rationalskepticism.org

Spearthrower wrote:

aufbahrung wrote:Superheroes = Deus ex machina

Not what deus ex machina means.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina

Deus ex machina (/ˌdeɪəs ɛks ˈmækɪnə, - ˈmɑːk-/ DAY-əs ex-MA(H)K-in-ə,[1] Latin: [ˈdɛ.ʊs ɛks ˈmaːkʰɪnaː]; plural: dei ex machina; English ‘god from the machine’) is a plot device whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem in a story is suddenly and abruptly resolved by an unexpected and seemingly unlikely occurrence, typically so much as to seem contrived.

A superhero movie is about a superhero, therefore the superhero is not a plot device used to solve a problem introduced by the writer which he or she is struggling to solve.

In fact, superhero movies establish the remit of a superhero's powers early, then have the superheros play with those powers throughout the 'Fun & Games' of Act 2a, meaning those powers and their limitations are clearly set up.