There are no secrets regarding the level of excitement around the upcoming release of the live-action film, "Justice League." I’ll admit, even the comic book nerd in me is already counting down to the moment I will run into the theater November 17th to grab an absurdly priced popcorn and a front row seat.
But amongst all of the hype, we must take a step back and reflect on what the film industry is turning into. Is it about innovation, the creative art form of filmmaking, or is it only about making a profit?
Of the top 10 highest grossing films of 2017, how many were either sequels or adaptations? The answer...all of them.
These films are where the money is. The new craze for blockbusters is about making the old new again. Don’t get me wrong, Wonder Woman blew me away. I’d lay down my life for Diana Prince. But by revolving an entire industry around these sorts of films, are we losing a sense of creativity and originality that used to be the very heart of cinema?
Independent films like Jordan Peele’s "Get Out" and Kumail Nanjiani’s "The Big Sick" still thrived in theaters, achieving success in a world mainly owned by big-name production studios.
Let’s not forget how important it is to keep our minds open to a larger form of art, rather than only enjoying mainstream blockbuster sequels and adaptations.