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.
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