For a long time, the action genre has struggled with stakes: They are often low, or practically non-existent. Most superhero films today suffer from this deficit, as we all know that our hero will win. Sometimes, our hero is even immortal! This makes the set pieces long ruminations on good v. evil, almost like a rigged boxing match. If we are lucky, we are treated to impressive choreography and luscious vistas — but sadly, never to surprising outcomes. If you take the audience on a journey without sacrifice, it’s like drinking nonalcoholic beer. You might convince them that it almost tastes the same as real beer, but it won’t get them drunk.
Source: The Contractor: Tarik Saleh Believes Cinema Can Heal Us