A local film critic says the recent resurgence of fantasy and science fiction movies, as well as comic book adaptations, is due in large part to an increasing fascination by audiences for escapism and adventure.

Loring Silet, professor of English, said these related genres of film are “driven by testosterone,” and an increase in “macho-ism” in the culture as a whole.

Silet, co-host of a movie review show for Talk of Iowa on WOI Radio, says movie makers now have the technology through computers that allows them to create fantasy worlds in ways they hadn’t been able to in the past.

“Special effects create a movie people are attracted to,” Silet said.

In contrast to older comic book-inspired movies, such as “Superman” or “Batman,” current filmmakers have the ability to create “whole worlds,” Silet said.

“Given the technology today, they look much more sophisticated,” Silet said.

He also thinks the whole tone of some comic book movies has become much darker.

David Schutte, assistant manager of Mayhem Collectibles, 2532 Lincoln Way, says comic book-inspired movies are becoming substantially more popular for families and female fans.

“They’re doing stuff that appeals to the entire spectrum,” Schutte said.

Sarah Schweitzer, senior in history, is a big fan of comic books. She likes being able to see her favorite comic books interpreted on screen.

“It’s fun to see your favorite character represented by Hollywood,” she said.

Schutte said the appeal of these types of films lies in the classic themes comic books create, such as “good versus evil, doing the right thing, or the hero that is willing to do anything for love.”

Schutte believes the increase in popularity of these movies is due to the filmmaker’s ability to create a visually stimulating movie while, at the same time, incorporating a good story into the film. Schutte said with the new technology, they are able to incorporate superheros and their superpowers better than in previous comic book movies.

Schweitzer said the films with the largest budgets were very successful.

“I really enjoyed X-Men 2,” she said.

According to Silet, comics books provide a simplified way of seeing the world.

“The characters in comic books don’t have a lot of depth to them,” he said.

He believes these qualities have the ability to create a summer movie with broad appeal.

Schutte said the filmmakers have been fairly accurate in adapting the movies to the original comic book inspiration.

“In recent times, they have been very, very close,” Schutte said.

He said the filmmakers aren’t doing a direct transfer from comics to video; but they’re doing something that will work well within its own medium.

“They make a legitimate attempt to be accurate,” Schweitzer said.

Schutte says filmmakers have been incorporating some things only comic book fans will recognize, but these elements are not essential to understanding the movie.

“They’re close enough and accurate enough that comic book fans will enjoy it, yet they’re still accessible to people who don’t read comics,” Schutte said.

Schweitzer said comic books create good movies because the stories contain superheros with superpowers that make it interesting, yet still have a human interest, which makes them marketable. “People like to see people overcoming odds, good versus evil,” Silet said.