The GREEN LANTERN movie thread

[unemployedskeletor]

Okay, it still may be a few years off, but I just read a script review, and i'm jumping out of my pants.................it's a medical problem I have.

From IESB:

A few years ago, we reviewed the GL script Robert Smigel wrote with comedian Jack Black in mind -- D.C. and Warner Bros. wisely decided against going down that route, maybe we had something to do with that when we crapped all over it, read our review here.

But, there has been quite of bit of buzz lately coming from Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Michael Green's newest take on the Green Lantern and I managed to find a copy in my hands.

Let me start off with saying that within just reading the first few pages, I knew Berlanti, Guggenheim and Green had gotten the character right.

I don't want to do a traditional script review, instead I want to give IESB readers more of a sense of the story by going through some plot details and my thoughts on the screenplay. Wait a minute, that is a review. Let it begin...

It starts off with the revelation of Oa and The Central Battery with a voice over narration explaining that 1) there are extraterrestrials that protect the universe, 2) they have power rings, 3) there are thousands of Green Lanterns and 4) one of us has become one of them.

We go from one part of the universe to another and find ourselves in a familiar Solar System…our own.

Before I share some of the details let's do a quick character list of those we will see in the movie if this script gets the "green" light.

Martin Jordan
Hal Jordan/Green Lantern
Thomas Kalmuka
Carl Ferris
Carol Ferris
Kilowog
Tomar-Re
Abin Sur
Thaal Sinestro
The Guardians
Legion
Hector Hammond

A few cameos include a certain mild mannered reporter from the Daily Planet, a certain college football coach with the last name of Gardner (who we are promised in the script we will see more of in the second film) and loads of other characters sure to keep fanboys happy throughout.

Back to the script - The story follows the traditional Hal Jordan/Green Lantern story lines to a certain degree including the battle between Legion and Abin Sur, Abin Sur's crash landing on Earth, as well as the choosing of Hal Jordan over Guy Gardner and Clark Kent.

Parts are straight out of the Emerald Dawn series including Jordan's simulator being ripped out of the training center and flown to a dying Abin Sur and Hal Jordan going to Oa to help defeat Legion.

The major difference is in the Sinestro character arch. I don't want to give too much away but the writers were very careful to stay true to the character without blowing everything on the first film.

The other difference is also introducing Hector Hammond into the story line and making him the big threat to Earth or Gaia if you prefer.

From the first major beat of the story - that is sure to bring a tear - to the revelations at the end of the movie that easily set up prequels as well as sequels this script has it all. Also, unlike other recent superhero movies, this Green Lantern story has science fiction elements such as visiting other planets and major space battles.

It's a quick read and is a mere 109 pages but is action packed from the beginning to end. It has the potential to be bigger than Iron Man or maybe even The Dark Knight.

The script, if greenlit, is a sure-fire hit for fan boys, but in scale it's big, VERY big, and we are hearing rumors that it may be too big for the director currently attached, Greg Berlanti.

But who would the studio trust to take on a franchise of this size?

First, let me say that the studio execs love this GL script, they really dig it - and get it which is always important - and word is they are prepared to spend a pretty penny.

Changing gears for a sec, let's see what's currently going on with Justice League of America. Last week there were reports that the movie is finally moving forward. Guess what - that's not what we heard.

IESB found out the complete opposite from various sources at WB -- the movie will not move forward in its current incarnation and a lot has to do with the success of The Dark Knight. Warner Bros. is not willing to risk ****ing off Christopher Nolan or Christian Bale and their intent would be to move forward with a third Batman film instead of introducing another Batman in a JLA film.

Officially WB is stating that Justice League of America is on hold due to the potential SAG strike. We have been advised from various sources that the truth is that George Miller has been pulled off the project. We have contacted all parties involved including Kennedy/Miller and other producers but they have declined to comment at this time.

So does that mean that Miller is out of a job? Nope, we have been told that some execs over at Warner Bros. would like Miller to take over The Green Lantern project. Any truth to the rumor? Only time will tell but one thing is certain in my purest fan boy opinion - this script totally kicks butt!

Stay tuned later this week for IESB's Green Lantern Story Details Part 2!

[Moominsthenmotu]

I've always thought this should have the tone 'The Rocketeer' movie had - if you look at the Hal Jordan 'origins' comic you have his simulator drawn to Abin Sur' s ship, it's kind of rustic and wacky, with the pulpy feel of 'The Rocketeer'.
One question - would you want the pink-bald-guy Abin Sur of the original comics or a more alien-style Abin?

[unemployedskeletor]

Alien(current) look.

My dream cast

Hal:Nathan Fillion or Jon Hamm
Carol:Kate Beckinsale
Sinestroavid Thewlis or David Tennant
Hal's dad(flashback):Bruce Campbell
Hal's mom(fb):Toni Collette
Abin Sur:Ron Perlman
Jack Jordan:Christopher Eccleston
Kilowog:Brendan Gleeson
Ganthet:Peter Dinklidge

[Impulse]

To be honest with you, Id Rather see Tennant as Barry Allen

Anyways if I had to pick someone for Guy Id pick Jason Statham, elsewise I couldnt really pick a Hal or anyone else.

[bskcase]

I always thought a Green Lantern movie would come out first after Superman and Batman. In my head, the story needs to be more sci-fi and show the entire Green Lantern corps.

I never thought the movie as epic, but I does have to be CGI heavy. I just don't think they can avoid that.

[Optimus Prime]

Ron Perlman as Abin Sur? What?? He'd be better suited as Kilowog

And I can see David Borneanz playing a live action Hal Jordan along with his voice acting from 'New Frontier' as Jordan.

Hugo Weaving as Hector Hammond

Daniel Day-Lewis or Jason Isaacs as Sinestro

[Mr. Shokoti]

Subway has GL Cups, they are not really collector but I guess that is who Warner went with

I see most of my movies at AMC(which only offers Coke products), but I happened to see a movie last month at a chain that offers Pepsi products. When I ordered my Diet Pepsi, it came in a giant Green Lantern collector's cup. Unfortunately, I read GL is only going to be marketed on Pepsi products outisde the US similar to how we saw Iron Man & Thor all over Dr. Pepper products. It just that it seems 7-11 has Slurpee tie-ins with practically every Summer popcorn movie. Maybe since they've done most of the Marvel movies, either Warner Bros or 7-11 didn't feel the need to work with the Distinguished Competition. I was hoping for some oddly flavored green Slurpee this month.

[theblock]

Well I can save my money it seems, all my doubts were in fact verified by my trusted movie geek critic authority I'm a bit depressed now... loosing all faith in DC

The Escapist : Escape to the Movies : Green Lantern

[LesPaulPS2]

I don't agree with a damn thing that critic said. The special effects were fine and the movie was good. Was it the best ever? No, but it wasn't anywhere near bad. People are just getting their fanboy panties in knots because the movie isn't exactly like what they want it to be, and aren't willing to accept minor changes.

[TechTrek]

I don't agree with a damn thing that critic said. The special effects were fine and the movie was good. Was it the best ever? No, but it wasn't anywhere near bad. People are just getting their fanboy panties in knots because the movie isn't exactly like what they want it to be, and aren't willing to accept minor changes.

i honestly think, because of how well x-men, and thor were done, critics have been chomping at the bit to get a superhero blockbuster that had cracks in it, big enough for them to go off like they have been. I doubt it is as bad as some of these critics say. I think they just had a lot of pent up anger on not being able to tear apart other movies yet this summer.....

[SCB]

This is the origin of Green Lantern, Hal Jordan. He's a loose cannon pilot, highly talented, but holds back on his true potential when faced with the fear of losing his dad years ago. Being a Green Lantern requires overcoming fear and that's what this movie is really about.

Critics are not a fan of this movie, but I think fans of superheros will be. It's a good superhero movie, nothing great, but nothing certainly bad. It's not going to measure up to the epic feel of Thor and First Class from this year, but it's more X-Men and Spiderman 1 territory. If superhero movies are not your thing, this probably isn't either. It doesn't have mainstream appeal and few years of Green Lantern comic reading is needed to say after the credits, otherwise I don't think it's even worth staying.

How is Ryan Reynolds? Pretty much what you'd expect. He won't surprise you and he's had better performances. I think they could have cast a better actor for Hal, but he's passable. Blake Lively is probably the strongest in performances. Saarsgard is surprisingly unrecognizable as the villain, but nobody too memorable. The movie is dying for Mark Strong as Sinestro to come out and rival Reynolds, but that's for the sequel. I think Reynolds will actually shine in this role next to Mark Strong because they are complete opposites, hopefully a sequel let's us see that.

I saw this in 2D and the special effects weren't bad. There might have been one instance where I thought CGI was not needed, but other than that, CGI is needed to pull off most of the movie.

The main thing holding the movie back to line up next to Thor and First Class is how light the story is. Everything is kind of rushed through and moves along to just to get to the end when Hal is established. Plus the villains don't really play to the strengths of the hero. I think a sequel with Mark Strong will give the movie a better chance to be a fan of this kind of movie.

Despite all that, the movie isn't boring or offensive, like Ghostrider and Wolverine. It's an entertaining popcorn movie, just for the fans.

[theblock]

i honestly think, because of how well x-men, and thor were done, critics have been chomping at the bit to get a superhero blockbuster that had cracks in it, big enough for them to go off like they have been. I doubt it is as bad as some of these critics say. I think they just had a lot of pent up anger on not being able to tear apart other movies yet this summer.....

To be fair, he did give Thor a huge recommendation. But what erks me is when they just make the costume wholly from CGI and I think it really stands out on the planet earth parts of the movie (stood out to me in Spider Man to), what's wrong with just designing an actual costume then adding some green after effects later!? They went the George Lucas route on CGI when modern filmmakers should know better then going overboard on such things !

[heavy-eternium]

I take with tweezers the opinions of critics.
there is a tendency to exaggerate everything, the just good is "the paradise" and the not so good is a total disaster.
neither one thing nor the other.

[CJ Clifford]

Why do the critics hate this movie so unanimously? It wasn't close to being as bad as it's Rotten Tomatoes score suggests. I seriously don't get it. X-Men First Class has about an 80% critic score, but Green Lantern has a 20% critic score. I think the two movies are about evenly matched.