While it opened with ticket sales of $53 million, Green Lantern is being viewed by many in Hollywood and Warner Brothers as one of the bigger disappointments of the year. The film was supposed to be the starting point for DC’s version of what Marvel has done with its comic book movies. But the disappointing opening and critical scathing the film has taken has some questioning if there will be a second installment.
Today, the Hollywood Reporter looks at five things that contributed to the perceived failure of Green Lantern.
Here’s a sample:
1. It’s about a singular voice
Readers connect with comic books through original stories by writers and artists: For Green Lantern, it could be stories from the 1970s, by Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams or, more recently, by Geoff Johns. These people offer a vision and direction. The same rule applies to movies. When you watch Christopher Nolan‘s recent Batman movies, or even this summer’s X-Men: First Class or Thor, you feel like there is a singular vision behind them.
In contrast, critics pounced on the generic, paint-by-numbers feel of the Lantern movie, which played like dozens of people were in control. And they were. In addition to director Martin Campbell, producer Donald De Line and DC executive Johns, four separate screenwriters were credited, and insiders say that even Warners execs Jeff Robinov, Greg Silverman and Lynn Harris were heavily involved, especially in the editing stage.
As much as I have panned this movie for the poor portrayal of Hal Jordan (between the writing and acting of Ryan Reynolds), I still had hopes that it would do better business.
Still, this just goes to show that Marvel has a much better handle on their products than DC does. After a few badly made films Marvel knew they had to regain the creative direction and control of the film franchises to guarantee their integrity. Unfortunately, since DC is owned by Warner Bros. I seriously doubt this same scenario will come about given Warner’s schizophrenic existence and business practices.
I doubt this will get a sequel. WB probably spent at least $300 million dollars MINIMUM between production and marketing costs. Not to mention it’s one of the worst super hero movies ever made.
Just went to see it yesterday, and I must say it didn’t suck like I thought it would, but I must agree that it lacked focus.
Ok maybe i am wrong , but i liked the movie, would someone please explain
to me what all the fuss is about “FOCUS”???
Hollywood Reporter is saying Warner is prepping the sequel, despite low box office results. I’m happy with that, I liked the first GL movie.