BvS Is anyone else not excited about Superman and Batman? I feel nothing but dread. - Part 2

[AnneFan]

...but what about a solo Green Lantern?

You really like using dat GIF.

 

[Travesty]

What gif?

 

[AnneFan]

What gif?

Oops, wrong terminology. I meant dat 'hmm' smiley.

 

[Rowsdower!]

No one was interested in solo GL because the film sucked.

Noooooooo it was because Hal is the most boring character ever and had it been about John Stewart it would have made a $23.7 billion dollars. NO ONE DENIES THIS.

 

[Travesty]

Oops, wrong terminology. I meant dat 'hmm' smiley.

I dunno, do I?

 

[dnno1]

No one was interested in solo GL because the film sucked.

No, there just wasn't enough people interested in the characteras evidenced by the poor performance of the animated series as well as the DTV animated movies, period. The character lacks the brand awareness that other characters like Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, The X-Men, and Iron Man had and the proof was in the pudding in the number of viewers. This is the real issue here. If you want to create a solo film franchise for a character, there should be some prior brand awareness first, else you are taking a big chance at not seeing box office success, and teaming these (weaker) characters up with the more popular ones is a safer way to gain that type of awareness. This is really not a rule, but a strategy.

 

[The Endless]

Up until 2008 GL had just as much brand awareness as Iron Man. Thor and Captain America were B-Listers at best too. The friggin Iron Man films grossed roughly the same as the TDK Trilogy. Just think about that for a second.

It doesn't matter how well known a character is. You make a great movie featuring them and they will take off in the public consciousness.

Watch Guardians of the Galaxy, which is a niche title even to comic book nerds, take off (as long as it isn't a total disaster).

 

[HaplessHenchman]

No, there just wasn't enough people interested in the characteras evidenced by the poor performance of the animated series as well as the DTV animated movies, period. The character lacks the brand awareness that other characters like Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, The X-Men, and Iron Man had and the proof was in the pudding in the number of viewers. This is the real issue here. If you want to create a solo film franchise for a character, there should be some prior brand awareness first, else you are taking a big chance at not seeing box office success, and teaming these (weaker) characters up with the more popular ones is a safer way to gain that type of awareness. This is really not a rule, but a strategy.

I agree with this except for the example of Iron Man. The GA did not know who Iron Man was before the first movie. Fortunately, Marvel had the perfect actor in RDJ to introduce the character to the masses.

Kind of proves that a lesser known character is risky but can be overcome with the perfect casting.

 

[metaphysician]

There's no evidence to suggest that Marvel's approach is the only one that works.

Yes, but there is also no evidence that any other approach *does* work. That still leaves the Marvel approach at the forefront, as they are the only one confirmed to actually work. "Yes" is kind of superior to "Maybe".

 

[dnno1]

I agree with this except for the example of Iron Man. The GA did not know who Iron Man was before the first movie. Fortunately, Marvel had the perfect actor in RDJ to introduce the character to the masses.

Kind of proves that a lesser known character is risky but can be overcome with the perfect casting.

Oh, yes, most of them should have, since the character had his own TV series back in the 1990's. He was also featured in episodes of the Spider-Man and Incredible Hulk animated TV series. Even, though it wasn't about him, the agelessly popular Black Sabbath Song, "Iron Man", also contributed to the awareness of his brand.

 

[The Endless]

Who watches cartoons though? Not many people really.

But to be fair, the Iron Man character is an easier sell to general audiences than the Green Lantern character. Even if you just look at their names. Iron Man. Or Green Lantern. Which one is hokier?

 

[Mandon Knight]

I think GL is a tough sell for a GA from the kick off, plus when I sat down at cinema to watch it, as the exposition starts immediately from Geoffrey Rush, I was thinking 'eh oh, this is going to blow the GA's mind'. It was way too wordy and had a set up necesary but over convulated, plus I think director and source material were a bad choice from the off. Campbell admitted he knew nothing of the character prior to taking the job, and I'm not saying every director must know inside out the dynamics of the CB universe but if you are introducing a character that is not known to a wider audience then tie in someone with a 'younger, sci-fi, outlook'.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Yeah, Green Lantern is a tougher sell and I would argue that he was more obscure to the GA than Iron Man, even BEFORE the movies. Even though the Black Sabbath song isn't about the comic book character, it still created some name recognition there. And I think most people were at least aware that there was a superhero called Iron Man, even though they might not have known much else about him.

 

[The Endless]

The annoying thing is Green Lantern had so much potential. So, so much.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Yeah, Green Lantern is a tougher sell and I would argue that he was more obscure to the GA than Iron Man, even BEFORE the movies. Even though the Black Sabbath song isn't about the comic book character, it still created some name recognition there. And I think most people were at least aware that there was a superhero called Iron Man, even though they might not have known much else about him.

Totally agree, if you placed a pic of both side to side, a GA member would struggle to name either but I bet you IM would get more correct gueses than GL plus with a GA you have to combat the fact that most with also mix up Green Lantern & Green Arrow.

 

[Mandon Knight]

I might add, I still really like the GL film though...

 

[The Endless]

I rarely hate films, because they are inanimate ****ing objects! (whoever gets the reference wins a cookie!)

But i actually hate Green Lantern. It's just such a massive waste of potential and i find nothing redeeming about it. Even Mark Strong's Sinestro, whilst awesomely played, is just totally wasted.

 

[Mandon Knight]

I rarely hate films, because they are inanimate ****ing objects! (whoever gets the reference wins a cookie!)

But i actually hate Green Lantern. It's just such a massive waste of potential and i find nothing redeeming about it. Even Mark Strong's Sinestro, whilst awesomely played, is just totally wasted.

It's in the casting, delivery of performance and structure. So many people are wrong for the roles in this film.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Including Martin Campbell for directing it. You don't get a guy who specializes in practical effects and practical action to direct CG-ladden space movie.

 

[The Endless]

Yea... whoever thought that was a good idea is an idiot.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Including Martin Campbell for directing it. You don't get a guy who specializes in practical effects and practical action to direct CG-ladden space movie.

Agreed, I touched on this higher up, completely wrong choice for director to material.

 

[regwec]

Yes, but there is also no evidence that any other approach *does* work. That still leaves the Marvel approach at the forefront, as they are the only one confirmed to actually work. "Yes" is kind of superior to "Maybe".

If that rationale was broadly applied, every movie since 1939 would be a Gone with the Wind knock-off.

 

[lanesrader]

anyone think it might have been better if Sinestro wouldve been a yellow lantern from the beginning? and then just have someone like Kilowog briefly explain Sinestros past with the Green Lantern?

 

[The Endless]

Yea i don't want to see DC going the Marvel route. They need to do something unique.

But they will need an "overseer" and studio mandates like Marvel. You won't be able to create a working continuity if each film maker from each property is given complete freedom. Just like the comics, the films need an "editor" to make sure everything matches up and is in-sync.

 

[Mandon Knight]

anyone think it might have been better if Sinestro wouldve been a yellow lantern from the beginning? and then just have someone like Kilowog briefly explain Sinestros past with the Green Lantern?

Given the hope for a sequel at the end, there was only ever going to be one way they would present the yellow lantern 'twist'. The problem the way it was shown in the film was it came from nowhere, no build up, no backstory, no warning in relation to where the film had just 'wound up' it's arc, so blatently sequel bait...