A Stifling of Creativity - Whedon and Goyer Held Back
Back in February Joss Whedon and David Goyer were pulled off "Wonder Woman" and "The Flash" respectively. At what point does the potential for the almighty dollar overtake creativity?
Joss Whedon off "Wonder Woman?" David Goyer off "The Flash?" I mean come on. Alright, we all get it that the big studios want explosive popcorn movies that will make $100+ million in the summer. At the end of the day it's all about dollars and cents, right? Or is it? There is a lot to be
said about creating thought-provoking, character-driven movies. Just think of the Spiderman movies. While there is obviously great action in those movies, at the end of the day, it is the character development that hooks the audience and makes them sit back and say, "Wow, that was a really great film". For example, you really felt for Peter Parker in "Spiderman 2" when he was going through his own personal difficulties and losing his powers at the same time.
Is this just a Marvel versus DC thing? I hope not. Marvel is clearly known for creating flawed characters that everyone can relate to. That is their MO in a nutshell. Warner Brothers and DC know this, but it seems that they're unclear as to whether or not they want to emulate this model. "Batman Begins" was definitely a move in the right direction. You finally got a better glimpse of what made Batman who he was (outside of simply showing that his parents were killed right in front of him). Again, it was the character development that made so many people enjoy the film, not a bunch of bright colors and explosions.
So, this brings us back to Whedon and Goyer. Both writers/directors know how to create characters that movie-goers not only can relate to, but also can enjoy. For Whedon, just think of the cast of characters he developed for Firefly. You had the witty, sarcastic captain, a tough brute, a quirky female mechanic, an overly serious doctor, and a holy man. Basically something for everyone right? And for anyone who watched that show, you were absolutely drawn to the characters themselves. It's the very reason you came back every week to watch the show. As for Goyer...oh yeah, he was the screenwriter for "Batman Begins".
What I'm trying to say is that guys like Whedon and Goyer know how to create stories that their target audience will appreciate. Are they sometimes off the beaten path? Yeah, probably. However, what is important is that you remember them for how different and creative they were. Hopefully, Warner Brothers will eventually take a bigger page out of the Marvel playbook and let unique, character-driven stories rule the day. Until then, we sadly have to wait for fan favorites like "The Flash" to hit the screen.