Conceive At Least Two Massive Set Pieces

The Cliché: Films are mostly remembered for their big, throat-grabbing action sequences.

Appears In: Spider-Man 2, Superman Returns.

How To Make It Real: Most comic book movies become defined not only by their heroes, but by their daring, boundary-pushing action scenes which stretch the tension until it snaps.

Superman Returns had its plane scene, Spider-Man 2 had its train scene, The Dark Knight had that bit with the lorry.

The bigger the scene and the more people in peril the better. Stage a massive fight sequence at a prestigious gala or an award ceremony or a football match - really test your hero and show what sort of destruction your villain is capable of.

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