Green Lantern Script Review

[Keyser Soze]

WOW! Talk about coming online to good news!

Great to see this could really be moving forward now. The script's not only done, but it's GOOD! And what's more, the studio like it too. Things definitely seem promising for this to start progressing rapidly from here.

"Secret Origins" is currently serving as my Hal Jordan origin story, I've not read "Emerald Dawn". As a result, I'm unfamiliar with Legion. But the addition of Hector Hammond as an Earth-based threat suggests they're at least taking bits and pieces from "Secret Origins" as well. But if they take anything from Johns, I hope it's the nuanced, morally-murky characterisation of Sinestro. Judging by the nuggets of info here, it seems like they'll be slow-boiling his descent into villainy, which is fine by me.

I'll be eagerly awaiting new developments!

 

[Keyser Soze]

Hm... intriguing. I love Green Lantern to death, so this is great news.

It sounds a little close to Emerald Dawn for my tastes (I would prefer something closer to Johns' presently ongoing "Secret Origin"), and frankly Legion is kind of uninteresting. However, I appreciate that they're not chickening out and raping diluting the source material. It's sounds like a faithful, respectful take on Green Lantern, which is a dream come true. I hope they can make Legion more interesting than he was in ED, or at least compensate with whatever it is they end up doing with Sinestro. I would prefer for Sinestro to be the main villain (who Johns is doing brilliant things with, by the way), but... I'll take what I can get.

Thank God they've managed to hang onto the scale of it; not keeping it entirely on Earth. A good Green Lantern film, like Iron Man, is something I never really expected to happen, so if it were to happen... well, my happiness would be immeasurable. So I hope this project doesn't get butchered between here and there.

Like I said above, I'm new to the world of "Green Lantern" (like many, Sinestro Corps War was my jumping-on point), so "Secret Origins" is serving as my introduction to Hal Jordan's backstory. I've not read Emerald Dawn, so can't comment on the character Legion, or how good/bad he is.

However, judging by these tidbits of info, it seems like perhaps Legion could serve as a first act Macguffin, making way for the film's primary antagonist (Hector Hammond, or maybe Sinestro) to make his presence known in the climax.

 

[TheVileOne]

it seems to me that anyone is hollywood can make a special effects laden movie. Brett Ratner made Jessica Simpson music videos before X3 and that looked great. The script is the thing, if that is bad then the movie is dead before it begins.

X3 was not Ratner's first movie. He'd done big budget movies before. Unfortunately most of them were trash.

Also I veto the Clark cameo. Firstly the status of the superman franchise is uncertain and if this leads to justice league without Routh it would just look bad. Secondly, this is a Green Lantern movie lets not have a cameo that suggests Hal is second best before we even begin. (I can't imagine a cameo that basically says Hal is better than Superman either)

Justice League is dead. Also if they were to do this movie, it means all bets on JL are off and you can use Routh in this movie.

Solution. Problem solved. Why does a cameo say that hall is better? Not sure where you come up with that nonsense.

I hope Berlanti stays on GL, seems like this is his baby. And as for those arguments along the lines of "He hasn't done anything like this before" Well, look what Lucas did with A New Hope, before that, he did American Graffiti, and who'd of thunk he could do a space epic?

Give Berlanti a chance to show us what he can do

He did do the sci-fi movie THX. This doesn't exactly mean that Berlanti would turn out to be an early level George Lucas.

Look at Mark Steven Johnson. First he did crap like Grumpier Old Men and Simon Birch, then he did that awful Daredevil movie followed by an awful Ghost Rider movie.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Look at Mark Steven Johnson. First he did crap like Grumpier Old Men and Simon Birch, then he did that awful Daredevil movie followed by an awful Ghost Rider movie.

Of course, on the flipside you have Jon "Elf" Favreau going on to make "Iron Man".

Not that I'd object to bringing in a more experienced director. And I don't think they'd necessarily need to go for an obvious choice, IE someone who's already worked in the sci-fi genre. Bringing in Christopher Nolan to direct "Batman Begins" turned out to be a stroke of genius, after all.

 

[Philly Phanboy]

I dont know how i'd feel about Miller directing. On one hand, he seems like a capable director who'd probably be a good fit for the movie. On the other hand, I hate him with a passion for the fact that he almost brought that terrible, terrible Justice League Mortal to life. I just dont think I can trust someone with that bad of judgement.

I would say that Miller's vision of JL:Mortal was dated and would be a lousy basis for a comic adaptation series when movie goers are getting such quality adaptations coming from Nolan, Raimi, Snyder, and del Toro. We'll have to wait and see what Miller's involvement in GL will amount to but we can be sure that it will be done in Australia using his same connections.

Who will that give us as Hal? Sam Worthington, Cameron Daddo, Martin Campbell or Andy Whitfield?

 

[The Major]

Of course, on the flipside you have Jon "Elf" Favreau going on to make "Iron Man".

Fav did a sci-fi film before Iron Man. It was Zathura. He did a good job with it. He also has much more directing experience before he got IM, too.

It was still a major risk Marvel took with him.

Berlanti is a far bigger risk as a director then Fav was on his project.

Not that I'd object to bringing in a more experienced director. And I don't think they'd necessarily need to go for an obvious choice, IE someone who's already worked in the sci-fi genre.

Why is an obvious choice bad? Isn't it a good thing to hire someone you know with a resume to back them in that task could do a good job on a movie in the genre it's in?

Considering how GL could go into limbo for a decade or longer if he screws up the movie shouldn't they be trying less risky things when they can avoid it? GL aint Batman.

Bringing in Christopher Nolan to direct "Batman Begins" turned out to be a stroke of genius, after all.

Nolan made some critically acclaimed movies in a genre similar to Batman's and is primarily a director not a producer or screenwriter.

His cinematic style would be easy to tell that it could benefit a Batman movie, too.

It wasn't that big a leap to see how he fit to direct Batman's franchise. It is for Berlanti with GL.

 

[TheVileOne]

Of course, on the flipside you have Jon "Elf" Favreau going on to make "Iron Man".

Elf was a good movie, it was also a big hit. Also MADE, which no one wants to talk about. Another movie he did. He co-wrote and co-produced SWINGERS. He also did Zathura. Iron Man was the 4th directorial movie for Favreau, it was hardly his second picture.

Not that I'd object to bringing in a more experienced director. And I don't think they'd necessarily need to go for an obvious choice, IE someone who's already worked in the sci-fi genre. Bringing in Christopher Nolan to direct "Batman Begins" turned out to be a stroke of genius, after all.

Nolan at least had some impressive credits to his name going into Batman. Someone like Berlanti doesn't as far as directing goes. Same with Johnson before Daredevil.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Why is an obvious choice bad? Isn't it a good thing to hire someone you know with a resume to back them in that task could do a good job on a movie in the genre it's in?

I'm not saying they SHOULDN'T go for an obvious choice. Just that bringing in a great director who you'd never think of doing a film like this - I don't know who specifically, like...off the top of my head... a Paul Greengrass, or someone like that - could create a really interesting dynamic.

 

[matrix_ghost]

I don't know that much about Green Lantern but i'd love to see a Green Lantern movie. And i'd definately be happy with Miller directing this.

While i do agree withalot of you guys that Greg Berlanti could be given achance to direct this movie , i can understand why WB ( or maybe Berlanti himself) decides to go with a more experienced director.
Assuming that the script is really epic , you do need a director with experience in VFX , directing your actors and not to mention being able to coordinate various departements on such a grand scale.

Many "small"time directors who went on to direct bid budget blockbusters slowly progressed with bigger movies.
Francis Lawrence began as a music video director. He then made Constantine , which is a big budget VFX movie but nowhere near the scale of I AM LEGEND .
Brian Singer began with character driven movies like Apt Pupil and the Usual Suspects which was then followed by X1 , X2 and finally Superman Returns.
The Wachowski's went from a 5 million dollar movie ( bound) to a 65 million dollar movie ( The Matrix) to 2 back-to-back shot movies costing 300 million.
Gore Verbinski began with movies like Mouse Hunt and the Mexican before making epic stuff like POTC.
Even superhero directors like Nolan ( the following , memento , insomnia , batman begins , the prestige and dark knight) and Jon Favreau ( elf , zathura and Iron Man) made bigger and bigger movies before settling on the big blockbusters.

I'll post the CS article when it was announced that Berlanti would direct the movie :
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=38854

Greg Berlanti Directing Green Lantern
Source: Variety October 29, 2007


Warner Bros. has set Greg Berlanti to direct Green Lantern, a live-action take on the DC Comics superhero, reports Variety.

Berlanti will write the script with Marc Guggenheim and Michael Green. Donald De Line will produce; Andrew Haas is executive producer.

Berlanti has served as writer and executive producer on character-driven TV series "Dirty Sexy Money," "Brothers & Sisters," "Everwood," "Jack & Bobby" and "Dawson's Creek." He previously directed 2000 feature The Broken Hearts Club.

Green Lantern was created in 1940. Hal Jordan, a second-generation test pilot, is an ordinary man who has been charged with defending a sector of the universe.

Guggenheim, who works with Berlanti as a writer-producer on "Brothers & Sisters," wrote the Marvel comic books "Amazing Spider-Man," "Wolverine" and "Blade." Green, the "Heroes" co-executive producer who worked with Berlanti on "Everwood" and "Jack & Bobby," wrote the Marvel Comics title "Superman/Batman" and was a writer-producer on "Smallville."

Berlanti has directed only 1 movie. Which cost 1 million.
So like i said .
I can understand why WB is going for someone with a little more experience

Also like some of you said. It should'nt be a total loss.
He could be first AD or 2nd unit director.

 

[The Major]

I'm not saying they SHOULDN'T go for an obvious choice.

Okay.

Just that bringing in a great director who you'd never think of doing a film like this - I don't know who specifically, like...off the top of my head... a Paul Greengrass, or someone like that - could create a really interesting dynamic.

True.

I just don't think it should be the first option if someone else who is more suited to the project wants to do it and has a great story to tell with the franchise.

What's Greengrass done? I've heard his name before. Just can't place where.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Okay.




True.

I just don't think it should be the first option if someone else who is more suited to the project wants to do it and has a great story to tell with the franchise.

What's Greengrass done? I've heard his name before. Just can't place where.

Greengrass directed "The Bourne Supremacy" and "The Bourne Ultimatum", as well as the excellent "United 93".

 

[matrix_ghost]

Okay.




True.

I just don't think it should be the first option if someone else who is more suited to the project wants to do it and has a great story to tell with the franchise.

What's Greengrass done? I've heard his name before. Just can't place where.

He made Bourne 2 and 3.

But plz not Greengrass. Unless you want the whole movie filmed with a shaky cam

 

[The Major]

Greengrass directed "The Bourne Supremacy" and "The Bourne Ultimatum", as well as the excellent "United 93".

Marvel should get him to direct a new DD or Punisher flick. He'd probably make a good future Batman or Green Arrow (after Supermax) director, too.

 

[Lobo]

I would say that Miller's vision of JL:Mortal was dated and would be a lousy basis for a comic adaptation series when movie goers are getting such quality adaptations coming from Nolan, Raimi, Snyder, and del Toro. We'll have to wait and see what Miller's involvement in GL will amount to but we can be sure that it will be done in Australia using his same connections.

Who will that give us as Hal? Sam Worthington, Cameron Daddo, Martin Campbell or Andy Whitfield?

I'm going to predict Duhamel will be Hal Jordan

 

[Philly Phanboy]

I'll bet 75% Worthington and 25% Whitfield based on previous Miller casting rumors.

 

[The Major]

Phillip:

Why Worthington?

Who's Whitfield?

 

[Philly Phanboy]

Miller as director guarantees an Australian skew to the production.

Worthington is easily the hottest young Aussie actor and he fits the age and pay scale criteria. Whitfield is a talented up and coming actor that Miller looked at when he was looking for a Batman for JL.

 

[The Major]

Miller as director guarantees an Australian skew to the production.

Agreed.

Worthington is the easily the hottest young Aussie actor and he fits the age and pay scale criteria. Whitfield is a talented up and coming actor that Miller looked at when he was looking for a Batman for JL.

Thanks.

I didn't know either was Australian.

Worthington is a great up-and-comer in Hollywood.

Haven't seen Whitfield in anything that I know of.

 

[Octoberist]

If Miller gets the gig, I wouldn't complain.

And if people got jaded by Justice League, let it go. I didn't happen so I don't think people should have grudge against Miller at all.

 

[designerd]

C´mon guy let´s make a petition asking Miller to direct. This movie is gonna be awesome!

 

[Keyser Soze]

C´mon guy let´s make a petition asking Miller to direct. This movie is gonna be awesome!

I dunno...

If you can get a more established director than Berlanti attached, then by all means go for it. But shouldn't they be aiming a bit higher than George Miller? No offense to the guy's work, he's made some quality films in his time. But "Mad Max" was a long time ago.

 

[Saint]

Indeed. Whedon, says I! Whedon for everything!

 

[Spade]

Would Whedon get involved, though? I haven't heard what his stance on WB movies are since the Wonder Woman project fell through.

 

[Dark Knight]

What "oddball off the mark" ideas do you know that George Miller actually proposed for JL? Yeah, nobody was crazy about the cast, but Patrick Sauriol was the only one who really broke with any legitimate details about the script and there was nothing in his description that was "oddball off the mark".

George Miller might not have the cutting edge kewl factor due to his time spent exploring other genres and family films, but he's an award winning director, who has worked well with actors, has experience in action, and has an interest in cutting edge technologies.

He hasn't directed a live action film in a loooooong time....and there were reports from crew members that said the JL film had some good elements but also had plenty of not so good elements. Plus the man wanted to cast guys names Arm and Hammer and DJ Corona as Batman and Superman?? Those type of decisions has me questioning his rational and judgement. I mean if Clark Kent makes a cameo in this GL film....will he cast DJ Corona or someone else other than Routh as Clark?? That wouldn't be good IMO.

 

[The Major]

Would Whedon get involved, though? I haven't heard what his stance on WB movies are since the Wonder Woman project fell through.

Whedon said he'd be back to WW in a heartbeat if Silver was passionate about it and knew what he wanted to do with the franchise.

That's no problem with Berlanti.

Would Berlanti play nice with another director taking over?

I don't know how Whedon feels about GL, either.

Personality, I'd like him to direct it.