Green Lantern movie buzz hasn’t slowed down one bit since the project was officially green lit. Casting news, possible concept art and many interviews with director Martin Campbell have fans hungry to know more. Without a doubt, it is one of the most highly anticipated superhero films to date.
For those of you who have never picked up a Green Lantern comic, here’s a little back story: Hal Jordan, an Air Force fighter pilot, was the first Earthman ever inducted into the Green Lantern Corps and the protector of sector 2814. The Corps consist of beings with tremendous willpower and strong moral character that police the universe and attempt to protect the weak and quell unrest. The Guardians of the Universe, who govern the Corps from the planet Oa, armed the Lanterns with Power Rings, weapons of inconceivably-advanced technology that allowed their wearers to project green beams of energy. The Lanterns could conjure objects of any size or shape, limited only by his or her imagination and willpower. Corps members are assigned to different sectors of the universe to perform their duties.
After confirmation of director Martin Campbell’s association with the film, fans began holding out hope that the project will actually become a reality. The biggest, and most shocking, news to date has been the announcement of Ryan Reynolds as the movie’s protagonist, Hal Jordan. That’s when the information started pouring in. In only the past few weeks we have seen the casting choices for Hal’s love interest Carol Ferris (Blake Lively) and his Lantern Corps mentor, Sinestro (Mark Strong). It even seems that director Campbell has spoken to the press on a near daily basis explaining his vision for the film; down to the details regarding graphic design and comic references.
With the start of production only a few weeks away, I’ve started to wonder exactly what Campbell has in store for fans. I don’t doubt his ability to bring the character to life with incredible graphics and a solid story. What I want to see is a plethora of Easter eggs scattered throughout the film. Every fan knows that even the slightest nod to a comic film’s respective source material, if executed properly, is cinema gold.
I’ve compiled the top ten comic references that I believe would amplify fan approval for
Green Lantern. These are small things that could easily be ignored, modified or left on the cutting room floor; but would make the film so much more meaningful to me. Here are my picks and why I would integrate them into the film:
The Antimatter Universe is the location of the planet Qward which is inhabited by a group of advanced Weaponeers. They are the devoted adversaries of the Guardians of the Universe and have frequently battled with their dimensional counterparts the Green Lantern Corps. To aid them in their efforts to destroy the Guardians, they have frequently relied upon the aid of a former Corps member, Hal Jordan’s mentor Sinestro.
A simple mention of the Antimatter Universe would help sow the seed for film sequels. Just like what Marvel did with the Ten Rings organization in Iron Man, it will be easier to build on the relationship Sinestro has with them the sooner this subject is introduced.
9. Sinestro’s Civilian Clothes - Thaal Sinestro was at one point the greatest member of the Green Lantern Corps and Hal Jordan’s mentor before being corrupted by his power and exiled for crimes against his own people. Sinestro is from the planet Krougar in sector 1417 of the universe. When stripped of the green light his Power Ring exudes, his Corps uniform fades and we see him wearing attire from his home world.
Ok, it looks like a clown suit. There’s no way around that fact. But they shouldn’t show Hal Jordan switching between his Lantern uniform and flight jacket/khakis without giving Sinestro his own set of duds. Sure the studio could swap the outfit for something a bit more contemporary, but I’m sure fans would appreciate a glimpse of the good old circus getup.
8. Alan Scott - Unlike others who bear the name Green Lantern, Alan Scott's power does not come from the Guardians of the Universe, but from the Starheart, a magical entity once imprisoned by the Guardians. The Starheart found its way to Earth in 1939 and, taking the shape of a lantern, saved Alan from a train wreck. At the lantern's mental direction Alan fashioned a ring from it that allowed him to tap the Starheart's great power; which was magical in nature and not scientific. Influenced subconsciously by the Starheart's history, Alan adopted the identity of Green Lantern.
Alan Scott deserves homage in this flick, it’s that simple. Not only was he the first Green Lantern, but it’s highly unlikely that he will ever have a silver screen feature to his name or be featured in a Justice Society movie (sorry, Smallville doesn’t count). Since Alan was an engineer, I think he would fit perfectly in the scene at Ferris Air when Hal’s father crashes. Show him being the one carrying Hal away from the crash site (with a nice glimpse of the ring).
7. Tomar-Re and the fate of Kyrpton - Tomar-Re was a scientist from the planet Xudar before joining the Green Lantern Corps. His most famous mission while serving in the Corps dealt with the planet Krypton from Sector 2813, which was growing increasingly unstable. The planet was due to explode, and Tomar-Re sought to use a rare compound called Stellarium to absorb some of the tectonic pressure, thus saving the Kryptonians. While en route to Krypton, a yellow solar flare blinded him and forced him to drop the Stellarium. He quickly recovered but discovered he was blind. He gathered what little Stellarium he could without his sight and proceeded towards his objective. Unfortunately he was too late and witnessed Krypton exploding just as his sight returned.
Here’s where it gets a bit tricky. Martin Campbell already said there will be no Superman cameo in Green Lantern. To top it off, DC cannot depict Superman’s origins from the planet Krypton, his parents Jor-L and Lora, the launching of the infant Superman into space by his parents as Krypton explodes and his landing on Earth in a fiery crash due to a lawsuit that awarded those rights to the Siegel family.
The solution is rather simple: When Hal meets Tomar-Re, he is told a story regarding the important and grave duties of a Green Lantern. Tomar goes on to tell Hal of his failed assignment to rescue a planet in sector 2813. As we (the audience) see the planet explode what appears to be a small space shuttle, or a random heap of metal, is shown in the mix with all the scattering debris. As long as they don’t call the planet Krypton, they are in the clear. It could have been any number of planets in sector 2813 for all we know. Suck it Seigels, suck it hard you money hungry bastards.
6. Hal accidentally overcomes the yellow impurity - Ring Slinging 101: Power Rings are thought to be unable to affect objects colored yellow. The reasons behind this have changed along with different writers. In early stories it was because of a design flaw, later it was revealed that the Guardians could change the weakness randomly and at will, while more recently it is said that the "yellow impurity" was the result of the Parallax; which was a yellow energy being made of pure fear imprisoned in the Central Power Battery. This most recent change allowed certain Lanterns to overcome the yellow weakness by recognizing the fear behind it and facing that fear. Hal Jordan was one of them.
Again, this is another element of the film that could easily be left out this time around. I have to say, though, that one of the most powerful scenes in Green Lantern: Secret Origin was when Hal overcame the yellow impurity to save Sinestro’s life. The best part was that neither Sinestro nor the rest of the Lanterns believed him. Let’s see Hal be the first to do it on screen.
5. Hal meets John Stewart (sort of) - John Stewart was an architect who was selected by the Guardians of the Universe as Hal Jordan's backup after another Lantern, Guy Gardner, was seriously injured in a disaster. Before his Green Lantern days, John was an expert sniper in the Marine Corps.
Secret Origins has a great scene depicting the first unofficial meeting of these two heroes. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in a bar fight for the film. Something as simple as showing Stewart serving on the same military base as Jordan would be a nice touch as well. Stewart could be the Marine that escorts Jordan off base when he gets booted from the Air Force.
4. Kilowog’s ring - Kilowog was a geneticicist from the planet Bolovax Vik and one of its most brilliant minds. As a Green Lantern, his primary duty is to train new recruits on the planet Oa. Kilowog’s power ring constructs display amazing raw power and Hal Jordan has noted that his ring is the only one that makes a sound (typically a loud boom) when it is used.
Kilowog is going to be one of the trickiest Lanterns to depict on film; this little addition would help demonstrate just how powerful he is. It also leaves room for a little humor. Jordan is certainly brave enough to ask him about the phenomenon even while he is a new recruit and Kilowog doesn’t like being asked questions by ‘Poozers’. Which leads me to. . .
3. Poozer - It is most often used to describe someone of unfavorable character; although sometimes used as a term of endearment. Being that it originates from the culture of Bolovax Vik, it is Kilowog’s favorite term to call new Lantern recruits (or ‘White Circles’ since the lantern symbol doesn’t appear on their uniforms until their training is complete).
I put this in the number three spot for a reason. If Kilowog doesn’t call Jordan a Poozer at least one time in the movie, I know I won't be the only disappointed fan. It could be left out, but it sure as hell shouldn’t be.
2. Power Ring/User Interface - We already know that a power ring's most distinctive effect is the generation of green, solid-light constructs, the precise physical nature of which has never been specified. It is often referred to as the most powerful weapon in the universe. Power rings also appear to be highly advanced computers. They are able to talk to and advise the wearer as to various courses of action, as well as act as a universal translator.
This is a very, very hard thing to put on film. When you read it in a comic, it’s easy to discern the difference between a Lantern speaking or thinking and the ring’s communications. For a movie, it will all depend of the voice they choose to personify the ring and the manner in which it communicates so the character and audience don’t just hear a random voice in the background.
To be honest, if this aspect is left out, I will be wholeheartedly disappointed. It was one of the weakest points of Green Lantern: First Flight. The ring is Hal’s first teacher, so to speak. Without it’s guidance, he would most likely just fly around and think he was on acid. I know that when I’m sitting in the theater to watch Green Lantern, if I hear Willpower recognized. Ring Online. I will become as giddy as a 16 year old girl watching Twilight for the eighth time.
1. The Oath - A Power ring must be recharged by touching it to its lantern shaped power battery for a period of several seconds. When recharging their weapons, Green Lanterns recite the Corps Oath.
Yes, of course the Oath is going to make it into the film. I'm not worried about if it will be in the film but how it will be spoken. Look at several attempts comic characters have made to deliver iconic lines on film: Logan in X-Men Origins: Wolverine spouted the fan favorite, ‘I’m the best there is. . . ’ phrase with as much enthusiasm and ferocity as a methadone patient; Bullseye muttering to Elektra, "You're good... but me, I'm magic" like a stuttering carnie instead of a killer; Bruce Banner at the end of Hulk, “Me estás haciendo enojado. No me gustaría cuando estoy enojado;”which wouldn’t have bothered me so much if it hadn’t been both delivered horribly AND in Spanish.
This is the Green Lantern Oath, DC’s equivalent to Marvel’s ‘Avengers Assemble!’ Every testosterone fueled male in the audience, comic lover or not, should feel compelled to kick some ass after hearing the Oath in surround sound. Of all the comic quotes I can think of that should make it into the movies, this one has the most risk behind it's delivery. It will either fall flat and be forgotten or resonate to your core and make you damn proud to be a Green Lantern fan. It's all on you, Ryan. Please don't fudge it up.
Many thanks to DC for the background information and images used in this article.