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Not so fast Freddy, Lord Blackwood may be slipping on the yellow ring instead, says GREEN LANTERN director Martin Campbell!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. As I've been fretting over my Sundance activities and taking in some Sundance and Slamdance screeners some news came in from MTV's Rick Marshall regarding GREEN LANTERN.
MTV got to talk to director Martin Campbell who was doing press in support of his upcoming Mel Gibson vehicle EDGE OF DARKNESS. In this interview Green Lantern is brought up and Campbell was very upfront with info.
The biggest news is that contrary to all the rumors that have been circulating (I'm looking at you, Moriarty!) Jackie Earle Haley is not in any sort of contention to play Sinestro as far as Martin Campbell knows. Instead, Campbell said they're talking to Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes, Kick-Ass) to play the character.
Now, that's not to say that the studio wasn't interested in Haley, as Drew originally reported at HitFix, but that Campbell wasn't thinking of him for the role.
Campbell also said that joining Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds), Carol Ferris (Blake Lively) and Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard) will be big alien Lantern Corp member Kilowog as well as Abin Sur and Tomar-Re.
I must admit that I'm not very familiar with Green Lantern outside of the basic iconography of the series. I grew up a Marvel kid. But I love the idea of a big sci-fi action superhero movie in outer space. Now I just have to decide if I start catching up with the comics or wait to see the flick.
-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com
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Unless Guy Gardener is a character in the movie it will be a huge miss. He's the fun in the Lantern mythology, much better than Jordan, Stewart or Rayner
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Much better choice for Sinestro. And Quint, you should dive right into trade paperbacks/graphic novels of Rebirth up through Sinestro Corps War at least - among the best superhero or otherwise comics out there today. And me, how do I change my handle as I'm no longer cranky (well, maybe a little bit) for various reasons including life-changing medical issues (I'm fightin' and looks like I may be winnin' as well though that jury's still out).
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I'm sure I'll see this movie, but eh
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he was pretty good in sherlock. he can definitely do sinestro.
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Jan 15, 2010 7:38:12 PM CST
That's more like it. But Robert Knepper would be best.
by the_genteel_gentile
Knepper looks exactly like Sinestro. Plus he's got chops, and don't mean mutton.
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If so, still not interested.
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They might make a Supes movie that embraces his sci-fi side if this works.
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Looks just like him already. Nice.
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Hal Jordan needs to be the one and only Earth based GL in the 1st Movie at least. Finding a second one would be a good subplot in the sequel. They're not going to cram all the characters and backstory you guys want into one movie. One GL, One Vilain is the way to go.
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who gets to be Pieface?
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That's all I need to know.
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Making this credible and enticing for ticket-buyers.. I am only saying.... Regardless.. I hope it RULZ YAH!
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SEE YOU LITTLE BITCHES.
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but still not 100% convinced about reynolds
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Gardner and Stewart could pop up in second film; maybe Hal's down temporarily and ring subdivides or something, unable to choose Guy or John alone...then the mega-drama for Earth means all three are needed, turns into tri-buddy film (Emerald Thunder w/ no Simple Jack). Kyle is worked in for film three, maybe a Parallax angle (developed in film two?). Just a thought.
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But Green lantern was my fav. DC character after Superman, never a Batman fan, weird more of a Flash fan.
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I don't see Sinestro in Strong. He could be a decent Lex Luthor in the Superman reboot if and when it happens but I guess that can't happen now.
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..But Ryan Reynolds, means I WILL NOT be paying to see this.
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Are you Campbell's personal assistant or something?
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Jan 15, 2010 7:50:25 PM CST
At this point, I'd rather see a Deadpool movie starring
by doctorfalcormd
Ryan Reynolds
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good point on Lex, that would be pretty killer. I liked Mark Strong in RocknRolla, Body of Lies, and Sherlock. I think he makes a great villain and hope he gets this.
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or using a mix, like with Davey Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean? I've been thinking of Vin Diesel as (at least the voice of) Kilowog. Maybe do a mocap thing with him. He's always reminded me of Kilowog...
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Silly bollocks more like. your lose, man. You might have fucking loved it, you foolish, boy. Too late to take it back now. Nope! sorry you are not allowed to see it, bud. Go stamp your quality over Chris O'Donnell in Campbells's Vertical Limit.
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Imagine a cosmic hero with unlimited ability that the silver surfer and quasar borrow liberally from. Well, there you go.
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Now that could be awesome.
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Awesome character...I just hope they don't make him so CGI that he looks retarded.
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Really, can you imagine a better Sinestro?
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It's one of those films that will have to have GIANT positive word of mouth AFTER it's been released for me to care.
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I like Jackie Earl Haley, a lot. But it wouldn't hurt him to do something outside of genre films like this for a while. The guy commits and I respect him plenty for that. Mark Strong feels more appropriate for this anyway, he has the necessary authority to go from high-ranking official to fearful super-villain. If this happens Sony should be taking notes as to what good casting for superhero movie is.
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Have you guys seen this comedian? He'd be great comic relief and he acts and looks like the character -- more recently, not the Moe Howard bowl cut: http://tinyurl.com/yhh9pkt
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You may proceed regardless of what the rest of the internet nerds have to say.
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Jan 15, 2010 8:27:08 PM CST
BlackHand would make a better side villain than Hector Hammond
by dreadlock holmes
Or maybe they could use Hank Henshaw the Cyborg Superman.
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pulling his finest performance to date with a prosthetic nose?
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but racist
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/15/dennis-hopper-divorce-sho_n_424589.html
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Please no crappy CGI I want Rick
Baker on staff a.s.a.p!!!
Kilowog etc... need to be flesh (latex) and blood actors!!!! -
Examining his nails, preening his mustache being all superior
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I'm a card carrying Marvel zombie, but this would be beyond cool considering that DC adaptations have never taken such an aesthetic chance.Will it be CGI like Hulk or man in suit like FF?
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The fact that you think, just as I initially had, that Davey Jones was realised by a mix of live action and computer generated imagery is a testiment to the genius that is John Knoll.
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Jan 15, 2010 9:26:58 PM CST
Sherman_Lives - They shot with the intention of it being a mix.
by the_genteel_gentile
Or at least with the option. But then decided to go completely CG with Davey Jones. So when you see the on set footage, Bill Nighy is wearing make-up around his eyes and mouth, however everythng was eventually replaced with CG. It's true, I heard it straight from John Knolls lips at his special Comic-Con presentation.
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Guess he's too old though.
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JEH as Sinestro is genius! Mark Strong is definitely NOT. Reynolds as GL is bad enough, TYVM.
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but he's not dead yet
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but Hercules of AICN fame doesn't care
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Cholo chomped King Koopa.
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He's getting better.I read plenty that he was diagnosed plenty early. Which rawks for me since he's on my short list of current favorites.
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than than that JEH fellow. Jackie, you tryin' to pull a Jay Leno on my pal Freddy?? I'll have to slit your throat for that....
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http://tinyurl.com/yhvr7q9
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as the voice of Kilowog? You never know...
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Jan 15, 2010 10:33:38 PM CST
Bruce Campbell should play Hal Jordan and Sinestro
by yoyodynepropulsionsystems
Then it won't suck.
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Skinny, with a thin mustache.
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Now that could be Interesting.....
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At the very least, starting with REBIRTH, followed by THE SINESTRO CORPS WAR and the current BLACKEST NIGHT comics. Some of the best GREEN LANTERN tales ever, IMHO.
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God, I love this spiffy edit feature!
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Jan 15, 2010 10:59:31 PM CST
This has the potential to be absolutely amazing
by nomoredirtyjokespleaseweareyanks
I was always a DC nut. Supes and Batman were great but the most amazing shit was always in Green Lantern. I have always loved Martin Campbell but he better not fuck this up.
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We could have had that already, but Fox blew it....yes...FF.
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Mark Strong is a much better choice. I've still got faith in you, Martin Campbell! Hit this one out of the park!
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I actually kind of liked the second one better, due to the Silver Surfer. Galactus sucked though.
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I'm just not sure at how well any Green Lantern story will translate to the screen. Reading the comics, it is already a huge challenge to take half the stuff seriously -- but once you do, it is probably the most enjoyable and highest quality comic for the last few years.
I'm just not sure at how much of the GL universe will translate. Oa? The Guardians? Obviously Kilowog and others are announced, so there needs to be some presence away from Earth.
I think having Sinestro along for the first movie and turning him into a villain right at the end would be amazing, so I guess going the Hector Hammond route would be OK. I'm just not sure it really draws that WOW factor that pulls in other comic book fans. The whole 'construct' idea is amazing for the page, but the screen it might just look silly and confuse quite a bit of people.
How will they do the 'yellow impurity' ultimately without doing the Parallax storyline, and ultimately the 'rebirth' storyline to reveal the ability to overcome the yellow impurity? Etc, etc. I'm STOKED there is a Green Lantern movie in the making, I'm just really cautious about how it'll be portrayed. -
c'mon!!
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and he's in john carter of mars too.
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Hugo Weaving or Jason Isaacs. But Strong will do nicely.
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Yes! Strong is definitely Sinestro! Perfect casting!
Harry, you should definitely read all the Geoff Johns Lantern stuff, it'll get you right where you need to be. -
always quality
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No "let's base it all on Earth reality" BS, go full blown all-out scifi! Most of the major comic pics so far have been semi-realistic, but it's time to go all out!
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Jan 16, 2010 12:29:11 AM CST
Mark Strong was my choice for Sinestro in the other talkback.
by dailysportspages
Glad Martin Campbell listened :)
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played by John Goodman.
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The script is primarily adapting those. While all the Geoff Johns suggestions are good ones, he does a bit of a self serving retcon on the GL origin to serve a larger event storyline that plays a major part in the GL mythos later on. The Post Crisis Emerald Dawn story (I'll let someone else have the fun of schooling you in all things "Crisis") is the simplest and most relevant to this film.
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He looks just like him!
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If Legion is still in the movie, that means two big villains (Legion and Hector Hammond) and battles both on and around Earth and Oa. (You can google the early script reviews from both IESB and Latino Review.) Legion will provide more action/fights- I think that will provide the "wow factor". A few conflicting reports/rumours on this movie so far, hopefully the script hasn't been scaled back too much to diminish the space/sci-fi action scenes.
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defi itely a Marvel kid growing up as well and still am, but have really come to love a lot of DC books as well, GL is one of the best books out there. Hal is the BEST Green Lantern but i also really like Guy, for those that dont like him, go read GL and GL corps of the last few years, he has grown a lot as a character.
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Collected issues in graphic novel form. I only began reading GL when I read rumours of a film. You'll read them all in a few days. One of my fave comics now.
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These peeps are assuming that any ol' superhero bullshit has bank written all over it.
Green Lantern may have a chance if they ignore the geeks all together, and just make it about a fighter pilot who gets a magic ring that does all sortsa crazy shit, keeping the whole thing earthbound.
The moment you start introducing fights in space and big fucking alien humanoids who are part of a special society, you are asking for the public to tell you to fuck off.
Same with Thor. They better have 90% of that business set on Earth and load it up with Iron Man cameos or something, because people are gonna be majorly pissed to go into a new 'superhero' movie and find out its a bunch of Shakespeare speakin gods.
And before the geeks jump in defense of audiences' ability to accept something new; you're wrong. Joe 6 Pack goes to a superhero or comic-book movie because its advertised to them as being a superhero comic-book movie. And when they hear those words, they expect some dude in tights fighting bad guys through recognizable cities. Nothing more, nothing less.
That's why you don't see marketing departments advertising Road To Perdition and A History Of Violence as 'comic book movies'. They casually say it's based on a 'graphic novel', not to be hip with the latest "I'm not really a dork, truly" lingo...but because they know their audience is going to be pissed if they hype it as based on a comic book and there's no tights anywhere in sight.
Green Lantern and Thor are gonna bomb big time. -
If they don't put him in any sequels, it'd be a damn shame.
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Too bad. HE would have made an interesting Sinestro.
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I think all superhero movies are headed more toward sci-fi. Even Batman. It's not like the public aren't used to space adventures (Star Wars?). When studios rely more and more on tentpole movies with international appeal, when the public demands more spectacle, where else is there to go but space, sci-fi, or fantasy and magic etc. Those have been prevalent in books and comics for ages and are becoming more mainstream, where studios are hopefully putting more faith in the source material and not narrow-mindedly thinking that it has to be ignored and drastically altered for mass appeal. That type of studio thinking results in something like "Catwoman". People don't look down on comics as much anymore, including in Hollywood.
Some movies may have more success than others, but that has more to do with how they are individually handled. -
Jan 16, 2010 10:24:49 AM CST
These talkbacks really are nothing but a free focus group.
by knuckleduster
First we bitch about Sinestro not being in the movie, so they decide to put Sinestro in the movie. Then we complain about Jackie Earle Haley and recommend Mark Strong, so they give us Mark Strong. Since we're on a roll, could the movie feature a lesbian scene with Emma Watson and Megan Fox? Thanks.
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Sinestro has been included in the script since the early drafts, before the movie was greenlit- his name was included in the early script reviews. He was never the villain in the first movie because he was not the villain right away in the comics either.
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Seriously, as much as I like JEH, he is NOT Sinestro. Just saw Sherlock Holmes last weekend, which was AWESOME, and I am totally down for Blackwood to be Sinestro.
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Sinestro's far less successful, creepier, alcoholic little brother tag-a-long!
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That's an odd coupling.
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Jack Earl Haley as Guy Gardner
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dudes, tom cruise has had huge action hits and he's 5 foot nothing. sinestro, if played right, will be hovering most of the film, cuz he floats and shit, that would take care of any height issues. it's about that face. that mustache.
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Jeremy Renner, from The Hurt Locker. For me, esp when Guy is angry.
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Sinestro is a lot more than a cameo in the script, but yeah he's a green lantern the whole time, there are barely any whiffs of him going bad too, which I think is pretty damn cool. Now granted this is a draft from a while back (in which hal jordan is totally jokey and completely suited for reynolds... too bad), and maybe they've changed it to shoehorn in the yellow lanterns but I doubt it and hope not. But yeah, Sinestro's a main supporting character, Hal's mentor, and the real cameo is Killowog who only has one line and no training montage. There's also super brief cameos for Guy Gardner and Clark Kent of all people. Oh, and Mark Strong is perfect for this shit. I'm so relieved, good job!
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I love that ahole
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Miss Innocent (but probably a dirty girl behind the scenes) and Miss Sexy (probably more sluttier behind the scenes)
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or a you the new JettL
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as long as that assclown Jack Black is no longer "associated" with Green Lantern, I really don't care WHO they cast ... I will be seeing this movie. For over a decade I've been saying GL would be perfect for a studio because of it's built in Trilogy without having to sign ONE actor to star in all 3 ... then I heard the Jack Black rumors and wanted to go Tyler Durden on Hollywood (which was also my reaction to Seth Rogan being cast as Green Hornet)
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An early version of the script is out there. I think people have read it by PMing it to each other on Green Lantern message boards.
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Jan 17, 2010 5:48:47 AM CST
"People don't look down on comics as much anymore, including in
by borishumphrey
That's what geeks and comic book companies want you to believe. Actual sales statistics show small sales spikes on related titles around the time of a character's movie, before it returns back to normal. And it can be argued quite confidently that the surge in sales is mostly prospectors stocking up in case hell freezes over and people start to give a shit about the comics.
People may love The Dark Knight and Spider-Man, but 99.9% of them wouldn't be caught dead going into a comic shop and catching up on the paper adventures of that character. And rightfully so; because the comics these days are awfully written and edited convoluted garbage.
The major comic companies have pretty much all but given up on trying to bring in new fans, especially kids, because there are now a thousand other things that will hold their attention for longer and at less overall cost. Maybe in the 50s-80s it was all a young boy could do to go under the covers at night with a torch and read comic books, but now these kids just play their PSP in bed instead.
Don't believe for a second that Hollywood respects comic books. They're like the your sister's cool boyfriend; he'll share a beer with you and be nice to you at family dinners, but as soon as he's done nailing your sister, he'll reneg on his promise of going out to a bar with you to help you pick up.
Comics will be around only as long as movie audiences or video game players are interested in the adapted works. When that stops, comics are dead, because they are currently only a carcass to be picked clean for further sustenance.
Marvel and DC should put less stock in pleasing Hollywood and more into researching and creating an anti-aging serum that will keep the current 30-50 year old geeks alive forever so their real customer base doesn't up and die on them in the near future. -
All evidence to the contrary if you look at the trend of comic book films in Hollywood. I'm talking about the reputation of comic book properties in Hollywood- look around - Marvel/Disney, Warners/DC...comic book writers now being used as consultants in these properties, acknowledging the source material... Kids may be playing with their PSPs, but it's the adult comic book readers making the movies, who'll translate their knowledge of comics into these avenues of movies, animated shows and videogames etc. that appeal more to the kids.
So yeah, the average movie goer may not walk into a comic book store, but they'll certainly go see the movie they make out of it. And studio heads and other Hollywood types may not want to get into comics either, but they'll certainly care more about the filmmakers who do know more about comics than they do. And kids may prefer Ben10 or some such thing to some Infinite Ultimate crisis from DC/Marvel, but they'll still buy Lego Batman on PSP. Comics are still a specialised interest, but don't expect interest in adapted works to be over any time soon.
I agree, though- I didn't grow up reading comics, I do find that comics cater more to "geeks" with a knowledge of that world, if anything I've seen comics start skewing a bit older than for young kids who just want a simple adventure. But as I said, this specialised knowledge branches out to a whole host of other fields now where Marvel and DC make their money.
Your original point was that the sci-fi/space aspect wouldn't work for Joe 6 Pack- I find that hard to believe in an age where Avatar is the number one movie in the world. And then you say that Hollywood doesn't respect comics yet you also said that it shouldn't have listened to the geeks and they should've made GL more earth-bound. So which is it. Hollywood does care about not upsetting the geek contingent, yet you think this method will result in bombs. We'll see, but I disagree. -
because if it stops caring, the franchises go out of business and the money stops.
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comics are dead, comic book movies will bomb if they follow comic storylines, and Hollywood will fuck your sister and not take you to the bar to help you pick up. Got that?
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has come along way from being the butt of every joke in JLI. Check out the newest Green Lantern Corps book. He's got plenty of depth and is a great character. Far more interesting than everyone's favorite, Hal Jordan. That said, I'm looking forward to this.
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Jan 17, 2010 11:48:11 AM CST
I think geek chatter is more accessible b/c of the net
by creamcheesealchemist
Ok, you don't have to hit a comic or anime shop to follow a debate on Indy and aliens- you can scroll down in the privacy of your home. Ok, the people who talk about a property day in and day out are building buzz for the movie.
Hollywood's also realized things like hiring Peter Cullen to voice Optimus in the BayFormers or the Zsasz cameo in Batman Begins- these are nods to the fans that don't alienate or confuse the general audience. So if they show the funeral of Hal or Carol's dad in a GL film, it might be at the Hand funeral home because if the scene is already in the script- why not? -
Read the comics. As a comics girl, I have to say GREEN LANTERN is one of the only READABLE comics out there in the super hero genre, one of the only main stream super hero comics that even makes sense to anyone who isn't a regular reader. It's got a great tory line going on right now called BLACKEST NIGHT. I would suggest picking up some of the WAR OF THE LIGHT trades and that will give you an idea just why GL right now is the clit.
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once they get the intros out of the way, the second movie can be a huge space opera with the corps battling manhunters. NO MAN ESCAPES THE MANHUNTERS
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Watch Bruce Timm's DCU cartoons and direct to DVD movies. Totally awesome way to discover the awesome-ness of the DC Universe.
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but...and here's the gem: It's set in our modern-day world, which makes it much *easier* to shoot. The art director will need to use our everyday life, to balance it against the alieness of the Lantern Corps. It's going to be a delicate juggling act at the best of times. If it works, GL will be the DC Iron Man. If not, the movie will tank.
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if your teeth ain't your own.
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Exactly, if done the right way Green Lantern can for sure be DC's Iron Man. Ryan Reynolds can have that same charm as Robert Downey Jr. Not too mention Hal is a hero at heart, but definitely has his flaws just like Stark. Hal has a lot of internal issues with family and loss, like Stark, and has that "need for speed" just like Stark as well. And they are both human with super technology, wether it be a suite of armor or a power ring. I have my hopes that Martin Campbell and company can pull this one off and we'll have a great DC comic movie other than Batman. DC really needs to get more things going in live action, they have definitely ruled the animated portion of their properties ala Batman The Animated Series and Superman The Animated Series as well as the majority of their DTV animated movies. But I would love to see more DC properties brought to the big screen and done right. Here's hoping...
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Whoever suggested him for Guy Gardner bravo. He would be perfect!
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or was that rumor bullshit? I hope not , i need to see superman on the big screen again soon!!!!!!
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If the Latino Review script review is accurate the Superman cameo is very brief, and it actually a Clark Kent cameo. Likely a quick flyby and a view from behind.
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My curiosity got the best of me and I checked out the review online, and I gotta say my hopes are up. I just saw Adventureland and I have faith in Reynolds now. Ive always seen him as Van Wilder, and the only dramatic thing Ive seen him in has been Ammityville Horror which I didnt find him very convincing in. But he showed some impressive acting in Adventureland and I can really see him embodying Hal now. Im sure Lively will be going brunette for the movie, and shes a complete doll so thumbs up for her to play Carol, and although I havent seen him in anything yet, support for Strong to play Sinestro seems to be pretty positive so thumbs up there too. Sounds like the script is very well written, and will feature both earth based conflicts and space battles too, with Hal teaming up with the Lanterns to take down Legion then getting help to take down Hammond. Im officially excited!!! If they do this in 3D that would be perfect!!! Imagine space battles, ring constructs all in 3D. If they do this right, Green Lantern could easily become, like, the coolest movie ever.
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It will be good to see a contrast between the realistic modern world and the alien worlds. It could work really well.
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Jan 19, 2010 2:03:00 PM CST
Strong is a great choice...Campbell seems to have this flick in
by davdaman
...but all you weirdos crying for Guy Gardner take note: He ain't gonna be in the film.
Yeah he's a great buffoon, but he's not important to the GL mythos, not 1/5 as important as John Stewart. Let alone Hal Jordan.
Hal is THE GL character, and is also a much more nuanced, balanced, dynamic character than the rest of them.
In short: WB knows what the hell they're doing here. Good job!
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