These past few years have been the Age of the Supehero. “Watchmen,” “The Dark Knight,” “Spider-Man 2”–the list of rich, genre-defying comic book adaptations goes on. Why have these movies been so successful and more importantly, resonant? At first, I thought people responded to these movies so strongly out of craving for escapism during this difficult time of war and socio-economic unrest. Then, I realized that these movies aren’t really escapes at all. In fact, Gotham City looks eerily similar the world around us with its corrupt politicians and violent personality. Batman and The Joker are not mythical characters anymore, but real, raw, bleeding men. Like The Joker, I ask, “Why so serious?”

I’m curious why superhero movies these days are taking on such a gritty, hardhitting quality. Don’t get me wrong–I find this new, naturalistic approach to comic book adaptations refreshing and exciting. However, this sense of harsh realism is bleeding over into other genres from which I expect pure escapism and joyful entertainment. Spy movies are losing their sense of fun in films like “The Bourne Ultimatum” and “Casino Royale.” Comedies are also straying from the broad (“Austin Powers”) to the ordinary (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Knocked Up”). There is nothing necessarily wrong with this new wave of realistic cinema. However, my curiosity gets the better of me sometimes and I ask one more time, “Why so serious?”