The Official Marc Guggenheim & Script Discussion Thread (Spoilers)

[Dev]

Does this thread deliver the goods?

 

[Octoberist]

Wow, I'm surprised at how lukewarm the reviews of the first draft are. From reading the casting thread I got the impression it was a really great script as it was. Now I hear it could use rewrites.

I think it delivers but now we're in a post Iron Man/Dark Knight era, so expectations are slightly higher. I don't another Iron Man/Dark Knight; I just want a movie that is releveant to the genre and not The Incredible Hulk (overshadowed), Wolverine (Soulless fun), or Fantastic Four (quick cash).

The first draft is great for a first draft but if it wants to be noticed, they need to do more. And I think the first thing is dialog. The dialog isn't generic but very TV drama like (stemming from the writers' background). It needs to be more..intelligent in a way, or have some wit.

 

[protocida]

It's quite witty.

 

[arman200]

Sort of. It's nice to see this stuff on paper, and imagine it onscreen, but it could have been a lot better. It's a step above WOLVERINE.

I'd have to agree, it can very much be improved. How many drafts were made after the one we saw?

 

[protocida]

Two.

 

[Octoberist]

It's quite witty.

it depends on the actors and the director but I thought it wasn't as witty as it should have been. (I know..first draft)

 

[MadVillainy]

Lemme just start off by saying. As a whole I am very happy with the first draft. I thought it was funny and overall pretty well written. But there are a few things I would add or change.

• More w/ Hal's family. There was that great scene at Hal's nephew's birthday party. When Hal and his mom have that great exchange where he disrespects his dad, she slaps him, and then she asks "How did I raise somebody so selfish", and then he says "I became this way by myself". But then after that the whole mom angle died off. She doesnt need to be a huge role but I would just like more scenes like that
• A John Stewart cameo
• More Kilowag
• This is really unspecific and vague. But I would like a little bit more of an epic space police feel. I always imagine GL as the Star Wars of the DC universe. But for some reason the script had more of a popcorn feel to it. Nothing wrong with that except I always wanted it to be more than a popcorn movie.

 

[batlovescatDC]

Although I haven't read any of the first draft and I don't really want to, I do understand from others that we don't really see Sinestro's evil side. I would like them to show atleast a really good glimpse at it. I think that in order to establish Sinestro's role as Hal's "Darth Vader" you have to see him as a bad guy from the very first film and onwards.

 

[protocida]

Who told you that?

Sinestro's evil side is totally foreshadowed. I'd say that they leave no question he'll be trouble in future installements.

 

[Octoberist]

again, while it worked in the script I don't know how it will play out in the movie: Hal earns the trust of the Corp by fighting off Legion, and then they all fly off to save Earth from Hector Hammond.

I can see it working but at the same time, Hector is small pickin' if you compare him to Legion; it's like a down grade. If they could tie them together somehow..maybe Legion escapes from Oa and wants to go to earth because of Hector (who has Legion in him). I don't know.

 

[protocida]

Agreed. It makes more sense for Hal to first fight the spawn (Hector), then the creature itself (Legion).

 

[Octoberist]

I think they need to find a way to lure Legion to Earth somehow. It just ties everything together nicely.

BTW, here's a nice interview with the writers of the script. It pretty much says that they're done with the latest draft and now they're revising the budget due to certain scenes (cutting them out or down playing them)

http://www.newsarama.com/film/050911-GL-Latest.html

 

[Changeling]

Definitely the Hector scenes. He wasnt fully developed IMO. And they should fight off Hammond first, then Legion.

 

[Octoberist]

yeah, Hector seems such a bugger compared to Legion.

 

[MadVillainy]

I agree with the Hector/Legion thing

 

[Webhead2006]

what if the legion/hector fights where switched?

 

[Octoberist]

i think the point of the Hector fight was to show that Hal can beat the bad guys by being brave and fearless on his own, and saving Carol. it's a more intimate fight but it was overshadowed by the Legion fight. If they manage to merge the two, then that would be great.

All and all, Hector can be a fun villain, but he's strictly a B level villain in my eyes.

SO they NEED to stress out that if they don't stop Hector, he will become another Legion spawn. So gives the rest of the Corps a bigger sense of urgency to help Hal (not just payback). I know that they are all suppose to help out every planet in their district (like cops), but by connecting Hector to Legion MORE, the stakes are higher for the CORP.

 

[Lobo]

I want Hector further developed, and the fight scenes switched, Hammond first, and the last battle which should be the biggest against Legion. ther than that I'm VERY happy with it. Not too worried about dialogue as tha always changes for the better in the final product.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Hector needs to be worked on the most. Give him a stronger story other than being a whiney revenge seeking ***** who can't get acceptance from his father.

 

[MadVillainy]

SO they NEED to stress out that if they don't stop Hector, he will become another Legion spawn. So gives the rest of the Corps a bigger sense of urgency to help Hal (not just payback). I know that they are all suppose to help out every planet in their district (like cops), but by connecting Hector to Legion MORE, the stakes are higher for the CORP.

thats actually a great way to make Hector more epic without switching the fights

Hector needs to be worked on the most. Give him a stronger story other than being a whiney revenge seeking ***** who can't get acceptance from his father.

I actually liked the whole father angle, but that one scene where it is like you read my brain but not my heart is straight corny. THey should take that out

 

[protocida]

Sometimes I feel Hector should be writen off. If not him, the father subplot (The Smithsonian match is great, tough). He just seems... there.

We can only hope Geoff Johns (The man that redefined Hector) contribuitions and the 127 pages 3° draft change that.

I'd also be happy if they focused a little bit more on the Emotional Spectrum.

And, off course, I'd be happy if they fixed some small nipticks, like Legion being Tchkk-Tchkk, Tom being a mechanic, Jim's son being called Howard, Martin's nickname being "Martini" and etc.

 

[The Guard]

Hector's use needs to explore alien themes, not "daddy issues".

 

[Octoberist]

i agree because he seems to be a hurdle for Hal than a real villain.

 

[TheVileOne]

I'd like it if Legion had a character like in the comics.

Some of the other Corp. members need characters besides Sinestro. Like Kilowag.

 

[Octoberist]

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.