Christian Bale makes a great Batman. I don't like it enough to queue up. I don't like anything enough to stand in a long line.

The previous Batman flicks 20 years ago were equally popular by my recollection. I don't find anything particularly strange about the phenomena. People lined up for Sound of Music and watched the film over and over. Star Wars was all the rage.

The whole super hero thing is trending these days. If I had to assign some deep psychological meaning to it, I would say people feel powerless and wish that they could solve all the problems that piss them off single handed.

Have you seen the Direct TV commercial where the little guy gets frustrated, takes karate, assumes the name Fist of Goodness, Runs on rooftops, Falls through a skylight onto a dinner party.