Lanterna Verde

I like superhero movies as much as the next person, having grown up on the likes of Superman and Batman. Green Lantern is not the worst superhero movie, but far from the best either. For me it was just a mildly average and somewhat bland movie, that didn't live up to the potential it had.

Getting the good things out of the way, I did like the cinematography, settings and costumes very much, and while they weren't among the best or most detailed I've seen the effects were better than average apart from Parralex. The score/soundtrack by James Newton Howard compliments the film very nicely, Martin Campbell's direction is assured and there are classy turns from Mark Strong, Tim Robbins and Peter Sarsgaard.

On the other hand, Ryan Reynolds didn't quite work for me. Now don't get me wrong, I initially found him an ideal choice in the title role. The problem is not that Reynolds is bad, actually he is quite spirited in the role, it's just that the character himself like a lot of the characters in the movie is irritatingly bland. Blake Lively is cute and lovely, but her performance goes little beyond that. The story starts off well with an intriguing idea, being an origin story and all, but is bogged down by too many characters, tedious pacing and too thin a story for such a running time consequently some scenes seemed as though they were going on longer than they should've done. However though, these problems are pretty trivial compared to the script, which to put it kindly was an awkward, cliché-driven mess.

Overall, neither good or bad, but very average and bland. 5/10 Bethany Cox

Three months ago I watched the animated movie that covers essentially the same story, that of the hot-shot, sometimes irresponsible American test pilot that gets recruited into the Green Latern Corps, the several thousand who each have a sector of the universe to protect.

Here we get real people telling the story. Ryan Reynolds is the focus as test pilot Hal Jordan. He is flying a test mission to help demonstrate the advantages of a new fighter plane when he pulls a very risky move and ends up destroying the plane. Soon after he is pulled into the presence of a dying Green Lantern, who tells him "the ring has chosen you." When he is transported to the secret location, in a far corner of the universe, he is met with much skepticism.

All the other green lanterns are from races much older than the human race, and they doubt that an Earthling human has what it takes. This of course provides the drama for Hal's quest to prove himself and become what our comic books refer to as the Green Lantern.

A large obstacle is the evil monster of sorts that is absorbing the energy of others and in the process growing more powerful. Unstopped it would destroy the universe as we know it. Hal needs to become the hero that stops the monster and in the process earning his status.

Good movie, I enjoyed it.

I saw this in the theater a thought it was really good (my introduction to the character). I really wanted to see Sinestro go bad in a sequel. Oh well,,,

Was it as good as it could've been,, well,, no, but what movie can you not say that about?!? That list is not long,,,

I thought Reynolds was great, as well as the rest of the cast. While I certainly wouldn't want to have derailed the Deadpool movies,, I really wish this had been more successful. I don't know why it wasn't,,, I mean the first Fantastic Four movie had a sequel,, and while I liked that one this was way better. Anyways,,,

Go watch it!!

This movie became a meme when it came out. Even using it for punch lines and promos for Deadpool. Its light hearted approach would fit perfectly into MCU (I know its DC) . The reason this movie really got slated on release is down to timing. We just had the Dark Knight in 2009 (I think) and in 2012 the Dark Knight rises. So that dark and serious Nolan style was all the rage. I remember complaints like its too cartoony. Not sure how else you can show the Lanterns power without it. Recent reviews with this being on Amazon are much better, averaging at 7 out of 10. Thats where I'd put it. Its better than a lot of the marvel stuff in recent years. Maybe DC will reboot it who knows.

I listened to the critics, and what a mistake! Ten years after the movie came out, watched it and liked it!