6 Marvel Movies That Changed My Life For The Better

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk

I used to have my doubts about Marvel movies. Being more accustomed to Jane Austen movies, romantic comedies, and Hallmark films, I thought that these superhero movies were stereotypical and totally pointless. But I have always loved good stories, and the best ones always stick with me long after I have finished reading them (or watching them, as the case may be).

During a hard season, I gave Marvel movies a try, and I found a whole realm of good stories that I never knew even existed, and had even brushed off as not worth it. While I realize that they may not be everyone’s first choice, I now believe strongly that Marvel movies have more to teach us about love, redemption, and what it means to be human than any other series of films.
I think that the best stories change us from the inside out, and change us for the better. I want to share with you a few Marvel movies that have done that for me.

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01 | Thor (2011)

One of the very first Marvel movies that I ever watched was Thor. Something that makes it stand out from some of the other films is that it is tied closely to Norse mythology, and is also essentially very Shakespearean (thank you, Sir Kenneth Branagh!). Those elements were some clinching points for me, as I love both mythology and Shakespeare, but it was the story itself that really convinced me: Thor is the son of Odin, king of Asgard, and is ready to inherit the throne.

But when Thor, persistently arrogant, makes an unwise choice to act in violence, his father banishes him to another world until he can prove himself worthy. As well as intense and serious, the story that this film tells is extremely funny and intensely thought-provoking. Some of it had me holding my breath, and the rest caught me off-guard in ways I never expected, ultimately changing the way that I think about redemption, humility, and sacrifice.

02 | Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

If you want to watch the Marvel movies in order of how they chronologically happen according to the stories, this would be the very first film. Set in the era of World War II, Captain America: The First Avenger follows the story of a young man named Steve Rogers, who is weak in body and physical strength; so much so that the army will not allow him to enlist. But with the help of a kind scientist, Steve finds a way to join the cause that he cares about more than anyone else does.

I will give you a warning: I sped through a great deal of this movie, mainly because the villain and the violence are so gruesome and intense. But it was worth snatching at however I could, and it showed me more than anything I have ever read or watched how strength of heart, rather than strength of body, is really what matters in the end.
I always say that if every other film does not convince you that Marvel is about more than just punching, then Captain America will. Or at least I hope so. He convinced me.

03 | Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

When people ask me which Marvel movie is my favorite, despite the intensity and violence of it, my answer is usually Captain America: The Winter Soldier. It is the sequel to the first Captain America movie, and closely follows the story line of the movie The Avengers.

Now living in the twenty-first century, Steve finds himself caught in the middle of acts of violence and betrayal, all of which are closely tied to his past. Everything that Steve has ever known surmounts to an ultimate test of his heart and soul.

It is an amazing, heart-wrenching story that taught me more than anything about the power of friendship. It had me on the edge of my seat from the very start, and stuck with me long after the credits had faded out. (Side note: the movie is twice as significant if you have watched Captain America: The First Avenger.)

04 | Ant-Man (2015)

This is one of the milder Marvel movies. The story of Ant-Man is about a man called Scott Lang, who was recently released from prison, and he is trying to find a to be with his daughter again. When he stumbles upon the Ant-Man suit, he little knows that it will have an incredible impact on his future.

A great deal of what I think about family, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice comes from watching this movie. And it just gets better with every second, and is full of hilarious characters, loads of humor, and heart-felt emotion. If you are looking for a good starting place with Marvel, this would be a great one to try. (Plus: who can help loving Paul Rudd?)

05 | Iron Man (2008)

The official first Marvel movie is Iron Man. It is the story of Tony Stark, a wealthy weapons dealer who is thrown into a midlife-crisis of sorts after being held hostage by terrorists (it is probably unnecessary to say that I skipped that part). Realizing that the world is already vulnerable, he decides he wants to build something to protect that vulnerability instead of building things (like weapons) that make it more vulnerable.

I found this one extremely relatable, and I still find my thoughts directed back towards it. Tony’s story, even extending into the other films, has taught me so much about what it means to protect what you love while also holding it loosely.

06 | Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

While this one is both graphically and emotionally intense, it is also one of the most poignant stories that Marvel tells. The continual story line of Tony Stark’s protectiveness again comes into play as he and Bruce Banner (the Hulk) build an AI robot as a shield to protect the world. However, when their intentions backfire, it will take the very lives that they were trying to protect to go out and save the world, and the Avengers themselves, from destruction. It might even cost those lives laid down in ways no one ever expected.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron has been the largest influence for me on the ways that I think about what it means to be protective, what it means to be vulnerable, and ultimately what it means to love in the first place. I cannot recommend it enough.

In short…

There is an overarching theme that runs throughout all the Marvel movies that I have mentioned here, and it is this: sacrifice. There are powerful and poignant examples of it at every turn, and when I hear that word now, especially when it is used to describe what Christ has done, I know how it feels, and what it looks like in ten thousand different ways.

I can see it clearer; I can see Him clearer — it is like daylight being shed on the mysterious, shadowed places. That is what good stories do: they help us experience reality in a whole new way.

And I hope that if you decide to give Marvel movies a try, that they will do that for you, just like they have done for me.