GREEN LANTERN

GREEN LANTERN

Lights Out

Directed by Martin Campbell
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Tim Robbins, Peter Sarsgaard, Blake Lively

Although not quite as popular as DC Comics bread winners Superman or Batman, The Green Lantern is one that has always had a solid following and a constant through-out the DC universe. The nature of his powers, a ring that can transform his will and thoughts into amazing physical objects, is one of the reasons we’ve had five Superman films and, well, zero live-action Green Lantern films. But in our current movie climate of readily available, pixel pushing graphic geeks it seems the perfect time to craft a high-definition hero. In fact this franchise, with a strong emphasis on the fantastic and imaginative, is the perfect vehicle for a CGI laden affair. Also, apparently, a vehicle for Ryan Reynolds’ fresh tan and set of teeth.

While many characters have worn the ring, the most prevalent and popular is test pilot Hal Jordan, our hero of the piece. A wild card with a heart of gold, Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) is following in his father’s foot-steps, test piloting the latest gear from fictional manufacturer Ferris Aircraft. One day, after breaking all the god damn rules at work, he is chosen by a mystical ring that grants its wearer enormous power. The ring’s current owner, the very red alien Abin Sur, is dying after an intergalactic space battle wounded him resulting in his escape capsule landing on Earth. As he dies he knows he must pass his ring on to someone worthy of its power, and as the ring hunts down and brings Hal Jordan back to him he bestows upon him his ring and its powerful lantern.

The Green Lantern Corps. was created millions of years ago by the immortal Guardians of the Universe. They created a lantern of incredible power, harnessing the strongest form of energy in the universe - the green essence of willpower. Forging rings out of the lantern, they sent them out to all sectors of the universe to find fearless soldiers to uphold order in the universe. It’s not sci-fi and it’s not fantasy, Green Lantern has always been kind of the space between the two. Though great effort is made to make the home and species of the lanterns, Oa, as believable as possible the hardest thing for me to swallow was the idea that Peter Sarsgaard could be the son of Tim Robbins. Sweet god no.

It can be a fun ride, but it in general it falls flat. GoldenEye director Martin Campbell helms the film, and I don’t think the problem with Green Lantern is necessarily the directing, I think it lies with just too much going on all at once. Whether it is the over-produced, fast moving CGI or the thinly written, yet densely compacted writing, the film never really settles on a rhythm or gets you really liking any of the characters.

This was originally green-lit by the studio for a tentative trilogy and even though US box office sales have been under expectations, a sequel is almost definitely on the way. Hang around after the credits for the scene most fans will probably feel should have been in the movie itself and a look at what the sequel will hold.

_TOM VARIAN