Those of you who have seen Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and Star Wars may recognise the following popular 'epic' movie clichés:
Title: Lord of the Harry Potter Star Wars
rings
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Young Protagonist Yes Yes Yes
(Frodo) (Harry) (Obi-Wan, Luke)
...with special ability Yes Yes Yes
(resist ring) (love, magic) (Jedi powers)
...who has had a Yes Yes Yes
sheltered upbringing (in shire) (no magic) (Luke, on farm)
...who gets a cloak Yes Yes Yes
(From Elves) (Dumbledore) (Jedi robes)
...of invisibility Yes Yes No
...and who is male Yes Yes Yes
With older mentor Yes Yes Yes
(Gandalf) (Dumbledorf) (Qui-gon, Obi-wan)
...who is male Yes Yes Yes
...and has grey hair Yes Yes Yes
...and a beard Yes Yes Yes
(long) (long) (Obi-wan, short)
...which is also grey Yes Yes Yes
...and a cloak Yes Yes Yes
...and magic powers Yes Yes Yes
(Wizard) (Wizard) (Jedi master)
...who dies (maybe) Yes No Yes
(Moria) (Maul, Vader)
And evil enemy Yes Yes Yes
(Sauron, (Voldemort) (Darth Maul,
Saruman) Darth Vader)
...who wears black Yes Yes Yes
...and is male Yes Yes Yes
...and comes from the Yes Yes Yes
same place as mentor (Saruman only) (Vader only)
...and has one Yes Yes Yes
exploitable weakness (Ring) (Love) (Luke)
...which the Yes Yes Yes
protagonist can exploit (Destroys) (Burning touch) (Vader repents)
Procures group of Yes Yes Yes
friends (Fellowship) (Friends) (Queen/Gungan,
Leia/Han/Ewoks)
...from diverse Yes Yes Yes
backgrounds (Races) (Rep, Gender) (Leia/Han/Ewoks)
...and they all work
together Yes Yes Yes
...until near the end,
when the protagonist Yes Yes Yes
goes on alone (End of bk. 1) (End of ep. VI)
...and defeats the evil Yes Yes Yes
enemy (Destroys ring) (Voldemort) (Vader repents)
...then they meet up Yes Yes Yes
and have a big (Crowning etc) (House dinner) (With Ewoks)
celebration.