Official Green Lantern News & Discussion Thread - Part 9

[cryptic name]

haha yea literally... they showed all the best parts in the trailers. You could just watch the trailers again for the good parts and not have to put up with the horrible "character moments" if you can call them that.

I think Reynolds made some weak writing bearable.

 

[The Morningstar]

Agreed. First Flight was pretty awesome.

They should have gone that route, have Hal training for a lot longer. Show his relationship with Sinestro actually develop, so when Sinestro inevitably turns, it's more emotionally resonant.

I mean, Sinestro was awesome but he got what, 10 minutes screen time and ZERO development as a character? THEN they have him turn in a after credit scene?

 

[The Morningstar]

I think Reynolds made some weak writing bearable.

Well I can agree there. I kinda feel sorry for Reynolds and Mark Strong though. Strong was awesome but basically Sinestro got the shaft. Reynolds was decent for what he had to work with.

 

[craigdbfan]

I don't blame the actors either like it's been said they had very little to work with.

 

[SolidRoar]

I just want to know where was Geoff Johns in all this? Didn't we hear that WB was going to make all the DC movies as dark and serious as possible? Haven't they learned any lesson, yet? When are we going to hear any answers to the burning questions??

 

[Ra's Al Jinn]

As much as I want to enjoy this film, since I'm more of a DC fan than Marvel, I just can't... I enjoyed First Class more. The talent is there: there's nothing wrong with Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Saarsgaard and Mark Strong is pretty good at playing a strong dark character as always. With director Martin Campbell of Goldeneye, Casino Royale and The Mask of Zorro, I'm expecting more. The effects are also not bad. But the story is very, VERY thin. With a superhero film I'm expecting tense sequences (i'm not just talking about action scenes here) every minute... instead we go boring talky scenes in between the special effects sequences that does not forward the story, even though that's the purpose of those specific scenes.

6/10.

 

[Aesop Rocks]

This movie is about as lifeless as Abin Sur. I always knew Reynolds was a miscast, and the terrible script didn't help him any either. Only redeeming moments was the terribly misused Mark Strong's Sinestro. Parallax shouldn't have been as laughable of a villain as it is, Hector Hammond was unbearabe to watch, and Oa was wasted. Please, don't watch this movie.

1.5/5

 

[craigdbfan]

This movie is about as lifeless as Abin Sur. I always knew Reynolds was a miscast, and the terrible script didn't help him any either. Only redeeming moments was the terribly misused Mark Strong's Sinestro. Parallax shouldn't have been as laughable of a villain as it is, Hector Hammond was unbearabe to watch, and Oa was wasted. Please, don't watch this movie.

1.5/5

Exactly. Again such a waste of a great character and story.

Mishandled and badly executed. It's like their hearts might have been in the right place but completely tripped and fell down before the race even started.

 

[Aesop Rocks]

Personally, I was sitting there wanting to watch a Sinestro and Abin Sur movie. Introduce Hal at the ending. Or at least build up Hal's moment to becoming a Corps member.

 

[The Sage]

I think Reynolds made some weak writing bearable.

He definitely did.

I just want to know where was Geoff Johns in all this? Didn't we hear that WB was going to make all the DC movies as dark and serious as possible? Haven't they learned any lesson, yet? When are we going to hear any answers to the burning questions??

I'm sure he was there. I saw his story influences throughout the movie.

 

[Shazam]

I enjoyed movie (except for elements I created a thread to discuss) . Folks...it's a "origin" story. Most of them end up trying to introduce the hero's backstory. The kid's past, the romance, the villain....etc....If it were a 4 hour film, maybe we coulda got more training sequences....more Sinestro / Hal relationship .....more Guardians....more Abin Sur . But it's a 90 + minute film. They did good!

 

[def28]

Flicks a mess. Wanted to like it, but there is zero weight to anything and the scenes are very rushed and random. There are good parts but they are very very far in between. Far from epic. Great cast, great crew but ****ing terrible script.

Mark Strong did own the flick though. I bought every word he said even though it was ridiculous bs.

 

[phillyboy]

I enjoyed movie (except for elements I created a thread to discuss) . Folks...it's a "origin" story. Most of them end up trying to introduce the hero's backstory. The kid's past, the romance, the villain....etc....If it were a 4 hour film, maybe we coulda got more training sequences....more Sinestro / Hal relationship .....more Guardians....more Abin Sur . But it's a 90 + minute film. They did good!

That has to be the worst excuse I've ever heard. Batman Begins, Superman: The Movie, Iron Man, SpiderMan, - all origin movies, all well done.

Batman Begins training montage worked much better, even though it lasted maybe 5 mins, but you could clearly see it happened over a period of time- be it days, weeks, or months. It wasn't a 5 minute scene that happened in real time. That's not training. That's barely an introduction.

 

[FreeRadical]

I just want to know where was Geoff Johns in all this? Didn't we hear that WB was going to make all the DC movies as dark and serious as possible? Haven't they learned any lesson, yet? When are we going to hear any answers to the burning questions??

Geoff Johns was involved in every major decision in the film:

http://www.deadline.com/2011/06/green-lantern-makes-3-35m-midnights/

 

[The Morningstar]

That has to be the worst excuse I've ever heard. Batman Begins, Superman: The Movie, Iron Man, SpiderMan, - all origin movies, all well done.

Batman Begins training montage worked much better, even though it lasted maybe 5 mins, but you could clearly see it happened over a period of time- be it days, weeks, or months. It wasn't a 5 minute scene that happened in real time. That's not training. That's barely an introduction.

Yea, it was really quite pathetic really.

Hal LITERALLY had about 10 minutes worth of training. Where he got his ass handed to him.

Then after his cute girlfriend spoon feeds him the whole "you can overcome fear" crap... he turns into this awesome Green Lantern who can defeat the civilisation destroying, Abin Sur murdering Parralax?

Horrible. Horrible. Horrible. Undeniable.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Agreed. First Flight was pretty awesome.

They should have gone that route, have Hal training for a lot longer. Show his relationship with Sinestro actually develop, so when Sinestro inevitably turns, it's more emotionally resonant.

I mean, Sinestro was awesome but he got what, 10 minutes screen time and ZERO development as a character? THEN they have him turn in a after credit scene?

Yeah, again, there was no weight to anything.

I liked how after Hal destroyed Parallex, him, Kilowog and Tomar Re were there.

I wished they kept the ending to the first draft with Hal and Sinestro looking down at earth and then flying into space.

But man, the Earth scenes should have been more of the focus. Because you can't believe in the Oa and action and the other elements without investing in the Earth characters. Instead of wasting on the opening sequences, save that **** for later. Start with Hal and his childhood. Just do something with the death of his father. Make them flashbacks throughout and develop the death scene as you go along and don't reveal his death till when he gives up on Oa or something. And bring the family in more. Not a lot, but they were only in one scene. The hell was that? What was the point in having them there?

 

[Troy_Parker]

Hey! I found the poster I was talking about, the one of him without a mask.

It's a little small but yeah. lol.

 

[The Morningstar]

Yeah, again, there was no weight to anything.

I liked how after Hal destroyed Parallex, him, Kilowog and Tomar Re were there.

I wished they kept the ending to the first draft with Hal and Sinestro looking down at earth and then flying into space.

But man, the Earth scenes should have been more of the focus. Because you can't believe in the Oa and action and the other elements without investing in the Earth characters. Instead of wasting on the opening sequences, save that **** for later. Start with Hal and his childhood. Just do something with the death of his father. Make them flashbacks throughout and develop the death scene as you go along and don't reveal his death till when he gives up on Oa or something. And bring the family in more. Not a lot, but they were only in one scene. The hell was that? What was the point in having them there?

I thought there was too much of Earth.

I think the first third of it should have been on Earth, with some great character work. Build the characters up so you care for them.

Then once Hal gets the ring and goes to Oa... keep him there for the rest of the movie. Show him developing as a Green Lantern, earning the respect of the others in training or on actual missions etc.

The main threat should have been the Manhunters, have the finale set on Oa where the Manhunters attack, and Hal proves his worth in the heat of battle.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

I just want to know where was Geoff Johns in all this? Didn't we hear that WB was going to make all the DC movies as dark and serious as possible? Haven't they learned any lesson, yet? When are we going to hear any answers to the burning questions??

According to that one article that was posted Johns had the final word on every major decision.

 

[The Morningstar]

The movie was pretty much like a Geoff Johns GL comic come to life.

That's why it sucked.

 

[Primal Slayer]

If this movie gets a sequel hopefully they work out all these kinks and have a great script to work with.

 

[KalMart]

If this movie gets a sequel hopefully they work out all these kinks and have a great script to work with.

Or stop for a while, start over and do it right from the outset.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I thought there was too much of Earth.

I think the first third of it should have been on Earth, with some great character work. Build the characters up so you care for them.

Then once Hal gets the ring and goes to Oa... keep him there for the rest of the movie. Show him developing as a Green Lantern, earning the respect of the others in training or on actual missions etc.

The main threat should have been the Manhunters, have the finale set on Oa where the Manhunters attack, and Hal proves his worth in the heat of battle.

Hmm... that would have been interesting. But I always thought fist you should develop Hal's relationships with everyone on Earth first. You need to go back to them at the end of the film. I think the problem with the Earth scenes were that they were so damn bland and thin to be interesting.

You should first establish who Hal is first who and what surrounds him that makes him like this. Then throw in the GL Corps into the plot. If you understand Hal, then you will pull for him on Oa. Develop a bit camaraderie with Sinestro and such. The sequels would give time to delve into the mythology so much more. But for here, in order for Hal to overcome fear, it all goes back to his father and the people he's let down. I really though the first draft balanced these things well, despite its flaws.

A great ending would have been Hal flying the jet without fear and letting go of the memories that plagued him.

I'd be great if his family showed up to the airfield. He says his goodbyes to them and Carol. He lets Jack hold onto his ring for a bit. He then goes into the plane as Hal and flies high as he can, with the good memories of his father, he finally lets go. It would be a very cathartic moment. Then while Jack is holding the ring, it flies out of his hand and goes upwards into the sky, Hal floats out of the jet and transforms into the GL suit, then from the sky he flies up into space and meets Sinestro.

Imagine something like this song juxtaposed against this scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEVCE6aTmhw

 

[The Morningstar]

Yea, look at all good movie franchises/trilogies. The first movie is usually always good.

Starting a franchise with a bad movie? Ehhh...

 

[Nitrobot]

Hey! I found the poster I was talking about, the one of him without a mask.

It's a little small but yeah. lol.