Superhero flicks are unavoidably formulaic. The heroes are difficult to kill not because of their superpowers, but because they serve a higher power, an industrial blockbuster economy. The superstars each get their screen time, in a loose correlation to their importance to fans. Their defeats are ephemeral, even when they die (or appear to). They are part of the ineluctable journey to a climactic battle, which in turn points the way towards more films.
超级英雄类的大片不可避免地陷入公式化。英雄们的命都特别硬，不是因为他们有超能力，而是因为他们在为一个更加强大的势力服务--大片产业经济。超级英雄们银幕露脸，也不是完全因为他们在影迷心中的地位。他们的挫败，哪怕是死，（或看起来要死），都一带而过。这样的败局，是最终高潮打斗情节不可或缺的一部分，而最终的高潮，又为今后更多的电影开辟了道路。
flick: 电影，影片
unavoidably: 不可避免的
formulaic：公式化的；充满俗套话的；没有独创的
blockbuster：大片
correlation: 关联
ephemeral: 短暂的；朝生暮死的
ineluctable: 不可避免的
climactic: 高潮的，形成高潮的
This article appeared in the Books and arts section of the print edition under the headline "Die another day"
（理解和翻译水平有限，请朋友们多多指教）
