The Official Green Lantern Review Thread - Part 3

[Rowsdower!]

What was the end credit scene I admit I did not stay.

Spoiler

Apparently, Sinestro puts on the yellow ring.

 

[Denny67]

I'm aware and I could have substituted any or several of those movies you mentioned. Doesn't change anything. Those movies are still held in low regard (some of them, like Daredevil and GR - but you include X2 but it's many people's favorite) So that's a bad example on your part.

And I will point out that there are just as many people (myself included) that think those movies (X2 included) are garbage.

The fact of the matter is that the context in which those movies were listed was in response to a poster who said Green Lantern was a flop; after a mere might-night showing and said there is no way Green Lantern will get a sequel and would be shelved gor no less than 6 years. I pointed out where films of lesser quality either got sequels, were rebooted or are slated to be rebooted.

Proper context is key.

 

[Denny67]

Spoiler

Apparently, Sinestro puts on the yellow ring.

Yes and it was/looked awesome.

 

[Tony Stark]

I'll agree on this point, if G.I. Joe is getting a sequel, then Green Lantern damn well ought to get a sequel. The problem is if there is a sequel, it's doubtful Campbell will be back, and as bad as this film was, the guy is a good director. And more importantly if he's out will others bolt?

 

[Solidus]

Damn it. Well I'm sure I will buy it on blu. That I would have liked to see.

 

[DarkSuperman]

I honestly just think they ran out of money. that GL script i read a few years ago was awesome. What happened to the scenes with hal and his father talking about fear and if he could be a samurai? Or all those heart breaking moments with hal and his mother. Or the scenes where Hal puts down his ring because the guardians wont help him save his world then BOOM parallax (or Legion as he was called in that script) attacks and during the battle a bunch of lanterns die and Hal picks up 10 rings and dukes it out with Parallax and afterwards him and sinestro go all double dragon on Parallax?

It was a good movie, but the leaked script i read by greg berlanti was sooo much better. the pacing was better too. I was expecting to see that script realized and it just wasn't. it was the abridged version. I'm guessing because they ran out of money and wanted to scale it down. Pity. Could have been the best CBM ever.

PS just looked at the file on my computer and its marked "First Draft June 9th, 2008" Geez i wish they filmed that draft. It even had ALAN SCOTT!!!!

 

[Spider-Fan]

I'll agree on this point, if G.I. Joe is getting a sequel, then Green Lantern damn well ought to get a sequel. The problem is if there is a sequel, it's doubtful Campbell will be back, and as bad as this film was, the guy is a good director. And more importantly if he's out will others bolt?

I don't put the flaws of this film on Campbell. I think the script and WB execs have a lot of blame to take for this film. I can't say how much control Campbell had. This was a VERY flawed script.

 

[The Sage]

Campbell's already said he's not returning. It wasn't surprise beforehand as he rarely does sequels.

 

[bunk]

I give it a 6/10. The Green Lantern mythos seemed to be respected for the most part, which is a relief. If I weren't a Green Lantern fan, I don't know how much I would get out of it though. There is definitely a good base to build on for Hal in future movies, but in this story he just isn't very interesting. The pacing was off to the point where I'm looking at the time two thirds of the way. The villain threat was weak and it felt like I was being hammered over the head with certain ideas about Hal's personality. He's a quitter; we get it. On the plus side, I enjoyed all of the other Corps members, constructs and OA. The Green Lantern aesthetics seemed pretty spot on. The silver lining would be that the core concepts were adequately set up for future movies. Hopefully more compelling movies.

 

[solidsnake86]

For me it was the editing and lack of more character moments that really held this movie back from being a really great film. The corps stuff I could take or leave it because I know its never going to look decent when its all CGI. I think some of the reviewers that are fans of the material their main problem was that they wanted more space stuff. I don't blame them, and the marketing screwed themselves labeling it the star wars of comic books. Ultimately though I think the actors really saved this film from being a disaster.

 

[Stephen K. Hone]

I just got back from seeing it. I wasn't sure what to expect....I hadn't actively read GL since the Neal Adams run in the 70's. I only read the GL forums when called in because someone was being naughty. I started hearing all the bad talk and reviews the last couple of days. But hey....I like comic book movies, so I wanted to see it.

Am I ever glad that I make a habit of not listening to fanboys on here about the quality of things. I had a wonderful time. It was funny, exciting, scary, and had good action and FX. Was it the best comic movie ever...no. Was it the worst comic movie ever....no. Was it a fun couple of hours that took my mind off of the crap I've had to put up with in real life this week...you're damn right it was. And that's what I ask from my movies.

Us old farts think alike!

 

[solidsnake86]

I honestly just think they ran out of money. that GL script i read a few years ago was awesome. What happened to the scenes with hal and his father talking about fear and if he could be a samurai? Or all those heart breaking moments with hal and his mother. Or the scenes where Hal puts down his ring because the guardians wont help him save his world then BOOM parallax (or Legion as he was called in that script) attacks and during the battle a bunch of lanterns die and Hal picks up 10 rings and dukes it out with Parallax and afterwards him and sinestro go all double dragon on Parallax?

It was a good movie, but the leaked script i read by greg berlanti was sooo much better. the pacing was better too. I was expecting to see that script realized and it just wasn't. it was the abridged version. I'm guessing because they ran out of money and wanted to scale it down. Pity. Could have been the best CBM ever.

I completely agree,it felt like they ran out of money and time and it was missing those moments with his family. Did they even film that stuff. It looked like it was just tossed in there. I know that probably would have tacked on more time before seeing him as a GL but I think those character moments are absolutely necessary.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

Proper context is key.

Uh, ok.

 

[DarkSuperman]

I completely agree,it felt like they ran out of money and time and it was missing those moments with his family. Did they even film that stuff. It looked like it was just tossed in there. I know that probably would have tacked on more time before seeing him as a GL but I think those character moments are absolutely necessary.

Absolutely necessary. 30 more minutes of character development could have made GL something great.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Absolutely necessary. 30 more minutes of character development could have made GL something great.

It didn't need 30 more minutes of character development. What it needed was to maxmize the screentime of the characters in the film better than it did and add some depth here and there. I think 10 more minutes, some dialogue rewrites, and an altered end sequence would have made this great. As it stands, it's entertaining but nothing more.

 

[C. Lee]

Us old farts think alike!

I resemble that remark.....and thank god that I don't think like a teenage comicbook fan.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

It didn't need 30 more minutes of character development. What it needed was to maxmize the screentime of the characters in the film better than it did and add some depth here and there. I think 10 more minutes, some dialogue rewrites, and an altered end sequence would have made this great. As it stands, it's entertaining but nothing more.

I say fifteen minutes longer along with a better script that excised Hammond and brought in a humanoid alien villain. Plus more of the other GL's please.

 

[KalMart]

I'll agree on this point, if G.I. Joe is getting a sequel, then Green Lantern damn well ought to get a sequel. The problem is if there is a sequel, it's doubtful Campbell will be back, and as bad as this film was, the guy is a good director. And more importantly if he's out will others bolt?

I don't see how a sequel to a movie like GI Joe should justify a sequel for anything, unless it actually made a lot of money. Shouldn't movies aspire to be sequel-worthy like Xmen, Spidey, Iron Man, and BB....instead of liek ones that got one despite themselves?

Creatively speaking, of course, and if one thinks the movie wasn't good. If you did like it, then of course you'd want more, as would anyone. But the whole 'they can fix it in a sequel' is, I feel, an abuse of film and sequels in general...especially if the first film had major flaws that kept it from being a good film itself.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I say fifteen minutes longer along with a better script that excised Hammond and brought in a humanoid alien villain. Plus more of the other GL's please.

Hammond could have worked as a villain, he just needed more dimensions than creepy and to have actual development. The thing about him getting his power also from Abin Sur, but on the evil spectrum (whilst also being a failure himself) could have been GREAT writing. But, they did nothing with it and didn't allow that to get proper payoff. He just got tossed aside, and thus was useless. Had more been done with Hammond, I think he would have worked nicely. Good ideas were there, they just decided to let them linger.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I don't see how a sequel to a movie like GI Joe should justify a sequel for anything, unless it actually made a lot of money. Shouldn't movies aspire to be sequel-worthy like Xmen, Spidey, Iron Man, and BB....instead of liek ones that got one despite themselves?

Creatively speaking, of course, and if one thinks the movie wasn't good. If you did like it, then of course you'd want more, as would anyone. But the whole 'they can fix it in a sequel' is, I feel, an abuse of film and sequels in general...especially if the first film had major flaws that kept it from being a good film itself.

I go into films expecting them to be good, screw the sequel. They should be focusing on making the first film the best it can be. I too am tired of the "sequel will be better" people.

 

[Tony Stark]

It didn't need 30 more minutes of character development. What it needed was to maxmize the screentime of the characters in the film better than it did and add some depth here and there. I think 10 more minutes, some dialogue rewrites, and an altered end sequence would have made this great. As it stands, it's entertaining but nothing more.

There was alot of fat around the edges. I keep mentioning the scene with Hal's nephew, it just seems superfluous. He's not mentioned or seen again in the movie.

Then there's other stuff where we just take it on face value that Hector, Hal and Carol all grew up together. Just a paper thin reference and we're somehow supposed to get some deep character development out of that?

In alot of ways this was a television series plot thrust in a movie.

 

[Tony Stark]

I don't see how a sequel to a movie like GI Joe should justify a sequel for anything, unless it actually made a lot of money. Shouldn't movies aspire to be sequel-worthy like Xmen, Spidey, Iron Man, and BB....instead of liek ones that got one despite themselves?

Creatively speaking, of course, and if one thinks the movie wasn't good. If you did like it, then of course you'd want more, as would anyone. But the whole 'they can fix it in a sequel' is, I feel, an abuse of film and sequels in general...especially if the first film had major flaws that kept it from being a good film itself.

What I mean by that is, I hope this does get a second shot, because with them having not done the Sinestro story, it could really setup the next film and with a fresh writing crew, it could be a huge turnaround.


In a perfect world, you're right, but this movie is what it is, and I don't see how this is going to have good legs going into the next few weeks, especially in this weak economy.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

Hammond could have worked as a villain, he just needed more dimensions than creepy and to have actual development. The thing about him getting his power also from Abin Sur, but on the evil spectrum (whilst also being a failure himself) could have been GREAT writing. But, they did nothing with it and didn't allow that to get proper payoff. He just got tossed aside, and thus was useless. Had more been done with Hammond, I think he would have worked nicely. Good ideas were there, they just decided to let them linger.

Eh, I don't ever think that that goofy big head ever would have worked. I just hated the character design. Now I can deal with heros or villains having less than ideal threads but I can't deal with the big head silliness. I just can't.

 

[Spider-Fan]

There was alot of fat around the edges. I keep mentioning the scene with Hal's nephew, it just seems superfluous. He's not mentioned or seen again in the movie.

Then there's other stuff where we just take it on face value that Hector, Hal and Carol all grew up together. Just a paper thin reference and we're somehow supposed to get some deep character development out of that?

In alot of ways this was a television series plot thrust in a movie.

I 100% agree. Also, I don't buy that those 3 grew up together solely because they all look vastly different in age. Plus, Carrol acts like she didn't see Hector in years in the 1 scene she has with him, and then Hector talks about always being in love with her but Hal always being in the way. Wasn't it just said you hadn't seen each other in years? I also feel like the romance subplot was very thin/shallow. More could have been done with it. It plays out like a cliche.

 

[Russell Nash]

Green Lantern: First Flight was better than this.