Ryan Reynolds plays pilot Hal Jordan in this latest comic book film adaptation for summer 2011. Gossip Girl's Blake Lively is his love interest. Green Lantern was first introduced in 1940 by Batman co-creator, Bill Finger. So the expectations for this comic book icon are fairly high....
Green Lantern's 67-year old Kiwi director, Martin Campbell, is best known for directing two Bond films, most recently, Casino Royale starring Daniel Craig. Though Campbell isn't unfamiliar with hero flicks, like James Bond and Zorro, his foray into the realm of DC Comics adaptations has left something to be desired.
The cinematography was by Aussie Dion Beebe, responsible for Oscar-worthy work in 2005 for Memoirs of a Geisha. And Beebe's work in Green Lantern is equally good, if only the storyline and direction matched Beebe's considerable talents.
Michael Goldenberg rewrote the screenplay for Green Lantern; he also took over the script for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. His directorial/writing debut was 1996's Bed of Roses with Christian Slater, the sloppy, sob-story that managed to fit more cliches into a screening than the audience could keep up with, let alone stomach. Green Lantern has a similar issue. I know Bryan Singer is only one man, but this adaptation could have used his literary and directorial touch. Fortunately, he lent his talents to Marvel's most recent superhero release, X-Men: First Class...and it was first class all the way. Unlike Green Lantern.
The film has many problems, not the least of which is the non-existent chemistry between Reynolds and Lively--who simply can't act. Lucily for Lively, she has a pretty face. Reynolds is a lovable actor but he's too glib to play Jordan, as if always on the verge of a punchline...despite facing catastrophic galactic destruction.
Just to give a little background on the history of this film, it's gone through more rewrites than Leaves of Grass over the last 14 years. That's right, the debacle began in 1997. At one point, comedian Jack Black was supposed to play the role. Oy.
Riding the wave of post-9/11 superheroic escapism, Green Lantern producers figured they couldn't lose with a summer release and Reynolds as the front man. And they were right. But the movie wasn't. On the Housel-scale, Green Lantern earns a generous 6.5/10.
If you want to see superheroes this summer, stick with X-Men : First Class.
Green Lantern's 67-year old Kiwi director, Martin Campbell, is best known for directing two Bond films, most recently, Casino Royale starring Daniel Craig. Though Campbell isn't unfamiliar with hero flicks, like James Bond and Zorro, his foray into the realm of DC Comics adaptations has left something to be desired.
The cinematography was by Aussie Dion Beebe, responsible for Oscar-worthy work in 2005 for Memoirs of a Geisha. And Beebe's work in Green Lantern is equally good, if only the storyline and direction matched Beebe's considerable talents.
Michael Goldenberg rewrote the screenplay for Green Lantern; he also took over the script for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. His directorial/writing debut was 1996's Bed of Roses with Christian Slater, the sloppy, sob-story that managed to fit more cliches into a screening than the audience could keep up with, let alone stomach. Green Lantern has a similar issue. I know Bryan Singer is only one man, but this adaptation could have used his literary and directorial touch. Fortunately, he lent his talents to Marvel's most recent superhero release, X-Men: First Class...and it was first class all the way. Unlike Green Lantern.
The film has many problems, not the least of which is the non-existent chemistry between Reynolds and Lively--who simply can't act. Lucily for Lively, she has a pretty face. Reynolds is a lovable actor but he's too glib to play Jordan, as if always on the verge of a punchline...despite facing catastrophic galactic destruction.
Just to give a little background on the history of this film, it's gone through more rewrites than Leaves of Grass over the last 14 years. That's right, the debacle began in 1997. At one point, comedian Jack Black was supposed to play the role. Oy.
Riding the wave of post-9/11 superheroic escapism, Green Lantern producers figured they couldn't lose with a summer release and Reynolds as the front man. And they were right. But the movie wasn't. On the Housel-scale, Green Lantern earns a generous 6.5/10.
If you want to see superheroes this summer, stick with X-Men : First Class.
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