Published: October 07, 2011
Green Lantern DVD Review
By Kam Williams 
Adaptation of DC Comics Series Arrives on DVD
Ryan Reynolds fans undoubtedly recall that he's previously played a caped crusader, Captain Excellent, in Paper Man, as well as a villain, Deadpool, in Wolverine. Obviously, both roles left him well-prepared to assume the lead in Green Lantern, where he rises to the occasion with perfect aplomb.
Directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale), this classic origins adventure is designed to function as a detailed introduction to both the title character and his alter ego, Hal Jordan. At the point of departure, we find the ladies man leaving late for his job as a test pilot for Ferris Aircraft.
He bids the woman he's just shared a one-night stand with farewell by saying, "Make yourself at home. There's water in the tap." What a charmer.
After a training exercise goes terribly wrong at work, slacker Hal finds himself unfavorably compared, as usual, to his colleague/love interest, Carol Ferris (Blake Lively). However, his ineptitude doesn't discourage a dying alien (Temeura Morrison) from a world away who crash lands on Earth from picking him as the first human to ever be inducted in the Green Lantern Corps.
Hal is summarily whisked away to the planet Oa where he is given an appropriately-verdant stretchy jumpsuit and a matching mask before being whipped into fighting shape by a burly beast named Kilowog (Michael Clarke Duncan). He learns that when he's incarnated as the Green Lantern, he can turn whatever he thinks into reality by sheer force of will.
Aimed at the 'tweener demo, the picture's simplistically-scripted storyline pits good as embodied by the Guardians of the Universe (The Green Lantern Corps) versus evil in the persons of diabolical Parallax (Clancy Brown) up on Oa, and Dr. Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard) down on this planet.
The CGI-driven, intergalactic goings-on in outer space are decidedly cartoonish, especially in contrast to the relatively-realistic action transpiring down here. Fortunately, Ryan Reynolds' combination of suave self-assuredness, seasoned comic timing and old-fashioned ability to kick butt outweigh this technical flaw to make for a satisfying cinematic experience warranting a sequel.
Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG-13 for intense sci-fi violence.
Running time: 114 Minutes
Distributor: Warner Home Video
Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Extras: Theatrical film, extended cut, maximum movie mode with picture-in-picture pods, "The Universe According to Green Lantern," "Ryan Reynolds Becomes Green Lantern," "Justice League #1" digital comic, additional scenes, preview of "Green Lantern: The Animated Series," BD-Live and an UltraViolet Digital Copy.
To see a trailer for Green Lantern, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NWGl_A3b60
To order a copy of the Green Lantern Blu-ray/DVD combo Pack,
B005I64U5C
Kam Williams is a syndicated film and book critic who writes for 100+ publications. He is a member of the New York Film Critics Online, the African-American Film Critics Association, and the NAACP Image Awards Nominating Committee. Contact him through NewsBlaze.
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