The Official Green Lantern Review Thread - Part 1

[-JKR-]

It's happened again with GL, apparently.

Well, I don't think Martin Campbell has had all that freedom, as Geoff Johns was quite involved (being creative exec of DC Entertainment), and quite a "decision-maker" on this movie, which I don't think is a good thing.

In fact, what I said earlier is that I hope that they'll keep people like Geoff Johns out of movies, and just work on getting a director and writer with the right vision (instead of randomly churning out "DC-movies").

 

[Supermanreturns]

Are you even talking to me. You still gotta tell me where I'm fanboy-ish. I'm not even trying to defend Green Lantern. So what's your problem when I think that movie's should be director's driven, despite missteps such as Superman Returns? Look at Hellboy II, which I think is a gem.

You said Thor was awful. You said you'll see Cap in dvd (and you're the first one t:t. You're a fanboy, simple. You don't like Marvel's movies.

And you said that Marvel Studios' movies are more production-driven than director's driven when this is...false oh man

 

[Man of Tomorrow]

IGN says that this movie spends too much time on Earth & doesn't embrace it's science fiction elements. Maybe Campbell got freaked out and decided to make it more low key

I'm fine with grounding GL on Earth mainly.... the issue is what you do with that time on Earth.

They could have easily made that work, but I'm concerned the Earth stuff mainly consists of Ryan Reynolds dicking around.

 

[The Riddler]

campbell - poor choice
reynolds - poor choice
blake lively - poor choice

I would have gone with a director who is more used to 'fantastical' elements - zemeckis

would have gone for a mature hal jordan - nathan fillian

would have gone for an actress with acting ability - jennifer connelly (sure, she was betty in hulk but no one give a s*** about that movie).

in hindsight bradley cooper would have been a better pick than reynolds as well. i think reynolds was made for a wally west flash.

 

[aragen]

Who gives a s**t about what the critics say we should see or not see. I don't wanna see no damn artsy drama. I wanna a dude in a green suit kick a scary yellow alien's ass. It's their opinion, not ours.

 

[SuperDaniel]

So WB leaked Russell Crowe as Jor-el to take the heat of GL?? hmmmm...

 

[SatEL]

Man, I'm not even that fond of Superman Returns. It lacked an interesting storyline, and action. It was quite underwhelming. But that doesn't mean you don't have to give directors creative freedom anymore. Missteps can happen.

Misteps? The film was an atrocity, darn right disgraceful, considering the years of source material they could have drawn from.

 

[-JKR-]

When did I say Thor was awful? I said it was subpar. It was fun, but forgettable. That you could do much more with the material. And I said that Abrams' Star Trek and Favreau's Iron Man were better movies. I'll probably see Cap on DVD. I don't even know if I'll see Green Lantern in theaters, I've still got plenty of time to decide (it ain't coming out before August here).

You can't say the Marvel Studios movies are director's driven, when they're clearly made to fit the company's agenda, which at this point is steering towards The Avengers. The Iron Man movies are a prime example: on the first one Favreau seems to have had more freedom, while the he was asked to make a Marvel ad with the sequel.

 

[KalMart]

Well, I don't think Martin Campbell has had all that freedom, as Geoff Johns was quite involved (being creative exec of DC Entertainment), and quite a "decision-maker" on this movie, which I don't think is a good thing.

See...the whole point of bringing up SR is that 'freedom' can work against a movie just as easily as for it. So we can't really put the blame just on that since it's not a constant outcome. There are some filmmakers whose best work comes from being under the gun and microscope and having to fight for their vision in a hostile environment. You can only hire who you think is right and hope for the best. For WB...it worked out with Nolan, it didn't with Singer. In the end...a misstep is a misstep no matter how it happened.

In fact, what I said earlier is that I hope that they'll keep people like Geoff Johns out of movies, and just work on getting a director and writer with the right vision.

Wasn't there a sense of celebration a while back that a real 'comic guy' was spearheading superhero movie development?

 

[WormyT]

campbell - poor choice
reynolds - poor choice
blake lively - poor choice

I would have gone with a director who is more used to 'fantastical' elements - zemeckis

would have gone for a mature hal jordan - nathan fillian

would have gone for an actress with acting ability - jennifer connelly (sure, she was betty in hulk but no one give a s*** about that movie).

The writing seems to be the biggest issue with the movie from 90% of the reviews I've read so far. So yeah when that happens, only the veteran actors can pull off the bad dialogue. They say Blake is really bad and Reynolds is once again himself. I would have prefered bradley cooper or the dude from avatar.
I'm starting to think the whole concept may be just too goofy for the general audience. Thor is goofy too but it connected with the females. Most females I know think GL looks daft.
I'm not too concerned if it fails, I'll still buy the books (as long as theres no more horrible brightest days)

 

[Supermanreturns]

When did I say Thor was awful? I said it was subpar. That you could do much more with the material. I'll probably see Cap on DVD. I don't even know if I'll see Green Lantern in theaters, I've still got plenty of time to decide (it ain't coming out before August here).

You can't say the Marvel Studios movies are director's driven, when they're clearly made to fit the company's agenda, which at this point is steering towards The Avengers.

So...When Favreau (who's out of Iron Man 3) said to Hero Complex some days ago that at the time of IM and IM2 he had carte blanche...He was lying...????

Oh my god, this is heart-broken!

Fortunately, JKR works for Marvel Studios and know all this backstory that nobody of us knows! t:

 

[J.Howlett]

Well, Marvel Studios' films are more production-driven. That's not a opinion.

Not one of the Marvel Studios' films have gone for anything other than passable to the general audience. Play it safe and make sure we make it entertaining and that's it. They don't go for more. They don't try to. You hire Branagh and don't spend the bulk of the time in Asgard, where it's absolutely clear that's where he wants to be for the whole film.

As much as I like Thor, that's what it is. The one Marvel film that's not a Studios' film has more ambition to it than the other two and that's X-Men First Class. I think First Class has some bumps but damn, it goes for something more...which is the sign of a director driven film. The Studios' film just don't. You can feel it in everyone. It's unmistakable.

Watchmen, Knight, and Returns don't feel production-driven. Spider-Man 2, X2, and Hulk don't feel production-driven.

Iron Man 2 should've been Marvel Studios' Dark Knight, if they just let Favreau alone and stop worrying about Avengers.

From the trailers, it felt that Lantern was director-driven....

 

[Energist]

There are some filmmakers whose best work comes from being under the gun and microscope and having to fight for their vision in a hostile environment.

We're talking about George Lucas here, right?

 

[-JKR-]

See...the whole point of bringing up SR is that 'freedom' can work against a movie just as easily as for it. So we can't really put the blame just on that since it's not a constant outcome. There are some filmmakers whose best work comes from being under the gun and microscope and having to fight for their vision in a hostile environment. You can only hire who you think is right and hope for the best. For WB...it worked out with Nolan, it didn't with Singer.

The "trick" is getting the right filmmaker. And anyway, it's better than making fun but forgettable cookie-cutter products. Come on, we're talking MOVIES here. FILMMAKING.

Wasn't there a sense of celebration a while back that a real 'comic guy' was spearheading superhero movie development?

Not on my part. Nope.

 

[-JKR-]

So...When Favreau (who's out of Iron Man 3) said to Hero Complex some days ago that at the time of IM and IM2 he had carte blanche...He was lying...????

Oh my god, this is heart-broken!

Fortunately, JKR works for Marvel Studios and know all this backstory that nobody of us knows! t:

And in fact, Jon Favreau is out of the third movie. And there's been several reports that he wasn't happy the way Iron Man 2 turned out, and that he had problems with the productions (from the very same HERO COMPLEX - LA Times, if I remember correctly).

 

[Silver Surfer]

Well this movie is going up in flames really in a big way and I don't want any part of it, I'm jumping ship. When I first heard about GL being DCE first film I knew it was a mistake, it's not the type of concept that will grip the general audience right away even if it is done right, which in this case isn't.

My only regret is that this movie has the potential to put a serious dent in the odds of a future Flash movie. Other than that we have this years the Last Airbender, a whole lot of hype, a lot of style but no substance. Sorry GL fans you deserve better.

 

[spider-neil]

The writing seems to be the biggest issue with the movie from 90% of the reviews I've read so far. So yeah when that happens, only the veteran actors can pull off the bad dialogue. They say Blake is really bad and Reynolds is once again himself. I would have prefered bradley cooper or the dude from avatar.
I'm starting to think the whole concept may be just too goofy for the general audience. Thor is goofy too but it connected with the females. Most females I know think GL looks daft.
I'm not too concerned if it fails, I'll still buy the books (as long as theres no more horrible brightest days)

my gosh brightest day SUCKED. if not for firestorm I would have dropped that mini series after the first issue.

 

[Supermanreturns]

And in fact, Jon Favreau is out of the third movie. And there's been several reports that he wasn't happy the way Iron Man 2 turned out.

Where? t: WHERE???? t: Awwww ahaha love this fanboys' stupid reports.

Iron Man 2 is what Favreau and the writer have written. Stop. Favreau said this at Hero Complex. And he's out of the third movie because he have signed on Magic Kingdom for Disney (schedule conflitcs).

And...Oh, well. He hates Marvel Studios. He hate so much the franchise that he said to Hero Complex he will come back as Happy in IM3 for a few days of shooting (because at that time he will be on Magic Kingdom's set...).

Oh, but you're report is surely more accurate. Like the other rumors...ehm, sorry reports

 

[BH/HHH]

Wow its been getting pretty slated, I'm still pretty sure I'll like it

 

[KalMart]

The "trick" is getting the right filmmaker. And anyway, it's better than making fun but forgettable cookie-cutter products.

Singer...by all measures...seemed like a great choice considering what he did with X-Men. But then he was handed the keys...and he decided to take Superman in a certain direction...and look what happened.

Come on, we're talking MOVIES here. FILMMAKING.

Tell that to the people who said that they're making movies about COMICS...not books or biographies That the filmmaker has to 'get' comics, etc.

It goes both ways.

 

[Tony Stark]

Well, Marvel Studios' films are more production-driven. That's not a opinion.

Not one of the Marvel Studios' films have gone for anything other than passable to the general audience. Play it safe and make sure we make it entertaining and that's it. They don't go for more. They don't try to. You hire Branagh and don't spend the bulk of the time in Asgard, where it's absolutely clear that's where he wants to be for the whole film.

As much as I like Thor, that's what it is. The one Marvel film that's not a Studios' film has more ambition to it than the other two and that's X-Men First Class. I think First Class has some bumps but damn, it goes for something more...which is the sign of a director driven film. The Studios' film just don't. You can feel it in everyone. It's unmistakable.

Watchmen, Knight, and Returns don't feel production-driven. Spider-Man 2, X2, and Hulk don't feel production-driven.

Iron Man 2 should've been Marvel Studios' Dark Knight, if they just let Favreau alone and stop worrying about Avengers.

From the trailers, it felt that Lantern was director-driven....

Yeah it is an opinion.

Bull crap, you don't have Thor on earth you don't have Marvel's Thor you have mythology.

If any film played it safe, it was XFC where they should have just done a full on reboot instead of forcibly trying to link it to the other films and failing.

.....and I liked XFC by the way.

 

[Frodo]

Well given the smell of the film, I think i'm gonna sit the film out this week and wait and see what you guys here think of it . In the end , peer reviews have more weight with me then film critics anyway.

 

[Energist]

my gosh brightest day SUCKED. if not for firestorm I would have dropped that mini series after the first issue.

And to add insult to injury, the upcoming DC relaunch may just render the majority of that 25-issues series (at $2.99 a pop, no less) completely moot.

 

[-JKR-]

Singer...by all measures...seemed like a great choice considering what he did with X-Men. But then he was handed the keys...and he decided to take Superman in a certain direction...and look what happened.

Tell that to the people who said that they're making movies about COMICS...not books or biographies That the filmmaker has to 'get' comics, etc.

It goes both ways.

Of course it's movies about comics. This doesn't make them any different than other movies! Doesn't make them any different than other adaptations. We're still talking about freakin' movies. Comics are the source material. And like with other adaptations, you've gotta understad the source material. But that doesn't mean fanboy *********ion and crossovers, nor does those mean better movies.

Animation has shown what you can do with the material, storytelling-wise.

 

[J.Howlett]

Stark,

Now, that I do agree with on First Class. I wanted it to be linked to Singer's films but because the film hedged it's bets, it feels like this weird hybrid.

As for Thor, yeah, he goes to Earth to "Cheap", New Mexico.

Seriously, as much as I like the film, the Earth bound stuff damn near ruined the film because of how cheap it came off. The same with the Jeremy Renner cameo.