Official Green Lantern News & Discussion Thread - Part 9

[The Morningstar]

Yea. You know what sums this movie up for me? The flashback scene where we see Hal's dad burn up.

That should have been really emotional, really powerful. But it just wasn't, at all. It was like it was tacked on to give Hal some depth or something. It was actually kinda laughable.

 

[Marvin]

The way I describe it with TDK is that even though movies like SR and GL try to show the world coming to an end, in TDK you FELT like the world was coming to an end more. Scale/scope is almost insignificant compared to how well you can immerse and engage your audience in the action...and that depends on the filmmaker/writer.

"Look what I did to this city with a few drums of gas and a couple of bullets." - Joker, TDK

yea and look at what parallax did to new orleans with just a few dozen pixels and polygons.

all jokes aside Hal saved the galaxy if not more, lucious fox cough I mean bruce saved Gotham and maybe just that(cause ra's wouldn't play jokers game the way an un-intelligent wayne seems too).

 

[solidsnake86]

Yes. It's my site. Guess my attempt at a super secret handle failed, huh?

Just making sure because it would be a prick thing to do if you come off like him, knowing stuff about production and what not, and actually aren't, lol. I do remember you posted on this board a few years ago so i guess you made a new account.

You were privy to quite a bit of stuff and reading some of your articles you were expecting a different film. Was a lot of stuff cut from this film?

 

[KalMart]

As you can see, as a general rule, the better your film is; the better chance it has of making money.

Not exactly breaking news. Also not necessarily 100% can't miss, either. But I'd add to that it has to do something that catches audiences attention better than other films around it. If it's not the greatest story, then perhaps a type of spectacle that was previously almost inconceivable/unprecedented....like with Transformers, for example....to an extent that it's not completely destroyed by sub-par storytelling.

I do think there is a tiny bit of truth to some folks' hypothesis that this same movie would have done better if released 5-8 years ago, when the genre was less crowded. With movies like BB/TDK and Iron Man, the bar keeps getting set higher...and not just superhero movies, but all big-time franchise movies. These days, when there's so many things in the same genres, a movie has to distinguish itself in some way regardless of genre to stand out. Part of that is just being a very good film, and/or bringing something new (not just in look/specifics, but in style and approach/flair) to the cinematic viewing experience.

 

[Poni_Boy]

Just making sure because it would be a prick thing to do if you come off like him, knowing stuff about production and what not, and actually aren't, lol. I do remember you posted on this board a few years ago so i guess you made a new account.

You were privy to quite a bit of stuff and reading some of your articles you were expecting a different film. Was a lot of stuff cut from this film?

An insane amount. Sad

 

[KalMart]

yea and look at what parallax did to new orleans with just a few dozen pixels and polygons.

How did it feel?

all jokes aside Hal saved the galaxy if not more, lucious fox cough I mean bruce saved Gotham and maybe just that(cause ra's wouldn't play jokers game the way an un-intelligent wayne seems too).

Which one felt like more of a wild/visceral ride? Which one made you feel like you experienced/lived it more, instead of just watching it?



You don't need 3D, IMAX, or smell-o-vision to do that...you need good storytelling and good filmmaking. I have a feeling that more people would get more out of watching TDK on their iPod, than from watching GL in IMAX 3D.

 

[Metropolis_Man]

An insane amount. Sad

If so much was cut out then I hope we get some sort of extended cut with the Blu-ray release. See what they took away what could've made the movie more of a whole.

 

[solidsnake86]

An insane amount. Sad

For me, I didn't really care to see Oa more and the corps. I remember the original draft having more stuff with his family, and hector being a bit more fleshed out (not by much because his character arc was weak too but they chose a side with him, making him a creep). I just felt like those character moments were lacking to make it cohesive. They wanted to make hector sympathetic but they needed to show it. They really didnt point out how those 3 knew eachother. Also Hal's family was just tossed in there, that was one thing I like from the comics. The story of his father and disappointing his mother is great stuff and I can't believe they didnt put this in the film.

 

[S.A.A.D.]

I wonder how much of the cosmic stuff had to be left out.

 

[Marvin]

How did it feel?


Which one felt like more of a wild/visceral ride? Which one made you feel like you experienced/lived it more, instead of just watching it?



You don't need 3D, IMAX, or smell-o-vision to do that...you need good storytelling and good filmmaking. I have a feeling that more people would get more out of watching TDK on their iPod, than from watching GL in IMAX 3D.

agreed, just pointing it out.

for the record Begins falls into your example for me.

 

[Poni_Boy]

If so much was cut out then I hope we get some sort of extended cut with the Blu-ray release. See what they took away what could've made the movie more of a whole.

Slim to no chance of that. None of those scenes had finalized (or even partially done) effects. Not even suit renders. They ran out of money, hence, they were cut. Doubt anyone will officially see them released. Even Neville Page is bummed out by the cuts, which makes me so sad

 

[Metropolis_Man]

Slim to no chance of that. None of those scenes had finalized (or even partially done) effects. Not even suit renders. They ran out of money, hence, they were cut. Doubt anyone will officially see them released. Even Neville Page is bummed out by the cuts, which makes me so sad

I don't think anything other than "sad" can describe that. Maybe disappointing. Because hopes of a sequel are also looking bleak.

 

[KalMart]

An insane amount. Sad

If we know for sure that a lot more scenes/footage were shot and cut out...again, unless they were forced to remove them by higher-ups, it's a safe bet that they were removed for the sake of helping the pacing/momentum of the film. Choppy as it may have been, sometimes that's the lesser of two evils when compared to slow and cumbersome, even if there's more information.

At 1hr 40m, it's not like they were pushing the 2:30 to 3:00 mark and worrying about fitting more screenings in per day. So either the studio/execs/Johns gave an executive order to make it feel 'quicker', or the filmmaker/editor had to make it feel quicker compared to a crawl through thick mud with more scenes. And/or in combination, as you pointed out, they couldn't get effects finished in time.

 

[Poni_Boy]

If we know for sure that a lot more scenes/footage were shot and cut out...again, unless they were forced to remove them by higher-ups, it's a safe bet that they were removed for the sake of helping the pacing/momentum of the film. Choppy as it may have been, sometimes that's the lesser of two evils when compared to slow and cumbersome, even if there's more information.

No. They were cut because there was no money to finalize effects.

 

[solidsnake86]

No. They were cut because there was no money to finalize effects.

Then obviously Green Lantern is just to much even with the technology now if the budget has to be insane. They really should have attempted the flash first because GL is just way to ambitious of a film. But then they did it to themselves having the CG suits.

 

[KalMart]

No. They were cut because there was no money to finalize effects.

I just included that part in my post. But from the sounds of it...that's a LOT of unfinished effects if the film feels like it's missing so much....even after they pumped millions more into the effects later on. Again, it's hard to believe that's the only reason...aside from scenes that had to have effects. Because many are also saying that it felt that there were some basic transitional scenes missing, and arcs for characters that needed no effects, etc.

 

[KalMart]

On the other hand, it would also seem that the effects workload on a movie like Transformers is just as heavy in its own right, and just as important to the film....yet they seem to get it all done in time...and for less money...with a more expensive effects house.

 

[Poni_Boy]

Then obviously Green Lantern is just to much even with the technology now if the budget has to be insane. They really should have attempted the flash first because GL is just way to ambitious of a film. But then they did it to themselves having the CG suits.

I think they should have stayed with their original plan to film in New Zealand even though New Orleans gave them a 10% greater tax cut. Then Neville Page could have worked with WETA (original interested effects house) on the alien models and Oa -- i.e. more practical effects.

that would have been, at least, where to start doing things right from the beginning.

 

[solidsnake86]

Well not much they can do about it now, whats done is done. Really to bad, because they had pieces of what could have been a really good and fun movie.

 

[Poni_Boy]

I just included that part in my post. But from the sounds of it...that's a LOT of unfinished effects if the film feels like it's missing so much....even after they pumped millions more into the effects later on. Again, it's hard to believe that's the only reason...aside from scenes that had to have effects. Because many are also saying that it felt that there were some basic transitional scenes missing, and arcs for characters that needed no effects, etc.

Those traditional scenes had CG elements as well: Coast City being the major one, Hector Hammond second, Martin/Hal Jordan third. The other scenes involved the GL suit and aliens. Budget constraints were also the reason none of the GL's have their standard green "glow" which acts as protection and a live support system in space.

 

[dark_b]

Slim to no chance of that. None of those scenes had finalized (or even partially done) effects. Not even suit renders. They ran out of money, hence, they were cut. Doubt anyone will officially see them released. Even Neville Page is bummed out by the cuts, which makes me so sad

can you explain this? why is he sad? did he design something that was not in the movie?

 

[KalMart]

Those traditional scenes had CG elements as well: Coast City being the major one, Hector Hammond second, Martin/Hal Jordan third. The other scenes involved the GL suit and aliens. Budget constraints were also the reason none of the GL's have their standard green "glow" which acts as protection and a live support system in space.

So basically, even with $200M, they bit off way more than they could chew...except when it came to the actual storytelling and dialogue, which apparently could have just as easily come from a high-schooler.

Transformers did the same thing, but they had less money and got it all on the screen.

 

[solidsnake86]

The thing is, it must have cost a fortune to make all the corps member, and for what. It was fan service plain and simple, was it necessary to really show members for 2 seconds of screen time. They could have cut costs in a lot of ways starting with the whole corps. They could have done a core group of them with prosethics and saved so much money. Although fans would be complaining so its a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation.

 

[Marvin]

So basically, even with $200M, they bit off way more than they could chew...except when it came to the actual storytelling and dialogue, which apparently could have just as easily come from a high-schooler.

Transformers did the same thing, but they had less money and got it all on the screen.

And if anything that film is universally praised for it's effects alone. Studios really need to get the right people in place and the right direction tied down from the jump.

All arguments aside about which look to go for, the suits should have been practical for budgetary reasons alone. I mean Thor could have had the same issue's if they had to deal with some of the cg baggage of this film a la clash of the titans gods. It's would be somewhat rational if the suits were selling the tickets, but if anything....

Wasted money imo.
Can't remember the last time I was impressed with the effects in a wb movie.
I'm thinking the stuff in the matrix maybe.

 

[dark_b]

The thing is, it must have cost a fortune to make all the corps member, and for what. It was fan service plain and simple, was it necessary to really show members for 2 seconds of screen time. They could have cut costs in a lot of ways starting with the whole corps. They could have done a core group of them with prosethics and saved so much money. Although fans would be complaining so its a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation.

CGI aliens in 2010 were not hard. modeling,rigging and rendering is very simple nowdays. animation takes a long time. but the aliens in background didnt have complex movement.

i tell you the CGI suits on Hal and Sinestro were expensive as s.........

just matching the suit on hes body. just the wireframe took months. and even then they had to animate all the neck muscles and match them with Reynolds.

ohhh and changing Oa in the last months cost millions. remember the change? when you change the whole skyline then you need to change every Oa frame.