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Can Superman Save Hollywood`s Summer?

The movie business has seen many slumps in recent years, as disappointing Hollywood fare as made fans and observers of the industry alike wonder if originality had perhaps left the silver screen for good. Had it all been done? Was magic no longer the order of the day at cinemas? Well, ?Superman Returns? was released this week, and if it is at all possible, the Man of Steel might not only save the day but may very well save a Hollywood summer movie season that, aside from ?X-Men 3? and ?Cars? has looked to be decidedly lackluster.

Traditionally, the summer movie season has not been a time for the doldrums. From the epics of old Hollywood to ?Jurassic Park?, ?Independence Day?, ?Batman Begins? and now ?Superman Returns? there has been at least one summer movie that started off the rest. Many thought that ?The Da Vinci Code? would get the 2006 summer movie season started off right, and while the box office numbers weren?t horrible, they weren?t anything potentially Jesus-has-offspring-sized in scope.

And from the reviews coming out, and fan opinions, ?Superman Returns? may very well lead to a succession of new films about the Last Son of Krypton, not to mention the merchandising. A trip to any Target, KB Toys, or Wal-Mart toy section will reveal the Man of Steel can make plenty of toy stores ? and manufacturers, and DC Comics ? plenty of money. If ever there was a more value-driven, marketable product than Superman, you?d be hard pressed to find it.