Green Lantern doesn’t have the depth or seriousness of X-Men: First Class. Nor is it as fun and entertaining as Thor. However, this superhero movie knows what it is and doesn’t take itself seriously, which gives Director Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, Edge of Darkness) permission to make it a cartoon-like spectacle that will dazzle you with its amazing visuals. The special effects are what is most impressive in this and everything else (plot, acting) doesn’t reach its full potential. Green Lantern should feel epic. It should be epic. Unfortunately, it’s not.
The Green Lantern Corps provide justice and safety throughout the universe. They are a powerful force and each of them wear a ring that can transform and create anything you can come up with by using your mind. Whatever you can think of, the ring brings it to life. But the Green Lantern Corps are put to the test when Parallax, a powerful enemy unlike anything they have ever faced before, uses fear to weaken and destroy anything in its path in order to take over Earth and the rest of the universe.
Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) is a cocky test pilot who is a risk-taker in the air. He has confidence in what he does while he is in a plane. Now everything else in his life is a mess. He has no responsibilities and only cares about himself. His father died in a plane accident. That causes him to push away the rest of his family and friends, and doesn’t allow himself to have a serious relationship with anyone. Carol Ferris (Blake Lively) knows all about that. The two of them shared a meaningful relationship until she started to get too close and Hal just walked away from it all.
Once he is chosen by the ring and is the first human being to become a Green Lantern, what at first seems to be a huge mistake ends up becoming the best decision ever made. And a guy who never wanted anything serious or have any responsibilities becomes a superhero who must save the world. Talk about going from one extreme to the other.
Everyone may have questioned the choice of casting Reynolds as the Green Lantern. And, if he was capable of headlining such a huge project like this, then there is no need to worry. Because, he has the looks, charisma and talent to pull it off. And he has some help with a supporting cast that includes Mark Strong as Sinestro and Peter Sarsgaard as Hector Hammond. Sinestro leads the Green Lantern Corps and doesn’t have much faith in Hal or for the whole human race. He points out Hal’s weaknesses and believes the ring has made a mistake.
Hammond is a scientist who has daddy issues and has always been jealous of Hal. But when Parallax takes over Hammond to use him to destroy Green Lantern, he will get his revenge on those who never gave him the credit that he thinks he deserves. Sarsgaard is great as the big-headed scientist and really seems to be having fun being the bad guy. I must say, whether it is intentional or not, he is funny, certainly creepy and a little disgusting. The perfect qualities for a villain.
Green Lantern has its flaws. It is not deep and doesn’t have much depth when it comes to its story and characters. But, it is still a good time at the movies. It is fun to watch and Reynolds is cool as the title character. Campbell has made a movie that is entertaining, but more directed at a younger audience. However, everyone can appreciate the stunning visuals. There is no limitations when it comes to Green Lantern. It has a big imagination and wants the audience to get lost in its universe and provide some harmless fun. It does just that.
“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter@SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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