MovieChat Forums > Green Lantern (2011) Discussion > What was the problem and what they did w...

What was the problem and what they did wrong with this movie

posted 10 years ago by Lokisgodhi
15 replies | jump to latest

I think since this was the foundation film they should have spent more time with Hal Jordan on Oa training to become Green Lantern.

To do so I think they should elminated the Hector Hammond character. This would have freed up screen time not having to develop that character and how he was connected to Parallax. As for Parallax, they should have had him speaking to Jordan prior to their engagement by the DNA traces left on Abin Sur's ring.

The biggest problem to overcome making this movie is the very nature of the Green Lantern powers themsleves. The way Lantern's powers manifest themselves is very comic-y. You will something into existence. That works when being drawn in comic books and animated in cartoons. But in a live action film they don't come across nearly as well when being rendered in CGI special effects. They come across sort of hokey.

Not every comic translates well to live action.

[–] I_Am_The_Captain 10 years ago

Even though it doesn't solve all your above mentioned problems, I'd reccommend you find and read the original script. It's floating around the net.
It not only has a different villian (Legion), WHO acts exactly like parallax does in this movie (which makes much more sense, since Parallax in this movie...doesn't really act like he's supposed to! And is, in fact, more Krona than Parallax), it also has longer montage of training, more super hero stuff on Earth for Hal prior to the finale, and adifferent ending with help from the corps.

I disagree with you on the constructs, though. I thought they looked fine.
The problem with this movie in my opinion was that the script was changed and dilluted. It was directed by a man WHO's good at making action movies with realism - not superhero movies in space. It was cut so more time could be spent on Earth (hence, less effects, cheaper to make). And they tried to shoehorn too much into it. But - I still like the film. I really do. It's not the movie I wanted, but it's a movie I'm happy with.

Who am I to argue with the captain of the Enterprise?

[–] EmilMintyAsTheFeralKid 10 years ago

What did they do wrong with this movie?

They made it in the first place. They could have done an animated version, got all the kiddies to ask for the DVD for christmas and still make major bank.

I hope at least someone got a decent tax write off out of this disaster.

[–] AndrewGS 10 years ago

I never liked the retcon of Parallax and thought it also didn't work here. Reynolds (too often too much like Adam Sandler), Lively, Strong and Sarsgaard were underwhelming and the story was too convoluted.

[–] comicman117 10 years ago

"Not every comic translates well to live action".

They didn't even try with this film though. They made a half-hazard adaption of Secret Origin.

WB is like a snail when it comes to adapting DC properties that aren't Batman or Superman.

[–] bondukkevin 10 years ago

I agree with the original poster they should have just had parallax and Hal Jordan training more. Earth should have been at the end, cut hector and Blake lively character.

[–] zuhairi1994 10 years ago

I agree with bondukkevin. They should make the whole film set in outer space with the ending only set on Earth where Hal Jordan finally shows up to fight a new enemy and introduces the green lantern for the first time to the people of Earth.

They should also focus more on other green lanterns and why is special to us and different from others. In the film, I see all the green lanterns are the same with nothing unique among them other than their species. Any why is Hal the only one fighting the parallax? Plus, quoting others here, the film's adaptation of Parallax sucks. They should've gone with the Manhunters and leave Parallax for the sequel. Who knows, since this is set in space, maybe we can catch a glimpse of John J'onzz too?

[–] atg_commish 10 years ago

I thought the CGI was good and the constructs were fine.

The biggest issue was the villain. A big amorphous blob just isn't that threatening. And Hector Potato Head wasn't all that threatening either.

Before we get started, does anyone want to get out?

[–] kingaliencracker 10 years ago

They just took a lot of missteps with the material. There was a basis for a good movie but it got bogged down with a lot of unnecessary elements. I also agree that Green Lantern is a difficult character to translate onto film. The name itself is rather quirky, especially when compared to other DC and Marvel characters.

[–] T-eschberger 10 years ago

The whole issue was the script. It wasn't it's own entity enough to stand out. Hal Jordan can be an interesting character but they just wrote him as a somewhat toned down Tony Stark clone sans the enormous wealth. Everything about the film was just sort of "bleh". It only came to life somewhat when Hal was on Oa. I think in order for a GL movie to work it really has to go for the gold. Be out there, be a little weird. It's too early to tell, but Guardians of the Galaxy is looking like it is FULLY embracing it's comic booky weirdness and going for broke. GL just held back. They should have more faith in the concept, written a stronger script instead making copies of another superhero origins and pasting it in the GL universe, and ponied up a little more coin for making the movie a more space faring adventure. Balancing the Earth and space stuff would be hard for any writer(s) and the director but it's like they didn't ever try. I also had no issues with the cast. I would be up for just giving the whole cast another go with a much better script.

The GL universe is a rich, sprawling, creative place that could really pave the way to some amazing cinematic adventures. This isn't just my love of GL talking, but if they got some people behind the movie that had so REAL passion for it, that were bold enough to really embrace the world, they could make one of the best superhero movies ever, and truly one of the better sci-fi movies in YEARS.

[–] vividly_pathetic 10 years ago

Editing is definitely one of the killing points of this movie. You just don't have narration at the beginning explaining everything, have Sinestro and the guardians talking about threats and THEN introduce everything to us through Hal's POV.

The first time we should know anything about Oa or the corp is when Hal learns about it.

I enjoyed it for what it was, though, and I generally hate almost all modern superhero movies.

[–] GuyOnTheLeft 9 years ago

That's a good point and it seems so rushed that he then became Green Lantern.

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[–] GuyOnTheLeft 9 years ago

For me, Hector was the best part of the movie and the training section was boring. But I agree with you about the way his powers look on screen.

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[–] Pyrochles 8 years ago

To do so I think they should elminated the Hector Hammond character. This would have freed up screen time not having to develop that character and how he was connected to Parallax. As for Parallax, they should have had him speaking to Jordan prior to their engagement by the DNA traces left on Abin Sur's ring.

See, I disagree with this completely. Forget Parallax. For this first movie, I think Hector Hammond should have been the one and only villain. The movie doesn't show anything like the full extent of the character's powers, and I think they could have pumped him up even more for the climactic battle. The problem with Parallax is that they went too big too soon. But Hector Hammond is no lightweight. It would have been fitting for Hal to defeat a very powerful but earthbound threat to prove that he can serve as the Green Lantern for his sector. This business of defeating one of the most powerful evil forces in the galaxy and becoming the greatest Green Lantern of all time can wait for a sequel.