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| THE INCREDIBLE SUMMER OF SUPERHEROES |
| The Incredible Summer of Superheroes October 12, 2008 They’re known as “superheroes” – those costumed crime-fighters who dedicate their lives to fighting evil in endless acts of “daring-do.” Born on the pages of comic books 70 years ago, today’s superheroes are legion and larger than life. That's because they’re increasingly fighting their battles on the big screen. Today, we’re exploring the spiritual realities that lie behind our cultural obsession with superheroes. We’ll ask Hollywood film-maker and cultural commentator Craig Detweiler for his thoughts on what superheroes can teach us about faith. We’ll also look back on the recent Toronto International Film Festival, where we did some "star" gazing before peeking in on a gathering of film-makers and buffs who met to discuss the intersection of film and faith. The appeal of the Superhero genre is growing. From 1996 to 2000, superhero movies captured only $265-million—less than two percent—of box office revenues. But over the course of the summer season in 2008, they accounted for $1.4 billion – more than one-quarter of all ticket sales in North America alone! Studio executives say superheroes saved their summer. The movies are also enjoying global success. That’s helped by a massive, built-in fan base through comic books in dozens of languages in more than 60 countries. Warner Brothers studios has announced that a third Batman film and a Superman “reboot,” are in the works. And they've confirmed plans to develop big-screen adaptations for every comic book character they own. ContextThe appeal of the Superhero genre is growing. From 1996 to 2000, superhero movies captured only $265-million—less than two percent—of box office revenues. But over the course of the summer season in 2008, they accounted for $1.4 billion – more than one-quarter of all ticket sales in North America alone! Studio executives say superheroes saved their summer. Warner Brothers studios has announced that a third Batman film and a Superman “reboot,” are in the works. And they've confirmed plans to develop big-screen adaptations for every comic book character they own. GuestsDr. Greg Garrett Hilla Medalia John Priddy John Franklin Vince DiPersio Peter Tufford Kennedy Jason Hildebrand Dr. David Reed Craig Detweiler |