Reynolds Wrong For The Ring

Opinions always vary when it comes to the world of movies and comic books. So why should it be any different when you take a comic book and turn it into a movie? Well, it shouldn’t, really. Comic geeks love to debate their favorite titles and, let’s face it; nothing gets them more fired up when Hollywood gets involved.

Tinsel Town has a way of doing their own thing, even in a well-established world of comic book genius. Some can choose to embrace their changes as simply another chapter in an already storied tale of a hero vs. villain or they can dismiss it as blasphemous garbage and go hoarse from five weeks of yelling. Me? I usually embrace. I recognize Hollywood is not D.C. Comics and vice versa and, quite frankly, I don’t want them to be.

I will use this space to argue, critique, and present ideas of comic books and how they transition to the world of movies. Some, like any Captain America movie, fall well short of expectations, while others, like The Dark Knight, go on and win Oscars. Everything is fair game and I plan to put it all in play.

And so the debate begins.

It has been rumored (again) there is a Green Lantern movie in the works. It is scheduled to be released in 2011. One of my favorite questions is who should play the title character? A majority of the fellow geeks whom I ask give me the same answer, “It needs to be an unknown actor. Somebody real. Somebody true.” While I admire their thought process and truly do understand where they are coming from, I would rather people actually see the movie.

To do this debate justice we have break it down into two pieces. We first need to decide which Green Lantern should be portrayed. The overwhelming answer is Hal Jordan. More people seem to connect to him and he seems to fit a few more molds than Kyle Rayner, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, or Alan Scott. However, the idea of a Rayner on the silver screen does evoke some excitement. They could make him hip, young, and, well, punkish if they chose. It really does depend on the target audience.

I tend to agree with the Jordan fans on this one. He’s really the one engrained into the psyche of the majority of current Green Lantern fans. He’s also been around the longest. Does this mean we should want or expect an older Hal Jordan? Absolutely not.

This is where I appreciate what Hollywood does with comic book characters. They realize the meat and potatoes of almost every character is embedded with the character’s younger years. They tend to choose which part of those years they will bring out and put on display. Yes, they also tend to ignore the origins of the characters from the comic book setting. Again, we’re talking movies here, not a comic book. They have a different marketing scheme to get butts in seats. It’s the world in which we live, people. Embrace it or get run over by it.

Now that we have selected Jordan as our main focal point, let’s decide on the next big debate: what actor should play him? The choices I’ve heard are as scattered as Paris Hilton’s underwear. I’ve heard Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon, Jude Law, Russell Crowe, Tom Hanks, Ethan Hawke, and even, I’m not kidding, Zac Efron. Really? Yes, I swear to you one friend of mine suggested Efron and spent 20 minutes of his life making a case for him. I haven’t called that friend in a while.

While I love Hanks and Crowe, I think we need to shoot for younger. We could borrow one of four actors from the latest Star Trek movie, but then we’d be pigeon-holing their careers. We need to think bigger. Ben Affleck? Um…no. He ruined Daredevil for me forever. How about Damon, Wahlberg, or Hawke? I think their too short. Green Lantern needs to have a presence. He doesn’t have to be seven feet tall or anything, but have more screen presence without holding a gun would be nice.

So how about somebody artsy like Law or Ryan Gosling? Honestly, I think both of them would give a lot to the role, but it just wouldn’t work. Both have a charming smile and not enough wit. No magic rings for them.

My answer is a bit confusing to people, but hear me out before you throw your laptop across the room in anger. First, remember this is my favorite comic book. I don’t take this lightly. Second, I want to introduce it to another generation of comic book lovers with high star power appeal. The best way to do this is to cast Will Smith as the title character. What? Will Smith? But, he’s black? Yes, yes he is. But, Hal Jordan is white? Yes, yes he is.

So why would I choose Smith? The answer is simple: he has everything Hal Jordan has in his build, his tone, and his passion. He’s a perfect fit. Does being a black guy matter? Should it? I don’t think so. Besides, for those who enjoyed the Stewart years this is a perfect way to blend the two eras.

Look, Hollywood always changes something about the characters anyway and the comic book industry has struggled for years to introduce a black character that sticks inside the minds of readers. This is a perfect opportunity to kick a door down for racial equality and it wouldn’t be doing it for the sake of doing it. It would actually make sense. Unlike Super Friends introducing Black Vulcan out of the blue.

Look at Smith’s career. He has done action movies. A lot of action movies. He has also done artistic projects such as Six Degrees of Separation and Seven Pounds. He has the intensity to stare down Sinestro and the ability to act as Hal Jordan when he doesn’t have to look tough and buff. He will bring depth to the role.

So why not just choose Stewart instead of Jordan and not piss anybody off? Well, the storyline of Jordan is a lot more riveting. He was the first known superhero to have a family and that always ups the stakes in a Hollywood film. Smith can play a family man. Also, Stewart was a back-up to a back-up in the original comic book series. We can’t have a third stringer representing the mighty Green Lantern! I won’t hear of it.

Those who follow the ins and outs of Hollywood know the Green Lantern film has been cast. Execs seem to think Ryan Reynolds would make a better Green Lantern. I present to you a body of work that includes a lot of his body and very little work. He’s a horrible choice. I would much rather see a no-name actor than Reynolds. He won’t get it done properly. I like Reynolds in other roles, say way in the background, but he doesn’t deserve the ring! Will Smith doesn’t sound so bad now does he?