So, I’ve been toying with this idea for quite some time, and after an afternoon browsing my favorite fanart topics on DeviantArt, I decided to take the plunge and design my all-time favorite cartoon into a spooky, live-action adventure – yes, I’m talking prosthetics and spray paint! Now, anyone who’s ever seen this show knows that it was years beyond its time, and got very little of the recognition it deserved, save from its fans. So here’s my tribute:

Goliath: Eric Bana

Goliath not only needs to be tall and muscular, he also needs to be portrayed by someone familiar with the concept of honor, loyalty and leadership. Mr. Bana did just that in his role as Prince Hector in “Troy.” He can also give off the “wild beast” vibe – remember the first Hulk movie; the one no one seems to like? That and he looks good in very little clothing.

Elisa Maza: Rosario Dawson

This girl is gorgeous, she’s a geek, and she CAN act her way out of a paper bag. Eliza Maza is half-African/half-Native American, so I had to go with someone who looked like they could fit that description. Besides, the girl can play ANY role you throw at her, and I don’t think she’s played an honest cop, yet.

David Xanatos: Gerard Butler

While Jonathan Frakes reprising his role would have been ideal, too many years have gone by and he no longer looks appropriate. Enter the Spartan King, the Phantom of the Opera, the.. dead husband from PS I Love You? Anyway, he has a commanding presence, incredible talent, and the look to boot. I think I would enjoy seeing him play a billionaire-genius-villain.

Demona: Christina Hendricks

So at this point in her career, she’s done a lot of TV shows, including E.R., Tru Calling, Cold Case, and Mad Men.  I think it’s time, however, for her to take on the big screen, and what better way to do that than as a hateful, jaded, blue-skinned, red-haired “demon.”

Hudson: Brian Cox

Um… it’s Brian Cox. Nuff said!

Brooklyn: Talyor Kitsch

I didn’t particularly care for his portrayal of Gambit in the recent Wolverine flick, but then again I didn’t care for the flick much at all. While he may have forgotten the cajun accent, he did manage to show that he has an acting ability as well as a few combat skills. I think he’ll fit nicely as second-in-command of the Manhattan Clan. Enjoy the beak!!

Broadway: Seth Rogen

I know, the guy is in EVERYTHING these days. Every comedy and CG movie has this guy in the credits. Though you have to admit he’s good at being the comic relief, which is Broadway’s primary function… well.. that and eating. But seriously, Rogen fits the bill.

Lexington: Seth Green

If you weren’t sold on my Broadway casting, there’s NO WAY you won’t be sold on this one! Small, Green and Geeky, meet Small, Geeky and Green! Someone short, someone talented, and someone not afraid to try new things (i.e. Robot Chicken or hosting Monday Night RAW).

Fox: Tricia Helfer

Tricia’s got a reputation for playing the badass chick on the block –  Playing the Cylon Six in Battlestar Galactica, and the ruthless Carla in Burn Notice. She knows how to portray both devious and innocent at the same time, which fits her perfectly into the role of Xanatos’ scheming wife.

Owen Burnett: Paul Bettany


I originally had this role going to Cillian Murphy, but upon further research, I decided he was far better as a mass murderer than an evil butler. So who’s this guy, you ask? How about the voice of Jarvis in Iron Man (BUTLER CREDIT), Silas from The Da Vinci Code (EVIL CREDIT), and the husband of Jennifer Connelly (GEEK BY ASSOCIATION CREDIT…Jenny C. = Betty Ross v.1).

So there you have it – one of Disney’s finest creations designed for the darker masses of the world. Hey, if they could make an awesome PG-13 movie out of a park ride, they can do this with their hands tied behind their backs! *Insert Theme Music*

I’ve been a Green Lantern fan my entire life, and even though I have severe problems with the current comic series (as explained here on my blog), I was eager to check out this animated offering. Warner Bros. has quite the pedigree in animation, as we all know, and their DC Universe animated television shows and movies have all been of the highest quality.

That level of quality certainly continues with First Flight. The story follows hotshot fighter pilot Hal Jordan, as he’s chosen to be a new Green Lantern and faces a serious crisis in outer space. While bits and pieces of Green Lantern comic book stories over the past few decades all show up in First Flight, the film is clearly in its own continuity; think of it as Ultimate Green Lantern, if you will. (In fact, a comic book series based on the film’s universe would be most excellent! Hear me, DC Comics?) The basics are all there, but First Flight forges its own path. For example, the energy sources powering the Green Lantern rings and Sinestro’s ring are a bit different than the comics, and in some cases, familiar faces aren’t quite who they seem to be.

The character art is more detailed than the usual Bruce Timm style that many fans are familiar with, and that’s a good thing. Alien species now look much more like aliens, rather than just humanoids with varying skin colors. Abin Sur and Kanjar Ro in particular look much better than their comic book incarnations. The Green Lantern uniforms are similar to the current ones seen in the comics, with differences here and there based on invididual characters (some might have armor plating, different color piping, cloaks, et cetera). The art translates well into animated form, too, as everything is nice and fluid, while the few instances of 3D (usually used for ships) are integrated seamlessly.

A stellar voice cast was assembled for First Flight, including Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: SVU) as Hal, Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs) as Kilowog, Victor Garber (Alias) as Sinestro, Kurtwood Smith (RoboCop) as Kanjar Ro, and the lovely Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) as Boodikka. Her voice melts the elastic in my underwear. If only this were a live-action movie, we could’ve seen Tricia as Boodikka in the flesh. In the meantime, my fantasies will just have to…

…ahem. Sorry. The voice actors do an incredible job bringing these classic characters to life. The soundtrack is also quite good, and the surround sound mix is very well done. Crank it up!

First Flight is rated PG-13, and with good reason. There’s a surprising amount of violence, but thankfully it’s not too over-the-top. There’s some blood and gore, but it’s purplish alien blood, and one villain suffers a painful death reminiscent of Alien Resurrection. Regardless, the violence has its place in the story, and never feels like fanservice. Green Lantern may be a comic book hero, but don’t show this one to the kids!

The film’s available on DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and digitally through the iTunes Store. If you’re buying the DVD release, definitely pick up the double-disc version, as it’s got enough bonus material to make it worth it. There’s plenty of cool extras, like the Duck Dodgers episode “The Green Loontern” (in which Daffy joins the Corps; no joke!), some of Bruce Timm’s favorite Justice League episodes, plus behind-the-scenes looks at the upcoming Superman/Batman: Public Enemies film and the Blackest Night comic book event. (The Blu-ray version has all of this, plus a few more Justice League episodes.) I should also mention that the double-disc DVD and Blu-ray editions of First Flight come with a code to download a digital copy of the film, but it’s practically worthless. It’s in Windows Media format, which is incompatible with iPods…the devices most people would want to view the digital copy on in the first place!

To make a long story short, Green Lantern: First Flight is a thrill ride for new and old Green Lantern fans alike. Definitely worth watching!

In true Lita fashion, I’ve taken my standard fifteen minute delay to get my ass on our lovely, brandy-new, nerdy site of awesomeness. And so, I give you the first of many to come: a visual companion to my Casting Couch!! *insert joyous applause*

Wolverine: Hugh Jackman

I don’t care who you are or what you like, you cannot argue that Hugh Jackman is the only man who can play Wolverine, no matter what the incarnation.

X-23: Summer Glau

She has the perfect track record, being both a Reader/Asskicker on Firefly and a Robot/Asskicker on the Terminator series. She can pull off the dark persona that any blood relative of Logan needs.

Domino: Charlize Theron

Come on, two words: Aeon Flux! This babe has the talent, the body, and the complexion to pull off jet-black hair. All we need is the face tattoo and we’ve got a movie!

Elixir: Penn Badgley

This role isn’t hard to fill, really. All you need is an actor who’s fluent in” Angsty Teen.” Enter this card, one of the new fads in the sexy teen shows on the CW. He has the look I’m hoping for, the rest is gold spay paint!

Vanisher: Michael Imperioli

Sleezy guy? Check! He’s in the Mafia for cryin’ out loud! This little gem came from The Soprano’s, so he knows how to play the guy just doing a job.

Angel/ArchAngel: Josh Duhamel

Seriously, he just screams Warren. And he’s no stranger to action – he’s married to Fergie! But no, I was referring to Transformers.

Warpath: Adam Beach

Do you know how difficult it is to find an actor who’s actually a full-blooded Native American?? It’s ridiculous! Luckily, Mr. Beach made quite a performance in WindTalkers. A little bulk and some big knives and we have Proudstar!

Hope: Elle Fanning

Her older sister, Dakota, is too old for Hope, and honestly, so is this little doll. But she just… looks right! Red hair and a blue suit. Just picture it. So cute!!

Cable/Stryfe: Bruce Willis

Yippy-Kay-Yay! ‘Nuff said!

Deadpool: Ryan Reynolds

I was sold on this pairing before the movie even hit Trailer-ready! He knows how to ramble like an idiot, and if you’re reading this story arc, you know that Deadpool in 800 years has absolutely lost it!

Bishop: Ving Rhames

The man has done it all, well… except play time-jumping mutant. And something tells me he won’t have much trouble sliding into the roll… now about the spandex…

Apocalypse: Keith David

While my movie plans to have the oldest mutant rendered in CGI, the voice can only be played by Goliath himself! “Excelerate your Mutation!”