The 2008 summer season of movies has definitely not been devoid of superheroes or virile he-men. In fact, women have been left on the sidelines. Dominated by male-imbued fare like The Incredible Hulk and The Dark Knight, leading female roles have seemed, well, barely there.

According to Manohla Dargis of the New York Times, "Last year only three of the 20 highest-grossing releases in America were female-driven and involved a princess (Enchanted) or pregnancy (Knocked Up and Juno). Actresses had starring roles in about a quarter of the next 80 highest growing titles, mostly in dopey romantic comedies and dopier thrillers." Dargis continues, "There may be more women working in the

industry now- Amy Pascal is a co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment - but you wouldn't know it from what's on the screen."

But wait a minute. There was an interesting trend this summer: Academy Award® Winning Actresses like Cate Blanchett, Gwyneth Paltrow and Meryl Streep taking roles in some of the blockbusters. Not superwoman roles, but roles nonetheless. And not roles we're accustomed to seeing them in.

In the latest Indiana Jones installment, Cate Blanchett plays a Red leading other Reds around chasing Indy and his band, and she gives some real va-voom to the character of Irina Spalko. With her extreme black hair bob and Slavic accent, she plays the role with elan, even taking Spalko to the level of a cartoon-like Nazi from earlier days ("I zee NOTHING!"). She had to have a lot of fun snapping her black gloves and stomping around in her killer boots, as villainous as ever. In fact, I think she could've taken Indy out with his own famed whip.

Then there's Gwyneth Paltrow, not villainous at all, but in a definite departure from her earlier work. Namely, she plays Pepper Potts in Iron Man - someone all too incompetent - though sheÔø‡Ôø‡Ôø‡s in great humor in this film.

And it has to be said, "See that girl! Watch that scene!" See Meryl Streep singing the dancing queen! That's right, it's Mamma Mia! - proof that Abba never really dies and Streep can do anything. What's to criticize? It's apparent she's having so much fun in her sparkly jumpsuit and singing disco, why wouldn't she have taken this role? Failure isn't in her vocabulary.

In a recent interview with Rita Wilson (who coincidentally produced Mamma Mia!), she noted that women over 40 have the most disposable income, and yet movies are still being made for teen boys. Dude! But the boys are big this summer. Hulking in fact. But the boomer-age women still want to see themselves reflected in advertising, music, and yes movies! They've got the numbers and buying power to force this change. And, in my opinion, it's a force to be reckoned with.

By Sara-Lynn White