Function vs strength, and the 'super' gym exercises

This began as a piece about 'super' exercises but I realised I needed to back track and firstly account for fundamental differences in strength exercises.  I am going to describe the ends of a continuum because its easy to see the contrast.  At one end, we have single joint and biomechanically focused exercises.  These include curls, raises, and extensions, and resistance machines.  These exercises isolate specific muscles or local muscle groups. 
Focusing on a muscle or a group of muscles about one joint represents a 'lowest common denominator' approach to strength conditioning.  For example, strengthening my hamstrings (in isolation) stands to benefit more complex tasks in which the hamstrings are a dominant muscle, e.g. sprinting.  Imbalances are a potential downside with too much isolation conditioning.  Joint and segmental function depends on balanced muscle actions.  An observable training-induced imbalance are the tight, rounded shoulders of men who love to bench press but don't stretch the pectoral muscles afterwards or 'pull' to balance the pushing.
At the opposite end of the strength exercise continuum are the complex, multi-joint exercises, including the big Power and Olympic lifts as well as jumping and sprinting skills.  In the real world, power is not a function of muscle force or strength but of the efficiency of the connections between many muscles.  The complex strength skills allow the body to develop biomechanical efficiency and the functional power that extends from this platform.  Individual muscles represent the lowest common denominator function in this equation but they don't engender efficiency of themselves.  That only results when fundamental movement capacities and skills are ingrained.  The downside to this kind of strength conditioning is time.  It takes time to learn complex skills. 
Strength conditioning programs will contain exercises from all points on the continuum but it needs to be understood that there is a directionality in this equation: Structure (e.g. muscle strength) underpins fundamental movement capacity which, in turn, serves the development of specialised or sporting skills. 
The common structures and influences in our lives together with an understanding of basic functional anatomy means there are 'super' exercises.  These provide a 'big bang for your buck'.  I will detail an exercise I consider a 'super' training tool regularly.