Batman v Superman

Dawn of Justice

No two superheroes have been portrayed on film more times than Batman and Superman.

But this month the Caped Crusader and the last son of Krypton break new ground by appearing in the same movie for the first time – and the screen isn’t big enough for them both.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice stars British actor Henry Cavill in the Clark Kent/Superman role and Ben Affleck as Batman and his alter ego, billionaire Bruce Wayne.

The pair go head-to-head when Gotham City’s guardian takes umbrage at the actions of Metropolis’ minder (a scene in 2013’s Man of Steel showed Superman destroying a Wayne Financial building).

Concerned at what would happen if the alien visitor ever decided to use his powers for evil, Batman challenges him.

But with the crime fighters at war with each other, villainous Lex Luthor sees an opportunity to create havoc.

While never appearing together in a film, the DC Comics characters have long been rivals for fan attention.

Both made their screen debuts during the Second World War, Batman battling Japanese imperialists in a 15-part TV serial starring Lewis Wilson and Superman in a series of theatrical animated shorts.

In 1951, Superman became the subject of a live action movie – Superman and the Mole Me – with George Reeves, already star of the Adventures of Superman TV serial, in the title role.

Reeves dies of a gunshot wound eight years later with the official verdict being suicide. But many people believe he was murdered with events surrounding his death becoming a film of their own, Hollywoodland, with – somewhat ironically – Ben Affleck in the role of Reeves.

This incident also gave flight to the “curse of Superman,” which some believe affects those who have played the role. Christopher Reeve was left paralysed by a riding accident and Lee Quigley, who represented Superman as a baby in the 1978 film, died in 1991 aged 14 due to solvent abuse.

Batman’s big screen debut was not until 1966, when Adam West turned his successful children’s TV series into a feature-length film, but Batman movies didn’t get their wings until 1989, when Michael Keaton took on the role. He was followed by Val Kilmer, George Clooney and, latterly, Christian Bale.

The TV serial Lois and Clark, with Dean Cain as Clark, kept Superman in our consciousness during the 1990s before 2006’s Superman Returns, starring the little-remembered Brandon Routh.

Harry Potter v Lord Voldemort

The Harry Potter series

Born with a lightning bolt on his forehead, Harry Potter was marked out from birth for a showdown with “he who must not be named.”

Knowing he was the only one with the power to vanquish him, Lord V summoned the darkest elements of the Ministry of Magic against the boy wizard until things came to a head in The Deathly Hallows.

Madeline Ashton v Helen Sharp

Death Becomes Her

Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn fight it out over who looks the youngest in this black comedy.

Years after losing her fiance to a former friend, novelist Helen (Hawn) returns, looking radiant, to confront them.

Wife Madeline discovers her secret is a drug which grants eternal life. But immortality comes with a price.

Luke Skywalker v Darth Vader

Star Wars

You only have to watch Jeremy Kyle to know it’s not uncommon for a father and son to fail to see eye-to-eye.

But few dads can have been as shockingly absent as Darth Vader.

Having chased his offspring all over the galaxy to persuade him to join the dark side, Darth finally saw the light at the death.

Sarah Connor v Skynet

The Terminator movies

A waitress when we first meet her, Sarah Connor became a one woman wrecking crew in her attempt to stop Skynet.

Having destroyed the Terminator sent to kill her and given birth to the saviour of humanity in the first film, Sarah then teamed up with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 to take down the super computer in two sequels.

Sandy v Rizzo

Grease

She may have been hopelessly devoted to Danny Zuko but Sandy’s path to becoming a Pink Lady would have been much smoother if she had kept an eye on Betty Rizzo.

After mocking the newcomer to Rydell High with her “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” number, the pair share an uneasy relationship until Sandy proves her worth when Rizzo worries she’s pregnant.

Professor X v Magneto

X-Men

Good versus evil comic book rivalries were given depth by Charles “Professor X” Xavier and Erik “Magneto” Lehnsherr, two mutants whose friendship was destroyed by a lack of trust in humans.

For five movies they failed to settle the argument. “All those years wasted fighting each other,” Erik sighs in Days of Future Past.

It made for great watching though.

Inspector Clouseau v Commissioner Dreyfus

The Pink Panther series

Held as France’s greatest detective by those who didn’t know him, Inspector Clouseau was loathed by the man who knew him best – his boss.

Clouseau’s incompetence usually put Dreyfus in either hospital or an asylum by film’s end. Eight actors have played the characters in all but Peter Sellers and Herbert Lom are the most fondly remembered.

Rocky Balboa v Apollo Creed

Rocky I & II

These heavyweights slugged their way through 15-round fights.

But Rocky earned the respect of motor-mouthed Apollo, a character  said to be inspired by Muhammad Ali, and by the third film the pair were firm friends.

In recent movie Creed, Rocky trains the late Apollo’s son for his own tilt at the championship.

Captain Jack Sparrow v Captain Barbossa

Pirates of the Caribbean

High jinks on the high seas as rival pirates Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) and Hector Barbossa  (Geoffrey Rush) competed to steal a march on one another (as well as all the gold they could lay their hands on).

Barbossa often appears on the left hand side of the screen in the film because actor Rush believes that’s where people look first.

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