned like standalone films, bridging the gaps between cinema releases. One of these shows was Moon Knight, a grittier and more action-packed Marvel Studios production that debuted the darker hero into the MCU. This series followed Steven Grant as he grappled with his multiple identities, setting Moon Knight apart from other Marvel characters due to its violent storyline. In the climactic battle against villain Arthur Harrow and his followers, the Fist of Khonshu battles through Harrow’s soldiers while switching between his Moon Knight and Steven Grant personas.
In this action-packed scene, we witness an extraordinary display of one of Marvel’s deadliest heroes’ combat skills as he relentlessly advances towards Arthur, taking down his soldiers with precision and force. The fight choreography is both imaginative and engaging, seamlessly transitioning between the contrasting fighting styles of Steven and Marc. Moreover, the climax of the battle is a spectacle that only comic book adaptations can deliver, featuring Khonshu, the giant deity, squaring off against the Egyptian god Ammit in front of the iconic pyramids of Giza, an insanely thrilling sight to behold.
Captain America’s legacy comes into question
Following Steve Rogers handing over the role of Captain America to Sam Wilson in Avengers: Endgame, doubts arose about Sam as the new Cap when the government proposed their own choice for the mantle. The 2021 series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, delves into the lives of Steve’s two companions as they navigate his absence, encountering the government-appointed Captain America, John Walker. This transition sparked a confrontation among the trio, escalating to a fierce battle between Sam, Bucky, and Walker, after the latter resorted to violence with Cap’s shield, coldly taking a life.
After receiving the Super Soldier serum, Walker went berserk, committing a murder that was broadcast worldwide, creating an intense battle among the three soldiers. It seemed that Walker could have killed any of them at any given moment. The fight also highlighted the deepening bond between Sam and Bucky as they struggled to defeat him individually but ultimately succeeded by teaming up. This fight is filled with thrilling and gruesome scenes, including a close call where Sam narrowly escaped being squashed by his shield.
The Eternals’ final battle was an action spectacle
In Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a host of fresh faces joined the franchise, among them the highly potent Eternals – marking one of the most daring superhero adaptations so far. The movie, Eternals (released in 2021), introduced viewers to the world’s first guardians who have clandestinely shielded humanity since ancient times. The plot revolves around the group as they unearth a shocking truth – their leader, Ikaris, has been orchestrating Earth’s destruction upon the instructions of the Celestial, Arishem. Upon realizing the potential within humanity after the Avengers saved the universe in Avengers: Endgame, the rest of the Eternals refused to let Ikaris carry out his plan and instead found themselves at odds with their leader, engaging in a conflict to save mankind.
The epic battle among Marvel’s Eternals presented a breathtaking spectacle, demonstrating some of the most impressive displays of superpowers found in nearly any MCU film to date. Each member of the team uses their distinct powers against Ikaris in a manner that highlights their individual abilities and significance within the group. The adrenaline-pumping action scenes are further enhanced by the clever use of practical lighting and real-world settings, making the sequence as visually captivating as it is thrilling.
The battle for Eternity was enough to shatter planets
2022’s “Thor: Love and Thunder” found me, Thor the God of Thunder, taking on the notorious adversary known as Gorr in a bid to eradicate all gods. When Gorr abducted the young ones of Asgard, I was compelled to act. Alongside Jane Foster, who became The Mighty Thor, and Valkyrie, we traced Gorr to the dismal shadow realm where we confronted him on a barren moon. Our fight against Gorr and his shadow minions unfolded in a spectacle of raw power that ultimately led to the destruction of the moon itself.
In this epic battle, Gorr squared off not just against Thor, but against Valkyrie and Mighty Thor too. Despite the combined strength of these powerful beings, they were unable to overpower the God Slayer, who countered them with his formidable weapon, All-Black the Necrosword. The scene is not only thrilling but also visually captivating, as it’s almost entirely monochrome, with only their extraordinary abilities adding splashes of color.
The multiverse is a strange place
2022’s film “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” depicted a chilling transformation for one of Marvel’s veteran heroes, the Scarlet Witch. Driven by an obsession to restore her lost children, she resorted to dark means, exploiting America Chavez’s multidimensional abilities to seek out realities where her kids were alive. As Strange and Chavez navigated the multiverse, they found themselves pursued by the Scarlet Witch. Upon reaching Earth-828, she encountered a formidable group of heroes known as the Illuminati. Upon arrival, the Scarlet Witch launched a ruthless attack against the members of this superhero squad, claiming the lives of Reed Richards, Black Bolt of the Inhumans, Captain Marvel, and Charles Xavier.
Wanda’s transformation into a villain was downright chilling, and her annihilation of the Illuminati undeniably established her as the strongest and most perilous character across the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe multiverse. Not only did the Scarlet Witch extinguish each member’s life effortlessly, but she accomplished this with minimal struggle. The action scene is brutal, shocking, and unforeseen, making it one of the most daring sequences yet, as it tested the limits of how far the Marvel Cinematic Universe was willing to venture.
Natasha fights her past, literally
In the course of her character development, it wasn’t until Phase 4 that the standalone film “Black Widow,” released in 2021, truly shone the limelight on Natasha Romanoff. Preceding the storyline of “Avengers: Infinity War,” this movie delves into Natasha’s journey towards finding solace from her past and dismantling the Red Room, the organization responsible for training her and other Widows as deadly assassins. During her mission to infiltrate the Red Room and confront its leader, Dreykov, she comes across a number of mind-controlled Widows and engages in an exhilarating, one-woman battle against them, demonstrating why Natasha is unparalleled in her profession.
In most significant Marvel Cinematic Universe battles prior to her demise, Black Widow had participated extensively, but it was her solo film fight scene that truly spotlighted her character. The combat was intense and pulse-quickening as Natasha struggled to survive against the Widows while facing her past directly. If not for Hawkeye’s intervention, she would have remained under Dreykov’s influence, making her effort to liberate the other Widows a fitting resolution to her character arc, enabling her to finally cleanse herself of her past deeds.
The Master of Martial Arts proved his skills early
2021 brought a fresh face to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the debut of Shang-Chi in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”. As a Master of Martial Arts, he proved his worth when assailants dispatched by his father and the head of the Ten Rings attacked him on a San Francisco city bus. Swiftly defeating these attackers, Shang-Chi engaged in combat with their leader, Razor Fist, maneuvering around the bus to use his speed and skill against his formidable adversary who was larger in size.
As a cinephile captivated by the martial arts genre, witnessing Shang-Chi’s initial brawl on that bus was nothing short of breathtaking. In a universe teeming with super soldiers and master assassins, it was his extraordinary fighting technique, a blend of power and precision, that marked him as a standout. The fight scene was awe-inspiring and drew clear inspiration from the timeless kung fu films of yore, a testament to the exceptional fight choreography by Andy Cheng Kai, who’s no stranger to martial arts, having served as a stunt double for Jackie Chan and worked with Sammo Hung Kam-bo, a pioneer in the ’80s Hong Kong New Wave of martial art films.
Shang-Chi vs Death Dealer is one of the most impressive fights in the MCU
Following his father’s initial group of assassins, Shang-Chi was confronted anew in Macau. Upon encountering Shang-Chi and his sister Xialing, Death Dealer launched a relentless attack against Shang-Chi, displaying no mercy. A stunning fight ensued, highlighting the impressive abilities of both combatants. The battle eventually spilled onto the bamboo scaffolding, with Shang-Chi leaping and somersaulting across the building as he continued to fend off Death Dealer and his troops.
In a departure from traditional superhero brawls, the fight between Death Dealer and Shang-Chi stands out as one of the most thrilling and skillfully choreographed battles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This high-speed confrontation unfolds against the picturesque backdrop of Macau, keeping viewers gripped until the very end. After the bus scene, the fight with Death Dealer left audiences in awe, demonstrating that Shang-Chi offers something entirely fresh and unexpected.
The world’s most powerful nation meets its match
Following T’Challa’s decision to welcome the world into Wakanda, this renowned nation piqued interest not only among the surface world’s governing bodies, but also Namor, sovereign of the enigmatic underwater realm of Talokan. With Vibranium now exposed globally, Namor worried that mankind’s pursuit of the mineral could lead them to Talokan and endanger his people. As a result, the two nations found themselves embroiled in a conflict, one whose outcome would shape the destiny of both their populations.
In the film, the inhabitants of Talokan and Wakanda frequently clash, escalating into an incredible, grandiose battle atop a mammoth warship. To put it simply, the conflict between Wakanda and Talokan unfolded as a thrilling, large-scale battle that highlighted the immense power and sophistication of both nations. The action-packed sequence underscored the bravery of Wakandan warriors as they battled against their equally formidable opponents from Talokan. Known for its incredible strength and technological advancements, Wakanda’s resilience was tested by this war, proving that even it could face threats from other powerful entities within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This ultimately elevated Namor and his people of Talokan to significant players in the MCU.
Three Spider-Men are better than one
In Phase 4, the storyline started shaping up as what we now call the “Multiverse Saga”, and no movie showcased this idea more effectively than “Spider-Man: No Way Home”. When a spell cast by Doctor Strange misfires, various Spider-Man adversaries from different dimensions find their way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, assuming that Peter Parker is the same one from their home realities. Eventually, these villains turn against Spider-Man and band together to defeat him. Later in the story, Peter gets help from the other Spider-Men from previous film series, and all three team up to battle their most famous adversaries.
Critics may say that the Multiverse Saga has had more misses than hits, but “Spider-Man: No Way Home” brilliantly executed the multiverse concept. This movie served as a heartfelt tribute not only to Spider-Man, but also to the evolution of superhero films since Tobey Maguire first wore the red and blue suit. The inclusion of Tobey Maguire was a moment that could be hard to top in any other superhero film, and by having all three Spider-Men fighting together against their past villains, it united all eras of Spider-Man in an epic battle that will likely be remembered as one of the greatest achievements in superhero cinema history.
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2025-05-29 01:37