Director: Martin Campbell
Writers (screenplay): Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, Marc Guggenheim, Michael Goldenberg
Writers (screen story): Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, Marc Guggenheim
Running Time: 105 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12A
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
UK Release Date: 17th June 2011
Watched on Sky+ Friday 7th July 2012.
PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.
I must admit I knew very little about the Green Lantern before seeing this film; the TV series never made it across the pond to the UK. So I went into it having very few preconceptions, although I did know that it had been slammed by the critics. To be honest, I have to err on the side of the critics on this one; at best, it’s pretty poor despite some expensive-looking effects. I’ll tell you more after this very brief summary.
When pilot, Hal Jordan, is taken to a dying alien and given a mysterious green ring he little realises what awaits him. He has been chosen to join the ranks of an intergalactic peace-keeping force known as the Green Lanterns and there is a threat out there known as Parallax. Jordan is spurred on by fellow pilot, Carol Ferris, who has grown up with him and they have a very on-off relationship. Having been taken to the homeworld of the Green Lanterns and meeting their leader, Sinestro, Jordan doesn’t feel he has what it takes, but with Parallax approaching earth can he find the courage he needs?... Well, I guess I’ll leave it there or the Spoiler Police will have me sparring with Kilowog (again).
For a film the relied very heavily on effects I was quite disappointed they forgot to add a plot. At best it was messy and confusing and I felt quite sorry for the actors trying to cope with some truly awful dialogue. So I’ll give honourable mentions to; Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, Blake Lively as Carol Ferris, Peter Sarsgaard as Hector Hammond, Mark Strong as Sinestro, Tim Robbins as Hammond and Jay O. Sanders as Carl Ferris.
I could see that there was a decent story in there trying to get out but, for some reason, it never did. There was no mystery; how can you expect an audience to embrace a character or a story if its spoon fed to them at every turn. I could cite countless examples of films where half the fun of watching them is the things you don’t see; the pieces that are left to the imagination and that’s exactly what was missing here; imagination. Yes, it all looks fantastic, but it doesn’t make much sense and there is little else for the audience to cling onto. Over all; could have (& should have) been much better! (Forget 3D & concentrate on the plot… PLEASE!)... NOT RECOMMENDED.
My Score 4.1/10
IMDb Score: 5.9/10 (based on 96,176 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1133985/
MetaScore: 39/100: (Based on 39 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 27/100 (based on 224 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 47/100 ‘Liked It’ (based on 118,336 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/770677993/
If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3
FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Hal Jordan: [to his one-night stand] Sorry, I'm late. Help yourself, there's water from the tap!
[rushes off to work]
Hal Jordan: Now, pay attention...
[puts the ring on his finger and suits up]
Thomas Kalmaku: Whoa, green!
[both laugh]
Hal Jordan: I know, right?
Hal Jordan: A talking fish...
Tomar-Re: Actually, my race is Xudarian. Our DNA does some what resemble your own ichthyological species. I am Tomar-Re, protector of Sector 2613 and home to...
Hal Jordan: 80,012 galaxies, 2.34 million sentient species. How do I know that?
Tomar-Re: The induction process. It activates the ring's higher functions, including a working knowledge base. In truth, we were curious. The process has never been attempted on a species as young as humans before. As you are the first to be chosen, I've been sent to welcome you here.
Hal Jordan: And here is?
[Tomar-Re shows him an alien metropolis]
Tomar-Re: Welcome to Oa.
[Jordan makes a construct of a saber]
Sinestro: A sword. How human...
[an unconscious Carol levitates in the air]
Hector Hammond: Beautiful, isn't she?
Kilowog: The human. Ain't never seen one before.
[sniffs Hal, snorts]
Kilowog: You smell funny.
Hal Jordan: Ugh. I smell funny?
Kilowog: Yeah! I've heard about humans; think they're the centre of the universe. You wanna be a Lantern? You gotta commit to the Corps!
LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://greenlanternmovie.warnerbros.com/dvd/
Trailer:
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1 comment:
I think you nailed most of the bad things on the head about the movie, but I would have added Ryan Reynolds into that list. Not that he is a bad actor because he’s not; he’s just not a PG-13 kind of actor. He will be a good fit for Deadpool though. I agree that the movie plot was spoon fed to us, and it took a lot out of the movie. I never even bothered to see it in theaters because my coworkers at Dish told me I wouldn’t enjoy it, so I finally decided to watch it when I saw it on Cinemax’s page on Dish Online, and I am so glad that I didn’t pay to watch it.
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