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Unseen Movie Review: Green Lantern

By Rob Dixter Jun 17, 2011, 12:44 GMT

The film will focus on the most famous incarnation of \'Green Lantern,\' Hal Jordan. Created by John Broome and Gil Kane, Jordan is a test pilot who discovers a downed alien craft. The dying alien charges him with protecting a sector of the universe. He is given a power ring, which gives him great power over the physical universe but relies on the wearer having the will power to wield ...more

I’ve been saying it for more years than Gunsmoke ran on TV, why isn’t Ryan Reynolds a bigger star? He has a stellar wit, can do comedy and drama and he’s easier on the eyes than Rip Torn’s mug shot. Over the past few years he’s done ok in ok movies until he hit the big time with The Proposal.

Now it looks like he’s finally cashing in with Green Lantern, except in recent comic book movies the clout that comes with a successful film has been attributed mostly to the subject matter and the director. So if Green Lantern succeeds Ryan might not get a lot more upper hand in Hollywood.

This is too bad because the guy should really be getting first crack at Hollywood starlets under the age of 30 and most movies in development especially comedies.

Green Lantern also stars Blake Lively as Carol Ferris. Talk about stepping into a lucky pile of cow poop. Blake has done ok in films and has been on a buzzworthy television show that doesn’t really translate beyond its intended teen audience (this is a nice way of saying it doesn’t pull big ratings).

Green Lantern will be Blake’s biggest production yet, aside from her recently dating Leonardo DiCaprio. In case you’ve been living under a rock recently or don’t read tabloid magazines and blogs, Leo and Blake have started a whirlwind romance and were recently seen at Disneyland together. And here I thought Leo just took all his dates to his place (hey baby, wanna go down on the real Titanic?).

I actually feel bad for Blake. She seems like a nice girl who dabbles in self photography and then she meets a big star and before she can decide if she even likes this guy or if she wants to get to second base with him, her entire relationship and every move is plastered on the cover of every magazine and facebook page.

The real reason to see Green Lantern is because it’s directed by Martin Campbell. Martin is the genius who reinvented the Bond franchise twice. He launched Pierce Brosnan’s Bond with Goldeneye and then did it again (in what I think is the best Bond film of the past forty years) with Daniel Craig in Casino Royale.

Campbell understands how to choreograph action without losing site of the bigger story. He can create thrills and knows how to move the camera to make you feel as though you’re a part of the fun. I’m not a big fan of the recent 3D invasion (have you seen Clash of the Titans in 3D?) but I am kind of curious how Martin would approach using the technique.

There are some people out there who have not heard of Green Lantern. These people mostly do not live in their mother’s basement and have managed to date steadily for the past three years. Green Lantern might not be a household name like Superman or Batman but he has been around since 1940 in different variations.

Even if you are not familiar with the character because you’ve been doing other things like playing outside instead of reading comics the Warner Bros marketing machine has done a great job of having the character pop up everywhere. I can’t even buy a Subway on my Jared diet without seeing the green glow from his ring.

So far this summer the comic book movie craze has had a decent batting average. Thor and X-Men: First Class have both received very good reviews and steady box office. I think with Martin Campbell holding the reins and Ryan Reynolds in the starring role that trend should continue.

They can have my $17 (if I see it in 3D) this weekend as long as I don’t have to hear about what Leo and Blake did after dinner last night in the backseat of Lukas Haas’ Honda.

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