The Green Lantern - Day's Review
I first saw The Green Lantern at Japan Press Screening premier, i got invited by a friend. All through the film i agreed with cinephiles all around the world, it's bad, but the real grump comes from when i had to rewatch it this week for Edisonia Review. I suppose no one can doubt my dedication for this movie club now that i watched The Green Lantern twice for it.
The casting wasn't that bad (I've never read The Green Lantern comic so apology for my lack of knowledge to compare the casts with the characters). Ryan Reynolds seems to fit the role of Hal Jordan alright. Blake Lively as Carol seems okay as well. Tim Robbins and Peter Sarsgaard are good actors, i always think they are underrated (if they keep appearing in a film like this, they will stay that way). Martin Campbell to direct? Come on how bad can the film be.
Very bad is the answer. The screen writer and the editors tack-team in ruining the potentially okay superhero movie. Screenwriting, the comedy bits they tactically insert in scatteredly through the film aren't funny. The strong motivational concept of Will Beyond Fear was very weak written. Hal's fear was confusing. Was it fear of commitment, was it fear or losing the loved ones, was it fear of never going to fit his father's shoes? Why exactly is he irresponsible? And if he is irresponsible, then why all of sudden, he decides this is it, i'm gonna 'look for troubles' and save the world. I mean, yes, the film DOES insert the answers to those, but nothing was emphasized, nothing was clear. There are parts that have potential to be memorable scenes, but the script doesn't help as much as it should. No one understand Hal, no one love Hal, no one FEEL Hal. Instead of adding the not-funny funny bits, go as drama as you want. Superheroes lately are dramatic anyway right?
Also, you have actors like Tim Robbins and Peter Sarsgaard there. They can act, use them. I feel bad for both. I feel bad for Tim, because the role he's got can be just anyone, it doesn't have to be Tim Robbins. It doesn't require great acting there. I feel bad for Peter because his character could be written to have great depth. Not a problem child who one minute feel bad he's got the job other deserve more, then another become a cold-blooded monster on killing spree. (By the way, to me he looks like someone who bangs his forehead repeatedly then plunges his finger into electric socket than an alien mutated person)
Now to the editing, the magic of Hal Jordan to appear every where. One minute he's in a room, another in far, far outer space. One minute getting romantic with Carol in a bar, then another Carol asked the wrong question, Hal left IMMEDIATELY by walking out that door and fighting like a superhero just right there outside the bar. Audience can just forget Carol. It's like the editor wants audience to have great imagination of following the plots by themselves. Ok, here is the romantic time, get it? good, we move to fight scene now, get it? GOOD. No transition needed or anything.
There are a lot in the plot that doesn't make sense, most can be because i don't really know the comic (ie, if Hal can imagine ANYthing to fight Parallax, why not a huge kick-ass robot instead of a machine gun, etc.). My favourite part of the film was around the end when Hal single-handedly took care of Parallax. I mean, you see from many other scenes there are ZILLIONS of warriors in Lantern Corp., most i reckon are more experienced and such, some we saw got defeated before, but no one was there to fight with him, no. Just Hal. An inexperienced human warrior who has just realised a minute ago in his room the meaning of courage! And he won it! HALLELUJAH! And right when Hal already owned Parallax, guess what? Other warriors appeared! SO MUCH FOR UNITY, we come to help you when you're done!
Overall, The Green Lantern isn't much worse than average low-budget grade B action movies out there, but considering that it's far from low budget, it's totally disappointing. Not worth two hours of your time.