Green Lantern - 2011

Warner Brothers / DC Media - 2011

Directed by Martin Campbell

Cast:

• Hal Jordan / Green Lantern – Ryan Reynolds
• Carol Ferris – Blake Lively
• Hector Hammond – Peter Sarsgaard
• Sinestro – Mark Strong
• Hammond – Tim Robbins
• Carl Ferris – Jay O. Sanders
• Tom Kalmaku – Taika Waititi
• Doctor Waller – Angela Bassett
• Abin Sur – Temura Morrison
• Tomar Re – Geoffrey Rush
• Kilowag – Michael Clarke Duncan
• Parallax – Clancy Brown

Story: DC Comics character Green Lantern comes to the screen. Hal Jordan, a rash, impetuous test pilot, is chosen by the ring of Abin Sur, a mortally wounded Green Lantern who sends his ring to Earth to find his replacement. Jordan becomes a member of the intergalactic peace keeping force known as the Green Lantern Force, a collection of 3,600 chosen by the Guardians to defend the universe. He is taken by the ring to the planet OAH, where the guardians and Lanterns initiate and train him, and decides his responsibilities are too great to handle. When he returns to Earth, situations force him to accept his responsibilities, and he rejoins the Green Lantern force and defeats the evil Parallax. At the end of the credits, the current leader of the Green Lanterns (Sinestro, played by Mark Strong) dons an evil yellow ring, leaving us with the premise for the next film.

Review: Ryan Reynolds seems to making a career of Comic Books, with his former appearances in Blade and X-Men: Origins, he now crosses over to the DC Universe to portray the legendary Green Lantern, the latest of DC's heroes to adorn the screen. And he does it with flair and maturity, bringing a fresh face to the character and losing the flippant, bad boy image his previous characters have shown. His co-star, Blake Lively, is as fresh and sincere in her role as is Reynolds, and it is a delight to see such character actors as Jay O. Sanders, Tim Robbins, and Angela Bassett in the film. Geoffrey Rush, who also provides the narration at the beginning of the film, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Clancy Brown also add their particular talents to the film. The special effects are impeccable, the photography exceptional, and given the lists of animators and other special effects personnel in the credits, the producers spared no expense in creating this film. A delight for all ages, and a treat for all of us comic book kids.