Are blockbusters hurting the art of movies?

Iron Man
World premiere of Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment's 'Iron Man 2' held at El Capitan Theatre on April 26, 2010, in Hollywood, Calif.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

"Iron Man 3" has grossed over $1 billion. "Star Trek: Into Darkness" took in $160,000,000 in one week. You can understand why Hollywood loves so-called tentpole films, but are they ruining the movies?

The filmmaker Stephen Soderbergh, at talk at the San Francisco Film Festival, said audiences are missing out when they see a Michael Bay CGI-extravaganza.

"If you have a really good piece of art and a really good artist," said Soderbergh, "you are altered in some way, and so the experience is transformative and in the minute that you're experiencing that piece of art, you're not alone. You're connected to the arts."

On Screen Time this week, Kerri and Stephanie will discuss the coming blockbuster season and whether Soderbergh is right when he argues that Hollywood's appetite for superheroes, aliens, zombies and robots edges out smaller, smarter dramas and comedies.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BLOCKBUSTER INFLATION:

Stephen Soderbergh's talk from The San Francisco International Film Festival

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