Movie Preview: Green Lantern

By Michael Vass | November 18, 2010

Hollywood loves an idea someone else has made popular. They can’t wait to convert a book to a movie, or a television show. Better yet there is remaking an older film or cashing in on a new craze. The latest and most productive craze is of course comic book conversions.

So far all the major comic book characters have gotten a film. Even many of the secondary characters have gotten, or are about to get, a film made. The 3rd tier of comic book characters is now getting their chance. Leading that wave in 2011 is Green Lantern (followed shortly by Thor). It’s DC Comics attempt to make some of the money that Marvel is raking in.

Who is Green Lantern? Well the short version is a guy with a ring of alien technology that lets him telekinetically manipulate things with a colorful green energy glow. It’s hard to explain, but basically he is as powerful as his will is. Unless you happen to be wearing yellow – then he is powerless. Honest, his weakness is the color yellow.

Being a comic book fan I am well aware of Green Lantern. Never liked him much. Didn’t have many friends that liked him. Upon hearing about the movie being made, I doubted anyone would like it. But here is the trailer which hopes to change the mind of comic book fans and audiences in general.

So what do you think? A bit cheesy? A bit tounge in cheek? Lots of CGI effects to cover up weak action and a storyline that is forgetable?

All the above applies. But there is one really good thing about the film. So good that it makes the film potentially worth seeing. Ryan Reynolds.

Ryan Reynolds is a real sleeper of an actor. He is best known for his comedic roles (Van Wilder may be the best known), though Blade Trinity was a decent attempt at action. His portrayal of the (human version) of Deadpool was one of the best parts of the Wolverine movie.

Reynolds is a comic book fan. He is actively looking to make a real Deadpool movie – the Wolverine version was a mockery of the comic book character. He is a fan of Green Lantern. Therefore he is most likely to give this movie every chance it could ever have of success.

But one actor cannot make a movie. Lots of CGI effects can’t keep an audience distracted from boredom or (unintentional) silliness. A desire to bring a beloved 3rd tier character to life does not guarantee success.

The fact is that Green Lantern is a minor leading comic book character for a reason. The smaller fan base is not because there aren’t enough people reading and collecting comic books. The character, like most of the DC line-up, are inferior. Batman (an exception to the DC rule) would kick his ass and Spiderman is way cooler with less CGI and a much more geeky actor.

Given the choices coming up in 2011, like the horror that will be Green Hornet, and the abysmal prior failure of other 3rd tier comic book characters from DC (did anyone suffer through the Jonah Hex film?) Green Lantern might be the choice to make. But don’t expect to be very satisfied for the money.

I hate to say it, since I do enjoy the work of Ryan Reynolds (and I look forward to his version of Deadpool), but Green Lantern looks like another DC film that you are better off not seeing until it’s on cable.

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