Review: Green Lantern

Last night I finally got around to watching last year's superhero misfire, Green Lantern.

By TV's glow
In darkest room
We watched green stuff make things go boom
Let those who greenlit stinky fumes
Beware our censure
Box office doom!

Green Lantern wasn't all bad. The leads all filled their roles capably, particularly Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, the titular hero. The cinematography was crisp and appealing. And one scene between Reynold's Lantern and his girlfriend, Carol Ferris (Blake Lively) cleverly sends up one of the most enduring superhero tropes, that of the secret identity. (Referring to Green Lantern's domino mask: "How did you know it was me?" "Hal, I've known you all my life. Did you think I wouldn't recognize you because I can't see your cheekbones?")

Ultimately, though, the film falls flat. The screenplay is simply too rote to help us care about the hero's journey, especially when his girlfriend proves herself smarter, braver and more capable at several points throughout the film; one wonders why the ring chose Hal Jordan instead of Carol Ferris.

Still, I wouldn't mind a sequel using the same setting and cast, but supported by a superior script. The Green Lantern mythology is rich in space adventure and character drama, and deserves a better cinematic adaptation.