Let's just say you're Martin Campbell. Forget everything for a second and just listen. You're Martin Campbell, director of Goldeneye, The Mask Of Zorro and Casino Royale. Your reputation as an action director is such that a studio hands you a second-tier comic book hero that they hope to turn into a multi-million dollar franchise. So, you accept the job, research the source material and do your best to bring to life what the fans want; their beloved super-hero up there on the silver screen. But you refuse to alter the comic in any way. "The creatures, the set-pieces, the characters must all be the same", you think.
Now, Mr. Campbell, slap yourself.
Campbell's Green Lantern is a mess. Forgetting the fact that not everything that works in a graphic novel will work on screen, from start to finish this epic sci-fi is full of bizarre moments and unintentionally hilarious set-pieces. The story is pretty much identical to it's printed predecessor; a cocksure US test pilot, Hal Jordan, is entrusted with the most powerful weapon in the universe (the Lantern ring) and flown to the Planet Oa, where he is sworn in as the newest member of the Green Lantern Corps; an intergalactic police force of sorts. Once in, Jordan is told his world is in danger from a prehistoric evil, the Parallax, which threatens to consume Planet Earth, followed by the Corps own home planet, Oa. So using his new found weaponry, Jordan must defeat his fears and muster the courage to fight this gigantic enemy (also to save his on-off love interest, Carol Ferris; played by Blake Lively).
Besides the hackneyed direction, Green Lantern's deepest flaw lies in it's pacing. The story that plays out is your basic heroic origin story. But as Lantern is a little known hero, the audience may need a little more explanation as to the events unfolding in front of them. The film starts with a quick narration from Geoffrey Rush (who plays Corps trainer, Tomar-Re), explaining the founding of the Corps and how they came to be so powerful. Literally, after 3 minutes, we're whisked to Earth. Ryan Reynold's Hal gets a quick introduction before we're whisked away yet again to Planet Oa. This particular cut is jarring, as if you've not read the comics, you're likely not going to have a fucking clue whats going on. Finally, after 30-40 minutes in, Jordan has the ring and returns to earth, just in time to use his new powers to kick some ass, correct? Incorrect. What follows is a solid 25 minutes of absolutely nothing. Information is explained that we already gathered ourselves. Characters give each other 'inspiring' speeches (much to the chagrin of the audience). In essence, a very large piece of Green Lantern is incredibly boring.
Reynolds gives it his all, and is a good choice for the titular character, but after awhile you won't care either way. The dialogue for the actor's character is witty remark upon witty remark. If what makes us love everyday heroes is because we can relate to them; no one will love Hal Jordan. He's too much of a...character, basically.
I don't know if I can handle spewing such negativity all over the film, as I was hoping for DC's latest adaptation to be the blockbuster of the summer. But it angers me to say, Green Lantern is a massive, massive missed opportunity. There are too many wrongs, with only one or two rights. If you're a huge fan of the series, check it out, if only to see Sinestro, Hal Jordan, Kilowog, etc, up on screen, but otherwise, just avoid it.
