Green Lantern

UK Release Date: 17th June 2011

Reckless test pilot Hal Jordan is granted an alien ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers that inducts him into an intergalactic police force, the Green Lantern Corps (www.imdb.com).

Director: Martin Campbell (Goldeneye, The Mask of Zorro, Casino Royale)

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Tim Robbins, Taika Waititi

Green Lantern deserves some credit. It tries, and it tries hard. Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) has his work cut out for him, his Green Lantern's completely outs-muscled by DC favourites Batman and Superman. He's chosen by the universe's greatest to represent Earth, tackling a bulbous headed professor (Peter Sarsgaard), a giant tentacle-looking creature, a romance with fellow pilot Blake Lively and some been-there-done-that daddy issues. This film only dapples in its plot points, but none quite gel. Harder to believe is Hal left on his Lal to save the world. TGL's leader Sinestro (Mark Strong) and his buddies are left out of what could have been an epic showdown. 

Some good scenes are amongst the mundane, and the CGI is terrific. Hal Jordan though, promptly suffers, left without an audience to care for him. The Green Lantern is good, but never coming out its superhero origin, romance, showdown-with-villain formula.

3/5