Superheroes were no longer whiz-bang do-gooders who delighted kids, but anti-heroes with the same emotional baggage as the aging fans who read about them.

in the mad rush for gritty realism, superhero movies are also running the risk of losing a little piece of their soul: The sense of whimsy and unabashed escapism that has attracted audiences of all ages through the years. Superhero movies, like action movies and romantic comedies, have become a genre unto themselves, and there's no reason that one ... See more

It's no longer enough for Superman to save the world; instead, he needs to spend his screen time contemplating his place in it.