Green Lantern Box Office Prediction Thread - Part 1

[Episode29]

Seriously? I never would have believed that was possible. Those two movies are awful....GL can't be worse than them. Something must have gone really wacky to explain that.

Daredevil had the benefit of being the first superhero comic book movie to follow Spider-Man out of the gate. Audiences were eager to replicate the experience.

Ghost Rider had a cool-looking, eye-grabbing lead character. It also had a pretty slick trailer and was released before the point where there were 3 or 4 superhero movies per year.

Both also profited from opening in Februrary, an otherwise fairly quiet month.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Seriously? I never would have believed that was possible. Those two movies are awful....GL can't be worse than them. Something must have gone really wacky to explain that.

Daredevil's RT score: 45%

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/daredevil/

Ghost Rider's RT score: 27%

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ghost_rider/

Green Lantern's RT score: 25%

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/green_lantern/

Fan boys may get up in arms about it but this league is where GL belongs, the box office and critical response is proof.

 

[Raiden]

Daredevil had the benefit of being the first superhero comic book movie to follow Spider-Man out of the gate. Audiences were eager to replicate the experience.

Ghost Rider had a cool-looking, eye-grabbing lead character. It also had a pretty slick trailer and was released before the point where there were 3 or 4 superhero movies per year.

Both also profited from opening in Februrary, an otherwise fairly quiet month.

I remember reading about how some moviegoers went to see Daredevil, thinking that he is Spider-man. The red costume for DD probably helped to explain the confusion. As for GR, the casting of Nic Cage (who was still a relatively safe box office draw back then) imo contributed to the box office. And yes, the February release date helped alot, as well.

 

[craigdbfan]

Daredevil's RT score: 45%

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/daredevil/

Ghost Rider's RT score: 27%

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ghost_rider/

Green Lantern's RT score: 25%

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/green_lantern/

Fan boys may get up in arms about it but this league is where GL belongs, the box office and critical response is proof.

Laying down the truth. It sucks that it had to happen to GL but it's true.

 

[Raiden]

Daredevil's RT score: 45%

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/daredevil/

Ghost Rider's RT score: 27%

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ghost_rider/

Green Lantern's RT score: 25%

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/green_lantern/

Fan boys may get up in arms about it but this league is where GL belongs, the box office and critical response is proof.

IMO GL as a character is much more recognizable than either DD or GR. Therefore, it is baffling to me that it would take this long for GL to get a movie, and much later than either of these two Marvel superheroes. Then again, WW is one of the DC "trinity" and she couldn't even get a TV show right now.

 

[Hurm...]

Seriously? I never would have believed that was possible. Those two movies are awful....GL can't be worse than them. Something must have gone really wacky to explain that.

I believe another reason why this movie is failing is because the expectations as to what to expect from a comicbook movie has changed. Audiences want more from comic films now that the stakes have raised with the existence of TDK. Audiences just won't accept movies in the tone of Fantastic Four or Ghost Rider.

 

[KalMart]

I believe another reason why this movie is failing is because the expectations as to what to expect from a comicbook movie has changed. Audiences want more from comic films now that the stakes have raised with the existence of TDK. Audiences just won't accept movies in the tone of Fantastic Four or Ghost Rider.

I dunno...I think Iron Man's 'tone' was rather broad and upbeat...not exactly high-maintenance or too challenging, but it had a good sense of rhythm and wit about it, and was put together well enough not to let its flaws dictate the viewing experience. Not saying that's easy to do...no film is easy to do, good or bad....but I don't think it's too 'little' to ask these days. In fact, something like Iron Man works on sound fundamental levels that have worked in movies since their beginnings, and continue to work just as well when done well. Can't GL...or any character/franchise...do that too?

But again...besides the marketing and the such-and-such...there's got to be something with GL on a cinematic/filmmaking level that's just not hitting the right notes in order for it to even flirt with movies like Ghost Rider and Daredevil...in ANY poll/comparison. Like...if the first Xmen or Iron Man, being the exact same movies they were, had the exact level of marketing blunders and all, today, as GL did...I can't see them doing this badly or being this ill-received by critics, etc.. They're good enough movies that if you sat people down in front of them with no prior knowledge whatsoever that they were coming out, chances are they'd like what they saw.

Either that, or the marketing had to be so way off...and the critics so collectively on brain-leave...that this movie had to somehow be the greatest thing since sliced bread to even have a chance of overcoming that, and all it was was okay to good. It's not even comic-fan bewilderment...it's bewildering on a very basic, logical level...unless the movie was just really REALLY bad, which is hard to believe considering what they were working with.

 

[Hurm...]

I dunno...I think Iron Man's 'tone' was rather broad and upbeat...not exactly high-maintenance or too challenging, but it had a good sense of rhythm and wit about it, and was put together well enough not to let its flaws dictate the viewing experience. Not saying that's easy to do...no film is easy to do, good or bad....but I don't think it's too 'little' to ask these days. In fact, something like Iron Man works on sound fundamental levels that have worked in movies since their beginnings, and continue to work just as well when done well. Can't GL...or any character/franchise...do that too?

In general, Iron Man had an upbeat tone. BUT there were dramatic scenes in Iron Man that felt like the actor/actors were invested in. GL did not have any scenes of emotional value. That is what puts GL at Ghost Rider and FF level for me. GL felt like a big ol' joke.

 

[Deaths Head II]

Yeah, Iron Man had many very strong emotional scenes that made you care about the characters and what was going on despite the more fun tone it was going for. I think IM2 was largely missing those type of scenes aside from the scene of Tony and his dad.

 

[KalMart]

In general, Iron Man had an upbeat tone. BUT there were dramatic scenes in Iron Man that felt like the actor/actors were invested in. GL did not have any scenes of emotional value. That is what puts GL at Ghost Rider and FF level for me. GL felt like a big ol' joke.

Well, if that's true...yeah, that can put a damper on things.

Also, I think that RDJ and Paltrow made a very good pair onscreen...and their relationship was actually pretty complex and fun. You felt, as a viewer, that you wanted them both to break through a certain personal barrier to connect more with eachother.....and you felt rather rewarded when they would in just little pieces here and there. It was a fun 'will they/won't they' possible romance that didn't feel canned. Just good ol'-fashioned chemistry.

Plus, Jeff Bridges was the best live-action Lex Luthor yet...even though he wasn't actually Lex Luthor.

 

[Docker2.0]

I blame WB for trying to make everything dark................kind of anyway. Gl wasn't a dark movie but it should have had a Spidey feel to it. It did not. It also should have had easter eggs and a shared universe. Look how many threads are in the Cap and Thor forums because of this. I can't believe WB is so stupid not to have a shared universe. Man who's in charge of DCE?!

 

[Hurm...]

I think IM2 was largely missing those type of scenes aside from the scene of Tony and his dad.

Same here.

 

[Ita-KalEl]

I blame WB for trying to make everything dark................kind of anyway. Gl wasn't a dark movie but it should have had a Spidey feel to it. It did not. It also should have had easter eggs and a shared universe. Look how many threads are in the Cap and Thor forums because of this. I can't believe WB is so stupid not to have a shared universe. Man who's in charge of DCE?!

Agree. There was the infamous Superman/CK cameo but they decided to cancel it.

 

[Silver Surfer]

I blame WB for trying to make everything dark................kind of anyway. Gl wasn't a dark movie but it should have had a Spidey feel to it. It did not. It also should have had easter eggs and a shared universe. Look how many threads are in the Cap and Thor forums because of this. I can't believe WB is so stupid not to have a shared universe. Man who's in charge of DCE?!

Geoff Johns, who has apparently turned the comment feature of his Facebook page off and is blocking users on Twitter who "demand" answers to GL's misgivings

 

[Docker2.0]

Geoff Johns, who has apparently turned the comment feature of his Facebook page off and is blocking users on Twitter who "demand" answers to GL's misgivings

It was a rhetorical question becauase I know John's is in charge, kinda anyway. I honestly don't think it's John, it's those WB suits that have no clue what to do with a comic book property. How can John get comics and cartoons so perfect but yet ruin it with movies? No question it's the suits.

 

[Silver Surfer]

I wouldn't be too quick to blame the suits and let Geoff of the hook so easily

According to Deadline:

Hollywood is expecting director Martin Campbell to be made the scapegoat: he's already publicly suggested he won't be back if there's a sequel. Some point to Geoff Johns, DC Entertainment's chief creative officer who also writes the Green Lantern comics and was integrally involved (reputedly even the deciding vote) on every big decision.

 

[TheVileOne]

I think there is plenty of blame to go around including Ryan Reynolds.

 

[solidsnake86]

I think there is plenty of blame to go around including Ryan Reynolds.

Reynolds is the one person who I havent seen critics really harp on.

 

[Saitou Hajime]

I remember reading about how some moviegoers went to see Daredevil, thinking that he is Spider-man. The red costume for DD probably helped to explain the confusion.

Fox didn't exactly do anything to curb the confusion. Their trailers and TV spots made DD out to be some Burton Batman/Raimi Spider-Man hybrid.

 

[jmc]

Guys, you're making too many excuses as to why it failed, 'the concept was too out there, the tone wasn't right, bad marketing' etc, at the end of the day the film itself has to be good, not just good enough for a fan, not just serviceable, not average, it has to good enough that joe average wants to see it again and tell all his friends, family and workmates about it. The one tried and true formula to success is producing quality (with some exceptions).

 

[KalMart]

I wouldn't be too quick to blame the suits and let Geoff of the hook so easily

According to Deadline:

Y'know...if the choppy pacing/editing that so many people mention is a result of execs/Johns ordering stuff out or what have you, I can't imagine any self-respecting director wanting to come back either. If your film is going to be butchered by the people you're working for...or if the effects supervisors just couldn't get the shots done in time to use the scenes....what's the point aside from a paycheck? I don't think this will ruin his career since he's already got a solid enough resume.

 

[KalMart]

Guys, you're making too many excuses as to why it failed, 'the concept was too out there, the tone wasn't right, bad marketing' etc, at the end of the day the film itself has to be good, not just good enough for a fan, not just serviceable, not average, it has to good enough that joe average wants to see it again and tell all his friends, family and workmates about it. The one tried and true formula to success is producing quality (with some exceptions).

Hardest pill to swallow if true.

 

[jmc]

I just get the feeling that some fans are just trying to find reasons other than the bleeding obvious for it's bad box office. The reviews were poor, even the fan reviews I've seen are not glowing, some even down right angry, and if that's the case this film is the issue, not the concept. You can't blame joe average for thinking 'might skip this one'.

 

[Micromind]

Daredevil's RT score: 45%

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/daredevil/

Ghost Rider's RT score: 27%

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ghost_rider/

Green Lantern's RT score: 25%

DareDevil and Ghost Rider were released at the time when there was no high expectations from a comic book movie, it just needed to be entertaining, that is the bar was not raised (as is the case now post TDK, Iron Man.)

So, DD at 45 % and GR at 25 % is actually lower than GL at 25 % (as it is released in 2011, when there is a higher standard for cbms.)

I acknowledge that the GL movie has flaws and it should have been better, but the ratings at RT are not really fair.

 

[Silver Surfer]

By that logic Thor must be superior to every Batman film pre TDK, every Superman movie and all 3 spideys. Because it managed to achieve a good rating when standards are apparently so high.

GL is a bad film, comic book movie or not. It deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as DD and GR, fellow bad films