Okay, first things first. I don't like watching films in 3D and the Green Lantern isn't particularly a preferred superhero of mine. Having said that I won't look forward to a second installment of this franchise but won't mind watching it just for the heck of it, but I still don't think highly of 3D.
Green Lantern Story
Martin Campbell, the man who successfully overhauled the James Bond franchise on two occasions (Golden Eye and Casino Royale) looked like the perfect choice to direct Green Lantern but even with an estimated budget of over $150 million this film has precious little to offer. Ryan Reynolds plays Hal Jordan, a test pilot par excellence who comes in contact with a green ring that imparts great powers and makes him a superhero that no evil can escape.
Reynolds brings a certain level of impish charm to the Jordan / Green Lantern character but unlike an Ironman where the script concentrated on exploring Tony Stark more than anything else, Green Lantern wastes fool proofing everything to the level of boredom. The 'yellow energy of fear', the 'emerald energy of willpower' and other such there is a lot of mumbo-jumbo that one expects in a film based on a comic book character but all this talk doesn't really add anything great to the proceedings.
While Jordan tries to figure out what to do with his new mean green steak, far away in the universe in a place called Sector 2814, where millions of years before the Earth was formed The Guardians of the Universe created an evil fighting force called Green Lantern Corps, there is commotion. Their meanest fighter Abin Sur (Temuera Morrison), the one who died and his ring chose Jordan, was killed by Parallax, a former Lantern, who now wants to destroy all the sectors of the universe. The ring, which never makes a mistake in choosing its bearer, bestows Jordan with superhuman powers and works on the premise that if not fearless or responsible, he has it in him to transform; this process of self-realization is only fleetingly explored. It looks as if Reynolds and his leading man good looks are doing the ring a favor and Jordan never really bothers beyond a point. Finally Jordan finds his calling and urges Sinestro (Mark Strong), a Lantern to help him fight Parallax. But Sinestro refuses him as he believes that no human can defeat the bearer of the yellow energy of fear. Finally when Jordan proves him wrong Sinestro, accepts him into the brotherhood.
Final Words on Green Lantern
There is a lot of back-story that Campbell tries to pack in but the manner in which it unfolds doesn't make you want to know more. You are interested in seeing the hero overcome his fears but Reynolds is so self-satisfied that he suddenly decides its time and everything falls into place. Green Lantern is one of the very few superhero tales where the power is shared by a bunch of people and rest assured there will a couple of more sequels where, hopefully, far more interesting sidekicks and partners in crime will fill the screen time.
And also that viewing a film in 3D would become a better experience! There is no denying that more and more films would be released in 3D but something needs to be done about the manner in which the audience is forced to watch it.
Green Lantern Rating: 2/5
Green Lantern Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett, Tim Robbins
Green Lantern Story by: Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, Marc Guggenheim and Michael Goldenberg
Green Lantern Directed by: Martin Campbell
I am a Delhi-based author who writes for Buzzintown.com as part of Buzz Bureau team, while I also wear the hat of a documentary film maker. To know about Telugu Movies Mumbai or English movies Mumbai please visit movies.Buzzintown.com
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