The Green Lantern

Vlad Piranha · Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 10:30 pm Post subject: The Green Lantern

The Green Lantern is DC's latest attempt at converting a property to film. Unlike entries like Batman or Superman, a universe of this scope depends heavily on modern CG to even be possible. The size and meaning of everything in this film is a great place to start.

When a forgotten and extraordinarily powerful force of evil is again freed upon the universe, the guardians of all known galaxies, the Green Lantern Corps, work to contain it again. No match for the entity known only as Parallax, a Corps agent, Abin Sur, barely escapes his confrontation with the creature, though mortally wounded. The nearest inhabitable planet for him to take refuge is Earth. As he lays dying, the source of his (and all Corps members') powers, his ring, is sent to find a worthy successor. It chooses Hal Jordan, a cocky test pilot with a laundry list of personal faults that hold him back in any situation that doesn't involve a cockpit. Sur tells him that being chosen is a great and rare honor and that for whatever reason, it was for a purpose and that he has the character needed to become a champion and protector. It becomes Hal's responsibility to harness the powers of his ring, steel his will and defeat the coming darkness.

While The Green Lantern was a very enjoyable film, it's not on par with either of the two most recent Batman films, DC's most successful franchise so far. The best thing to compare it to is last month's Thor. It has a bit of silly humor, some great effects and satisfying action, but it lacks real heart. Remember the scene in Batman Begins where Alfred the butler consoles Bruce Wayne and encourages him to persevere against his foes because the reason we fall is so that "we can learn to pick ourselves back up"? How about the more recent moment of tenderness in X-Men: First Class when Charles Xavier brings tears to his friend and future adversary Erik's eyes when he helps him recover lost memories of happier days with his family before they were lost in the Holocaust? Moments like that made their corresponding films memorable. We like Hal Jordan in this movie because he's the good guy and he fights evil. That's all good and well, but the flashbacks to his dead father and lost romance feel so forced that it feels obligatory rather than important to us.

With Hal Jordan's true nemesis on reserve (and properly set up) for the inevitable sequel, it's no surprise that this film doesn't reach its full potential. I expect the next one to be damn cool. This film gets a solid B and I do encourage a good matinee. By the way, stay through most of the credits. There's a hidden scene that will foreshadow events to come.

massive · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 5:16 pm Post subject:

Ahhhh... this is the reason I still check this board.

Thanks Vlad for another great review!
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Vlad Piranha wrote:

I'm offended that a zombie holocaust isn't on the list. It would be terrifying, sure, but it would be pretty sweet if you think about it.

Vlad Piranha · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 5:33 pm Post subject:

I've decided to bump my review down to a C+. Enjoyable movie, but there were some logic gaps I realized after I did my initial review. This sums it up.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FridgeLogic

Stealth · Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 12:22 pm Post subject:

I still don't understand why Green Lantern isn't black. Given, anyone can get the ring and GL dies quite a few times. I still think he should be black, but wouldn't know who could play him well.
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Motherfucking Triangles! Being all three sided n' shit, who do they think they are?!

Kevin · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 1:24 am Post subject:

It is really a nice movie and it is very entertaining. I liked it so much and the concept of the movie is very different.
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atatme · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 3:05 pm Post subject:

Really Kevin? Different? Its the Green fucking Lantern, hes been around for forever. Who is this guy?

Eugene · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 3:16 pm Post subject:

I'm pretty sure its a bot whose plan is to integrate itself into our community and slowly lure us in and make us its mindless slaves for WoW gold farming.

atatme · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 4:15 pm Post subject:

ITS ADMINBOT! BAN THE FUCK OUT OF HIM!

Messy Recipe · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 4:39 pm Post subject:

I wonder how it works; somehow it recognized that the topic Ricky had made was an appropriate one to make a "welcome to the forum" post in.
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ABC News wrote:

Birds can disable planes, Ostrom said, by flying into the engines and shutting them down.

Erwin Rommel · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 5:39 pm Post subject:

Just watch - one of these days a bot will pass the Turing test and we'll have internet spammers to thank for it.
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