Summer Movies 2011: The Green Lantern - June 17,2011

[xtop]

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Yesterday it was reported that Justin Timberlake was in contention to play The Green Lantern. JT had shot a screen test for the film, as had the other three contenders Bradley Cooper, Jared Leto, and Ryan Reynolds. But at the end of the day on Friday, Reynolds was chosen over the other finalists to play the role of Hal Jordan aka The Green Lantern.

The Hollywood Reporter adds that the deal isn’t yet finalized, but Reynolds in the final choice (they just need to agree on money and specifics). The studio “had holding options on the three actors, but, except for Reynolds, those expired Monday. Reynolds’ option would have expired end of day Friday.” Producer Donald De Line, director Martin Campbell and the studio each had different favorites which made it difficult to agree on any one choice.

The film’s budget isn’t finalized but Warner Bros is hoping to begin shooting in January, hoping to have the films in theaters for the previously announced June 17th 2011 release date. Last we heard, Warners was planning to shoot the film at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney (to take advantage of tax rebates), with a budget of around $150 million.

Casino Royale director Martin Campbell is set to helm the project based on a screenplay by Greg Berlanti (Everwood, Eli Stone), Marc Guggenheim (Law & Order, Eli Stone) and Michael Green (Smallville, Heroes). The Green Lantern character was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16, published in July 1940. The Green Lantern possesses a power ring that gives him control over the physical world as long as the wielder has sufficient willpower and strength to wield it.

What do you think of the choice of Ryan Reynolds? He certainly looks the part and has the right physique for the role. He’s very likable and charismatic actor who has been stuck in a bunch of bad films, but I definitely like the choice — especially over Justin Timberlake. But I’m wondering how this may effect Marvel/Fox’s preliminary plans to have him play Deadpool in a stand-alone film.

 

[ripclaw]

Eh, saw it a little while ago. Felt like it was going to take off, and then just didn't for me. It was entertaining in parts, but I was a little disappointed. Oh well...

Reading some of the (somewhat negative) comments before I saw the movie on 1 July, I went in with little expectation. Here's my take:

Ryan Reynolds shouldn't have played Hal Jordan. Hal is a serious character who does not do any ad-libbing in the comic, but ad-libbing is what Reynolds does. Sometimes it pays off, other times it doesn't. It didn't pay off in Green Lantern. Also, Blake Lively was a bit too young to play Carol Ferris. Someone like Erica Durance would have been more suited to the role. Yes, I know that Erica played Lois Lane on Smallville, but I said some like Erica, not Erica herself.

Now before you think that all of this is negative, it's not. I did enjoy the movie. Some people complained about the primitive constructs that Hal / Ryan formed in the movie. I say this; please go and read (or re-read in some cases) Green Lantern: Rebirth. There's a one page spread where all of the GL Corps are attacking Parallax. Hal is narrating that scene and he says something along the lines of the following:

"Kyle (Rayner) is an artist and it shows with the constructs he creates with the ring, whereas with John (Stewart), you can see every nut and bolt in the architecture of his constructs".

IMHO, each member of the GL Corps is unique, and so too will be what they form with their ring. Remember, Tomar Re did say to Hal that a construct is limited only by the ring wielder's imagination.

Now here's what I would like to see in the 2nd (and 3rd) Green Lantern movies:

- less ad-libbing from Ryan.
- flashbacks involving Abin Sur and / or Sinestro.
- Kyle Rayner and John Stewart. Okay, okay, Guy Gardner as well.
- MOGO
- more scenes of Oa and the central power battery
- the Manhunters (this can be incorporated into some of the flashback sequences
- cameo appearances by Barry Allen and Oliver Queen, setting up the Justice League movie that we know is coming
- Sinestro will obviously be forming his Sinestro Corps. More yellow rings will be created. There's one scene in the Sinestro Corps War comic where a yellow ring finds it's way to Batman (yes, Batman!) saying to him that he has the ability to instill great fear. The ring attaches itself to Batman's finger, but he fights off the influence of it after sensing the evil within the ring. The ring then flies off looking for another bearer. Can this scene please be included in the next movie? I know that photography has already started on the Dark Knight Rises movie, but all that's needed for this scene to be shot is:
a) a city-scape, at night
b) Batman on a rooftop, overlooking Gotham
c) Visual FX of a yellow ring flying towards Gotham, and subsequently, towards Batman on the rooftop.
d) Batman / Bruce fighting off the ring.

- more Kilowog please. I felt that he was under-utilised in the first movie.