Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, and Mark Strong
Directed by: Martin Campbell
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy and Comic Book Adaptation
Running Time: 1hr 45min
Opening Date: June 17th, 2011
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
By John Delia
Special effects drive this film directed right to the heart of the comic book age audience. Although Green Lantern has good action, it’s not quite the brilliance of Thor or Iron Man. More with a Superman image, Green Lantern starts its quest for sequel domination. Early teens and preteens should eat this up, but it’s not for the older crowd.
The movie starts by introducing the two main characters Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) and Carol Ferris (Blake Lively) two test pilots working for an aviation company. One night a space ship crashes into Earth and the dieing alien sends out a searcher to find the best representative to take his position as a Green Lantern. Jordan gets chosen to wear the super powers ring and become a member of the Galactic team that protects the Universe from fear. When the ferocious Parallax threatens Earth, Jordan has to defend the planet single-handed.
The acting here by Reynolds, Lively, Peter Sarsgaard and Mark Strong is less than expected, but the age group going to the see the film shouldn’t mind that a bit. To me however, there’s no energy from the cast and the script reads like a comic book rather than a screenplay designed to excite. There are many slow moving romance interludes, Star Wars fashion aliens, and flashbacks that just don’t cut it in today’s advanced filmmaking world.
And the story gets silly when the most powerful Green Lantern Sinestro (Mark Srong) pleads to the Intergalactic Council to let him bring down the evil Parallax. With a whole army of thousands of Green Lanterns from throughout the universe Sinestro only sends a meager number to face Parallax, and when they are thwarted Sinestro becomes a wimp and turns tail and runs. When Parallax threatens the Earth Sinestro even refuses to help Hal Jordan with his defense.
The computer graphics are awesome with a bevy of fantasy scenes that are eye-popping. Shots of the universe and especially the spacecraft, aliens and powers that Green Lantern’s ring can project are tops. Although I think Ryan Reynolds ts a poor choice for Green Lantern, his costume’s awesome.
Green Lantern is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action; nothing that preteens haven’t already experienced playing their video games. The film is also available in 3D.
FINAL ANALYSIS:Â Unless you are a preteen male you may want to skip this superhero and wait for Captain America. (C-)