Movie Review: Green Lantern

Thanks to Warner Bros., courtesy of whom I got tickets to catch the 3D screening of Green Lantern.  After months of being teased about Ryan Reynolds and his amazing abs, it was time to see what the fuss what all about.  Unfortunately, it seemed that the movie was all about setting things up for the sequel and not focusing enough on the current flick.  

Notice all those Green Lanterns up on the poster above, well, that's only where you'll see most of them as most of them make brief appearances in the movie.  The film shows us how an ordinary human, Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) becomes a Green Lantern, a protector of the universe.  It's all about his journey to believe in himself and overcoming his fears.  I personally would liked to see more of the other Green Lanterns instead it seemed that one sole Green Lantern is enough to save the entire universe.  Even the action that took place on Earth seemed a bit bizarre.  What is the whole deal with Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard) and why does he look so old when is supposed to be the same age as Hal and Carol Ferris (Blake Lively)?  And do not get me started on Lively, who is basically playing her Gossip Girl character, Serena's tamer version.  Very very bland.  The only saving grace of this movie are the action sequences which looked quite cool in 3D.  That's it.  

In a summer filled with superhero movies, I'm afraid this one won't be remembered much despite Reynolds and his spectacular abs.  

Directed by Martin Campbell; Written by Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, Marc Guggenheim, Michael Goldenberg; Music by James Newton Howard; Editing by Stuart Baird; Cinematography by Dion Beebe

Rating: 

News Update: The Hobbit, Green Lantern and Hangover 2

• The Internet is determined to make me eat my words.  Here I am mentioning The Hobbit again, less than two after I said I wouldn't.  Why because Martin Freeman is officially cast as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit ending all speculation about the role.  What does officially mean these days anyway? Subject to change? Well, here's the list of other actors cast as dwarfs and other roles in the film.
• Mel Gibson is no longer doing the Hangover 2 cameo and Liam Neeson will now be replacing him.  No one is protesting.  Moving along!
• HitFlix visits the Green Lantern set and shows us some new concept art and an interview with Ryan Reynolds himself.
• Don't know how far this is true but the Daily Mail is reporting that next year a film will be released on the life of Princess Diana as it is the 50th anniversary of her birth.  Keira Knightley is being considered as Diana with Helen Mirren to play her mother.  Just sounds as wishful thinking at this point.
• M. Night Shyamalan still has some clout in Hollywood.  After the disaster that was The Last Airbender, he is now developing One Thousand A. E. with Will Smith's production company.  This could be Jaden Smith's next movie.  Shyamalan is a good director, I don't know how he's lost his way.  I hope he finds his form soon enough, maybe this could be it.
• Could we be seeing Johnny Depp as Nick Charles in The Thin Man?  He is said to be interested in the role after he's done with the next Pirates sequel.   If Depp is Nick, who will be Nora?
• Ben Affleck still has his director's hat on and is considering his next project which could be Replay, which sounds a little bit of Groundhog Day with time-travel thrown in or could it be something else entirely.  Sounds intriguing!

News Roundup: No Regency Zombie Apocalypse

• So, remember that DVD review of El Secreto de Sus Ojos (The Secret in their Eyes) I posted a few days back?  I thought back to that film often these few days thinking wow, what a great film and amazing story.  Apparently, Hollywood thought so too and yet another foreign film falls down to the way of the remake.  Director Billy Ray (Shattered Glass) will also write/adapt the screenplay.  I, meanwhile, am not amused.
• And the bad news continues.  Last month, I was delighted to discover that the comic novel, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, was going to be turned into a film.  Elizabeth Bennett, a martial arts experts, and Mr. Darcy, a zombie hunter.  I wanted more.  David O. Russell (Three Kings) was attached and Natalie Portman had been signed on as Elizabeth Bennett.  Things were looking promising but now both have dropped out of the project putting it in jeopardy of ever getting made.  Fitzwilliam Darcy, zombie killer, we hardly knew thee!
• Natalie Portman, does she have a super-secret project no one knows about? Because she is also not in consideration for Alphonso Cuaron's Gravity anymore.  Sandra Bullock is now in talks for the role.  This would be a good comeback movie for her after her Oscar win.  Natalie's loss, Sandra's gain.  
• Off to news that will cheer me up.  Sam Raimi is officially directing Oz: The Great and Powerful about, obviously, The Wizard of Oz.  They're hoping Robert Downey Jr will play the Wizard.  Yes, please!
• Kathryn Bigelow, first female Best Director Oscar winner, has got a great followup feature, Sleeping Dogs, set in South America about the dangerous underworld of crime and drugs.  Both Tom Hanks and Johnny Depp are said to be interested in the projects.  
• And finally, The Green Lantern website has been launched.  Have a look see to find out who the villain is!