August 4, 2008 Blog

Which Will Be the Box Office Superhero?  Batman or Titanic?

Much a buzz within the entertainment industry about Batman knocking off Titanic as the #1 Box Office hit of all time.  Batman has become the film of all time to reach the $300,000,000 mark the fastest, and soon the $400,000,000 mark.  Batman currently lands a punch at $393,751,065, and in less than three weeks - holy pocketbooks!  Titanic continues to blow its horn at $600,788,188 after reigning at the weekly number one spot for 15 consecutive weeks in late 1997 and early 1998.   My prediction of which will reign as No. 1 Box Office Superhero of all time? Titanic!  Titanic a superhero?

I love Batman. Cool suit (a fellow MIB with me - Man In Black) and car!  Like me and my fellow brother priests, batman chooses the celibate life (At least I think you do, batman?) so he can answer the call to protecting the greater good.  Unlike batman, the only women us priests will walk arm in arm with are either the ladies getting off the nursing home bus for Mass, or a picture of Our Blessed Mother carried in one arm and of one our favorite female saints in the other arm (I like St. Therese of Lisieux).  Like batman who has cool gadgets to fight evil, we priests have our Mass kits, blessed rosaries, holy water, blessed oils, crucifixes, St. Benedict and Miraculous Medals, scapulars, pyxes, and relics.  Batman is a guys' guy [Except he needs to stay off the cigarettes (raspy voice)].

I am not selling out, but guys, lets face it - at the end of the day, the ladies like a "Leonardo" type hero over a Batman hero.  The secret ingredient is that Titanic provides a superhero that most could connect with.  Titanic's superhero, Jack, exhibits relentless perseverance in pursuing the woman he loves, and ultimately gives up his life to the icy Atlantic water for her.  Jack embodies a superhero type love of sacrifice whose romantic power strikes to the hearts of young girls and women, and it is attainable.  This fantastic yet attainable love provided the drug that kept them coming back to experience its pleasures and beauty more, and more, and more.   I don't think the "videogamer" geek boys will drive the Box Office for Batman to stardom like the girls (10 - 90yrs.) did back in 1997/1998.  Who said women don't rule the world?  I just do not think the batman superhero experience, because it is a fantasy, will resonate in hearts of its viewers.  I mean, who can fly through the air with a costume on, get thrown into a concrete wall, and land on the top of a cab, and see another waking day?

In the end, what strikes to the core of the viewers heats and have them crying out for more is the real and human confrontation with real truth, beauty, and goodness - Leonardo style (Ok, a bit of a stretch).  But still, I must admit - Titanic will still rule.  Jack lands a "Zazamm!" to batman and Titanic, for now, remains our unsinkable hero.

-Fr. Don