First Look: Green Lantern Movie

Here it is, kids! Your first look at the terribly mis-cast (sorry, sorry) Ryan Reynolds as the Green Lantern! Hmm, looks like Wade Wilson in a Green Lantern costume… sorry, sorry. Enjoy!

-R1

I respectfully disagree, I’m glad another DC character is getting his shot. However, if we lose out on a Deadpool movie because of this. I reserve the right to take this back.

-R2

I have no issues with a Green Lantern movie – I just think they should’ve casted someone else as Hal Jordan. Having the same actor play 2 different, important characters kills the fantasy.

-R1

Green Lantern – Movie Synopsis

The synopsis for Green Lantern is now online. Take a look if you’re interested:

‘Bringing the enduringly popular superhero to the big screen for the first time, “Green Lantern” stars Ryan Reynolds (“X-Men Origins: Wolverine”) in the title role, under the direction of Martin Campbell (“Casino Royale”).

In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan.

Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal is clearly the missing piece to the puzzle, and along with his determination and willpower, he has one thing no member of the Corps has ever had: humanity. With the encouragement of fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), if Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax…he will become the greatest Green Lantern of all.

Campbell directs “Green Lantern” from a screenplay by Greg Berlanti & Michael Green & Marc Guggenheim and Michael Goldenberg, story by Greg Berlanti & Michael Green & Marc Guggenheim, based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.

The film also stars Blake Lively (upcoming “The Town,” TV’s “Gossip Girl”) as the spirited Carol Ferris, a test pilot and the heir apparent to her father’s aviation company; Peter Sarsgaard (“An Education,” “Flightplan”) as scientist Dr. Hector Hammond; Mark Strong (“Sherlock Holmes”) as Sinestro, Jordan’s powerful mentor in the Green Lantern Corps; Jay O. Sanders (“Revolutionary Road”) as Carl Ferris, Carol’s aircraft designer dad; Temuera Morrison (“Star Wars” Episodes II and III) as Abin Sur, Jordan’s alien predecessor; Taika Waititi (TV’s “The Flight of the Conchords”) as flight navigator Tom Kalmaku, Hal’s good friend and confidante; Academy Award® nominee Angela Bassett (“What’s Love Got to Do with It”) as enigmatic government scientist Amanda Waller; and Academy Award® winner Tim Robbins (“Mystic River”) as Hector’s influential father, Senator Robert Hammond.

The film is being produced by Donald De Line (“The Italian Job”) and Greg Berlanti (upcoming “Life As We Know It”). Herbert W. Gains and Andrew Haas serve as executive producers. Geoff Johns and Lucienne Papon are co-producing.

The film’s behind-the-scenes creative team is led by a number of Academy Award® winners, including director of photography Dion Beebe (“Memoirs of a Geisha”), production designer Grant Major (“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”), and costume designer Ngila Dickson (“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”), as well as Oscar®-nominated editor and longtime Campbell collaborator, Stuart Baird (“Gorillas in the Mist,” “Superman”). The film’s visual effects are being overseen by Oscar®-nominee Kent Houston (“The Adventures of Baron Von Munchausen,” “Casino Royale”).

The film is currently scheduled for release in 3D and 2D on June 17, 2011. “Green Lantern” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. ‘

-R1

Nerd Fight – Battle #6

It’s that time again. To reiterate, every Friday the Cupcake Rogues will randomly pick 2 characters to do battle – whether it be Marvel, DC, female, male, mutant, human, or human that pretends to be a mutant with magic (I’m looking at you, Juggernaut), they are all possible. Once we’ve randomly selected our two, they will go head to head in several categories with one being deemed winner. The winner will live on to fight another day, but a warning – with 200 possible characters, it may be awhile before round 2 🙂

Sixth week in the random selection:

Deadpool vs Cyclops

	Deadpool		Cyclops
Origin	Wade’s mother died of cancer when he was still a youngin’. His father was in the military and physically abusive. After joining the military for a short time, Wade began his career as a mercenary only for those he felt deserved to die. During this time he made a habit of using plastic surgery to take on a new identity whenever he failed an assignment. He was given Wolverine’s healing ability by the Weapon X program when diagnosed with terminal cancer.		Scott grew up in Alaska, where he could see Russia from his house! During a flight with his family his plane was attacked. In a desperate attempt to save their two young sons, Christopher and Katherine Summers strapped them to a parachute and sent them on their merry way. Scott would later awake with no memories (convenient) and no control over his powers due to a bump on the head he sustained when he landed. He would later be shipped off to an orphanage where he was bullied and experimented on.
Edge?	Draw – Both lost their parents at a young age and endured years of abuse and experimentation. It’s like they’re the same guy!! Only one’s less of a tool-bag (hint: Deadpool’s less of a tool-bag).
Powers	Regenerative healing factor (Thanks, Wolvie!), superhuman strength, agility, and reflexes. Expert marksman, swordsman and martial artist (not powers, but worth mentioning if you’re ever caught in an alley with him).		Cyclops has the ability to absorb solar energy and redirect it as a concussive laser blast from his eyes. (R2 has always wondered why there are seemingly tons of telepaths, yet no other dudes with laser eyes…)
Edge?	Deadpool – the guy can’t die. He’s had his heart ripped out and grew another one. Owned.
Love interest	Deadpool’s gotten a lot of tail considering he looks like a cross between Ryan Reynolds and a Sharpei. From Copycat to Diva to even Death herself. But no one has had a hold on Deadpool’s heart quite like Siryn, who was the first girl to love him post-disfigurement and insanity. Isn’t that precious?		After a little glimpse into his psyche we learn that Scott has lusted after 98% of the females on the X-Men roster. His most notable love interests have been powerful yet dull Jean Grey and super-bitch Emma Frost.
Edge?	Deadpool – Something about the Theresa/Wade relationship just warms the heart!
Costume	Red and black and weapons all over. That’s how Deadpool likes it. Oh, and yellow boxes. Let’s not forget his little yellow boxes.		Usually a variation of a bodysuit, sometimes with a jacket. He’s never without his ruby quartz visor.
Edge?	Deadpool – While you can always pick Cyclops out of a crowd, Deadpool’s costume has never made him look like a cross between a suppository and Gort from “The Day the Earth Stood Still.”
Most off-putting personality	Deadpool is crass, rude, and not afraid to punch a girl in the face when necessary. He also happens to be hilarious and insane. And he knows he’s in a comic… doesn’t that automatically make him smarter than everyone else around?		Who roams the mansion at night and wails about how he’s the only X-Man who can’t blend into normal society? Scott does!! Apparently ruby quartz lenses don’t allow him to properly visualize Beast or Nightcrawler.
Edge?	Scott – While the Cupcake Rogues don’t condone upper-cutting a chick to the face (no, not even Kitty) Scott is the whiniest bitch of a leader we’ve ever seen.
Best story arch	After killing a teammate during a mission, he was rejected from Weapon X and send to the Hospice, a government facility where failed superhuman operatives were treated. There he was tortured and used as an experimental subject by Dr. Killebrew and assistant Ajax, in which patients placed bets in a “deadpool” as to how long each subject would live. This caused Deadpool’s scarred appearance. When Wade kills his friend to end his suffering after Ajax lobotomized him, Ajax tore out Wade’s heart. However, his thirst for vengeance was so overwhelming that it jumpstarted his healing factor, which regenerated a new heart for him (but did not cure his scarred appearance). Wilson became Deadpool, killed Ajax, and helped break out his fellow patients.		When the X-men find out that Apocalypse has a machine that can allow him to take the body of Nate Grey (aka the X-Man), Cyclops sacrifices himself to save Nate. He willingly merges with Apocalypse. He is presumed dead until Jean and Cable find him in Egypt and separate him from Apocalypse, killing Apocalypse’s spirit in the process.
Edge?	Cyclops – re-growing your own heart is impressive, but helping to take down Apocalypse gets Scott some respect, even from us!
Hotness	Sure he’s scarred beyond recognition, completely insane, and not afraid to be an a*hole, but who doesn’t like a guy with a sense of humor?		Cyclops is tall dark and handsome. If you can get past the permanent case of pink-eye and dick-ish personality…You’re a better woman than I am.
Edge?	Cyclops – He may be a jerk, but he’s pretty. Not even turning the lights off is going to distract from Deadpool’s deformities.
Fiercest foe	Enemy T-Ray resurrected Mercedes Wilson, his former wife that he believed Deadpool killed. He tried to convince Deadpool that he was really Jack, a wounded mercenary that the Wilsons nursed back to health and then turned on them. T-Ray says he is the real Wade Wilson to try to break Deadpool’s spirits. When Deadpool was not phased, T-Ray simply shook his fist to the sky, swearing revenge, and walked off with Mercedes. Also, he later got 4 others to claim they were the true Deadpool. Umm, what?		Mr. Sinister – this guy just WILL NOT leave Scott alone. He’s so hell bent on getting his DNA that he actually made a clone of Jean Grey while she was thought to be dead on the off chance that Scott would fall in love with her. Predictably, he did and they got married and had little Nathan. Maybe Sinister should’ve just waited to snag a pair of Scott’s tighty whitey’s after a “therapy session” with Emma. It would’ve saved a lot of time.
Edge?	Cyclops – While T-Ray is relentless; Mr. Sinister is quite a bit more intimidating.
Biggest WTF moment	Deadpool has a ton of “imposters” in play, including maniac Deadpool who only says “No pickles.” There’s also heroic Deadpool, media Deadpool, killer Deadpool, feminine Deadpool, nerd Deadpool, inner child Deadpool, unrespected Deadpool, and the real Deadpool. Deadpools galore!		While Scott is still married to Madelyne, Jean pops up back from the dead. Being the upstanding guy he is, he tells Jean that while he will always love her, he’s with Madelyne and they have a child. He tells her to be happy with Wolverine…No not really, instead Scott shows that he’s the Grand Poobah of Douche-baggery and leaves his wife and baby for Jean.
Edge?	Deadpool – We’ve always known that Scott is a d-bag, but running around to find a massive amount of imposters of yourself and then teaming up with them? WTF? No pickles.
Person who should attempt an on-screen portrayal	Ryan Reynolds…. Hello, lover.		James Marsden sure knows how to play a guy with his panties in a bunch.
Edge?	Deadpool – Well, technically Wade Wilson as we haven’t seen the real “Deadpool” yet and Ryan Reynolds only played Wade up until that Baraka monstrosity – (at that point he was played by Scott Adkins). We hope Ryan does as he promises and keeps Deadpool true to the comics!

Deadpool: 6

Cyclops: 5

And the winner is…. Deadpool – close one, but the Merc with the Mouth beats the whiney baby with his panties forever in a twist.

Comic Movie Review: X-men Origins: Wolverine

Through the next few weeks, I’ll review past Comic Book Movies. I hope to be caught up in time for Iron Man 2, and then we can just review new movies.

X-men Origins: Wolverine did what all too many comic book movies do – sell out the true fans to create a movie that appeals to “everyone else.” I get they need to make money, but comics have been around for a long time and are a mega-million dollar market. There about a billion storylines ripe there for the picking, but for some reason, these movie makers insist on coming up with their own that don’t gel with the facts. Not only did Wolverine do this, but it almost mocked us true fans by stuffing as many lovable characters as possible in a 2 hour span: Deadpool, Gambit, the Blob, Agent Zero, Johnny Wraith, Silverfox, Emma Frost, Professor X, Cyclops… stop me when you’ve had enough. Each of these characters have enough back story for their own movie or 5, but instead they just stuffed them all into one so that nerds like me would hear “Gambit,” grab my trench coat and run to the theater.

Now I don’t think X-men Origins was all bad. As always, Hugh Jackman delivered a convincing, albeit too tall, Wolverine. Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson in the first half of the movie was perfection. And I’m sure all of us nerds had a snicker and Cyclops and Emma Frost on screen together (as I sang in my head “You’re gonna have a mind affaaaaair.”) But, all in all, the facts fall flat. If you’re not a comic fan, you’ll like this movie. It has action and a pretty good storyline. If you are a comic fan, you’ll enjoy it, but some mistakes will haunt you afterwards.

*Spoiler alerts below*

Delightful surprises: As with all of the X-men movies, the random mutants that show up are always fun. It was nice to see “wheels” without his wheels, even though they made him look like he was wearing more make up than a sophomore that got asked to senior prom. And, my personal favorite mutant sighting was a child Quiksilver, all tied up in a cell.

Biggest disappointments: Emma Frost and Silverfox are sisters…. I don’t think I need to say more than that. As far as the most disappointing character I don’t know whether to say Deadpool or Gambit. While I think both actors chosen were good choices, the script didn’t give them much to work with. Wade in the first half of the movie was great, but as you know, the “Deadpool” was a disaster (I’m sorry, are those Barraca swords coming out of your wrists?) However, as a die hard Rogue and Gambit fan, I’d have to say I was most disappointed by Gambit. I mean, not one chere? Mon ami? Not one talking about himself in third person?!?!?! Gambit don’ like dis depiction of his character, chere.

I am so with you, Gambit.

Sincerely,

Rogue 1