Green Arrow Movie?
Scipio's post about the Green Arrow movie reminded me that I haven't posted my reaction yet.
I'm honestly puzzled as to why they chose Green Arrow for this. Because of his popularity in Smallville? Because honestly, this isn't going to be a movie about "Green Arrow" as much as it'd be an "Oliver Queen in prison" movie, and this doesn't really seem like the sort of situation where Ollie would shine.
Now, if I were going to pick an "Oliver Queen" rather than a "Green Arrow" movie, I'd have done one loosely based on the OYL arc. Because I'd actually watch a political thriller starring an ex-superhero. As long as the climax involved shooting people with arrows in a bad Robin Hood costume.
In this sort of movie though, since there's nothing in it particularly tailored to Ollie (yet at least) I don't see why they don't make an original non-powered costumed superhero. It's not like the superhero identity's going to be featured much, from the sound of it. And "Oliver Queen" is honestly not familiar enough of a name to draw the non comic fans.
Actually, you know who I'd have used for this? Dick Grayson. Because dude, everyone knows that name. He's unpowered as well, and his luck sucks enough to get shoved into prison. And non-comic fans are gonna want to know how Batman's sidekick got shoved into prison and how he'll get out.
Besides, the cheesy, stupid tagline about "caged birds" pretty much writes itself.
I'm honestly puzzled as to why they chose Green Arrow for this. Because of his popularity in Smallville? Because honestly, this isn't going to be a movie about "Green Arrow" as much as it'd be an "Oliver Queen in prison" movie, and this doesn't really seem like the sort of situation where Ollie would shine.
Now, if I were going to pick an "Oliver Queen" rather than a "Green Arrow" movie, I'd have done one loosely based on the OYL arc. Because I'd actually watch a political thriller starring an ex-superhero. As long as the climax involved shooting people with arrows in a bad Robin Hood costume.
In this sort of movie though, since there's nothing in it particularly tailored to Ollie (yet at least) I don't see why they don't make an original non-powered costumed superhero. It's not like the superhero identity's going to be featured much, from the sound of it. And "Oliver Queen" is honestly not familiar enough of a name to draw the non comic fans.
Actually, you know who I'd have used for this? Dick Grayson. Because dude, everyone knows that name. He's unpowered as well, and his luck sucks enough to get shoved into prison. And non-comic fans are gonna want to know how Batman's sidekick got shoved into prison and how he'll get out.
Besides, the cheesy, stupid tagline about "caged birds" pretty much writes itself.
posted by kalinara @ 6:00 AM
12 Comments:
At April 16, 2007 9:59 AM,
Anonymous said…
You know, I had the same thoughts when I first heard about this, but after some thinking I feel it really could work.
After all, prison is all about iniquity; it isn't rich white folks who get locked up. Ollie could come face to face with all the stuff he ends up ranting about, and that could be interesting.
Although I guess if it's mostly a jail full of superpowered criminals, that won't really happen. But I can hope...
At April 16, 2007 10:23 AM,
SallyP said…
Nightwing would make so much more sense. What is the point of putting Ollie in jail? So he can rant about fat cats? Please!
If you are going to make a Green Arrow movie, how about the time he was on the island learning how to use the bow? A half-nekkid Justin Hartley running around would certainly bring ME into a theatre!
At April 16, 2007 10:49 AM,
Rob S. said…
I actually think Ollie is a good choice for this. Sure, “Green Arrow” isn’t going to get non-comics fans into the theatres – that’s why it won’t be marketed as such. But by going with an established (though non-marquee) name, the movie also gets some cred with the comics fans—or it might, should they do it and market it well.
There’s no need to use Green Arrow to sell it—a superhero jailed with the villains he’s caught is a novel enough storyline to hang a film on. (The general public has seen the story a few times with cops, but never with superheroes. It’s familiar to them, but not done-to-death.)
Green Arrow is a better choice than Nightwing/Dick Grayson simply because Grayson has the name recognition. He’s too important to the Batman franchise to tie up his rights in a film that a lesser hero could work just as well in.
I wouldn’t expect to see too many rants about fat-cats, though; that’s a personality trait that probably won’t carry over unless the plot calls for it.
I know the overall reaction to this film is negative, but I think it could surprise a lot of the naysayers.
At April 16, 2007 11:43 AM,
Anonymous said…
"A half-nekkid Justin Hartley running around would certainly bring ME into a theatre!"
And Justin Hartley in a prison shower wouldn't?
At April 16, 2007 11:46 AM,
Anonymous said…
What disturbs me is that they're billing Ollie's rogues gallery as being very Arkham Asylum like.
Now, I say this as a long-time Green Arrow fan and something of an expert on the character - Ollie has the worst Rogues Gallery of any long-time hero in the DCU.
In fact, I'm not even sure you can dignify them with the term Rogues Gallery as most of them are either dead, borrowed from other characters' rogues galleries or disappeared after one story. And there's very few of them who had actual superpowers. And none of them were Gotham-worthy, except Count Vertigo.
So yeah, if they're trying to do a prison movie where the likes of Auntie Gravity, The Rainbow Archer and Clock King are a threat to Ollie in prison...
At April 16, 2007 11:58 AM,
Rob S. said…
I think "Ollie's Rogues Gallery" might be a bit too literal way of thinking about it. Think, instead, of the B-level villains that Ollie might have put away (whether he ever did so in the comics or not). Dr. Light, Copperhead, Blockbuster, Weather Wizard -- folks like that. As long as they're not going to carry a movie as the main Batman or Superman villain (or Wonder Woman, Aquaman or whoever), I'm guessing they're fair game.
At April 16, 2007 12:05 PM,
SallyP said…
Hey, if the Clock King isn't in it, I'm not going.
And Dan, while Justin Hartley in a shower scene WOULD be delicious, the rest of the time he'd have to clump around in those unattractive jump suits. Bleh.
At April 16, 2007 2:13 PM,
ShellyS said…
Good points all, in the entry and the comments here. I haven't blogged about it because:
1. I don't watch Smallville, so have no idea who this guy is or what his Green Arrow/Ollie was like.
2. This could be either very good or really awful, depending on the script and director. There's just no way to know right now how this will end up.
3. I'm mostly trying to not think about it. I love Ollie, mostly from his O'Neill/Adams days, but I don't usually like him. I'm just too ambivalent about this right now.
At April 16, 2007 7:47 PM,
R.Nav said…
Meh, it will be another david goyer script. Which means it will have one big scene that is impossible for my brain to wrap around, thus requiring me to see the movie at a theatre that serves liquor - and lots of it.
At April 17, 2007 3:21 AM,
Unknown said…
I'll die of shock if this ever gets made to be completely honest. If it does my hunch is it will end up being either a cable movie or direct to DVD.
At April 17, 2007 8:02 PM,
Anonymous said…
Kalinara et al: Google "Grayson" a film student/ comicbook buff actually madea concpt trailer for a Robin project under said title that is both well conceived and awesome. Hope y'all have fun
And sallyp, you have watched Smallville Legends WAY to often!;)
Basking shirtless in his geek knowledge,
gww
At April 20, 2007 10:40 AM,
Anonymous said…
Why make it a Green Arrow movie if he is not going to be "Green Arrow", just make it a Vann Damme movie!
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