Between cast choices and a tv script, can a fanboy have faith?I should preface this with the fact Green Lantern is my favorite DC character and second favorite comic book character. So this movie has a long up hill journey to silence my skepticism even though I am excited as all hell that it’s being done. So here a just a few reasons I fear this film, still pre-production, might be bad.
First and foremost the team working on the film’s script has about a 50/50 chance of doing a good job. These guys are television show writers, their body of work on the CW may impress or inspire a Sinestro ring powered fear in you. Greg Berlanti and Michael Green worked on Everwood and Jack & Bobby together as writers and producers. Between them there is also writing credit for Heroes and Smallville but in both show’s early seasons. Now here is the rub, if you like those shows then you may very well like the quality of script these guys may turn out. They are undboutably familiar with writing super heroes but can they do it without the teen angst and useless love triangles.
Then we have a director with a collection of good and bad under his belt. Martin Campbell has done some really great movies. I mean we are talking two of the best Bond films, GoldenEye and Casino Royale. But then again he did do both Zorro films (Mask and Legend) and the Chris O’Donnell thriller Vertical Limit. And I am pretty certain if I head over to rottentomatoes most agree with me as to the poor quality of the second Zorrow and Vertical Limit. So with Campbell we have a director who can do well with the right concept, script and cast. While I am not sold on any of these yet that brings me to my next point.
The cast, the cast, what can I say? Well Ryan Reynolds has yet to prove ANY dramatic chops what so ever and he is set to play a role of Hal Jordan (he may have made a better Rayner). So here we are with a lead that even an optimistic fan is unsure of. Then just this week we get…Blake Lively as Carol Farris. Okay so once again it can be asked, can she play something other than a spoiled teen or a jean swapping young adult? So far the cast shows me they are trying to get teen women to watch this movie. If only Bradley Cooper wasn’t doing the A-Team movies and they had chosen the right Gossip Girl cast member, Leighton Meester, the cast might be taking better shape.
To summarize nothing in this pre-trailer line up instills anything other than trepidation in a huge Kilowog trained fan. It’s almost just as sure that the lack of cast announcements goes hand in hand with the fact the movie just got a green light this last two weeks. Let there be hope that a venerable actor is cast as Sinestro, Jack Davenport perhaps. Either way the trailer is being anticipated with baited breath and certain ring slingers will be there to watch this film regardless.
From Sithcakes:
Why oh why would they choose Blake Lively!? I mean.. Carol Farris has dark hair and is pretty hot. On those terms alone Leighton would have been 10 times better.
From spanky:
Well now it’s confirmed that Peter Sarsgaard will be playing Dr. Hammond (Egg Headed Guy). I don’t know if I can like a Green Lantern movie without Sinestro.
From Omniman101:
I have to agree with almost all of your fears. First of all you are completely correct Ryan Reynolds has no business on paper being in this film. On paper. We all said that about Ledger when we heard about the joker. (and don’t try and be cool and be like no I knew he could pull off joker no you didn’t.)
Also its an origin flick which always makes it tough to flesh out a major cast. From what I can tell we already have four major characters which could spell disaster.
The director is 50 50… His only other movie with a mask was pretty much trash…(sorry to all Zorro fans)
The writing team is not experienced in this field…
It should also be mentioned this movie has a horrible release date which is one week after Thor…(unless I’m mistaken) Not to mention outside of Batman movies DC has had a lot of problems pleasing the fans and average movie watcher…
Well good luck Green Lantern, Batman knows your going to need it.
From pur:
Up until The Hangover Cooper has always played kind of a jerk. It was cool to see him a good guy role for a change. Super funny movie too.
From Matthew C. Krian:
Heyy, Sweet post! I will definatley be coming back soon!=)