The Official Marc Guggenheim & Script Discussion Thread (Spoilers)

[JDym]

You may've read my mind, but you couldn't read... my heart. I always loved... [death]


JESUS.

 

[JDym]

Well, I finally read it.

And I liked it. There are some great scenes, some ruined would-be great scenes, and some eye-rolling inducing ones.

I'm with the majority of you who have actually read it...I don't like the tone in the first act much at all. It IS Iron Man. A DC/WB version of Favreau's Iron Man. Hal Jordan feels like a toned down version of Tony Stark, withouth the money and power, at least in the first act. He even has Stark's same character arc.

Berlanti wants us to think he's "cool"...So his introduction is the aftermath of him banging a yoga instructor, then being chased by her "Huge Motherf***ing Boyfriend"...Running late to a test flight at Ferris Aircraft. Comedy gold!

Carol Ferris is OK. She's the most normal person in the script, I guess. There's not much to her character, but at least she's not irritating or anything. I wish her history with Hal had been explored a bit more.

"Pieface" is the comic relief. He ruins what is to me a pivotal scene in the movie, and is basically a huge fanboy. Some of you guys say he's comparable to Anthony Anderson's character in Transformers....And I somewhat agree. But he's a toned down version of that. As long as the actor does not play him as an overexcited geek I don't think anyone should care much...He does have a couple of funny lines/moments.

Hector Hammond is OK. If there is one thing this script is missing, that would be a strong antagonist. Next to Legion, who is basically just a metaphor-ish monster thing, he's the main baddie in the movie. He does some fun things with his powers, but he seems a bit of a standard villain. Kind of like Stane in Iron Man, withouth the added presence of a Jeff Bridges. Of course, this depends on who they cast, although based on Hammond's powers, he should be more fun to follow around that Stane was. And his first confrontation with GL after the death of Senator Hammond I really dug.

There is one scene that irritated me a bit, and that is Hal Jordan's discovery of Abin Sur, and the passing of the ring. This moment is completely iconic to me, but, to break the tension, I guess, Berlanti feels the need to intercut to TOM KALMAKU, in full geek mode, boasting about how he just beat a level in Halo 3, killing the moment with an unnecesary pop reference. I wouldn't care much if that scene was placed somewhere else, but in this pivotal moment in Hal's life, it felt out of place.

By the time we get around the second act, the tone of the script gets a bit more serious, mainly because Jordan does not have the time to be a cool irresponsible jerk anymore, and goes visiting Oa, and the Corps. These scenes are described as HUGE and BEAUTIFUL, and I'm sure they will be.

I think Green Lantern's reveal back on Earth, at the air show, lacked a bit of punch. Mainly because we have already seen Hal in costume, not to mention a gazillion other GL's, doing impressive feats. The scene is still cool, with GL having to stop flying jets from crashing down on unexpecting crowds, who go wild at the sight of GL, turning him into an instant sensation. The whole sequence reminded me of the plane sequence in "Superman Returns" ... If we had already seen Superman flying around with plenty of other Supermen.

I guess that's the main difference, that will set this movie apart from other superhero pics produced so far. The main hero is not unique in any way, shape or form. Well, except for tha fact that he's human. And the personality thing, even if I don't like that particular personality that much...But Hal is much more likeable once he becomes GL. They'll have to cast an actor with a great deal of charisma, or who can play this "cocky fun pilot" Jordan. I don't know if Jordan has ever been written like this, but oh well. After reading this script, I can't imagine Gosling in the role. His solemn face does not match with the character that's on the page. This Hal Jordan seems to be more...Yes, Josh Duhamel like. You win, people.

Anyway, from here on the script goes full into the standard superhero movie antics. GL stops a few crimes, saves some people, the media wonders about him, etc.

He also has a nice moment with Carol, where he basically creates of replica of Paris for her on Ferris Aircraft.

Now, conerning the action...There's some pretty big effects laden sequences in this script. The movie reads expen$$$ive. The aformentioned fight with Hammond, the fight with Legion on Oa and the depleting of the Central Battery, GL's intro, all offer some pretty good eye candy, the likes of which he haven't exactly seen before. The movie will be a bonafide effects extravaganza, as it should be. But this isn't too hard to get right. You would have to be a real idiot not to get the potential of a GL movie, but Berlanti and Co definitely deliver on the action front.

They also get props for the *ahem* rescue of Carol Ferris in the last act, and the last action sequence. Hal has to "prove" himself as a worthwhile hero to Carol, someone she can finally count on, and so on. It's a nice sequence where the two end up plummeting to their deaths after escaping a Hammond controlled F-16. Hal's ring is conveniently out of power, of course, so he can't save themselves. As they fall, they finally kiss and if played well, it should be a really nice moment in the film. I really dug it, but then again, I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff

Oh, I forgot. Sinestro is written fairly seriously. Integrity intact. He's a strong leader, and a proper GL, but conflicts with the Guardinas, as expected. So, the writers get props for not messing him up

All the GL Corps you would expect from a GL movie make appearances.

We come to the end of the film, Hammond has been put away, Legion has been defeated, and GL decides to go back and actually undergo training under Sinestro's guidance. I gotta say, the ending lacks a bit of a punch. Hal's last line falls kind of flat, like there's something missing, or as if he said the wrong thing in response to Sinestro. There are no great lines in the overall script that I can recall.

Final Thoughts: It's an entertaining, fun script. Maybe too much "fun" in parts, which kind of turned me off. I've always imagined Green Lantern to be a fairly serious superhero, not devoid of humor, but a bit more serious than this. As you can see on my avatar, I don't have a problem with Iron Man, or Iron Man's tone. But I don't really want that for GL.

So...If the final product is somewhat like this, I won't complain too much...I guess they better get really likable actors for this movie, as that's the only way I'll feel comfortable with the first act..

Also, don't expect anything revolutionary from this one. The script is Super-Hero 101, with a few exceptions, like the existence of the Corps undermining Hal's uniqueness. But nevertheless, it's a solid enough draft for the first movie in an intended franchise, so it gets a 7 from me, and here's hoping for a much superior final product...Or sequel.

Couldnt agree more about Abins death scene.

 

[protocida]

Hector's storyline was interesting, because it was a parallel with Hal's storyline with his deceased father, but i think they could polish that a little bit. And, in the Robert's death scene, they could do something more emotional, like:

Hector reads his dying father's mind, and "see" him remembering all the times that Hector let him down, but also remembering the times where he made him pround, like the childhood, and such. Seeing his actions from another person's perspective, Hector realizes he INDEED is a dissappointment, but, like the jerk he is, he's unanble to accept that and blames everyone else for the crime HE commited.

 

[AnorexicBatman]

I thought of an awesome way to showcase the ring's one weakness...

Carol: Hey Hal! Pass the mustard
Hal: *tries to pass with ring* Hey what the hell?? THE RING! IT DOES NOTHING!

 

[protocida]

http://www.newsarama.com/film/090321-green-lantern-movie-news.html

 

[MadVillainy]

I wish he would have talked about casting

 

[MessyPandas]

Would someone mind sharing the script with me? Thanks

 

[Alonsovich]

Would someone mind sharing the script with me? Thanks

If I were you I'd edit that right now...

 

[Webhead2006]

thanks for the link.

 

[Doctor Jones]

What do you think of Hammond's whiney "daddy doesn't respect me" storyline?

This is what needs to be worked on the most. Hector is a whiney jerk in the whole script, getting revenge on people who never treated him well. That's it pretty much.

This and the damn humor. I really liked the first act of the script. And hell, I liked seeing Hal running from the boyfriend. It just starts off with this guy and he starts off like this. After the great flashback scene, he's here after sleeping with a yoga instructor and running from her boyfriend. You're like, "This guy is gonna be GL?"

What I like about Hal in the acript you gradually get to like him, not like him, etc.

I loved the finale where he saves Carol without the ring, just as himself. Before reading it, I never cared for GL that much because I just don't like the idea of solving all your problems with a ring and making it whatever to be and you save the day. Hal has to strive for this stuff. This with the love hate in his character makes him a believable guy. And I do agree the relationship with Hal and Carol in their childhood should be achknowledged more. Well, I'll have to think about that. It kind of already set it up when young Hal shot back that insult to young Carol.

But the relationship between them in the present is great. I love those kind of relationships. Hate eachother at first and then they grow to like or love eachother gradually, hints of still, "I can't stand him/her, but I do want him/her." kind of thing.

 

[JDym]

This script is 06/08? I wonder if the "Let them go"/"Sure" thing was influenced by a certain Dark Knight scene

 

[JDym]

This is what needs to be worked on the most. Hector is a whiney jerk in the whole script, getting revenge on people who never treated him well. That's it pretty much.

This and the damn humor. I really liked the first act of the script. And hell, I liked seeing Hal running from the boyfriend. It just starts off with this guy and he starts off like this. After the great flashback scene, he's here after sleeping with a yoga instructor and running from her boyfriend. You're like, "This guy is gonna be GL?"

What I like about Hal in the acript you gradually get to like him, not like him, etc.

I loved the finale where he saves Carol without the ring, just as himself. Before reading it, I never cared for GL that much because I just don't like the idea of solving all your problems with a ring and making it whatever to be and you save the day. Hal has to strive for this stuff. This with the love hate in his character makes him a believable guy. And I do agree the relationship with Hal and Carol in their childhood should be achknowledged more. Well, I'll have to think about that. It kind of already set it up when young Hal shot back that insult to young Carol.

But the relationship between them in the present is great. I love those kind of relationships. Hate eachother at first and then they grow to like or love eachother gradually, hints of still, "I can't stand him/her, but I do want him/her." kind of thing.

Probably one of the better parts of the script.

 

[Assassin]

You may've read my mind, but you couldn't read... my heart. I always loved... [death]


JESUS.

 

[JDym]

Sorry, I'm sure we're not allowed to quote from the script, so I kind of paraphrased a cheesy line in it. I figure if everything in the story could be spoiled, a paraphrase won't hurt

right?

 

[lixdexia]

Could one of you guys PM me the script?

no, per the rules we can't. in fact you could get probo banned just for asking for it, so you might want to edit this real quick like

 

[Webhead2006]

Yea hopefully soon we can find out how much was changed/removed/modified since that first draft was leaked out.

 

[lixdexia]

Yea hopefully soon we can find out how much was changed/removed/modified since that first draft was leaked out.

hopefully they evened it out a bit

 

[Webhead2006]

well i would think things would have been worked out for the better with first drafts and if campbell has any hand on changes too. Does any one know offhand if he is a fan of the gl character.

 

[protocida]

There’s something I’d really like to see in the movie, referring to Hal’s personality:

Spoiler

Instead of starting his training in the Script’s ending, Hal actually completes it (because he’s obligated to) during the movie (there would be a montage of Hal, along with other cadets, like C’hipp and Arisia, training with Kilowog in Oa. We see how he starts to like that, how he creates friendships with other cadets and etc). Four months later, Hal completes his training and goes back home, on Earth, to continue with his life. When he arrives, he finally realizes that he’s gone for four months and hasn’t noticed anyone. Tom is angry with him, and doesn’t return his calls. In his apartment, he finds a communicate from Ferris Aircraft warning him that he’s suspended for a year because he haven’t showed up at work. Hal angrily goes to Carol’s home to confront his boss, Carl, about the suspension. Carol receives him and tells him to come back later, but he refuses. He’s angry. Really angry. He slams the office’s door and… finds Carl in a coma. He’s sick and doesn’t have much time. We have a movie version of that scene from “Secret Origins” where he and Carol talk, with she explaining that Carl got sick four years before, and, after being such a spoiled daughter, Carol refused to let her dad lost the one thing he fought for his entire life, so, she pretended she was following his orders when she was, actually, running Ferris Aircraft all by herself, making falsifications of her father’s signature to convince everyone he was still running, and such. Hal realizes how much he has failed with his family (Jack and Jim). He heads to Jim’s house, and Jack answers the door. The very first thing he does is punch Hal, giving him a nose bleeding. He says they we’re desperately looking for him since he didn’t gave any signs of life in a week. That they paid his bills, his rent, and convinced Carol to only suspend him. Hal tries to explain himself, but Jack just punches him again. Jim shows up and stops the fight, but pushes Hal against his car and says that he has given them the worst months of their lives. That Hal’s nephews asked for him everyday. That they tough he was dead and no one could say otherwise. That he made them go trough hell. Jim says that they’re done trying to make Hal a part of the family. That he’s no longer his brother and can live his own life, as he always wanted to. They go back inside, leaving Hal alone in the rain. There, Hal has confirmation of how much of an egoist person he has been. How much he let everyone who cared about him down. That’s when he has a change of heart. When he realizes that the ring was given to him for a reason, and decides to no longer run away from it. He’s no longer just Hal Jordan. Now, he’s the Green Lantern, and he’ll make up to the legacy Abin Sur trusted upon him. The following scene would be a version of an existing scene, where Hal becomes GL and starts flying around the world preventing crimes, and being acclaimed as Earth’s first super-hero. (No Clark Kent cameo in this version).

I know it’s virtually impossible, but I think it could be a powerful sequence of the movie. What do you think?

 

[Wesley Dodds]

Damn fine idea!

 

[Webhead2006]

could probably work out nicely.

 

[protocida]

Thanks! t:

 

[Webhead2006]

though personally i would not want to see that squiral/dog man alien gls in the film. They would make it look a bit cheesy and i rather stick to the more huminiod aliens/stranger creature shaped ones.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I wonder what the designs for the other GL's will look like. They're obviously not gonna do a bigass alien with a skin tight suit on.

Maybe the color or armor will be embedded into them somehow but still see they're out texture, (this doesn't go for Hal of course) But I'm very interested to see what the costume will look like.

 

[Webhead2006]

well i wouldnt want to see the gls running around with armor suits in the film they dont really need it since their rings protect them and all that. Which ever gls we are to see i hope they stick as close to their comics looks as possible for the production.