And now, without further ado.... |
|
I started the last column with this name as a one-shot deal. After thinking about it lately, I realized that repetition is a reliable way to hone my skills. I also found that repetition is a reliable way to hone my skills. Most importantly I understand that repetition is a reliable way to hone my skills. Okay that was bad, but my point is that repetition is a reliable way to hone my skills. I like the idea of certain superhero duos being on the big flashy screen. The last time I posed the World's Finest idea with Batman and Superman. Well, due to no demand, I decided to make this a reoccurring theme (mainly when I have nothing better to write about. If WGA made sitcom producers reuse old ideas, I can do it too.) This time I am going to tap the well for a less mainstream pair, Green Arrow and Green Lantern. First I will give you a brief history of their universe.
Green Arrow made his debut in More Fun Comics in November 1941 with his side-kick Speedy. Essentially he was an archery-themed version of Batman (which, over time, moved away from the conservative views of old Bats to a much more liberal mentality.) His was inspired by the classic characters Robin Hood, The Green Archer, Golden Arrow and an archer hero named simply Arrow. He is one of the only characters that have stayed active from the golden age to the silver age and up until the modern age of comics (partly because of his popularity.) This means that the first Green Arrow, Oliver Queen, stayed Green Arrow up until his death in 1995 (later resurrected in 2000.) The mantles of other heroes have been held by multiple people and changed between the gold age and silver 
And you thought Robin had issues. |
|
age. The next character is one of these examples.
Green Lantern made his debut in All-American Comics #16 in July 1940. The idea was that he used a ring that created whatever his will could imagine. It was inspired by Aladdin's lamp (minus the weird genie.) The downside to the ring was that it had to be charged from a lantern (hence the name) every 24 hours and was ineffective against wood (of the tree nature you perverts.) That was Alan Scott. In the 1950s the silver age of comics began and characters that lost popularity were re-imagined with new identities and enhanced powers. Green Lantern changed from Alan Scott to Hal Jordan. He received his ring (which had all of the same powers as Scott's ring with a weakness to yellow instead of wood) from an dying alien that crashed on earth. He gave Jordan the ring to replace him as an intergalactic police officer for the Green Lantern Corps.
In the early 70s the writer-artist team of Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams for decided to tackle more social issues. Part of this was to bring Green Arrow into the series, effectively unofficially renaming the series Green Lantern co-staring Green Arrow. One of the first story arcs was Green Arrow finding out his sidekick Speedy was a heroin addict. This demonstrated how Green Arrow had become a liberal and was great to see him play off Green Lanterns cookie-cutter ultra-conservative outlook. This leads me into why I think this would be a good movie.
All boring history lessons aside, these two have the makings of a great buddy/dynamic duo/partners in crime movie. They had a very Odd Couple chemistry. They also 
The superhero Odd Couple? |
|
have the benefit not being overly dark and brooding so the movie could follow the same type of vibe and feel of FANSTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER and SPIDERMAN, SPIDERMAN 2 and SPIDERMAN 3. It would be a blend of action, comedy and maybe even a little romance (providing they have Green Arrow's on and off girlfriend Black Canary in it. He may be liberal, but he is not that liberal.)
Who should play these iconic roles you ask? My first choice would be me as Green Lantern, but people want a realistic hero instead of a comic book dork in unflattering green tights. Seriously these would have to be just the right people and I have an idea of just who would be right (big surprise right? I can't imagine me voicing my opinion.)
Green Arrow (Oliver Queen)
Paul Walker would be my choice. This is based mainly on the fact that he looks the part. I am not a huge fan of his work beyond PLEASANTVILLE, but the little I have seen of him in other movies shows me he might be able to step up for this role (after all who thought Michael Keaton would have been a good Batman?)
Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
Jake Gyllenhaal seems like he might fit the role. He can be very disturbing as shown in DONNY DARKO, but has shown seriousness in THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW and JARHEADS. The guy was considered for Batman in BATMAN BEGINS and Toby McGuire's replacement in SPIDERMAN 2, not mention was very close to being cast as GREEN HORNET (hey "It's Not Easy Being Green" after all.)
Black Canary (Dinah Lance)
Sarah Carter or Adrianne Palicki have booth played strong characters on the TV show 
Take your pick. |
|
Smallville and proved they can handle super powers (Black Canary has a strong sonic scream that could rival Banshee after all.) Plus that both fit the role esthetically. I know there are a lot of blonde actresses out there that look the part, but it takes a certain look to play these characters. These two just have that look.
There are far too many villains to limit them to just one that would be great for the movie. The ones that come to minds are Amazo an evil android with the ability to absorb and recreate superpowers of the heroes he is fighting, Solomon Grundy an undead monster (looks like a very pale Hulk who has super strength and endurance, Star Sapphire who has powers similar to Green Lantern through the use of a Zamaron star sapphire crystal, Count Vertigo who can use the "Vertigo Effect" to disrupt his opponents balance and coordination or Sinestro who was a former member of the Green Lantern Corps but was sent to the antimatter universe for being too brutal and subsequently acquired a yellow ring that had the same powers as the green ring but was ineffective on the color green. It would be cool to see two of them paired up as well.
I think this is a great opportunity to, not only give two awesome characters the spot light they deserve, but give people a chance to see that DC has more to offer than just Batman and Superman. Who knows, you might even want to see other team-ups like this instead of the more prominent counterparts. You can bet your bottom dollar I will have something to say about those too, but that is for another time and column.
 email this column to a friend
|
| Moving Pictures |
Every other Monday
Bringing you a vast wealth of comic book movie knowledge from a 4,000 plus book collection and experience at Rain City Comics.
|
| The Alpha Craig |
I am the first and the last, maybe not. I'm 31 years old and still spend my disposable income on comic books. Might as well put it to good use.
|
| Contact |
If you have a comment, question, or suggestion, you can send a message to The Alpha Craig by clicking here.
|
|
