What The Hal? Mini Review of Green Lantern

I’m gonna start this ‘mini review’ by saying I liked this movie…a lot.  However, there’s a few things that don’t sit right with me.

I haven’t read much of the Green Lantern comic series but know a little of the back story of Parallax, Sinestro etc so my critique won’t be that of the fanboy nature of the avid comic fan but that of an observer of the overall superhero lore.

This will contain some spoilers so stop reading now.

So, Hal Jordan is dragged by the power of the ring to Abin Sur, who then passes on the power of the ring to him.  Now, this is my first issue – Hal seems to take the news rather well and is in no way freaked out by the fact a red alienin a green glowing suit who has crash landed on Earth has dropped this bombshell on him.

Subsequently, Hal’s best friend and love interest also discover the fact he’s a member of the Lantern Corps and THEY take it well also.  Have they met aliens also and they’re de-sensitized to something that would freak the average human out?

Then, you have the scene where Hector Hammond is being restrained in the science labs and as he’s tearing the place up Hal, somehow, knows to smash through the wall when there’s no precursor in the movie to indicate he can locate trouble like Spider-Man can using his “Spidey Sense“.

Most superhero movies have a bit more depth to them such as Spider-Man when Peter Parker learns of his abilities – he gets off to a bit of a weak start as he grasps his potential but he has an inner struggle basedon the whole “with great power comes great responsibility”.  Then you have Bruce Wayne‘s endless torment – but if you look at Batman begins, he takes a while to establish an identity and also the power and will to take up the challenge he set himself.

Fair enough, Hal Jordan was bestowed powers by the ring, but there is no sense of inner struggle or that ‘honeymoon period’ where he needs to embrace and improve his abilities apart from a short scene with Kilowog during Hal’s short induction and the brief tussle with Sinestro.

For me, the film was good but after it I felt a tad deflated as it could have been built up so much more by giving Hal more depth and making a fantastical movie an edge of reality.  Now that I think of it, I should be really disappointed with the flick as the battle with Parallax was short-lived and instead of a punchy, high-octane action movie it felt more like a punch your way out of a wet paper bag mini game.

A guilty pleasure you could call it as there is something that made me like it, but when I break it down based on my perceived flaws, I don’t know why…obviously the hardcore Green Lantern fans will no doubt have more criticisms and a basis of opinion I cannot establish until I read the series – whether you’re a fanboy of Hal’s lore or more of an observer such as myself, share your views in the comments and tell me what you think.