DC Universe Animated Green Lantern Movie Thread

[SsM]

Ugh, I feel like I'm being left out here.

 

[protocida]

Don't be.

 

[Ion Kenshin]

Did you not like it?

 

[protocida]

No, I really liked it:

Spoiler

The Good:

. The Plot was good. Hal Jordan and Sinestro were perfectly written. Hal's personality was portrayed very well. Sinestro was a bit exagerated sometimes, but that's OK. Kilowog is cool, and so is Boddika, despite the character changes. Tomar-Re is cool for the time he's in, and I loved the GL cameos (I spoted Stel, Green Man, Iolande, Chalseon...).

. The Voice cast was perfect. Victor Garber OWNED Sinestro, and Christopher Meloni was a nice Hal. All the others were great too, especially Tricia Helfer as Boddika.

. The action scenes were outstanding, especially the one with Kutch and the final battle.

. I liked how creative Hal was with the ring.

The bad:

. The substitution of the Emotional Spectrum for the elements wasn't bad, but kinda unnecessary.

. Too much classic characters killed off!

. Sinestro got a little out-of-character sometimes. "I own your ass" being the best example.

. I had no problem with the Death-Star-Yellow-Battery, but it should had the Sinestro Corps symbol, like Sinestro's outfit.

. The lack of individual power batteries.

. The oath became an pledge of alliance instead of a key to unlock the Ring's power.

The ugly:

. Almost all the Redesigns.

 

[Ion Kenshin]

These things should really be in spoiler tags. Even though people have seen it technically it doesnt come out till tuesday. I have seen it already but I am purposely waiting till the 28th to post my review

 

[protocida]

Did YOU liked it?

 

[The Guard]

Why wouldn't you just post a review in spoiler tags?

 

[Ion Kenshin]

Did YOU liked it?

Im kinda in the middle about it...i need to watch it again

Why wouldn't you just post a review in spoiler tags?

I dunno

 

[SsM]

Okay, everyone has seen it but me.. I'm pissed now, I wouldn't even know where to look.


Darn you all, Good day!



I SAID GOOD DAY!

 

[Ion Kenshin]

My housemate brought it home he downloaded it ...no idea from where

 

[SsM]

I'm on the fence, I want to see it.. but I would much rather watch it on my 60" for the first time.

 

[Ion Kenshin]

oh we did watch it on a big screen...visually its quite good

 

[SsM]

oh we did watch it on a big screen...visually its quite good

I've heard the picture on the bluray is PERFECT

 

[Ion Kenshin]

I bet

 

[SsM]

I bet

The only complaints about the transfers I've read is that they enhanced and focused on the dialogue and the background Soundtrack lacks in areas like explosions

 

[Ion Kenshin]

Love your avvy by the way...I am thinking of getting a blue lantern tattoo after my GL one

 

[SsM]

Love your avvy by the way...I am thinking of getting a blue lantern tattoo after my GL one

Thanks, I've always thought if I were to ever get any type of tattoo, it would be Hal related in some way. It's never going to happen though :P


Post pics of yours in the tat thread when you get them!

 

[Ion Kenshin]

WIll do .,...it probably wont be for a while though

 

[protocida]

The Guardians were funny. t:

 

[BobJM]

The movie was kinda of a disappointment for me. Good, but not as great as I was thinking it would be.

Wonder Woman is still the best animated DC film.

 

[samsnee]

My video store put it out early so I watched it tonight. It was good, but it definitely felt more like a Sinestro story than a Hal Jordan one. I know they didn't want to retread what was in New Frontier, but I was surprised how quickly accepting Jordan was of everything. All the voice acting was quite good, as was the animation. I can't believe how many Lanterns they killed off though. Between this and Wonder Woman, the DC animated universe is miles ahead of Marvel.

 

[Dread]

A local DVD store in the neighborhood routinely sells DVD's before their street date, sometimes by a fortnight. This time they waited until about five days before the date to release GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT. This is the first DC Animated DVD I bought since BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS, which to be honest was very underwhelming. I've heard good things about the WONDER WOMAN animated one, but I never liked her enough to spend even $6 to rent it at Blockbuster. I'm not the biggest fan of Green Lantern, but I liked him in NEW FRONTIER (the comic and the animated film), as well enough in various animated TV shows, so I figured I would give it a shot.

Spoiler

While the DVD sticker boldly proclaims this as "the first GREEN LANTERN animated feature", that is only technically correct. While JUSTICE LEAGUE: NEW FRONTIER was hailed as a Justice League movie, Hal Jordon was all but the main character, getting the lion's share of the screen-time and character focus, as well as the climatic final victory (leaving even Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman in his dust). And the irony is that if anything, that movie/story focused more on who Hal Jordon was as a character, not as a superhero, than GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT does. What GL:FF does focus on is Jordon as a Green Lantern, joining the Corps, fighting aliens and saving Oa from Sinestro. It's more about action than characterization. If any character goes through massive growth, it is Sinestro. He goes from jaded anti-hero to raving villain in 77 minutes. That isn't to say that Hal Jordon isn't entertaining. He is more chiseled from the same rock as Flash Gordon or similar types; squared jawed definitive heroes with few flaws aside for a knack for one-liners and some impulsiveness. Which in the end are usually strengths. The problem of course is that since the 60's really, heroes usually are made to try to seem more human and to have some foibles, and Jordon usually never has any. Or at least he doesn't in this story. All of the Green Lanterns that have come after Jordon; John Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Kyle Rayner, have all been far more flawed and usually interesting as a result. Stewart had confidence issues, Guy is a complete jerk, and Kyle was an introverted artist before being empowered. The Bruce Timm JUSTICE LEAGUE story re-imagined Stewart as no-nonsense Marine turned Lantern, but still kept as a flaw some doubt as to whether he was losing his touch with humanity to either space or the ring itself. Hal Jordon usually has no time for such angst; he just says a macho punch-line while smashing the threat with a giant boot. Those who love Jordon love him for that simplicity, and those that don't find him outdated at best, bland at worst. GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT at least makes him a decent space action hero. Even if there is never any doubt that he will triumph in act three against all odds, through sheer grit, because he's acted that way since the first minute.

The other obvious limitation, to get it out of the way, is similar to SUPERMAN: DOOMSDAY. It is that the subject matter covered in this animated DTV has been covered in prior DC animation on TV. The gist is that Hal Jordon is tapped as Green Lantern, Sinestro immediately becomes the major villain with his yellow ring and that is that. While it hasn't been handled exactly the same as in this DTV, we have basically seen this story in SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES as well as in JUSTICE LEAGUE, and even a more comedic take in BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD. That said, I do think this animated DTV handles that story better than some of the aforementioned works, but it still isn't a story that will surprise anyone.

A major strength is the animation quality. For a DTV budget, it is very glorious; not far shy from some theatrical animated movies I have seen. The characters are all distinct and detailed without being too much so. The energy effects are amazing. People who always complain that the Green Lantern's aren't "imaginative" with their powers will get a kick out of all the crude, manly objects Hal makes with his ring. They're one half dumb, and the other half awesome. Hal Jordon is no artist, but he apparently has the will to, say, create an energy chair and use it to bash someone's head like any wrestler, before creating a giant boot to squish him, or a giant basket for carrying stuff. Yes, a giant PICNIC BASKET. They still were more interesting than what a TV episode budget usually allows. Even if you are not interested in Green Lantern, I would all but recommend a viewing just for the great animation of aliens and space battle action.

The cast assembled is up to par with the rest of the DC Animated features, using WB's budget to supply some notable TV actors that Marvel & Lion's Gate usually can't rely on. Christopher Meloni, star of LAW AND ORDER: SVU stars here as Hal Jordon and does a fine job. With a character like Jordon as he is written, Meloni more or less is in stock hero mode, but he has the voice for it. He delivers all his lines and punchlines fine, and it's a fine pick for Hal Jordon. I think David Boreanaz brought more spunk and flair to his role as Jordon in JL: NEW FRONTIER, but then again that Hal was a bit different than this one. Meloni's Jordon sounded older and had more authority, which was interesting since he was the "rookie" Lantern in the story (supposedly). Victor Garber, best known for ALIAS, plays Sinestro and he all but steals the show from Meloni, hitting all the tones right. While it is obvious that Sinestro will turn evil by the end (I mean with a name like that, the only way he could be more obviously a villain-in-waiting would be if he was named, I don't know, Evil McNasty), Garber plays it off as arrogant cynicism until the end when he has to rave a little. Michael Madsen takes a break from Quentin Tarentino projects to voice Kilowag, and while he's alright overall, I thought he sounded a little TOO rough and unpleasant until the end. I always imagined Kilowag sounding akin to the Thing, who can be tough and mean but still sounds like an honest pug; Madsen doesn't quite have that for Kilowag. Still, okay enough for me, as a casual DC fan. And yes, he does use the term, "Poozer/Pooser" a few times.

Kurtwood Smith, of ROBOCOP, STAR TREK II and especially THAT 70'S SHOW fame voices the villain Kanjor Ro, who has been animated a few times in JUSTICE LEAGUE and BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD. His design here is both interesting and a little mundane, and he is handled a bit more seriously than in past incarnations. He reminded me of many crime-lord alien figures in some STAR WARS games or minor media. It worked by and large for the film, as a minor villain who turns out to be working with Sinestro, who Sinestro ultimately finds expendable. Rounding out the cast are John Larroquette as Tomar Re, Tricia Helfer as Boodikka, Juliet Landau as Labella, and David L. Lander as Ch'p, because apparently a Green Lantern film could not be had without a talking squirrel with a ring. Larry Drake, Olivia d'Abo, Rob Paulsen, and William Schallert are also on hand with roles. Paulsen's had over 300 credited animation roles since 1981; all this was missing was Jim Cummings and Jennifer Hale for 90's animation voice work-horses.

Some complain that Hal Jordon's "origin" is only about 7-10 minutes long, but in some ways the entire film is his origin, his first major adventures as a Green Lantern, where he ends up having to save them all from one of their own. I thought it was handled sufficiently; his origin was done in one issue or less in the 50's, after all. He's a test pilot with an impulsive wisecracking nature until he's tapped to become Green Lantern by the dying Abin Sur. Sinestro and the other Lanterns at first distrust him but allow him to try out for the Corps before the Guardians, the blue midget founders of Oa. Jordon proves himself in battle and seems to bond most with Boodikka, who of course turns out to be in league with Sinestro. While the plot isn't anything ground breaking, it is executed very well, with some good lines, and some very exciting action sequences and chase scenes. Sinestro has hidden the source of Yellow Energy from the Guardians, which is the biggest threat to their Power Battery of green energy. Kanjor Ro knows it's location, but Sinestro decides to frame Hal for his murder to be rid of him and distract the Corps from his scheme. It soon crumbles and Sinestro gets his 21st century Yellow costume and his own Yellow Battery from the Weaponeers at Quard.

The only bit I didn't quite get was how Jordon manages to become "one" with the seemingly destroyed Battery crystal just by punching it. And how exactly is it restored and repaired at the end? I know Jordon is the manilest man who ever manned a man, and whatnot, but it did seem a little convenient because it was unexplained. They barely even mentioned standard Lantern tripes, such as willpower driving the ring's power. Even NEW FRONTIER made that a distinct mention twice.

Essentially, this is not a movie you pop in for extensive character drama or Eisner worthy plot writing. This is a movie you pop in because you want an excellently paced, storyboarded and animated space adventure with some rocking battles, a few amusing bits, some good lines (worthy of a PG-13 rating), and some solid performances by the entire cast. If you're a hardcore Green Lantern fan looking for a Geoff Johns mini series in under 90 minutes, you may be a little dismayed. But if you're a more casual or less obsessed GL fan, or just really want to see Hal Jordon kick the crap out of stuff for 77 minutes, this is for you. And yes, they even say the Oath at the end. They have to.

There are many cameos for eagle eyed DC and Green Lantern fans, including Carol Ferris with distinctive purple heels (purple is her motif as Star Sapphire).

Pretty good for a first flight. I wouldn't mind a second.

 

[cerealkiller182]

I think my fave Kilowag voice to date is DiMaggio from Duck Dodgers.

 

[protocida]

Hal Jordan has flawns. Before getting the ring, he was a conceived as*hole. After receiving it, he had authority issuas and was overly confident sometimes. Now, he has to deal with everything he commited during the time he was possesed by Parallax and face the repercussions of knowing the Universe is coming to an end, and he might be on the wrong side.

 

[Drakon]

A local DVD store in the neighborhood routinely sells DVD's before their street date, sometimes by a fortnight. This time they waited until about five days before the date to release GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT. This is the first DC Animated DVD I bought since BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS, which to be honest was very underwhelming. I've heard good things about the WONDER WOMAN animated one, but I never liked her enough to spend even $6 to rent it at Blockbuster. I'm not the biggest fan of Green Lantern, but I liked him in NEW FRONTIER (the comic and the animated film), as well enough in various animated TV shows, so I figured I would give it a shot.

I'm telling you personally that the Wonder Woman one was a lot better than you'd think. Especially the animation and art direction. MUCH better than I was expecting.