Green Drinks, Celebs and Fun at the Green Lantern After Party Hosted @ Tin Pin Alley
After Party Guests
I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! I have been all over the place trying to stay up on what’s happening in the “A”. Well, one thing I can tell you is that Atlanta is even hotter in the summer time. And I am not just talking about the temperature. 🙂 Anyone who has lived here for more than a day knows that there’s always something to do all throughout the week. My mission is to keep you informed of the great events, businesses and people living right here in the “A”. Now last week Aspire Online Magazine had the opportunity to cover the private VIP pre-screening of Green Lantern. Not only did I give the movie a rave review, I would have to say that the after party was just as spectacular. After the Green Lantern preview all the guests moseyed down to Tin Pin Alley in Atlantic Station for some fun, networking and drinks. If you have not had the opportunity to hang out at Tin Pin Alley, you should definitely go. It is a nice, upscale bowling alley that also has private lanes, so if you want to throw a private party, this is the perfect spot.
The after party had a nice mix of people from local celebs to nationally known celebs like Kwanza Hall (Atlanta City Council), D. Woods (former member of Danity Kane), Strings (formerly of Cash Money) and Rennie Curran (linebacker for the Tennessee Titans) just to name a few. See their exclusive interviews right here!
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All the around the venue, people were mingling, chatting it up, and sipping on signature “glowing green” drinks. DJ Green Lantern was the DJ for the night and he was laying down the law with
Guests at the after party
his sounds. Although, no one actually started break dancing on the floor, you had the occasional head bobbing when someone was feeling a song, including me. 🙂 It was a laid back atmosphere and not too crowed. I had a fantastic time networking and meeting new people. I love this life! Shouts out to Liquid Soul Media Group who put together such a great VIP pre-screening and after party (view more photos here)! You guys did your thing. Well ladies in gents, I want us to keep in touch so follow me on twitter at @tmonet and @aspireonline for the latest and the greatest! Oh, and don’t forget to leave a comment and subscribe to the blog!!
P.S. Look out for Aspire Online Magazine’s web show coming soon…stay tuned!!
-T. Monet is Special Correspondent for AOM and The “HIGH UP”
Green Lantern Makes A Great Movie For the Entire Family!
Hal Jordan, played by Ryan Reynolds, was a test pilot, who lived his life fearlessly and self-absorbed. But when he became the chosen one to save the human race by killing the evil Parallax (who looked like a ginormous octopus and fed off of fear) his cocky, fearless ways were overtaken by his own insecurities. After he was chosen, he was taken to the planet Oa and given a brief history lesson on the Green Lantern Corps, peace-keepers of the universe, and the power the ring possessed. One key thing Hal learned about the ring was that it was powered by the emerald energy of willpower, and was sent to every sector of the universe to choose a recruit, but was never sent to earth. So, he was the first human to be a part of the corps.
AOM's T. Monet and Strings (Hip-Hop Artist)
While Hal, was on the planet Oa, he went through rigorous training to help rid him of his fear and strengthen his will. This was an important training session since the Green Lanterns were known for their lack of fear and iron clad willpower. After all the hardcore training, he still felt he could not bear the weight of being a failure if he could not defeat, Parallax, so he quit. But after his ex-lover Carol Ferris, played by the beautiful Blake Lively and his BFF, have an intervention with him, he rejoined the battle, but minus the fear and selfishness. He jumped back into the fight, defeated Parallax, got the girl back, and saved the human race with his fearless nature that was within him the whole time.
My Final Thoughts:
Guests at the pre-screening
The Green Lantern movie was in 3D, which was awesome! All kinds of things were flying at me and I was jumping all over the place because of it. 🙂 I have been to many 3D movies, but these 3D images were almost in my lap, and it seemed so real. The special effects were amazing and were meant to be over the top, because the story line was lifted right from a comic book. If people are looking for something realistic, I don’t see why. It is a comic book, people. And if you are looking for a thought out storyline, it is a superhero movie! They all follow the same formula; good vs. evil, and good always wins! If you can get past looking for new twists and plots, you will enjoy the movie for what it is.
The sexy Ryan Reynolds was perfect for this part. He was the total jock that looked like he had everything, but as his character unraveled, you could see his weaknesses, and he was just like anybody else. He did a good job in relaying this to the audience, as he took you along his journey from cockiness to humbleness. I also loved Blake’s role. She was not just a pretty face in the
T. Monet and Kwanzaa Hall (Atlanta City Council, District 2)
movie, and held her own on the big screen. The two had great chemistry, and immediately you knew they had something brewing before and she was not quite over it. The other actors in the film were Angela Bassett, Tim Robbins and Michael Clark Duncan (voiceover role). One evil key player in the movie, Peter Sarsgaard, who played Hector, the genius professor, was infected by the another life form, and later used by Parallax to help play out his evil scheme. He did a fabulous job of being creepy for the entire movie, even before he was infected. I loved it. He was my favorite charter.
But what I loved most about this movie is the message. The message was simple yet profound. You must learn to overcome your fears, and whatever you face in this life. You already possess everything inside of you to overcome it.
This movie is a great family movie, and would lend itself to great lessons and messages that parents can discus with their kids. There is hardly any blood and no sex scenes in which makes the movie very kid friendly. I give Green Lantern 4 stilettos out of 5!
See more photos under “event highlights” at Aspire Online Magazine.
-T. Monet is Special Correspondent for AOM and The “HIGH UP”
Green Lantern Is Action Packed: Opens Today!
Guest at Green Lantern Pre-screening
The Green Lantern (2011 Warner Bros.) was pre-screened in Atlanta to an audience of celebrities, media and select general viewers. The turn out resulted in a packed house, complete with security, instructions to turn OFF your phones and roaming guards searching for violators. A leak was nearly impossible on this night…
Hal Hess (Ryan Reynolds) is chosen to join the ranks of the Green Lantern Corps after being chosen, by the essence of the ring itself, on the death bed of one of the Corps bravest warriors. After going through a series of trials, to include an impromptu training by fellow members of the Corps, he quits the ranks, just as he has everything in his life. That is, until the earth is threatened by a menace unlike any seen before in any galaxy – the evil Parallax, who is energized by fear. With urging by friends and a former lover, Green Lantern finds the will and strength to fight off and defeat this menace – and ultimately receives full acceptance into the Corps by his colleagues.
The film is relatively predictable throughout and has ebbs and flows for the first 2/3 of the movie.
After party "signature" drink
In the final 1/3, the action picks up, significantly, as the villain begins to take shape in the form of a brilliant scientist, Hector Hammond, (played by Peter Sarsgaard) who is infected by an evil life force during the autopsy of the Green Lantern’s predecessor. The action intensifies as Hammond is killed and the Green Lantern must engage the source of evil, which infected Hammond – Parallax himself. A galactic chase and battle ensue and the Green Lantern defeats Parallax through sheer will, determination and by recalling a lesson learned during his training.
The special effects were plentiful and incredible – we saw the Real 3D version of the film. However, many of the scenes were obviously shot via green screen and there was a clear delineation of actors from the background – so much that at times the background looked fully animated when compared to the actors. The film was riddled with these types of scenes unfortunately. Additionally, there were clear product placements by Chevrolet, Apple and LG. The placements were supposed to be subtle (general rule of thumb, anyway), but ended up being glaring promotions. The film included a number of relatively unknown actors, but also included veteran actors in key roles (Angela Bassett and Tim Robbins) and/or voice over roles (Michael Clarke Duncan). Blake Lively performed relatively well in the Leading Female role as the beautiful, multi-talented and highly sought after Carol Ferris. Additionally, Peter Sarsgaard provided several instances of comic relief in the role of Hector Hammond, the under-achieving, yet brilliant, scientist who rapidly began to go mad after being infected by Parallax.
Overall, on a scale from 1-5 (5 being awesome), I’d have to rate the film a 3. The plot is predictable, along with the outcome. Special effects are incredible (again, we saw the Real 3D version); however, several of the scenes looked VERY unrealistic due to how the scenes where shot and post produced. The movie started with action but then experienced a number of slow periods during the first 60-90 minutes, picking up in the final 30 minutes or so.
For more information on the Green Lantern movie, visit http://greenlanternmovie.warnerbros.com.
For additional footage from the Green Lantern after party in Atlanta, revisit The “HIGH UP” this weekend to see interviews with the likes of Dee Woods (former Danity Kane member), Strings (Chicago rapper, formerly of both R. Kelly’s camp and former first lady of Cash Money) and Rennie Curran (Tennessee Titans rookie linebacker). Also, look for a second review of Green Lantern from AOM’s T. Monet later today!
-Jay Young for AOM and The “HIGH UP”
Angela Bassett Stars In Green Lantern on June 17th!
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros
Bringing the enduringly popular superhero to the big screen for the first time, “Green Lantern” stars Ryan Reynolds (“X-Men Origins: Wolverine”) in the title role, under the direction of Martin Campbell (“Casino Royale”).
In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan.
Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal is clearly the missing piece to the puzzle, and along with his determination and willpower, he has one thing no member of the Corps has ever had: humanity. With the encouragement of fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), if Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax…he will become the greatest Green Lantern of all.
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Campbell directs “Green Lantern” from a screenplay by Greg Berlanti & Michael Green & Marc Guggenheim and Michael Goldenberg, story by Greg Berlanti & Michael Green & Marc Guggenheim, based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.
The film also stars Blake Lively (upcoming “The Town,” TV’s “Gossip Girl”) as the spirited Carol Ferris, a test pilot and the heir apparent to her father’s aviation company; Peter Sarsgaard (“An Education,” “Flightplan”) as scientist Dr. Hector Hammond; Mark Strong (“Sherlock Holmes”) as Sinestro, Jordan’s powerful mentor in the Green Lantern Corps; Jay O. Sanders (“Revolutionary Road”) as Carl Ferris, Carol’s aircraft designer dad; Temuera Morrison (“Star Wars” Episodes II and III) as Abin Sur, Jordan’s alien predecessor; Taika Waititi (TV’s “The Flight of the Conchords”) as flight navigator Tom Kalmaku, Hal’s good friend and confidante; Academy Award® nominee Angela Bassett (“What’s Love Got to Do with It”) as enigmatic government scientist Amanda Waller; and Academy Award® winner Tim Robbins (“Mystic River”) as Hector’s influential father, Senator Robert Hammond.
The film is being produced by Donald De Line (“The Italian Job”) and Greg Berlanti (upcoming “Life As We Know It”). Herbert W. Gains and Andrew Haas serve as executive producers. Geoff Johns and Lucienne Papon are co-producing.
The film’s behind-the-scenes creative team is led by a number of Academy Award® winners, including director of photography Dion Beebe (“Memoirs of a Geisha”), production designer Grant Major (“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”), and costume designer Ngila Dickson (“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”), as well as Oscar®-nominated editor and longtime Campbell collaborator, Stuart Baird (“Gorillas in the Mist,” “Superman”). The film’s visual effects are being overseen by Oscar®-nominee Kent Houston (“The Adventures of Baron Von Munchausen,” “Casino Royale”).
The film is currently scheduled for release in 3D and 2D on June 17, 2011. “Green Lantern” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
AOM and The “HIGH UP” will be covering the private VIP pre-screening tonight in Atlanta. Stay tuned for updates and follow us throughout the evening on Twitter @AspireOnline!
The "HIGH UP" 