Ah, now I see! (John Wayne movies had white heroes, too ;-).
In addition to action, the science fiction genre in movies and television (and associated books) has produced a lot of thoughtful exploration of many themes. Even the current fad of comic-book based movies raises important questions that can generate interesting discussion.
Perhaps this article was generated because today is Star Wars Day. One has to agree that Star Wars is not the most sophisticated exemplar of the genre; aside from the visuals, the various movies stand or fall as “Westerns,” without much more to be said.
I’d like Firefly back. They beat Trek & Star wars into the ground.
Probably that is why he wrote it and probably he should not have.
I have little patients with people who write just to rag on something that other people enjoy. It was not a fine example of high art but it was a story that resonated.
And it resonated because it followed themes that people like in their stories in fact I think it hit every one of them which is why it is so popular.
Hah! Comic book movies are hardly a fad.
Batman, 1966, 1989, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2008, 2012.
Superman, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1987, 2006, 2013.
Karate Kid, 1984, 1986, 1989.
Howard the Duck, 1986.
The Punisher, 1989.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 1990, 2014.
Captain America, 1990, 2011, 2014.
Richie Rich, 1991.
Casper, 1995.
Steel, 1997
Blade, 1998, 2002, 2004.
X-men, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2014.
Josie and the Pussycats, 2001.
Spider-man, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2012, 2014.
Hulk, 2003, 2008.
Daredevil, 2003.
Elektra, 2005.
Iron Man, 2008, 2010, 2013.
Kick Ass, 2010, 2013.
Green Lantern, 2011.
Thor, 2011, 2013.
The Avengers, 2012
Wolverine, 2013.
Guardians of the Galaxy, 2014.
That's all I can think of right now.