Movie Review :The Green Lantern (2011)

O Green Lantern team! How you have squandered the budget that was so generously made available you and in an economic downturn to boot. Had the cash been charred in a tragic fire instead of being blown up on this, the world would be in the exact same state. Excluding the heartburn of the producers who threw money at this venture, the film makes nary an impression on anyone.

I must rewrite the story after referring Wikipedia since I have already forgotten it. While, I wouldn’t want to ruin this expensively mounted project for you, simply put, there’s a giant, smoke-octopus that induces fear in good people and eats them. So ‘The Chosen One’ Hal Jordan must fly his aeroplane, help Carol Ferris sell the plane, think back upon his life and kill the octopus by luring it into the sun. And then every body across the universe wants to be his friend. Well, it may be not as bad as that but does feel like it.

Ryan Reynolds is not a big enough star to carry the weight of this mega-production on his shoulders. He smirks, rolls his eyes, acts macho, mouths unmemorable lines and generally behaves like he is in a Top Gun themed sitcom.

Blake Lively is comparatively more comfortable in her role as a test pilot turned businesswoman. 

Peter Sarsgaard was intense and made me feel like he was in a different movie from all the other characters.

Tim Robbins and Angela Bassett are clearly feeling the pinch of the recession having signed on for the pay cheque only.

The visual effects are lovingly rendered – barring the octopus. The travel across the galaxies was fun. The gadgets and aircraft look cool. The octopus, however, is a laugh. It’s just some gas with beady eyes……er smoke, fiery rage in threatening dark cloud format.

It is truly puzzling as to why studios are unable to take a brand that has lasted 60+ years in a visual form, albeit amidst a niche audience, and make a sufficiently exciting popcorn adventure movie.

If I had a penny for every time the death of Bruce Wayne’s parents was rehashed in ANY medium….er I’d have 50 pennies or more. But that’s not my point. Bruce Wayne entertains across comics, movies, TV and video games. That’s not due to the fan relating to a guilt ridden millionaire who plays with expensive toys and has a butler for taking care of his chores. Batman simply works (most of the time anyway) due to smart writing that creates innumerable, interesting variants of the same tale - across media. An exercise that the owners of the Green Lantern brand cruelly compromised on with this movie.

A sequel is unlikely. 10 years down the line, expect a ‘reboot’. The reboot could even take place next year though. No one will remember this one anyway.

Can watch if you have medium-low expectations.