Richard Donner's Superman launched the modern superhero film. It depicted Superman's life from Krypton to his first major challenge. The film starred many big names including Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Glenn Ford, and Ned Beatty. Unknown Christopher Reeve won the starring role and created a new Clark Kent. Every version of Superman since has been overshadowed by Reeve's performance. The wave of films Superman birthed ended with the Batman and Robin disaster in 1997. Bryan Singer's X-Men relaunched and reinvigorated the genre in 2000.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk1aQx9hTaE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_izM3y2SE44
Julius Caesar won his civil war against Pompey the Great and the Optimates. After asserting his power, the Senate voted Caesar dictator for life. To many, this reeked of monarchy. In response, a group of senators led by Cato, Cassius, and Brutus led a coup and murdered the dictator. Initially, Caesar’s allies were cowed into silence. However, when it became obvious that the conspirators had no plans to extend the bloodshed beyond Caesar, and made no provisions to take power, Mark Anthony rallied Rome’s mob and the Caesarians against Brutus. This had the practical effect of launching another civil war. After defeating the republicans, Anthony and Caesar’s nephew, Octavian, engaged in still another civil war for power.
The first link is from HBO’s Rome. The second is from Shakespeare (1979). The final link is also from Shakespeare and features Mark Anthony’s funeral oration performed by Marlon Brando.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FvgP5hO99o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H-Kztt6WpM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KScBmX1d-YU
