The Official Marc Guggenheim & Script Discussion Thread (Spoilers)

[Octoberist]

Got my hands on the script again, thanks to GL1, and I forgot how great it was. The humor is still bad, but it's solid. Particularly how the flashbacks are handled. Intercut with the present events with Martin's death. And the scene where Hal first takes off, it flashbacks to Martin teaching Hal how to fly.

Hammond needs one scene towards the beginning to introduce him. Something to get across of a life he wants and his hatred of his father. And further develop it.

I do like Hector's humor a bit more after reading it again. Actually, it's wise to make him a threat but also a cocky fellow as well. But I think in his intro, they need to stress out that Hector is kinda of a loser. Despite his father (and others) not having any faith in Hector, before the transformation, he's not that bad of a guy.

 

[Octoberist]

Well remember doctor jones that was only the first draft and it has been through i believe 5-6 rewrites along with geoff johns stuff added in/campbell adding-changing things, and studio requests. So hopefully what didnt work well in that draft was fixed in the later ones/shooting script.

You're completely right.

I mean..it could be a masterpiece..who knows. I do know that after Dark Knight and Iron Man, the writers know that they HAVE to UP their game, especially in 2011, when you got Thor and Captain America to deal with.

 

[Webhead2006]

Yea i do hope that all future coming hero films either from dc or marvel look at what made im/tih or bb/tdk work and see if you have a serious story, take the character seriously, and do the characters to justice, and dont change things for no silly reason you can get more people to like the characters, then also marketing comes into play if you want im/tdk numbers u got to see what they did to promote those films for the masses.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Of course I realize that was the first draft and changes had to be made. I was just simply stating what needed to be fixed. But I'm having a tough time with the Hammond character. You have to give him enough but at the same time doesn't become a whiney please daddy ***** like he was here. I like the character, it's just he's one dimensional here. So much more can be done with him. Hell, whatever is in the comics, change some to make him a stronger character, it's just not strong here.

And yeah, TDK and IM has definitely raised the bar for comic book films. Those two are on the other ends of the spectrum but work to their content. It's either one or the other, and you have to live up to one of those two.

And goddamn, the narraration of the script is bad in some areas. It's reads like something Bay would do. Like "HUGE MOTHER****ING BOYFRIEND." And some of the dialogue like, "flying car not cool!" or "I did not just see you fly" stuff like that, is stuff you would hear in kids shows thrown in for good measure.

And they need to take out the FedEx and X Box and Halo 3 references. I'm sure Campbell took care of that.

Follow what Favreau does ever so perfectly to make it accessible in terms of the content itself, not like Bay who thinks making things accessible means throwing in weed and swear words.

 

[TheWatcher]

Hal talking to Alan about the ring....

Spoiler

Alan: The ring came to you, so that's your decision to make.
But I'll tell you this: If I could do what you can do....
I wouldn't stay here. I'd fly around this universe, seeing things no humans ever seen.....
No one who wears one of those belongs to any one planet.
You belong to the stars

Hal: You've....worn it.
(long silence)

Alan: One like it, a lifetime ago.
(a sad smile)
But it wasn't mine to keep.
I wasn't chosen. Not like you

i get it now thanks,wait..............one like it-like it but with magic!a lifetime ago-1940's?
dennis quaid for this role!

 

[protocida]

Hector's humor is cool. I like when he gets revenge on the senator who fired him at the SmithSonian party.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Yeah, I did like his humor actually. Like when he let Carol go. "Sorry. I lied."

But he needs more devlopment. I would introduce him in his home or apartment, with the tv on. There's news about the test pilots or Hal Jordon and then his own father is on tv. We then know his relationship with his father by the look he gives him.

Could be another scene of him and his father meeting for the first time talking one on one like in a restaurant or something. This is where the tension comes in.

And I just finished the script again. Hal kind of seems to be sidetracked after the First encounter between Hammond. His time is very brief then always switched to GL. I'd like some more character interaction. Maybe with Carl Ferris.

 

[protocida]

I'd like Hector to be an Ferris Aircraft employee (Maybe consultant, like Secret Origins). He envies Hal Jordan for the life he has, being admirated by his colleages and always getting everything he wants, and hates him for ignoring him. For looking at him with pitty. He lusts after Carol Ferris, and she ignores him. He hates for saying "she doesn't date employees" and yet, she's always with Hal. He hates his co-workers for talking about him behind his back. For saying he's a "creep". He hates his boss, Carl Ferris, for ignoring him, and only having eyes for... you guessed it... Hal and Carol. He hates his own father for taking him for granted. For never showing love. For acting like he's nothing more than a burden. He hates people he doesn't even know, for things he doesn't even know. He hates everything. And then, he gets unimaginable powers. Powers that able him to unleash his anger on all people who did him wrong. For invade their minds, destroy their most precious memories, steal their memories and slowly decend them into death. For having the life he always dreamed of without having no one to stop him. To be a God on Earth.

 

[solidsnake86]

I'm wondering how much they actually changed though in the later drafts. I think it has more to do with budget and fx than what people are hoping they changed. That first draft read very expensive. I hope most don't set themselves up for disappointment and think they changed all the one liners they didnt like.

 

[Octoberist]

like what James Cameron said in his Visionary panel at Comic Con (with Peter Jackson), usually the first draft is the templete of the movie. Then you get the later drafts..the casting of the actors may also affect the dialog, the budget, and eventually the filming and editing might change everything completely.

It's an ever changing process until the final result.

 

[KangConquers]

Just read it. I like the feel of the movie overall, but I found the story arc a bit weird at times. Hector Hammond seems unnecessary to an Origins movie. Legion feels underutilized in comparison. Wasn't too fond of them making Legion more of an algamation of Parallax and the Manhunters either.

I would've also appreciated a little less flashback stuff. Other than that it was pretty great. It reads like an incredibly entertaining film. I just hope they can iron out some of the problems.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I'd like Hector to be an Ferris Aircraft employee (Maybe consultant, like Secret Origins). He envies Hal Jordan for the life he has, being admirated by his colleages and always getting everything he wants, and hates him for ignoring him. For looking at him with pitty. He lusts after Carol Ferris, and she ignores him. He hates for saying "she doesn't date employees" and yet, she's always with Hal. He hates his co-workers for talking about him behind his back. For saying he's a "creep". He hates his boss, Carl Ferris, for ignoring him, and only having eyes for... you guessed it... Hal and Carol. He hates his own father for taking him for granted. For never showing love. For acting like he's nothing more than a burden. He hates people he doesn't even know, for things he doesn't even know. He hates everything. And then, he gets unimaginable powers. Powers that able him to unleash his anger on all people who did him wrong. For invade their minds, destroy their most precious memories, steal their memories and slowly decend them into death. For having the life he always dreamed of without having no one to stop him. To be a God on Earth.

This. Now this is what I'm talking about. Make him have at least some connection to Hal so he can envy him. I want to feel his jealosy and not how he acted in the script.

Though I did like him being a doctor. I really dug how Scott pulled him into the room to have him work Abin Sur. That gave me a 1950's sort of vibe. Top secret government stuff that I really dug. I loved that Scott was a government agent too.

Maybe somehow work that into it. But how would Hammond discover Legion's power if they went this way? Do you think he'll follow Tom to the desert or something?

 

[protocida]

Could be.

In Secret Origins, Major Stone and him find Abin Sur's ship in the Desert (Hal couldn't destroy it because he was transported to Oa right after burieing Abin Sur).

But I like the doctor angle too. It's a tough call.

 

[Webhead2006]

Ya hopefully things have changed for the good in the rewrites it has gone through.

 

[Octoberist]

Just read it. I like the feel of the movie overall, but I found the story arc a bit weird at times. Hector Hammond seems unnecessary to an Origins movie. Legion feels underutilized in comparison. Wasn't too fond of them making Legion more of an algamation of Parallax and the Manhunters either.

I would've also appreciated a little less flashback stuff. Other than that it was pretty great. It reads like an incredibly entertaining film. I just hope they can iron out some of the problems.

I think that's the problem with Hector's arc; he just HAPPENS to be there and became the villain of the week. There's a sort of..disconnection with his charcter until the third act, when he finally meets Hal. Think of Kevin Spacy's Lex Luthor's motives and role in Superman Returns; it's the same way and it doesn't work. Feels like a side character who got some extra scenes.

Other than that, Hector does have a good personality. He just needs more developemnt. I hope that this is the case with the latest draft.

 

[KangConquers]

I think that's the problem with Hector's arc; he just HAPPENS to be there and became the villain of the week. There's a sort of..disconnection with his charcter until the third act, when he finally meets Hal. Think of Kevin Spacy's Lex Luthor's motives and role in Superman Returns; it's the same way and it doesn't work. Feels like a side character who got some extra scenes.

Other than that, Hector does have a good personality. He just needs more developemnt. I hope that this is the case with the latest draft.

I just feel like Hector takes away from what should be the center of the script; the Green Lantern corps and Legion.

 

[protocida]

I'm sure that they beefed up the roles of Kilowag for sure. For some odd reason, they gave Tomar (fish head chicken dude) a bigger role than Kilowag in the script. I hope that changes not because I want to see less of Fishhead but just to even the playing field.

I also want more Kilowog.

 

[Webhead2006]

hopefully man.

 

[King K]

Just read the script dated June 8, 2008 and it's a beast. I like it but yes, it's really huge with Hector and Legion as villians.

 

[Chris B]

Even though the odds of it are slim, I would like it they dropped Legion in favor of the Manhunters.

I never read the script so I'm going off of what has been mentioned in the various reviews, but Sinestro betraying the Corps at the end of the film and Salaak being added would be two other things I wouldn't mind.

 

[protocida]

Sinestro betraying the Corps

No.

Salaak being added

Yes.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Yeah, it's gonna be hard balancing Hector and Legion. The script just needs to be lon

 

[TheWatcher]

never read it here is what i want anyway(by reading the script form i know what i want)
-salaak
-more kiliwog
-hal is alone when he finds the ring
-john stewart as a supporting character(no cameo)
-atroticus being abin surs killer
-more of hals family
more later
btw protica-what is the parallax nod?

 

[protocida]

Spoiler

Hal uses the rings of the dead Green Lanterns to destroy the Central Battery, absorbe it's power and shoot it directly at Legion, destroying him at last. Hal falls back to the ground, and, as the GLs, assuming he's dead, go to recover the body, they find him alive, but with grey temples on his hair, indicating that, when he absorved the Battery's power, he also absorved Parallax, but, unlike the energy, Parallax is still in his body. Growing.

 

[TheWatcher]

grey temples? nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

thanks btw