The Official Green Lantern Review Thread - Part 1

[Bubonic]

I've considered another worrying implication of Green Lantern potentially failing. Not only could it screw up WB's plans for future DC adaptations, it could also hurt DC's own relaunch of its comic line. This big, bold move they're taking - launching with 52 new #1s in September and starting a big ad campaign to draw in more mainstream readership - could really have benefitted from Green Lantern being a big hit and capturing the public imagination in the DCU beyond Batman.

Didn't Marvel do this stupidity back in the 90's and early last decade? And isn't there a reason they have mostly all gone back to the regular comic count?

These gimmicks are so stupid and reek of desperation. Might as well put XTREME 1st edition on it and release 10 alternative covers for each... Not to forget the holographic one.

 

[spider-neil]

Well....if the movie really is bad, shouldn't we hope that it DOESN'T get a sequel so it doesn't continue? And maybe they can regroup and restart again way down the road?

No, give me a sequel, problems can be fixed. look at the jump in quality from wolverine to x-men: first class. same universe, same studio.
I hated superman returns but the problem in that movie could have been fixed (by tossing the superbaby off a cliff).
if GL is mothballed there is no guarantee they will dust it off reboot the franchise several years form now

 

[AnorexicBatman]

X-MEN FIRST CLASS = Smash Hit
GREEN LANTERN = Potentially Epic Flop or at least regular flop

There is something wrong here

 

[kguillou]

I remember the first red flag for me personally was a while back when I heard Ryan Reynolds compare Green Lantern to the first Ironman movie. As a rule of thumb, whenever movies compare themselves to other movies they usually end up failing. Or even television shows too, look what happened to all these shows like Flash forward and the Event and so on that claimed to be the next 'Lost'. I feel like truly good movies or tv or whatever don't need to compare themselves to anything and just stand on their own.

 

[Lord Blackbolt]

I hate wasted potential. This could have been a epic superhero movie. Maybe if they had pushed it into the winter they would have had more time to work out the kinks. Seems like this movie is this years Airbender.

Maybe now that Ryan has cleared himself from this franchise he can continue doing the Deadpool movie.

 

[Willi Berg]

sounds like putting all their eggs in one basket, sort-o-speak...which isn't a smart move.

Seems like WB did that across the board, in terms of GL merchandising. They really put a lot of stock into this movie and all its tie-ins, what with the animated TV series and toys, games etc. Not to mention how it determines the future of the DC universe onscreen.

 

[SuperDaniel]

As a Green Lantern fan, I can do without others' pity because of the crap load of negative reviews so far. I too will go down defiantly along with the sinking ship if I have no choice.

Same with me **** the critics!

 

[Spider-X]

As a Green Lantern fan, I can do without others' pity because of the crap load of negative reviews so far. I too will go down defiantly along with the sinking ship if I have no choice.

...k...my pity goes to everyone else who hoped for an absolutely amazing film and instead got a (what looks to be at this point) mediocre (if that) one.

But for S.A.A.D...you get a diving mask and a tank of oxygen!

 

[Man of Tomorrow]

X-MEN FIRST CLASS = Smash Hit
GREEN LANTERN = Potentially Epic Flop or at least regular flop

There is something wrong here

Bryan Singer's revenge

 

[DarthSkywalker]

X-MEN FIRST CLASS = Smash Hit
GREEN LANTERN = Potentially Epic Flop or at least regular flop

There is something wrong here

Sadly, First Class isn't exactly making tons of money.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Another positive review:

http://www.dailydischord.com/green-lantern/

 

[KalMart]

X-MEN FIRST CLASS = Smash Hit
GREEN LANTERN = Potentially Epic Flop or at least regular flop

There is something wrong here

What's wrong is that you're making it out like it matters who is doing better than others for anyone outside of those who invested in the films. Any hero character has just as much right to be better as anyone else if they deliver. Does X-men/Marvel not deserve it as much as DC/GL or something?

 

[Marvin]

I wouldn't say that. With Green Lantern, you need Sinestro to turn bad and the Sinestro Corps to emerge before things get REALLY good. Even when believing the first film could be great, there was always the notion that it would be the sequel that would be the true awe-inspiring space epic.

But having said that, the first film has to be good. Many potential franchises have been sunk by being so focused on setting the stage for future films that they forgot to make the first film an enjoyable experience in itself.

I'm not going to deny the potential for greatness in GL sequels, especially with the colour stuff Johns has been doing.

What I'm saying is that when applied to any film, the first film always has that extra thing. The first time Neo learned such and such, the First time Superman flew, learning to swing, seeing how the foot clan would be realized in film, seeing how the turtles were realized for the first time. The first time blade walked into a club.

I'm saying GL as a linear story has a really cool and expansive potential for that first time factor. (especially with the working of the ring) And as an original it would have been up there, no matter how tragically awesome Sinestro gets et all.

The only thing that would have topped it is seeing the hero fall and beco...oh wait.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Exactly.

Hope it happens.

Also, to get the emotional resonance behind Sinestro's turn to evil in any sequels, the Hal/Sinestro friendship really needed to be at the forefront in this first film, and sadly judging by reviews saying Sinestro is underused that doesn't seem to be the case.

 

[Man of Tomorrow]

No, give me a sequel, problems can be fixed. look at the jump in quality from wolverine to x-men: first class. same universe, same studio.

A sequel wouldnt fix problems, Van Wilder as Hal is a huge problem IMO.

The approach to the material was all wrong. Clearly the film itself is in alignment with the first trailer that got universally panned.

 

[AnorexicBatman]

You know what probably went wrong with this movie?
They must have went, DURR! GREEN LANTERN SO SILLY! LET'S HAVE SOME FUN WITH IT!
And since I just saw FIRST CLASS, that was more. Hey Micheal Fassbender as James Bond.
But here's the twist, he's Magneto from X-MEN

 

[spider-neil]

it's important to remember this movie is being panned but it's not a flop it hasn't even been released yet.

 

[Energist]

As a comicbook fan I want all these movies to do well, but if the lead up to the Avengers seemed this bleak I'd be heartbroken, as it is I rather an epic Nova Corps movie now, and I think Marvel Studios has the rights to it, so there is actually hope.

I tell ya, I imagine it would be pretty depressing, were I a Green Lantern fanboy, if Marvel released a totally epic Nova film franchise that just destroyed whatever Green Lantern is trying to be. I mean, some of those fanboys may still love this film, but from all the reviews so far, it does sound like it's pretty bad, unfortunately. Sorry, guys.

But hey, as a Daredevil fanboy, I can sort of relate to how you feel. (Although the Director's Cut is still underrated, in my opinion.)

 

[-JKR-]

the Marvel studios have been more consistent though...

In getting mediocre, by-the-numbers movies out. Don't get me wrong, I'm no DC-fanboy, I'd just like them to make movies which stick. The characters have potential to. But often they make some pretty forgettable pics...

Jon Favreau got it right with the first Iron Man, then he was dragged down by editorial politics and stuff.

And with the involvement of this "DC Entertainment" and people like Geoff Johns I'm afraid it could happen with another studio aswell. When people like Bruce Timm and Greg Weisman in animation and Bryan Singer, Sam Raimi, Christopher Nolan and Guillermo Del Toro have proven that you have to "let these characters" go to talented directors who have a vision, but of course respect the characters aswell.

Similar scenario with J.J. Abrams' Star Trek: he's openly said that he always liked Star Wars more. But that doesn't mean he treated the material without respect. He respected the lore, while bringing his own vision to the big screen.

All that stuff with inhouse producers and writers coming together to work on these - that only works with PIXAR. And neither Marvel Studios or "DC Entertainment" are PIXAR. Glad Batman and Superman are in the hands of Christopher Nolan (even though I'm not very enthusiastic about Zack Snyder, but that's another story)..

 

[Keyser Soze]

A sequel wouldnt fix problems, Van Wilder as Hal is a huge problem IMO.

The approach to the material was all wrong. Clearly the film itself is in alignment with the first trailer that got universally panned.

A couple of the reviews criticise Ryan Reynolds, but the vast majority of even the negative reviews say that his performance is one of the better aspects of the movie, and it's just the script that lets him down.

 

[KalMart]

No, give me a sequel, problems can be fixed. look at the jump in quality from wolverine to x-men: first class. same universe, same studio.

if GL is mothballed there is no guarantee they will dust it off reboot the franchise several years form now

I don't agree that they should get second chances or keep trying if it's not good from the outset. If it didn't click right away, then stop and restart later. And if GL doesn't get restarted...you still have other superhero movies out there to watch, and plenty of GL comics et al. Not every comic character has to be in movies and stay there. Heck, there are almost too many as there is.

 

[Man of Tomorrow]

You know what probably went wrong with this movie?
They must have went, DURR! GREEN LANTERN SO SILLY! LET'S HAVE SOME FUN WITH IT!

Considering their first approach to GL involved Robert Smigel, and Jack Black as Green Lantern.

 

[AnorexicBatman]

What's wrong is that you're making it out like it matters who is doing better than others for anyone outside of those who invested in the films. Any hero character has just as much right to be better as anyone else if they deliver. Does X-men/Marvel not deserve it as much as DC/GL or something?

That came out wrong. FIRST CLASS deserves it's title in terms of quality film-making and the sheer awesomeness of Micheal Fassbender. It's just that you would never expect this quality from current day 20trh Century Fox after X-MEN 3 & WOLVERINE

Screw Fox but hats off to Matthew Vaughn & Crew.

EDIT:

On the other hand. I expected a Green tinted Batman Begins from DC

 

[DarthSkywalker]

A couple of the reviews criticise Ryan Reynolds, but the vast majority of even the negative reviews say that his performance is one of the better aspects of the movie, and it's just the script that lets him down.

I fear Reynolds maybe getting a pass because of how awful other elements are.

 

[KalMart]

You know what probably went wrong with this movie?
They must have went, DURR! GREEN LANTERN SO SILLY! LET'S HAVE SOME FUN WITH IT!

Or maybe they tried hard, but ultimately it just wasn't a good movie....like Fantastic Four and Elektra weren't good movies...silly or not silly.

And since I just saw FIRST CLASS, that was more. Hey Micheal Fassbender as James Bond.
But here's the twist, he's Magneto from X-MEN

Word is, it's a pretty good movie.