I also think we are talking about the advent of the computer in our lives, and the internet. Audiences who crave mindless action movies fell into a craze over effects, AND over more extreme ideas (i.e. The Matrix), rather than meathead-kicks-ass. Also, social changes morphed through the sensitive 90's pseudo-hippies, so there's a very liberal quality to the 90's, versus the 'US vs Them' Cold War mentality of the 80's. The only difference now is that it's anti-PC to be overtly political (i.e. action hero fights the terrorists) with your action movies, because of the liberal establishment of Hollywood that has taken over in the 00's. Thus, the renaissance of the Comic Book Hero. It's a fantasy world where the lines are pretty clearly marked, that allow not only escapism, but maybe even a little satisfaction in seeing the bad guy get his ass kicked. It also has the added advantage of the effects born from the 90's, so there's some good in there...
