Sinestro had the script printed on YELLOW PAPER.
September 29, 2008 2:45 PM Subscribe
The Green Lantern movie is back on! Minus Jack Black! Early concept art is looking exciting, though sadly we’ll never see Paul Newman in the role of Hal Jordan.
He has no endearing weakness
I think we can all identify with the problem posed by the color yellow.
posted by shakespeherian at 3:05 PM on September 29, 2008 [8 favorites]
I think we can all identify with the problem posed by the color yellow.
posted by shakespeherian at 3:05 PM on September 29, 2008 [8 favorites]
Hal Jordan = Clint Eastwood = Oscar Winner.
posted by blue_beetle at 3:08 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by blue_beetle at 3:08 PM on September 29, 2008
They don’t necessarily have to go with Hal Jordan (impossibly noble, stick up his butt, may actually be psychopathic), they could go with Kyle Rayner (airy fairy graphic designer type, terminal n00b) or Jon Sterwart (er… bald, black)
posted by Artw at 3:14 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by Artw at 3:14 PM on September 29, 2008
or they could start with the first Lantern, Alan Scott, and go thur Hal Jordan and then to Kyle Rayner...I guess that would take three movies.
posted by bjgeiger at 3:21 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by bjgeiger at 3:21 PM on September 29, 2008
It also sounds like they're bigging up the Sci-Fi aspects, which has worked quite well in the superhero movies that have done that.
posted by Artw at 3:26 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by Artw at 3:26 PM on September 29, 2008
I've never really been a fan of the franchise, but as shakespeherian alluded to, isn't a vulnerability to yellow kind of a significant flaw?
I mean, getting the shit kicked out of you by Spongebob would be pretty embarrassing, right?
Or did they do away with that weakness eventually?
posted by quin at 3:28 PM on September 29, 2008 [2 favorites]
I mean, getting the shit kicked out of you by Spongebob would be pretty embarrassing, right?
Or did they do away with that weakness eventually?
posted by quin at 3:28 PM on September 29, 2008 [2 favorites]
Wow, I never saw this horrible Wonder Woman rumour: Will The Wachowski Brothers Tackle A ‘Wonder Woman’ Movie?
posted by Artw at 3:31 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by Artw at 3:31 PM on September 29, 2008
isn't a vulnerability to yellow kind of a significant flaw?
Naw, he just has to sit down to pee, is all.
posted by Sys Rq at 3:33 PM on September 29, 2008
Naw, he just has to sit down to pee, is all.
posted by Sys Rq at 3:33 PM on September 29, 2008
Or did they do away with that weakness eventually?
They did.
Hal Jordan can be played similarly to Tony Stark (as Downey portrayed him). Womanizer, bit of a smart-alec. Jordan's a true-blue Republican career military man, though. All sorts of characters flaws they can play with. Conservative is awakened by a larger universe, that kind of thing.
And lately, in the comics, instead of the GL Corps being composed of people without fear, they're people who have the will to move past fear. That's a character arc if I ever saw one.
posted by ten pounds of inedita at 3:36 PM on September 29, 2008
They did.
Hal Jordan can be played similarly to Tony Stark (as Downey portrayed him). Womanizer, bit of a smart-alec. Jordan's a true-blue Republican career military man, though. All sorts of characters flaws they can play with. Conservative is awakened by a larger universe, that kind of thing.
And lately, in the comics, instead of the GL Corps being composed of people without fear, they're people who have the will to move past fear. That's a character arc if I ever saw one.
posted by ten pounds of inedita at 3:36 PM on September 29, 2008
Green Lantern just doesn't seem to be a good movie character at all.
For Jordan, no. For really any of the Lanterns other than Rayner or Alan Scott (which, great idea that ain't gonna happen), probably no. But Hal Jordan's your guy, so the only way this works is you reinvent this character with weaknesses. Because otherwise it's I HAZ NO FEAR (something happens that makes him scared) O HAI NOW I HAZ A FEAR (pivotal moment) I CAN HAS OVERCOME FEAR, which is boring as fuck.
I mean, the best Green Lantern stuff was the Green Lantern / Green Arrow work
Oh, there's better stuff. Go re-read it, it reads like a naive 20-something idealist's work of that era. Which is to say, there's better. Comics101 had a great post detailing its highs and lows, but damned if I can find it now -- there was one memorable moment where Lantern keeps a bunch of poor people from murdering a slum lord in the street, and Arrow's all OH YOU'RE JUST A TOOL OF THE MAN WAKE UP.
I'm actually the only person I know who liked the storyline that led to Jordan becoming the Spectre, and I wish it had stayed that way. Like most, I was pissed about Jordan losing it and killing off the Corps, but once I saw where the story was going, I actually quite liked the ending -- Jordan accepting the Spectre not as power but as punishment. I knew it wouldn't last, because we can't allow any sort of major shift in a hero's story to be permanent, goodness sakes no, but it was fun while it lasted.
posted by middleclasstool at 3:48 PM on September 29, 2008 [2 favorites]
For Jordan, no. For really any of the Lanterns other than Rayner or Alan Scott (which, great idea that ain't gonna happen), probably no. But Hal Jordan's your guy, so the only way this works is you reinvent this character with weaknesses. Because otherwise it's I HAZ NO FEAR (something happens that makes him scared) O HAI NOW I HAZ A FEAR (pivotal moment) I CAN HAS OVERCOME FEAR, which is boring as fuck.
I mean, the best Green Lantern stuff was the Green Lantern / Green Arrow work
Oh, there's better stuff. Go re-read it, it reads like a naive 20-something idealist's work of that era. Which is to say, there's better. Comics101 had a great post detailing its highs and lows, but damned if I can find it now -- there was one memorable moment where Lantern keeps a bunch of poor people from murdering a slum lord in the street, and Arrow's all OH YOU'RE JUST A TOOL OF THE MAN WAKE UP.
I'm actually the only person I know who liked the storyline that led to Jordan becoming the Spectre, and I wish it had stayed that way. Like most, I was pissed about Jordan losing it and killing off the Corps, but once I saw where the story was going, I actually quite liked the ending -- Jordan accepting the Spectre not as power but as punishment. I knew it wouldn't last, because we can't allow any sort of major shift in a hero's story to be permanent, goodness sakes no, but it was fun while it lasted.
posted by middleclasstool at 3:48 PM on September 29, 2008 [2 favorites]
We need a War of the Worlds crossover where the alien lanterns die of yellow fever.
posted by benzenedream at 3:51 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by benzenedream at 3:51 PM on September 29, 2008
Alan Scott
FAIL, on grounds of fashion sense. Also being vulnerable to wood is moderately more dumb than being vulnerable to yellow things.
posted by Artw at 3:54 PM on September 29, 2008
FAIL, on grounds of fashion sense. Also being vulnerable to wood is moderately more dumb than being vulnerable to yellow things.
posted by Artw at 3:54 PM on September 29, 2008
Green Arrow, I believe, single-handedly invented the "You know who else ____?!" meme.
I think they'd be best off going with some variation on the New Frontier Hal Jordan. But I'm not gonna hold my breath when, as noted above, it'd be so easy to turn it into Iron Man.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 3:57 PM on September 29, 2008
I think they'd be best off going with some variation on the New Frontier Hal Jordan. But I'm not gonna hold my breath when, as noted above, it'd be so easy to turn it into Iron Man.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 3:57 PM on September 29, 2008
Well, anything minus Jack Black is a plus, if you follow my math.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 4:02 PM on September 29, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 4:02 PM on September 29, 2008 [2 favorites]
Hal Jordan. What a rube.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 4:14 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 4:14 PM on September 29, 2008
Wow, I never saw this horrible Wonder Woman rumour: Will The Wachowski Brothers Tackle A ‘Wonder Woman’ Movie?
I sincerely hope not after the travesty they made out of V For Vendetta. I was trying to forget The Matrix sequels when they came up with "Eggy in The Basket".
posted by panboi at 4:22 PM on September 29, 2008
I sincerely hope not after the travesty they made out of V For Vendetta. I was trying to forget The Matrix sequels when they came up with "Eggy in The Basket".
posted by panboi at 4:22 PM on September 29, 2008
Well, anything minus Jack Black is a plus, if you follow my math.
Agreed. Hooray for loosing Jack Black! Sorry to any fans, but I just can't enjoy him in any acting role... I tend to avoid movies he's in just for that reason.
posted by Kimothy at 4:26 PM on September 29, 2008
Agreed. Hooray for loosing Jack Black! Sorry to any fans, but I just can't enjoy him in any acting role... I tend to avoid movies he's in just for that reason.
posted by Kimothy at 4:26 PM on September 29, 2008
Hooray for losing Jack Black! Sorry to any fans, but I just can't enjoy him in any acting role...
DUDE!
Heat Vision and Jack!
Wikipedia
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:44 PM on September 29, 2008 [2 favorites]
DUDE!
Heat Vision and Jack!
Wikipedia
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:44 PM on September 29, 2008 [2 favorites]
What, no Pieface?
And GL did have one decently cool bad guy -- the Shark. He'd make a creepy movie villain, I bet.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 4:50 PM on September 29, 2008
And GL did have one decently cool bad guy -- the Shark. He'd make a creepy movie villain, I bet.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 4:50 PM on September 29, 2008
Alan Scott (which, great idea that ain't gonna happen)
That is definitely unfortunate. Alan's the most interesting one in my opinion, and I think a "Superman of the 1940s" superhero movie would be infinitely more interesting than the space cop premise introduced by Hal Jordan and his allies and successors.
I would love to see an Alan Scott/Green Lantern movie. If it did well, a nice future film with an "epic" kind of feel could be an adaptation of James Robinson's The Golden Age.
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 4:51 PM on September 29, 2008 [1 favorite]
That is definitely unfortunate. Alan's the most interesting one in my opinion, and I think a "Superman of the 1940s" superhero movie would be infinitely more interesting than the space cop premise introduced by Hal Jordan and his allies and successors.
I would love to see an Alan Scott/Green Lantern movie. If it did well, a nice future film with an "epic" kind of feel could be an adaptation of James Robinson's The Golden Age.
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 4:51 PM on September 29, 2008 [1 favorite]
“I'm actually the only person I know who liked the storyline that led to Jordan becoming the Spectre”
I liked it too.
I think GL can be done well as a film (in the abstract - not considering what it’ll actually be).
There’s some kinda silly elements to the ring beyond the yellow or wood weakness. The whole “it can do anything” schtick. I mean - wha? You can alter Planck length, change the gravitational constant, goose the speed of light? You can pretty much just remake the universe if you like. Given you have the will.
Which, really, is the whole crux of the character. How bad do you want it? Can you keep focused? etc. etc.
Bringing imagination into it really throws off folks who, y’know, have one.
I mean, someone throws a punch at me I’m going to eliminate their mass and/or eliminate friction under their feet not throw up a big green shield. Oh, you can fly? No. No, you can’t. And the molecules in your brain have stopped, welcome to an absolute zero headache. Also your heart? It’s now a singularity.
Nutty.
But will vs. ____?
Pretty cool actually.
The ring as a will translation gimmick works. Everything else - doesn’t depend on character. I mean, give someone this ring that they can use to exert their will - wow, would that magnify any character flaws and virtues.
Rare to see it done well.
I’ve read a GL story - forget what it was - something about two responses to darkness - shining a light or becoming part of it. Anyway, not a bad story in that GL faces up Batman and his “break them all and scare the hell out of the survivors” approach with a more uplifting sort of deal based on will and vision.
I’d hate to see another cocky/smarmy hero.
Some of the guys who write comics should hang around firefighters, swat, and other emergency responders and get the vibe.
There’s a lot of time, effort and focus on training, retraining, and practice.
Sure there’s some of grabass during the off hours, but all that just drains off when it comes time to go to work and you realize just how *into* saving lives some people are.
It’s why their personal lives are so often messy. Or they haven’t seen a new movie in 5 years. For some guys - especially the top performers - the job just eats up everything else.
Someone who’s powers were will based - I’d suspect he’d be absolutely driven.
And that comes with a hefty price tag on everything else (talk to an olympic athlete)
posted by Smedleyman at 4:52 PM on September 29, 2008 [3 favorites]
I liked it too.
I think GL can be done well as a film (in the abstract - not considering what it’ll actually be).
There’s some kinda silly elements to the ring beyond the yellow or wood weakness. The whole “it can do anything” schtick. I mean - wha? You can alter Planck length, change the gravitational constant, goose the speed of light? You can pretty much just remake the universe if you like. Given you have the will.
Which, really, is the whole crux of the character. How bad do you want it? Can you keep focused? etc. etc.
Bringing imagination into it really throws off folks who, y’know, have one.
I mean, someone throws a punch at me I’m going to eliminate their mass and/or eliminate friction under their feet not throw up a big green shield. Oh, you can fly? No. No, you can’t. And the molecules in your brain have stopped, welcome to an absolute zero headache. Also your heart? It’s now a singularity.
Nutty.
But will vs. ____?
Pretty cool actually.
The ring as a will translation gimmick works. Everything else - doesn’t depend on character. I mean, give someone this ring that they can use to exert their will - wow, would that magnify any character flaws and virtues.
Rare to see it done well.
I’ve read a GL story - forget what it was - something about two responses to darkness - shining a light or becoming part of it. Anyway, not a bad story in that GL faces up Batman and his “break them all and scare the hell out of the survivors” approach with a more uplifting sort of deal based on will and vision.
I’d hate to see another cocky/smarmy hero.
Some of the guys who write comics should hang around firefighters, swat, and other emergency responders and get the vibe.
There’s a lot of time, effort and focus on training, retraining, and practice.
Sure there’s some of grabass during the off hours, but all that just drains off when it comes time to go to work and you realize just how *into* saving lives some people are.
It’s why their personal lives are so often messy. Or they haven’t seen a new movie in 5 years. For some guys - especially the top performers - the job just eats up everything else.
Someone who’s powers were will based - I’d suspect he’d be absolutely driven.
And that comes with a hefty price tag on everything else (talk to an olympic athlete)
posted by Smedleyman at 4:52 PM on September 29, 2008 [3 favorites]
The Paul Newman reference is interesting. I've never noticed it before looking at GL art.
Apparently artist Alan Davies used Newman as a reference when drawing Alan Moore's Marvelman (later Miracleman) where the reference is very obvious.
posted by panboi at 4:56 PM on September 29, 2008
Apparently artist Alan Davies used Newman as a reference when drawing Alan Moore's Marvelman (later Miracleman) where the reference is very obvious.
posted by panboi at 4:56 PM on September 29, 2008
Okay, I know railing about this is a bit futile, but it does make me cranky when they go on about how "fanboys will love this shit" when all the diehard Lantern fans I know personally are fangirls (and no, not because they think this or that character is hot). It just ties in to my whole irritation about the Big Two's panic over how they don't have enough readers while they simultaneously alienate all their current and potential female audience on a regular basis - but anyway.
I have to say I've always liked Kyle's "artist Lantern" and John's "architect Lantern" a lot better than Jordan's "smashy fist Lantern," but I liked Jordan a lot in the New Frontier film, so if they go with something like that, I could dig it. That said, I'm kinda wishing they'd go with Stewart first, because he was the Green Lantern from the Justice League cartoons and all - from a marketing perspective, he's the one that makes sense, as the one whom all the kids know. It's not like it wouldn't be easy to do a sequel where whoops! John Stewart wasn't the first human Lantern after all, Hal Jordan was just off in space! Tension and buddy cop hilarity ensue! But then, Hal has the cooler origin and we must have our origins.
Oh, and since James Robinson was mentioned upthread, who would love a Starman movie or TV series? Or not, since it would get mangled, but in a magical ponyland universe?
posted by bettafish at 5:31 PM on September 29, 2008
I have to say I've always liked Kyle's "artist Lantern" and John's "architect Lantern" a lot better than Jordan's "smashy fist Lantern," but I liked Jordan a lot in the New Frontier film, so if they go with something like that, I could dig it. That said, I'm kinda wishing they'd go with Stewart first, because he was the Green Lantern from the Justice League cartoons and all - from a marketing perspective, he's the one that makes sense, as the one whom all the kids know. It's not like it wouldn't be easy to do a sequel where whoops! John Stewart wasn't the first human Lantern after all, Hal Jordan was just off in space! Tension and buddy cop hilarity ensue! But then, Hal has the cooler origin and we must have our origins.
Oh, and since James Robinson was mentioned upthread, who would love a Starman movie or TV series? Or not, since it would get mangled, but in a magical ponyland universe?
posted by bettafish at 5:31 PM on September 29, 2008
Kilowog FTW
posted by camcgee at 5:40 PM on September 29, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by camcgee at 5:40 PM on September 29, 2008 [2 favorites]
It was recently pointed out to me that you could defeat Alan Scott with wicker.
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:43 PM on September 29, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:43 PM on September 29, 2008 [1 favorite]
It seems to me that the Kyle Rayner story would fit more with a "grittier" take like they've been doing with the recent superhero movies. Jordan's origin story revolved around an alien dude crashing and giving him a ring he was predisposed to having due to his personality. Rayner gets it by pure accident, and not long afterwards comes home to find his girlfriend hacked to pieces and stuffed in the fridge by other people interested in the ring.
posted by barc0001 at 5:56 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by barc0001 at 5:56 PM on September 29, 2008
I always figured a GL movie would be cool for the flying sequences alone - the angular green trails really sell the concept - but for characterization - no. There's a reason he was always put in the Justice League with a bunch of other under-characterized heroes.
posted by yhbc at 6:51 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by yhbc at 6:51 PM on September 29, 2008
I just want to see this, a superhero story where the superhero is a complete loser.
Not the Hancock thing, where it didn't make any sense and his Importance is proven via stupid and bizarre plot mechanics.
But You. Sitting in shorts, have powers beyond the normal scale. But, for obvious reasons, don't fight street crime. Cause it's boring and stupid and annoying and fucking dangerous. So you fly out to the supermarket. To your stupid job. Powers are an annoying thing, the thing everyone says you should make something of, your potential.
But all you want to do is have a few beers and stay at home with your girl.
Hollywood! go for it!
posted by The Whelk at 7:06 PM on September 29, 2008
Not the Hancock thing, where it didn't make any sense and his Importance is proven via stupid and bizarre plot mechanics.
But You. Sitting in shorts, have powers beyond the normal scale. But, for obvious reasons, don't fight street crime. Cause it's boring and stupid and annoying and fucking dangerous. So you fly out to the supermarket. To your stupid job. Powers are an annoying thing, the thing everyone says you should make something of, your potential.
But all you want to do is have a few beers and stay at home with your girl.
Hollywood! go for it!
posted by The Whelk at 7:06 PM on September 29, 2008
Oh, and since James Robinson was mentioned upthread, who would love a Starman movie or TV series? Or not, since it would get mangled, but in a magical ponyland universe?
Absolutely. Get Starman and Sandman Mystery Theatre made, and I don't need to see another comic-based film again.
I just want to see this, a superhero story where the superhero is a complete loser.
Check out Major Bummer for something along those lines. I always thought that would make a fun animated series.
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 7:22 PM on September 29, 2008 [1 favorite]
Absolutely. Get Starman and Sandman Mystery Theatre made, and I don't need to see another comic-based film again.
I just want to see this, a superhero story where the superhero is a complete loser.
Check out Major Bummer for something along those lines. I always thought that would make a fun animated series.
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 7:22 PM on September 29, 2008 [1 favorite]
"In loudest din or hush profound,
my ears catch evil's slightest sound.
Let those who toll out evil's knell,
beware my power: The F-Sharp Bell!"
posted by Artw at 7:36 PM on September 29, 2008
my ears catch evil's slightest sound.
Let those who toll out evil's knell,
beware my power: The F-Sharp Bell!"
posted by Artw at 7:36 PM on September 29, 2008
The yellow thing, BTW, was caused by a Yellow Fear Demon in the central Green Lantern battery. It got out, so no more yellow vulnerability.
posted by Artw at 7:49 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by Artw at 7:49 PM on September 29, 2008
A couple of other interesting Green Lanterns created by Alan Moore in addition to the ones Artw's already mentioned:
- a mathematical progression
- a smallpox virus
The yellow thing, BTW, was caused by a Yellow Fear Demon in the central Green Lantern battery. It got out, so no more yellow vulnerability.
I don't really read DC these days, but did they ever explain Alan Scott's origin in the context of this yellow fear demon stuff? Because as I recall, the Green Lantern whose Power Ring he eventually got (kind of) had his yellow weakness removed by the Guardians and after he used his powers abusively against Earth the Guardians gave him a weakness to wood so the weapons of ancient Earth could hurt him. But now ... how does that work?
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 8:01 PM on September 29, 2008
- a mathematical progression
- a smallpox virus
The yellow thing, BTW, was caused by a Yellow Fear Demon in the central Green Lantern battery. It got out, so no more yellow vulnerability.
I don't really read DC these days, but did they ever explain Alan Scott's origin in the context of this yellow fear demon stuff? Because as I recall, the Green Lantern whose Power Ring he eventually got (kind of) had his yellow weakness removed by the Guardians and after he used his powers abusively against Earth the Guardians gave him a weakness to wood so the weapons of ancient Earth could hurt him. But now ... how does that work?
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 8:01 PM on September 29, 2008
I want Guy Gardner, Kilowog, and G'Nort!!!
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 8:19 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 8:19 PM on September 29, 2008
I think a "Superman of the 1940s" superhero movie would be infinitely more interesting than the space cop premise introduced by Hal Jordan and his allies and successors.
Agreed. We've done the modern supes thing to death, and I'd like to see some Golden Age represent. It'd be fun stuff, the kind of stuff you could bring little kids to. For Iron Man and The Dark Knight both, I had friends asking me if it was safe to bring their young ones, and hearing the question made me a little sad.
Don't get me wrong, I loved both of those movies and I believe in grown-up comic stories, even with superheroes, but it'd be nice to see something old school that you could take a five-year-old to and cheer along with him. But that's just the father-of-a-toddler in me who can not WAIT for a couple of years until I can rent "Superman" and plop the little dude down in my lap. I mean, he's already got Batman jammies, with cape, and the bat insignia glows in the dark. He's barely a year old, and therefore cannot possibly have the cognitive capacity necessary to recognize the sheer awesomeness of this, so I have to enjoy it enough for the both of us. It kills me that it's only a one-way thing.
Captain Marvel may be the frigging Platonic Ideal hero for such a classic treatment, now that I think about it, all lantern jaw and SHAZAM. But Alan Scott would be good too, because two words: SOLOMON GRUNDY.
posted by middleclasstool at 8:20 PM on September 29, 2008 [2 favorites]
Agreed. We've done the modern supes thing to death, and I'd like to see some Golden Age represent. It'd be fun stuff, the kind of stuff you could bring little kids to. For Iron Man and The Dark Knight both, I had friends asking me if it was safe to bring their young ones, and hearing the question made me a little sad.
Don't get me wrong, I loved both of those movies and I believe in grown-up comic stories, even with superheroes, but it'd be nice to see something old school that you could take a five-year-old to and cheer along with him. But that's just the father-of-a-toddler in me who can not WAIT for a couple of years until I can rent "Superman" and plop the little dude down in my lap. I mean, he's already got Batman jammies, with cape, and the bat insignia glows in the dark. He's barely a year old, and therefore cannot possibly have the cognitive capacity necessary to recognize the sheer awesomeness of this, so I have to enjoy it enough for the both of us. It kills me that it's only a one-way thing.
Captain Marvel may be the frigging Platonic Ideal hero for such a classic treatment, now that I think about it, all lantern jaw and SHAZAM. But Alan Scott would be good too, because two words: SOLOMON GRUNDY.
posted by middleclasstool at 8:20 PM on September 29, 2008 [2 favorites]
I want Guy Gardner
You take that back. You take that back right now.
posted by middleclasstool at 8:21 PM on September 29, 2008
You take that back. You take that back right now.
posted by middleclasstool at 8:21 PM on September 29, 2008
I want Guy Gardner
You take that back. You take that back right now.
But Guy is my favorite GL!
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 8:45 PM on September 29, 2008
You take that back. You take that back right now.
But Guy is my favorite GL!
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 8:45 PM on September 29, 2008
I think it would be the wrong move for the franchise certainly, but I'd love to see the Smigel/Black version.
posted by frenetic at 8:51 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by frenetic at 8:51 PM on September 29, 2008
Cool Papa Bell : Heat Vision and Jack!
Fucking-A right Heat Vision and Jack!. And for all the other Black haters out there, let's never forget his, uh, unforgettable rolls in such classics as;
Demolition Man, where he played a Wasteland Scrap, or Waterworld with his stunning take on the character Pilot, nor should we neglect to recognize him for his amazing work as Billy Glenn Norris from Mars Attacks!.
I'm not saying that he's the greatest actor to ever live, but looking at his work history, and with the passing of Mr. Newman, perhaps he could be the greatest still-living actor?
[I'm kidding, of course. Everyone knows that the greatest actor to ever live is Bruce Campbell. Jack Black is like eight or nine on the list.]
posted by quin at 8:51 PM on September 29, 2008
Fucking-A right Heat Vision and Jack!. And for all the other Black haters out there, let's never forget his, uh, unforgettable rolls in such classics as;
Demolition Man, where he played a Wasteland Scrap, or Waterworld with his stunning take on the character Pilot, nor should we neglect to recognize him for his amazing work as Billy Glenn Norris from Mars Attacks!.
I'm not saying that he's the greatest actor to ever live, but looking at his work history, and with the passing of Mr. Newman, perhaps he could be the greatest still-living actor?
[I'm kidding, of course. Everyone knows that the greatest actor to ever live is Bruce Campbell. Jack Black is like eight or nine on the list.]
posted by quin at 8:51 PM on September 29, 2008
Jack Black was the bully in Neverending Story III. I cant tell if that's a mark for or against him.
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 8:54 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 8:54 PM on September 29, 2008
"I just want to see this, a superhero story where the superhero is a complete loser."
Actually, I've been writing a story like that in my off time. (It'll never see light of day 'cos I'm no screen writery guy, but y'know). Very very very powerful guy - wants no part of the superhero world. Or supervillany for that matter (no ambition). What the hell do you do with him?
"Rayner gets it by pure accident, and not long afterwards comes home to find his girlfriend hacked to pieces and stuffed in the fridge by other people interested in the ring."
On the one hand - yeah, struck me as hacky origin story in terms of 'why should I care?'
So gruesomely murder his chick - bam! - motivation. Now he's proactive. Feminism aside - weak.
On the other hand, ok, here's your new world dude. With great power comes all kinds of people trying to exploit it. So, motivation in the negative. Use it or be drenched in the blood of the people you love.
Still - Jordan always made sense to me. Both in his motivation and his approach. Given he's military he's got an idea that there is some danger in the world and he's got some idealism. Enough to want to do something to protect people, if not the level of personal involvement, say, Batman has.
But on top of that he's a test pilot.
Now if there's one class of people in the world who I would hand over something like the ring to, it's them. Not because (as he's been portrayed) they have no fear.
But they're a group that are essentially perfectionists, can think in 4 dimensions, develop and execute a plan and dynamically alter it on the fly and fine tune it to an ideal - since they have an excellent grasp of aeronautical engineering - and they're methodical and efficient even in the most extreme situations.
They adapt well to both the design and execution phase as well as radical dynamic change in the situation. Engineers don't. Pilots don't. Only a few classes of people fit that description. Astronauts, say. (A special forces operator would likely be too aggressive).
I've seen him written like that a bare few times.
The rest of the GLs seem based on the (flawed) idea where you get a bunch of people with 'the most powerful weapon in the universe' on their fingers. What the hell are the guardians thinking? They're like those wannabe skateboarders outside the library - do they ever pull off a trick? "D'oh, we snapped the leash too tight again! Well, we won't do that next time" *next time comes* "D'oh!..."
I think a good GL story would be like a Hulk story without the relief of anger. You've got tremendous power to do just about anything you want - what do you do?
Whole lotta yikes.
posted by Smedleyman at 9:06 PM on September 29, 2008
Actually, I've been writing a story like that in my off time. (It'll never see light of day 'cos I'm no screen writery guy, but y'know). Very very very powerful guy - wants no part of the superhero world. Or supervillany for that matter (no ambition). What the hell do you do with him?
"Rayner gets it by pure accident, and not long afterwards comes home to find his girlfriend hacked to pieces and stuffed in the fridge by other people interested in the ring."
On the one hand - yeah, struck me as hacky origin story in terms of 'why should I care?'
So gruesomely murder his chick - bam! - motivation. Now he's proactive. Feminism aside - weak.
On the other hand, ok, here's your new world dude. With great power comes all kinds of people trying to exploit it. So, motivation in the negative. Use it or be drenched in the blood of the people you love.
Still - Jordan always made sense to me. Both in his motivation and his approach. Given he's military he's got an idea that there is some danger in the world and he's got some idealism. Enough to want to do something to protect people, if not the level of personal involvement, say, Batman has.
But on top of that he's a test pilot.
Now if there's one class of people in the world who I would hand over something like the ring to, it's them. Not because (as he's been portrayed) they have no fear.
But they're a group that are essentially perfectionists, can think in 4 dimensions, develop and execute a plan and dynamically alter it on the fly and fine tune it to an ideal - since they have an excellent grasp of aeronautical engineering - and they're methodical and efficient even in the most extreme situations.
They adapt well to both the design and execution phase as well as radical dynamic change in the situation. Engineers don't. Pilots don't. Only a few classes of people fit that description. Astronauts, say. (A special forces operator would likely be too aggressive).
I've seen him written like that a bare few times.
The rest of the GLs seem based on the (flawed) idea where you get a bunch of people with 'the most powerful weapon in the universe' on their fingers. What the hell are the guardians thinking? They're like those wannabe skateboarders outside the library - do they ever pull off a trick? "D'oh, we snapped the leash too tight again! Well, we won't do that next time" *next time comes* "D'oh!..."
I think a good GL story would be like a Hulk story without the relief of anger. You've got tremendous power to do just about anything you want - what do you do?
Whole lotta yikes.
posted by Smedleyman at 9:06 PM on September 29, 2008
Every Astronaut I have seen in person has been a right wing nutso and/or new age ET hugger.
posted by Artw at 9:09 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by Artw at 9:09 PM on September 29, 2008
But Guy is my favorite GL!
You take that back. You take that back right now.
posted by middleclasstool at 9:14 PM on September 29, 2008
You take that back. You take that back right now.
posted by middleclasstool at 9:14 PM on September 29, 2008
(I suspect much the same would be true of Test Pilots)
posted by Artw at 9:15 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by Artw at 9:15 PM on September 29, 2008
I'm just a fair weather comics fan and don't think I've read any Green Lantern, though I know of its high esteem in the comics world because of my nerd friends' drooling over the mere mention of the name. All the different titles and writers and series confuse me--what can I start with to discover the joy that is Green Lantern?
posted by zardoz at 9:55 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by zardoz at 9:55 PM on September 29, 2008
zardoz - Ask your nerd friends to track down some Alan Moore Green Lantern stories. Then read them, and cry, because it never gets that good again.
middleclasstool - sadly DVD only, but if your friends want some kid-friendly, one-shot superhero fare, The New Frontier was rated PG-13, but it's comparatively mild - here is IMDB's (spoilertastic) parental guide for assessing the film's content.
posted by bettafish at 11:01 PM on September 29, 2008
middleclasstool - sadly DVD only, but if your friends want some kid-friendly, one-shot superhero fare, The New Frontier was rated PG-13, but it's comparatively mild - here is IMDB's (spoilertastic) parental guide for assessing the film's content.
posted by bettafish at 11:01 PM on September 29, 2008
The Alan Moore ones are pretty much all in here, along with the excellent Superman "imaginary tale" What Ever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?.
posted by Artw at 11:18 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by Artw at 11:18 PM on September 29, 2008
I hear very good things about the Sinestro Wars, btw, though I've no idea which books you need to read first to get into that.
posted by Artw at 11:20 PM on September 29, 2008
posted by Artw at 11:20 PM on September 29, 2008
I saw a very young Jack Black in an episode of Northern Exposure of all places. Played a high school jock who wanted to take Janine Turner to his prom.
When it comes to superhero movies it is all about the casting imo. I'd like to see Aaron Eckhart cast as Captain America. and maybe Zooey Deschanel as Wonder Woman?
posted by vronsky at 11:52 PM on September 29, 2008
When it comes to superhero movies it is all about the casting imo. I'd like to see Aaron Eckhart cast as Captain America. and maybe Zooey Deschanel as Wonder Woman?
posted by vronsky at 11:52 PM on September 29, 2008
There was a Neverending Story III?
I'm not sure I have the will to live anymore.
posted by Caduceus at 12:08 AM on September 30, 2008
I'm not sure I have the will to live anymore.
posted by Caduceus at 12:08 AM on September 30, 2008
They don’t necessarily have to go with Hal Jordan... they could go with Kyle Rayner or John Stewart.
Actually, there's a great germ of an idea in there to make these stupid superhero movie "franchises" interesting. Instead of giving us a sixth new actor for Batman and yet another retelling of the same origin... just write the changing actors into the story by using one of the heroes who's been many different people.
But no, Hollywood would explode. "We just spent a $100 marketing campaign convincing the world that Ted Knight is Starman!"
posted by rokusan at 12:57 AM on September 30, 2008
Actually, there's a great germ of an idea in there to make these stupid superhero movie "franchises" interesting. Instead of giving us a sixth new actor for Batman and yet another retelling of the same origin... just write the changing actors into the story by using one of the heroes who's been many different people.
But no, Hollywood would explode. "We just spent a $100 marketing campaign convincing the world that Ted Knight is Starman!"
posted by rokusan at 12:57 AM on September 30, 2008
They don’t necessarily have to go with Hal Jordan... they could go with Kyle Rayner or John Stewart.
And they don't have to go with just one -- if it were a franchise, it wouldn't be James Bond-like in that you have to have different actors play the same guy, but if one actor got tired of it or didn't work out, you've got a while bunch of strong characters to choose from...
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 8:04 AM on September 30, 2008
And they don't have to go with just one -- if it were a franchise, it wouldn't be James Bond-like in that you have to have different actors play the same guy, but if one actor got tired of it or didn't work out, you've got a while bunch of strong characters to choose from...
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 8:04 AM on September 30, 2008
“Every Astronaut I have seen in person has been a right wing nutso and/or new age ET hugger.”
Maybe they flip out after they retire. That focus has to go somewhere. I understand a lot of top level chess players are unstable as well. The new age ET thing I can see for astronauts. And that’d be a positive boon for a GL, really. Right wing? Weird. Not to debate your experiance - most of the aerospace folks I know are apolitical, or single issue (let’s go to space - more).
Although there seems to be a lot of dickering at NASA over funding. Lefty folks tend to be on the “why go into space when people are starving” types. On the other hand the righties tend to be into the weaponization of space. Pretty much a shover robot vs. pusher robot thing going on there.
“...in that you have to have different actors play the same guy...”
Yep. I suspect a lot of actors don’t want to get typecast anyway (remembering Reeves).
A few years ago Ed Harris or Sam Shepard might have been a good Jordan GL. I can’t think of anyone now. But for the others, yeah, wide open field. Maybe Rufus Sewell as Rayner. Dunno.
posted by Smedleyman at 8:29 AM on September 30, 2008
Maybe they flip out after they retire. That focus has to go somewhere. I understand a lot of top level chess players are unstable as well. The new age ET thing I can see for astronauts. And that’d be a positive boon for a GL, really. Right wing? Weird. Not to debate your experiance - most of the aerospace folks I know are apolitical, or single issue (let’s go to space - more).
Although there seems to be a lot of dickering at NASA over funding. Lefty folks tend to be on the “why go into space when people are starving” types. On the other hand the righties tend to be into the weaponization of space. Pretty much a shover robot vs. pusher robot thing going on there.
“...in that you have to have different actors play the same guy...”
Yep. I suspect a lot of actors don’t want to get typecast anyway (remembering Reeves).
A few years ago Ed Harris or Sam Shepard might have been a good Jordan GL. I can’t think of anyone now. But for the others, yeah, wide open field. Maybe Rufus Sewell as Rayner. Dunno.
posted by Smedleyman at 8:29 AM on September 30, 2008
Well, my sampling of astronauts is largely restricted to those willing to talk in front of audiences at Aerospace museums. It usually all starts quite normally, but towards the end there’s always one or two odd WTF statements.
posted by Artw at 8:46 AM on September 30, 2008
posted by Artw at 8:46 AM on September 30, 2008
he's already got Batman jammies, with cape, and the bat insignia glows in the dark
Wow. What a lucky little dude!
I understand the wish for an old school superhero flick, but all I want before that happens is an ultra-grit darkfest version of The Dark Knight Returns.
Oh, who am I kidding. I'm just thrilled to be getting to see someone put Watchmen together. and scared. very scared.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 8:58 AM on September 30, 2008
Wow. What a lucky little dude!
I understand the wish for an old school superhero flick, but all I want before that happens is an ultra-grit darkfest version of The Dark Knight Returns.
Oh, who am I kidding. I'm just thrilled to be getting to see someone put Watchmen together. and scared. very scared.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 8:58 AM on September 30, 2008
Smedleyman: A few years ago Ed Harris or Sam Shepard might have been a good Jordan GL. I can’t think of anyone now.
Dude: Ron Livingston.
posted by hifiparasol at 9:47 AM on September 30, 2008
Dude: Ron Livingston.
posted by hifiparasol at 9:47 AM on September 30, 2008
Pretty much a shover robot vs. pusher robot thing going on there.
Humans must go up the space elevator!
posted by rokusan at 10:26 AM on September 30, 2008
Humans must go up the space elevator!
posted by rokusan at 10:26 AM on September 30, 2008
Vronsky,
I keep mentally casting Aaron Eckhart as Captain America as well. I guess it's his chin and his 1980s all American good looks.
posted by Telf at 11:39 AM on September 30, 2008
I keep mentally casting Aaron Eckhart as Captain America as well. I guess it's his chin and his 1980s all American good looks.
posted by Telf at 11:39 AM on September 30, 2008
“Dude: Ron Livingston.”
Whoa, yeah! Dead on.
“It usually all starts quite normally, but towards the end there’s always one or two odd WTF statements.”
I get that with Libertarians. Pretty much meet eye to eye on all the civil rights stuff. Typically the folks running have cogent platforms, but there’s always one (or more) WTF detail that spins the whole thing into bizzaro world.
Eg. “We need to reasonably curtail defense spending and develop a more balanced shared foreign policy outlook instead of the unilateral approach we’re taking now. We have to rescind the Bush doctrine of first strike and stop wasteful spending on escalative nuclear programs such as ballistic missile defense. We need to end the Iraq war as soon as reasonably possible.
Domestically everyone must wear lederhosen 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
We must more fully embrace stem cell research and other scientific research without regard to ideological vision. Education spending must be increased and a more workable system must be addressed using grassroots initiatives from people on the front lines of education. We must accelerate and insure environmental protections and address global warming. The rights of homosexuals and transgendered people must be respected and civil unions must...”
“Uh, wait a minute - what was that middle part there?”
“Stem cell research?”
“No, no, the 24/7 thing? Lederhosen?”
“Yes, lederhosen are short leather trousers. In some cases knee length...as I was saying, individual civil liberties must be respected in the...”
“Uh, yeah, why are we all, uh, wearing them, um, all the time?”
“...Well you’ve GOT to wear lederhosen ALL the time. ALL the TIME! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!!?!?”
posted by Smedleyman at 11:44 AM on September 30, 2008 [2 favorites]
Whoa, yeah! Dead on.
“It usually all starts quite normally, but towards the end there’s always one or two odd WTF statements.”
I get that with Libertarians. Pretty much meet eye to eye on all the civil rights stuff. Typically the folks running have cogent platforms, but there’s always one (or more) WTF detail that spins the whole thing into bizzaro world.
Eg. “We need to reasonably curtail defense spending and develop a more balanced shared foreign policy outlook instead of the unilateral approach we’re taking now. We have to rescind the Bush doctrine of first strike and stop wasteful spending on escalative nuclear programs such as ballistic missile defense. We need to end the Iraq war as soon as reasonably possible.
Domestically everyone must wear lederhosen 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
We must more fully embrace stem cell research and other scientific research without regard to ideological vision. Education spending must be increased and a more workable system must be addressed using grassroots initiatives from people on the front lines of education. We must accelerate and insure environmental protections and address global warming. The rights of homosexuals and transgendered people must be respected and civil unions must...”
“Uh, wait a minute - what was that middle part there?”
“Stem cell research?”
“No, no, the 24/7 thing? Lederhosen?”
“Yes, lederhosen are short leather trousers. In some cases knee length...as I was saying, individual civil liberties must be respected in the...”
“Uh, yeah, why are we all, uh, wearing them, um, all the time?”
“...Well you’ve GOT to wear lederhosen ALL the time. ALL the TIME! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!!?!?”
posted by Smedleyman at 11:44 AM on September 30, 2008 [2 favorites]
Graphic Audio DC Comics for those who might not have seen the site.
posted by bjgeiger at 1:40 PM on September 30, 2008
posted by bjgeiger at 1:40 PM on September 30, 2008
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He was a fine platform for the Golden Age "if I can imagine it, I can draw it, and nothing is over the top" kind of thinking. But Stan Lee broke that mold wide open, and you can't easily shoehorn that kind of stuff back over a character.
I mean, the best Green Lantern stuff was the Green Lantern / Green Arrow work, but that was more about Dennis O'Neil experimenting with social commentary in the comic page than anything else.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:54 PM on September 29, 2008