The Official Green Lantern Review Thread - Part 4

[Rock Sexton]

What's your point though, people are entitled to say both films were similar and one got let off easy while another got it handed to them.

It's a "minority" opinion. Nobody is talking about whether or not you're entitled to it. Yet it doesn't fit the scope of critical acclaim.

 

[KalMart]

Watchmen.

Aha, thanks.

So was it known at the time of its theatrical run that the higher-ups forced cuts on the final?

 

[Majik1387]

I truely believe that the critics were just looking for a comicbook movie to bash.

Don't be ridiculous. They don't just look for comic book based movies to bash, they negatively criticize bad movies as a whole, regardless of the genre.

Green Hornet and Priest also didn't impress them while Thor and X-Men First Class did.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Aha, thanks.

So was it known at the time of its theatrical run that the higher-ups forced cuts on the final?

It was known Snyder wanted a 3hr cut, but likely had to cut it down to about 2.5hrs

 

[KalMart]

It was known Snyder wanted a 3hr cut, but likely had to cut it down to about 2.5hrs

Ah. I kinda' don't blame WB for wanting it shorter.

Although I still think Watchmen should have been done as a miniseries, or 2 to 3 films. I think it was too much to pack into one film.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Ah. I kinda' don't blame WB for wanting it shorter.

Although I still think Watchmen should have been done as a miniseries, or 2 to 3 films. I think it was too much to pack into one film.

I think Watchmen would have worked better in that context, too. as a film, it had far too many pacing issues.

 

[moviedoors]

I thought we always knew the theatrical cut of Watchmen wasn't going to be the final version. That one was practically a given.

 

[Saitou Hajime]

Have there been any 'director's cuts' of WB movies recently? I can't recall any off the top of my head. 'Donner Superman II' doesn't count.

It's not from WB, but I think Daredevil best fits GL's current situation, at least from a critical standpoint.

 

[Scarlet Spider]

Watchmen was cut down because of IMAX limitations. A film can't be longer than 170 minutes because the IMAX projector can't physically hold more than it's limit. Snyder knew this going in and had to get the film under the limit. That's a technical limitation any director would have to get around.

 

[KalMart]

I think Watchmen would have worked better in that context, too. as a film, it had far too many pacing issues.

Yeah, part of it for me is that so much of what makes Watchmen work as a comic is because it's a comic, and as a comic it has a certain expanse of time/flow (a la pacing, as you mentioned) that it needs to really absorb the vibe/story and really sink into it. You need to take your time with it, and I think a longer, more spread-out screen format was needed to translate that...instead of just one two- or even three-hour movie. But probably too risky a prospect for a two/three film back-to-back deal.

 

[KalMart]

Watchmen was cut down because of IMAX limitations. A film can't be longer than 170 minutes because the IMAX projector can't physically hold more than it's limit. Snyder knew this going in and had to get the film under the limit. That's a technical limitation any director would have to get around.

I think LOTR had the same issues.....wasn't there an even shorter version (than the regular theatrical) that played in IMAX?

 

[KalMart]

It's not from WB, but I think Daredevil best fits GL's current situation, at least from a critical standpoint.

The reason why I asked specifically about WB is that from what I could gather over the years, WB is generally known to have 'less invasive' relationships with their directors. To some its a positive (BB/TDK), others not so much (SR). So that's why I was asking, with all the 'director's cuts' out there, if more of them were movies from other studios.

 

[DorkyFresh]

as someone who was never really interested in Green Lantern...i enjoyed it quite a bit. could it have been better? of course, but it was still an enjoyable movie and i don't see why it's getting sooo much criticism.

pros - well paced, great effects, LOVE the designing of most of the GL world, action was solid, some working humor, great sense of otherworldliness (if that's even a word), great villains, and great use of superpowers from both sides

cons - Ryan Reynolds just doesn't work sometimes (especially in the more dramatic/serious moments) he's a good lead but he just doesn't have the emotional gravity a movie like this could have really used, for some reason it didn't feel as epic as it could have (Asgard vs Oa, Asgard feels more fleshed out and majestic), a little too much comedy (probably to compensate for the lack of dramatic weight), the music was also pretty generic and forgettable

all that being said, i'd gladly watch a sequel to this movie...especially if Ryan Reynolds can work on acting like a MAN instead of a teen in a man's body. i loved the look of most everything, the story was pretty solid. i just can't help but feel that most of the shortcomings come from Ryan Reynolds, which is a shame because i like the guy. i also kinda wish the climax was longer, it felt like 3 minutes.

is this Martin Campbell's best work? not by a long shot (that would be Casino Royale). i actually like Mask of Zorro more, but i'd definitely rank this above the likes of Legend of Zorro and Vertical Limit. i don't think this is an AMAZING movie, but i do feel that this movie is being judged too harshly and i enjoyed it quite a lot more than i thought i would even before the reviews started coming out. for Green Lanterns first foray into live action (as far as i know) it's a really good one.

 

[chris moore]

I'm pretty strictly a Marvel reader, with the exception of Green Arrow. But I have a fairly good grip of the major characters involved in the GL world, and the major events and origins of the story.
I went into this film open minded, despite the headlines of some articles being things like "Where GL went wrong", or "GL tops box office, but is disappointment", or "Critics bash GL movie".

I really liked it.

There were times where I thought they kinda jumped back and forth between earth and space too often and with little reason. And Hector Hammond's use at all seemed a little forced at first - until I realised it was to show Hal not only do people still admire him and are jealous of him despite his own feelings of failure across the board; but also to show him what just a taste of Parralax can do to a person who doesn't have the strength to overcome it, in order to spur him on to be better than he thinks he is.

I also thought that Sinestro wasn't overlooked too much, or sharp heeled into the Yellow role without motivation. Instead I figured, he wants the universe to be better, and there are times he feels the Guardian's methods don't work and that they keep too many secrets. But he works within the system as best he can. When made aware of the possibility of using another power source that would enable him to work outside the jurisdiction of the Guardians and their controlling, old ways, he nobly at first thinks it can be a force for good, and that it will do the job. But then Hal comes along and does what he could not - resist it, and defeat it. But he doesn't put him down, or scoff at him, or fight him. He plays the role he always has - and keeps the faith and confidence of the corps and the Guardians. Until the end, when he chooses to see if the Guardian who became Parallax was maybe right, and that fear can be controlled and harnessed. His quiet arrogance that he is still better than the human pushes him down the path - but he won't be outspoken about it - not yet...

Critics deconstruct and over analyse ever facet of every movie. They never go into one thinking "I wonder if I'll enjoy this". Therefore I never pay them much attention. Send a guy down there to watch it, then get him to recruit 20 random individuals on their way out to come along to a market research session the next day and give their opinion - then we'd have a fair gauge.

And my usually much loved comic sites? "Parallax – Giant Diarrhea Space Cloud?" Come on! That visual was just fine, and if you were in the street and saw that coming, you'd run like buggery. A big yellow floaty insectoid? Now that would have seemed a little b-movie attack of the ants from the 50's.

It was good - not amazing, but then I thought bits of all my comic movies thus far have missed the mark. There will be in every film. But I loved it, loved the brief moments of training, loved the Guardians high and mighty chairs, and the detail of Oa and Hal's constructs. And my wife loved it too - and she still has a little "ah, bless" smile on her face every Wednesday when I come home with that week's comics. So if these movies win her over - then they win in my book.

 

[J.Howlett]

chris moore,

You and I think alike on this film.

 

[Micromind]

I'm pretty strictly a Marvel reader, with the exception of Green Arrow. But I have a fairly good grip of the major characters involved in the GL world, and the major events and origins of the story.
I went into this film open minded, despite the headlines of some articles being things like "Where GL went wrong", or "GL tops box office, but is disappointment", or "Critics bash GL movie".

I really liked it.

There were times where I thought they kinda jumped back and forth between earth and space too often and with little reason. And Hector Hammond's use at all seemed a little forced at first - until I realized it was to show Hal not only do people still admire him and are jealous of him despite his own feelings of failure across the board; but also to show him what just a taste of Parralax can do to a person who doesn't have the strength to overcome it, in order to spur him on to be better than he thinks he is.

I also thought that Sinestro wasn't overlooked too much, or sharp heeled into the Yellow role without motivation. Instead I figured, he wants the universe to be better, and there are times he feels the Guardian's methods don't work and that they keep too many secrets. But he works within the system as best he can. When made aware of the possibility of using another power source that would enable him to work outside the jurisdiction of the Guardians and their controlling, old ways, he nobly at first thinks it can be a force for good, and that it will do the job. But then Hal comes along and does what he could not - resist it, and defeat it. But he doesn't put him down, or scoff at him, or fight him. He plays the role he always has - and keeps the faith and confidence of the corps and the Guardians. Until the end, when he chooses to see if the Guardian who became Parallax was maybe right, and that fear can be controlled and harnessed. His quiet arrogance that he is still better than the human pushes him down the path - but he won't be outspoken about it - not yet...

Critics deconstruct and over analyse ever facet of every movie. They never go into one thinking "I wonder if I'll enjoy this". Therefore I never pay them much attention. Send a guy down there to watch it, then get him to recruit 20 random individuals on their way out to come along to a market research session the next day and give their opinion - then we'd have a fair gauge.

And my usually much loved comic sites? "Parallax – Giant Diarrhea Space Cloud?" Come on! That visual was just fine, and if you were in the street and saw that coming, you'd run like buggery. A big yellow floaty insectoid? Now that would have seemed a little b-movie attack of the ants from the 50's.

It was good - not amazing, but then I thought bits of all my comic movies thus far have missed the mark. There will be in every film. But I loved it, loved the brief moments of training, loved the Guardians high and mighty chairs, and the detail of Oa and Hal's constructs. And my wife loved it too - and she still has a little "ah, bless" smile on her face every Wednesday when I come home with that week's comics. So if these movies win her over - then they win in my book.

Good points, I felt that Sinestro in the movie says to Guardian that we must experiment with yellow source power, but in the end when Hal overcomes the threat by using his will power, Sinestro's plans of using yellow ring are no longer required, but still Sinestro wants to see of he can harness and control the yellow ring of fear, as he wants independence from controlling Guardians, so in the end scene he put on the yellow ring.

 

[Crimson King]

Good points, I felt that Sinestro in the movie says to Guardian that we must experiment with yellow source power, but in the end when Hal overcomes the threat by using his will power, Sinestro's plans of using yellow ring are no longer required, but still Sinestro wants to see of he can harness and control the yellow ring of fear, as he wants independence from controlling Guardians, so in the end scene he put on the yellow ring.

Would you honestly think that if you'd never read the comics?

 

[moviedoors]

Would you honestly think that if you'd never read the comics?

I wonder that too. I think they're bringing their baggage to the character, but for laymen, it comes out of nowhere.

 

[J.Howlett]

Well, yeah since I've never read the comics.

For me, Sinestro's just curious. Considering his devotion to the Corps. and the bombshell that the Guardians created Parallax and the fact that they thought that will wasn't enough to defeat this new enemy to the point that they thought about harnessing the yellow power, I completely buy the idea that Sinestro's curious about the yellow power.

He doesn't push for forging the ring as some long scheme he's always had. He pushes to have the yellow ring of power made because it's the only way the Guardians see how to beat Parallax and keep the Corps. alive. And Sinestro, based on this film alone and not having knowledge of the comics, is all about the Corps. Almost to a fault.

 

[moviedoors]

Well, yeah since I've never read the comics.

For me, Sinestro's just curious. Considering his devotion to the Corps. and the bombshell that the Guardians created Parallax and the fact that they thought that will wasn't enough to defeat this new enemy to the point that they thought about harnessing the yellow power, I completely buy the idea that Sinestro's curious about the yellow power.

He doesn't push for forging the ring as some long scheme he's always had. He pushes to have the yellow ring of power made because it's the only way the Guardians see how to beat Parallax and keep the Corps. alive. And Sinestro, based on this film alone and not having knowledge of the comics, is all about the Corps. Almost to a fault.

Are you really going to tell me that you didn't know Sinestro was a villain in the comics?

 

[J.Howlett]

Through wiki, I knew that he was Hal's mentor that eventually becomes the villain but I've never read the comics.

In 32 years on this Earth, I've read only a handful of comics, and most of those were graphic novels in the past 7 years.

 

[moviedoors]

Through wiki, I knew that he was Hal's mentor that eventually becomes the villain but I've never read the comics.

Then you knew as much about Sinestro first hand as I did. I've read a few Green Lantern comics, but not a single one with Sinestro.

 

[J.Howlett]

Still, that end credits scene didn't come off as out of nowhere if you interpret Strong's performance as I did.

I just didn't see the big issue with it.

 

[Poni_Boy]

Well, yeah since I've never read the comics.

For me, Sinestro's just curious.

Which, to me, is the biggest and most unnecessary character change they could have given him. It skews his entire motivation and personality, essentially making him a different character entirely.

And now thanks to the film, that's what audiences will think of when they see Sinestro. A good guy that's "curious"

Still, that end credits scene didn't come off as out of nowhere if you interpret Strong's performance as I did.

I just didn't see the big issue with it.

I can't even count how many people have asked me to interpret that scene for them since they aren't familiar with GL. Pretty much everyone I told to go see the movie. It was a big mistake to add that scene, and it's already been explained over and over again why; even if a minority "got" it

 

[J.Howlett]

Poni Boy,

But the majority of the audience are not going to pick up the Green Lantern comic to figure out more about Sinestro. They're going to wait for the next flick to give them that answer...and that's how it should be.

Fans are fans. They'll see anything they love. But these films in this genre don't do the numbers they do without the general audience who have no idea except for some name recognition about these characters, except for the MAJOR ONES.

This is why I still stand behind the reasoning that focusing solely on Hal Jordan for this introductory film was the right call, despite the fact that the more interesting mythology with this character comes later...and is more intergalactic. We didn't need a big, epic space adventure for this first outing.