Green Lantern

“Green Lantern” stars Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Mark Strong, Peter Sarsgaard and Tim Robbins. This is a science fiction film made by Warner Bros and is based on the ‘40’s comic book hero in “DC” comics. The film is Warner Bros. hope for a film franchise a la “Pirates” or “Harry Potter” but, alas, their hopes will not be realized. This is a movie trying to decide whether it will be camp or real but it can’t be both and, to that end, it fails dismally. You know a picture is weak, despite its team of 4 writers when the biggest line Reynolds delivers is “I’ve got to go now and look for trouble”. Wow. Reynolds himself, a pretty face in a he-man’s role just doesn’t quite fit the bill. As a participant bringing about the original “Batman” TV series, I can tell you that what made that show work is that it never took itself too seriously and everyone enjoyed spoofing the original entity. Here, most of the movie tries to explain the complicated powers of the possessor of the Green Lantern and his ring and it just doesn’t work. I saw the film In a two dimensional showing and the special effects were indeed impressive. I would imagine that the 3D version is much more entertaining. But special effects do not a good film make and this is certainly true of this picture. I’m afraid that the only “green” the filmmakers will see from this film is the word in the title. Bad choice for a film based on a comic book hero who, even in that genre, was nothing to hold a candle too, let alone a lantern. I give the film one and ½ stars for in summary, it is just plain silly and a waste of the audience’s time and lots of studio money.