Green Lantern: The Motion Picture

[meanstreak]

Now I'm getting more excited to watch this tonight, and am starting to have more expectations. That may be a good or bad thing.

 

[jye4ever]

Pass...

Than you for your interest, it was Good

 

[Alex Logan]

Alright, just got back and am posting this without reading previous posts simply to keep my thoughts in order.

Spoiler

The film was fantastic. To me much better than Thor and I loved Thor. Not to the caliber of X-Men: First Class but then again that is a different thing altogether really in terms classification of film. Was it a perfect film? No. It definitely didn't spurn the venom that the critics gave it and while the crowd I was with was obviously die-hards (although a large segment had no clue who GL was and it was fun to see other fanboys educating for once) a good number left wondering what the critics were thinking.

The opening sequence was awesome, a history lesson within moments similar to what we saw with The Incredible Hulk although much more animated. Seeing Krona/Parallax released was a quick clear scene just to set the stage.

Reynolds portrays a perfect Hal Jordan. He is much more toned down than I would have imagined and even as I read that he would be I was shocked to see it on-screen. He played the character almost nervous and unsure except when in the cockpit which is very much like the character and his evolution.

Lively played a good Carol, not a great one but definitely not one that needs to be replaced or that gets the wraith she has been. I'm used to seeing Carol as a ballbuster, almost Hal's Lois and she isn't that here but more his compass, keeping him moving forward. Lively is gorgeous and in many of the scenes just her beauty draws the eye, she played her role well.

Tom sucked. Something about the actor and his portrayal just didn't hit what I knew from the books.

Sinestro, Hector, Kilowog, Tomar Re, hell even the Guardians to me were spot on. Sinestro definitely stole the show with every scene he was in. I loved the subtle mentions of creating a ring and then that Sinestro would harness it up to the mid-credits scene of him wearing it. I'm not sure how people didn't get the transitions especially critics if they were paying any kind of attention.

The film suffers from what I call Iron Man syndrome. Where you get a build up of a villain or situation and then it ends quickly or at least much quicker than you would think it would naturally. It doesn't hurt the film here as much because Hal is constantly recalling things from earlier from the jets to the training on Oa to even his own overcoming of fear, so it is more natural but quick nevertheless. Even the track to save the Copter was perfectly shot back to his time with his nephew in his room.

You definitely have Hal who isn't as deep as many probably would have liked but it works, he grows and becomes humbled throughout, different than Thor where he is a hotshot who gains humanity but more of a man who stops running from his fear or his destiny and suddenly accepts it to make it work for him. It's very surface, you won't see Reynolds nominated for any awards for this but it is enough to make the film work.

I got a lot of parallels here from the feel of the first Spider-Man to even the feel of Star Wars. Not in content by any means but when Hal goes through space and hits the wormhole, it brought the same smiles as seeing Han run through hyperspace. The grouping of aliens brought back the same smiles as seeing the Cantina aliens.

The aliens were underused severely. Tomar-Re and Kilowog are likable, they are memorable and you wanted to see them help Hal, take part in it, even Sinestro you wanted to see him get his fingers dirty after watching him with Hal but it wasn't there. There is a lot that was in the "leaks" that didn't make the cut. Some gratefully like the greyed temples nod to Hal's downfall but some I missed like the original banters between Sinestro and Hal about the lantern and pulling it from the pocket that was leaked that never materialized. Or the many cameos that were cut or maybe never filmed.

Hector was done perfectly, not used fully but he garnered more laughs than anything else in my grouping. I'm not sure people grasped what was happening to him.

Overall I would give it an 8.5/10. It could have used some polishing here and there, the middle act definitely drags a bit and that was the point where I saw folks checking phones for time and it slows the pace almost too much. Definitely Campbell's style as I saw that same slow pacing in both Bond films before it ramps up to the third act but I absolutely loved it. If this is the only GL film we get, it's the only one I need.

Finally, I'm not sure what the critics wanted or saw. It's not the Dark Knight and thank god it isn't, Green Lantern wouldn't really work that way. It was really fun and light, laughs just enough and a lot of cool visuals that weren't just for the sake of being done. I thought everything worked great from a casual viewers standpoint, a lot of the girls who were there for Ryan and admitted to knowing nothing about GL, left saying how much they liked it. From a fan of GL's standpoint though I thought it was damn near magical. That last sequence of flight and him moving into the stars made the 7 year old in me cheer and maybe that is what the critics couldn't see, how this was to hit the kid in you as much as the adult cynic.

Great review, thanks! By the way, who's babe in your sig?

 

[Darkseed]

I am at the opening show and the theater is half full... Wow. Bodes well for ticket sales. Best showing for all flicks seen thus far (Thor, POTC, XFC and Kung Fu Panda 2)

 

[The Josh]

Alright, just got back and am posting this without reading previous posts simply to keep my thoughts in order.

Spoiler

The film was fantastic. To me much better than Thor and I loved Thor. Not to the caliber of X-Men: First Class but then again that is a different thing altogether really in terms classification of film. Was it a perfect film? No. It definitely didn't spurn the venom that the critics gave it and while the crowd I was with was obviously die-hards (although a large segment had no clue who GL was and it was fun to see other fanboys educating for once) a good number left wondering what the critics were thinking.

The opening sequence was awesome, a history lesson within moments similar to what we saw with The Incredible Hulk although much more animated. Seeing Krona/Parallax released was a quick clear scene just to set the stage.

Reynolds portrays a perfect Hal Jordan. He is much more toned down than I would have imagined and even as I read that he would be I was shocked to see it on-screen. He played the character almost nervous and unsure except when in the cockpit which is very much like the character and his evolution.

Lively played a good Carol, not a great one but definitely not one that needs to be replaced or that gets the wraith she has been. I'm used to seeing Carol as a ballbuster, almost Hal's Lois and she isn't that here but more his compass, keeping him moving forward. Lively is gorgeous and in many of the scenes just her beauty draws the eye, she played her role well.

Tom sucked. Something about the actor and his portrayal just didn't hit what I knew from the books.

Sinestro, Hector, Kilowog, Tomar Re, hell even the Guardians to me were spot on. Sinestro definitely stole the show with every scene he was in. I loved the subtle mentions of creating a ring and then that Sinestro would harness it up to the mid-credits scene of him wearing it. I'm not sure how people didn't get the transitions especially critics if they were paying any kind of attention.

The film suffers from what I call Iron Man syndrome. Where you get a build up of a villain or situation and then it ends quickly or at least much quicker than you would think it would naturally. It doesn't hurt the film here as much because Hal is constantly recalling things from earlier from the jets to the training on Oa to even his own overcoming of fear, so it is more natural but quick nevertheless. Even the track to save the Copter was perfectly shot back to his time with his nephew in his room.

You definitely have Hal who isn't as deep as many probably would have liked but it works, he grows and becomes humbled throughout, different than Thor where he is a hotshot who gains humanity but more of a man who stops running from his fear or his destiny and suddenly accepts it to make it work for him. It's very surface, you won't see Reynolds nominated for any awards for this but it is enough to make the film work.

I got a lot of parallels here from the feel of the first Spider-Man to even the feel of Star Wars. Not in content by any means but when Hal goes through space and hits the wormhole, it brought the same smiles as seeing Han run through hyperspace. The grouping of aliens brought back the same smiles as seeing the Cantina aliens.

The aliens were underused severely. Tomar-Re and Kilowog are likable, they are memorable and you wanted to see them help Hal, take part in it, even Sinestro you wanted to see him get his fingers dirty after watching him with Hal but it wasn't there. There is a lot that was in the "leaks" that didn't make the cut. Some gratefully like the greyed temples nod to Hal's downfall but some I missed like the original banters between Sinestro and Hal about the lantern and pulling it from the pocket that was leaked that never materialized. Or the many cameos that were cut or maybe never filmed.

Hector was done perfectly, not used fully but he garnered more laughs than anything else in my grouping. I'm not sure people grasped what was happening to him.

Overall I would give it an 8.5/10. It could have used some polishing here and there, the middle act definitely drags a bit and that was the point where I saw folks checking phones for time and it slows the pace almost too much. Definitely Campbell's style as I saw that same slow pacing in both Bond films before it ramps up to the third act but I absolutely loved it. If this is the only GL film we get, it's the only one I need.

Finally, I'm not sure what the critics wanted or saw. It's not the Dark Knight and thank god it isn't, Green Lantern wouldn't really work that way. It was really fun and light, laughs just enough and a lot of cool visuals that weren't just for the sake of being done. I thought everything worked great from a casual viewers standpoint, a lot of the girls who were there for Ryan and admitted to knowing nothing about GL, left saying how much they liked it. From a fan of GL's standpoint though I thought it was damn near magical. That last sequence of flight and him moving into the stars made the 7 year old in me cheer and maybe that is what the critics couldn't see, how this was to hit the kid in you as much as the adult cynic.

Glad you liked it Mike. After mine was over I was curious to read your thoughts as I was forming my own in my head on the way home.

Man am I exhausted, i'm getting too old for these midnight shows, wife making me coffee right now

So, who wants to know what I thought

I hear that. Is fun doing it though.

I do. Please share.

 

[meanstreak]

Are Critics being too harsh on this film? Are they trying to compare it to TDK type quality since it's from WB? The film has a lower rating on the tomatometer than Sucker Punch.

 

[MarfMaster]

EW gave this a "C+" and Mr. Poopers Penguins a "B."

I call Shennanigans, there is some sort of conspiracy at work here. I was on the fence, but now I have to go see this.

 

[karamazov80]

On the bright side, that Judy Moody movie is doing worse

 

[intothevoid]

HAHAHHAHAH poppers penguins a better rating than this? Some kind of sick joke? We geeks need to see this in bucketloads on opening weekend - money talks

 

[dharper]

My local paper gave GL 1 1/2 stars and Popper's Penguins 2 1/2 stars. I'll see GL tomorrow.

 

[jye4ever]

Glad you liked it Mike. After mine was over I was curious to read your thoughts as I was forming my own in my head on the way home.



I hear that. Is fun doing it though.

I do. Please share.

You first

I liked it but I liked Thor more.

Wait, wasn't there a recent argument about this kind of language

Let me rephrase that, I liked both, didn't hate either

I just liked Thor more.

Not because I'm more of a Marvel fan over DC or that I prefer Thor over GL or Avengers over JL, I just enjoyed the Thor movie more, that simple.

The crowd for Thor also gave me a better group experience, but I don't think that clouded my judgement one bit though.

Following my own rule of owning movies I like.

I do not own Wolverine Origins or X-Men Last Stand but I will own GL.

I feel it warrants and earned a sequel, it shouldn't stop here.

It was a fun ride.

There

3 for 3 for me

I want Cap to BLOW everything out of the water right about now

 

[Kuzeh]

Glad to see people enjoying it!
I'm pretty sure all the critics completely missed the mark here...
Personally, I'm not a big fan of GL, but I enjoyed this movie a LOT!!
My only nitpick is:

Spoiler

How pretty much nobody acted surprised about all of the extraterrestrial/alien situations they were in... like Hal wasn't all that surprised to see an alien in a ship, same with Thomas, Carol after hearing all what Hal could do and where he had been...

But other than that, I liked it!
!

 

[jye4ever]

Glad to see people enjoying it!
I'm pretty sure all the critics completely missed the mark here...
Personally, I'm not a big fan of GL, but I enjoyed this movie a LOT!!
My only nitpick is:

Spoiler

How pretty much nobody acted surprised about all of the extraterrestrial/alien situations they were in... like Hal wasn't all that surprised to see an alien in a ship, same with Thomas, Carol after hearing all what Hal could do and where he had been...

But other than that, I liked it!
!

That's because they probably read the GL comic books, so wasn't too shocking really

 

[The Mike]

Having now seen the film what are your thoughts on the film's promotion?

They were unsure of what they wanted the film to be instead of looking at what the film is. It's a lighthearted Superhero film that is more of a kid's movie than a cerebral angst filled journey like Nolan has done. The first trailer tried to make the film Iron Man, the second a Nolanesque classic and it's neither. Hal isn't Tony by a longshot, in fact watching the film Hal is more Clark Kent than anyone else, very unsure of himself when realizing his power. Every promotion made it feel like it was trying to be in Nolan's world as if that was the DC Universe when in reality they should have stayed with the whole "Everyone one can be Chosen" original idea and play up the fun, the aliens (literally you get about as much as the original Star Wars) and the positive feel of it. People took their kids to Watchmen expecting Spider-Man and were thrown. They should have played this as a film you can take your kids too.

Great review, thanks! By the way, who's babe in your sig?

Miss September 2010, Olivia Paige.

Glad you liked it Mike. After mine was over I was curious to read your thoughts as I was forming my own in my head on the way home.

I agreed with a lot of your points Josh, thanks for the shoutout

Are Critics being too harsh on this film? Are they trying to compare it to TDK type quality since it's from WB? The film has a lower rating on the tomatometer than Sucker Punch.

In short yes. It's not fully the critic's faults though, the film was promoted strangely and it didn't highlight the positive aspects and set it up for that. The trailers should have shown the brightness, the magic feel of Oa and the alien life and even the grounded Hal instead of trying to make him more of a Reynolds past character. Reynolds is completely different in this than his other films and that could have easily been played up with picking out different segments no problem by the trailer editor.

 

[Desamo]

It sucks that Green Lantern comes to my country on August 5th.I want to see this movie now!!

 

[Spartan Rex]

Sounds like everyone will have to decide for themselves on the films merits or lack thereof but the professional critics dont seem to be alone.
Superhero hype has a thread of just fan reaction that seems be weighted towards the "meh" to "hate it' crowd.
But some are saying they really liked it.
Interesting, the feedback really covers a broader spectrum than I've seen in awhile..

 

[Chapter 2099]

It sucks that Green Lantern comes to my country on August 5th.I want to see this movie now!!

August 5th?!?

That does suck.

 

[Project_A]

This movie was awful. IMO.

 

[Khev]

They were unsure of what they wanted the film to be instead of looking at what the film is. It's a lighthearted Superhero film that is more of a kid's movie than a cerebral angst filled journey like Nolan has done. They should have played this as a film you can take your kids too.

Is it more lighthearted and kid friendly than Thor?

 

[Chapter 2099]

Is it more lighthearted and kid friendly than Thor?

I definitely think so.