The Fanboy Divide: 'Green Lantern' and 'X-Men: First Class'



Green Lantern slavishly adhered to the source material.

By Mark Frankland

This is the first time I have written something in quite some time so I do apologise if I start rambling a little bit.

Anyway to the point of this article, I think that this year marks a rather odd occurrence for geek culture; namely the divide that separates the critical and fan reception of Green Lantern and X-Men: First Class. This article will read something like a mini review of GL and X-Men as well as an exploration as to the reasons why there is such a divide.

Now to play catch up for those who may not know the issue surrounding these two films. Green Lantern has been met with a largely positive reception from the fans, whereas it has taken something of a beating from the critics. The opposite situation appears to be true for X-Men, where the fans generally dislike it but the critics (and myself included) think it’s brilliant. This is not to say that there haven’t been fans VS. critics conflicts in the past; all one needs to do is look at a film like Tron:Legacy which was widely received by fans as being one of the most interesting, intelligent, and not to mention damn pretty films ever made whereas the critics largely thought of it as an underwritten mess with underdeveloped ideas which tries to sell itself on spectacle not substance.

Now to make things clear I do not like Green Lantern. I think it is a poorly written and directed mess, where characters randomly change motivations for no other reason than to serve the plot so thin I can practically see through it. To give the film it’s due, the first 20 or so minutes are quite good and Ryan Reynolds delivers a very good performance, further cementing his rather odd position in Hollywood as being the best part of otherwise atrocious (see what I did there?) comic book movies whereas I think that X-Men: First Class is one of the best comic book movies to come out in the last 10 years easily beating 90% of the competition and only just falling short of my personal favourite Spider-man 2. It’s a very smart, well directed, superbly acted character-driven film which touches upon the complexity of growing up and the horrors we all carry with us.

Movie Review: ‘Green Lantern’

By Don M. Ventura

There is an art to the adaptation of a comic book to film.

So many elements go into making a successful motion picture, but for an adaptation it’s all about how and what the filmmakers choose to adapt. And for me, this is where Green Lantern fails.

I got the sense that the filmmakers used the source material as a license to throw in everything without concern for what the audience would accept as the film’s established reality. The movie slavishly throws Green Lantern mythos at us that finally, as a filmgoer, you choose to accept it or not. I did not.

Movie Review: 'X-Men: First Class'

By Don M. Ventura

When I refer to myself as “not an X-Men fan” I mean no disrespect to the mutant-centric comic books. I only mean that, while I have a reverence for many of the characters and teams, I must admit to having a difficult time recounting the rich history of the characters and intricate plotlines.

However I have found the Bryan Singer-helmed X-Men films to be extremely special adaptations that are faithful to the spirit of the source material. And this is key to all comic book films. Attempting to slavishly adapt storylines (Daredevil) or appease fanboys by sprinkling famous characters and elements from beloved runs (X-Men: Last Stand) can cause a crinkle in a comic book movie. X-Men: First Class suffers from the latter, though not nearly as sloppily as Last Stand.

If I were to put it simply, I’d say the film left me cold. By the time the end-credits appeared I found that I cared little for the characters and the world they inhabited for the past two hours. But I won’t blame the cast, not wholly at least, who are often quite superb here. Specifically, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult and Jennifer Lawrence—these four lift the sullen script higher than its overstuffed story. They bring charm and sincerity to just about all of their scenes. But the script remains lifeless, and the fine actors at its core are unable to salvage the film.

Superhero Films: Thanks / No Thanks

This week a new X-Men film premieres and its just one of many comic book related films to hit the screens this summer.

For the last 10 years or so Hollywood has peppered our multiplexes with various movies starring men and woman of superhero stature.

So many are good...and so many are not so good.

Throughout the week we will be providing our thoughts and opinions on a few of these films.

So get ready for Superhero Films: Thanks / No Thanks

Another Movie Review: 'Thor'

By Jerry Ahern


“Thor” is about a young man who after taking a temper tantrum is sent to his room until he’s a good boy.

Only this boy is a powerful god and his room is Earth.

The film is hokey, cute and romantic.

Marvel and their studio have done it again by creating what will probably be a two to three film series. Not including his involvement in “The Avengers”.

The film works better for me as a fish out of water tale more than it does as big time superhero adventure.

Ultimately “Thor” is a father and son story were the son has to comprehend that he doesn’t know everything. So daddy Odin has to teach his son a lesson.

Only this lesson is set on a huge larger than life level, where frost giants, machines forged by gods and jealously could mean disaster for all.

In the end Thor becomes a man and that man becomes a hero.

I praise Marvel for making a film that is not as adult themed as "Iron Man”.  If a 10 year old and a 30 year old enjoyed “Iron Man”, it was for two different reasons. This is not the case with “Thor”. 


 I can’t say enough about how much I appreciated this.

“Thor” could have opened with the young prince in bed surrounded by lovers after a night of heavy drinking and pillaging. But instead Marvel made a film that both kids and grownups could enjoy together. I would almost compare "Thor" to live action Disney film, with the target audience being mainly males.


From beginning to end "Thor" is a true delight.

The film might not be for everyone…but it should be.

Movie Review: 'Thor'

Loki (Hiddleston) and Thor (Hemsworth) take a journey into mystery
in the motion picture Thor.

By Don M. Ventura

Thor

Marvel Studios/Paramount Pictures

««««

There was a moment early in Thor where it occurred to me that this was a film being made by people who had some appreciation for the source material. Thor, accompanied with his half-brother Loki, Sif, and the Warriors Three, have invaded the land of Jotunheim to face the frost giants when things go awry. During the course of the avoidable battle Thor takes his hammer and begins swinging it circularly at great speed. I knew the image. I had seen it a hundred times in my childhood.  It’s always meant Thor was done talking.

There are several earnest nods to the source material, which even the casual Thor reader (of which I consider myself) will recognize. Director Kenneth Branagh is a confessed Thor nut and it shows on the screen. I was amazed at the depiction of the Norse God and the populace of Asgard—there was no discernable compromising of character done on this film. This is a faithful interpretation of Thor the comic book character.