The Official Flash Thread

[cerealkiller182]

there are great actors that would be great in superhero movies. what moron said liam neeson should play superman? i mean logical fans will pick logical actors.

look at tobey maguire. he doesn't fit your scenario that just b/c he's good doesn't mean he should be a superhero. no one thought of maguire and he became spider-man. has he ever had a wise cracking, spider-man-esque role? no. he got the role b/c he was a good actor. he never seemed spider-man like before he played spider-man.

Just because no one thought of him doesnt mean he doesnt fit the scenario. Maguire made a career off playing a number of geeky people and being a very solid actor. Not crazy good, but more than capable. He screamed Peter Parker. The only thing he really had against him was his body type which at this point people should now you dont have to cast a bodybuilder in order for whoever cast to have muscles. Who would have been an incredibly bad Spiderman would have been Michael Biehn who was actually up for the role once, because he is simply to badass to play a lab geek turned annoying but endearing superhero.

Of course there are great actors who would be great in superhero movie, but the only thing Gosling has going is acclaim and blonde hair. Thats the only reason people are thinking of him. This means he would do great. I'll never deny that. But that doesnt make him perfect for the role. Theres that extra something that allows the actors to fully embody the character. And it calls for a little typecasting, but strategic, logical typecasting. Robert Downey Jr is a the best Tony Stark because he has history playing likeable jackasses and witty fast-talkers, but he has excelled in other roles and getting extra acclaim for his role as Charlie Chaplin, that means when he has to, he can go above and beyond the archetype, which was called of him in Iron Man.

 

[Sub-Zero]

i'm not saying he's perfect, but i did say that he would be good in the role b/c he's a good actor. you talk like gosling isn't capable of being the character b/c he usually plays darker roles. that doesn't mean he can't, that means that he chooses not to take on lighter roles. you keeps saying that he's not perfect, but neil mcdonough or james roday wouldn't be perfect either.

 

[GoblinWhirlwind]

James Roday would be much more perfect than Gosling.

 

[Sub-Zero]

meh. i'm not behind gosling 100% to keep this argument going. how close is this to getting green lit?

 

[cerealkiller182]

i'm not saying he's perfect, but i did say that he would be good in the role b/c he's a good actor. you talk like gosling isn't capable of being the character b/c he usually plays darker roles. that doesn't mean he can't, that means that he chooses not to take on lighter roles. you keeps saying that he's not perfect, but neil mcdonough or james roday wouldn't be perfect either.

First of all, you asked why not Gosling, since everyone treats him like hes Johnny Depp suggesting him for every role lately. After I explained why Gosling isnt that great, you continued to engage me in this debate, but I never implied you said he was perfect, I spoke in plain generalities.

Second, never said Gosling isn't capable. In fact, i repeatedly said he would do a good job, but he is hardly the shoe-in everyone makes him out to be, and I believe they could do better. But people dont consider "better" options because Gosling will generally have more cinematic acclaim than the others. Look at the Catwoman thread and the thousands of people who think its impossible to argue against Angelina Jolie because she is sexy and acclaimed and cannot believe that some suggest other actresses as better options.

I never said Neil McDonough is perfect. I said I liked him better than Gosling and I am not 100% on him. But that was for Barry. For Wally, Roday is perfect. He has a great sense of humor, a charming screen presence, even when dealing with the more serious stuff involved in his show, he has an air of light-heartedness (word?), and he has had instant compatibility with the number of guest stars on "Psych." When it comes to smart-aleky, underestimated, super-friendly Wally West, Roday is spot on. And frankly because of Rodays age and the fact that Wally West's story, that is sidekick graduating to superhero and living in predessor's shadow, is much more compelling than an other humble "Do-Right" getting powers.

 

[Sub-Zero]

idk. i think our debate was more about acclaimed actors shouldn't always be considered. we kinda agreed on that, and that acclaimed actors who could pull it off should be considered. neither of us thinks gosling would be perfect, but actors can surprise us. i just don't think you should completely rule somebody who's a good actor and kinda looks the part out just b/c he's mentioned as much as depp.

i like psych, but i'd hate to seem him always play that role. we know he can, but do we need to see it over and over? its like the pine as green lantern debate where people think kirk and hal are too similar in characterization to be played by the same guy.

i just don't care enough about gosling as flash to continue debating. i'm sure someone else will come about when they actually decide to green light this.

 

[Project862006]

hows ben foster yes he was angel in x3 but he has the look down

 

[cerealkiller182]

idk. i think our debate was more about acclaimed actors shouldn't always be considered. we kinda agreed on that, and that acclaimed actors who could pull it off should be considered. neither of us thinks gosling would be perfect, but actors can surprise us. i just don't think you should completely rule somebody who's a good actor and kinda looks the part out just b/c he's mentioned as much as depp.

Thats not why, and I have noted why I dont want him for Flash. Its because his acclaim has come for playing characters that are archetypically the exact opposite of either Flashes. The only reason I even brought up Depp was to show that once an actor gets a certain level of acclaim, people just mention their names and believe that that would be enough for them to get the role. That and as a pretty big movie buff, acclaim and talent are not necessarily one and the same, and actors such as Sam Rockwell, who is fantastic and more talented than quite a few of the actors today is still stuck as supoort and the occaisonal indie flick.

 

[Sub-Zero]

Thats not why, and I have noted why I dont want him for Flash. Its because his acclaim has come for playing characters that are archetypically the exact opposite of either Flashes. The only reason I even brought up Depp was to show that once an actor gets a certain level of acclaim, people just mention their names and believe that that would be enough for them to get the role. That and as a pretty big movie buff, acclaim and talent are not necessarily one and the same, and actors such as Sam Rockwell, who is fantastic and more talented than quite a few of the actors today is still stuck as supoort and the occaisonal indie flick.

i get ya. i agree about rockwell. he was pretty good in choke, even though it strayed from the book. i bet he'll be great in iron man 2.

 

[Evil Twin]

Thats not why, and I have noted why I dont want him for Flash. Its because his acclaim has come for playing characters that are archetypically the exact opposite of either Flashes.

The "exact opposite" is a vast overstatement. Where does that leave actors like Peter Dinklage or Linda Hunt or Samuel L. Jackson or Alan Rickman? Closer to The Flash than Gosling?

I'd even go so far as saying that Gosling's performance in Lars and the Real Girl as he comes out of his geeky shell during the latter portion of the movie, is somewhat the direction you want for Barry Allen. Maybe a little socially awkward, but genuine and likable. Just a lot less troubled. The ability to be a likable guy is certainly one of the more appealing qualities of The Flash and Gosling is proven capable of playing that.

Which isn't to say that he's necessarily the perfect choice, but I think he's far closer to that than you're giving him credit for. Especially since he undoubtedly has the acting chops to carry a feature film.

 

[cerealkiller182]

The "exact opposite" is a vast overstatement. Where does that leave actors like Peter Dinklage or Linda Hunt or Samuel L. Jackson or Alan Rickman? Closer to The Flash than Gosling?

Why would they be closer? Some of these excuses get out of hand. "So Linda Hunt is better for the Flash in your opinion?" Obviously not. That is the real overstatement.

Which isn't to say that he's necessarily the perfect choice, but I think he's far closer to that than you're giving him credit for. Especially since he undoubtedly has the acting chops to carry a feature film.

Are people reading my posts? I said in each post Gosling would do undoubtedly good (just not the best), I was only arguing against the idea that people name drop Gosling for so many roles just because hes acclaimed and doesnt necessarily bring anything to the role. Flash is a far better choice for Gosling that Hal Jordan was, thats for damn sure. But everytime someone disagrees with a Gosling type actor everyone is dumb-founded because he's so critically acclaimed. That only gets you so far.

 

[Evil Twin]

Why would they be closer? Some of these excuses get out of hand. "So Linda Hunt is better for the Flash in your opinion?" Obviously not. That is the real overstatement.

It's a semantic argument, but..

exact 180 means you can't get farther away. Obviously, you can get farther away. Linda Hunt, for example, is a worse choice for Flash than Ryan Gosling. By definition, Ryan Gosling isn't 180 degrees then.

I've read your argument. And, I understand your argument. I think you overstate your argument though in precisely that way.

Ryan Gosling is not 180 degrees from the Flash based on his past roles. Which should be readily conceded. That has nothing to do with whether he's 100% perfect either, but that's a more nuanced argument. And, we have time, so why not make nuanced arguments instead of absolute arguments?

Are people reading my posts? I said in each post Gosling would do undoubtedly good (just not the best), I was only arguing against the idea that people name drop Gosling for so many roles just because hes acclaimed and doesnt necessarily bring anything to the role. Flash is a far better choice for Gosling that Hal Jordan was, thats for damn sure. But everytime someone disagrees with a Gosling type actor everyone is dumb-founded because he's so critically acclaimed. That only gets you so far.

Gosling brings more to the table though. He's a good actor. He has the talent and charisma to carry a movie. He's good looking and his frame is athletic enough that he could cut a heroic figure in a suit. He brings some name recognition. And he's the right age. Whether or not he's "perfect" for the role is, of course, up for debate, especially since we're never likely to see any sort of screen test, but it's certainly a practical choice based on the fact that the "perfect" choice, if it exists at all, is probably an unknown which, by definition, is not something you can really debate.

 

[Dragyn1]

I said it once in the Casting the DC Universe forum, and I'll say it again after watching Star Trek yesterday.

Chris Pine would be great at the Flash.

 

[Sub-Zero]

haha. they should just have a handful of actors for one superhero role, then when the top contender doesn't get the role they should pass him onto some other superhero movie.

 

[cerealkiller182]

It's a semantic argument, but..

exact 180 means you can't get farther away. Obviously, you can get farther away. Linda Hunt, for example, is a worse choice for Flash than Ryan Gosling. By definition, Ryan Gosling isn't 180 degrees then.

I've read your argument. And, I understand your argument. I think you overstate your argument though in precisely that way.

Ryan Gosling is not 180 degrees from the Flash based on his past roles. Which should be readily conceded. That has nothing to do with whether he's 100% perfect either, but that's a more nuanced argument. And, we have time, so why not make nuanced arguments instead of absolute arguments?

The light-hearted Barry Allen should not be played by the often sulking and brooding Ryan Gosling. The 180 degrees is not absolute where you can bring every SAG card carrying actor and say that because Linda Hunt is a worse choice, that Gosling is better, its about tone of character.

Gosling brings more to the table though. He's a good actor. He has the talent and charisma to carry a movie. He's good looking and his frame is athletic enough that he could cut a heroic figure in a suit. He brings some name recognition. And he's the right age. Whether or not he's "perfect" for the role is, of course, up for debate, especially since we're never likely to see any sort of screen test, but it's certainly a practical choice based on the fact that the "perfect" choice, if it exists at all, is probably an unknown which, by definition, is not something you can really debate.

None of those things have anything to do with the performance. Thats all aesthetic, which can be found in a plenty of other actors, and traits for marketability. Nothing about the actual performance.

Its not practical because without a screen test the only thing we have to go on are his past performance which are not in general congruent with the Barry character except that they are critically-acclaimed.

 

[Sub-Zero]

you shouldn't stereotype them just b/c an actor plays dark characters . heath ledger is the greatest example of that. he played lighter characters then he was unrecognizable as the joker. cerealkiller will say that that wasn't the joker, but either way it shows that actors who can act can play a variety of roles, and not just the one's they're usually known for.

what about neil patrick harris? always plays lighthearted characters. actually voiced barry in justice league: the new frontier. looks kinda like barry. he would be pretty good. the backlash here would be that he might be too old.

 

[Evil Twin]

I suspect that an actor that was once part of the Mickey Mouse Club, might have a lot more range than sulky and brooding. Other than Half Nelson, how much of his career can really be defined as sulky and brooding? Even Lars and the Real Girl has to at least be partly defined as quirky and sweet.

I think the fact that Gosling also comes off as smart is to his advantage for a role like Flash.

 

[Sub-Zero]

they should get geoff johns to write the script.

 

[Webhead2006]

yea if not to write the whole script atless talk with the writers and give them important things to use. This is one thing the next dc films should do take the best writers of said characters and have them talk with the writers of said films and get the characters in the right place.

 

[Lane & Kent]

Barry Allen / The Flash - Scott Porter
Iris West - Danneel Harris
Captain Cold - Robert Patrick

 

[Sub-Zero]

yea if not to write the whole script atless talk with the writers and give them important things to use. This is one thing the next dc films should do take the best writers of said characters and have them talk with the writers of said films and get the characters in the right place.

last year johns said how he finds it really weird that comic book writers don't write the movies. then he said he had an idea for superman, i think it was what he did for last son: a better version of superman returns. i read some of flash rebirth and it's really good. he's good at being creative without bastardizing characters.

 

[Webhead2006]

yea hopefully wb sees that taping into the dc writers would be the right thing to do to help get these characters off the ground or in the case for next superman film in a new and better direction.

 

[MadVillainy]

 

[JokerLedger]

hahhahaahahahahah.... that's kinda funny actually.

 

[Timstuff]

LOL. Wally is my Flash, too.