What Do The Critics Say?

"It’s hard to dislike a movie that has shortcomings and still provides an enjoyable viewing experience. I even liked its use of 3-D, although those glasses are getting to be a pain. Reynolds's lighthearted persona enables the movie to explore what it’s like for a normal, flawed human being to become a superhero overnight and face a level of responsibility he’s always ducked. the film offers a dazzling array of visual effects, a likable hero, a beautiful leading lady, a colorful villain, and a good backstory." Leonard Maltin MOVIE CRAZY "Here's a comic book fantasy with a galaxy of special effects, a splendidly despicable villain in Peter Sarsgaard and heroics from the likeable Ryan Reynolds, who finds courage to overcome fear, win the girl and save the world. Sarsgaard is a knockout as the creepy professor Hector Hammond with a passion for extra terrestrial life and who becomes more and more monstrous." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE "Green Lantern has plenty of things working for it. An interesting hero, an engaging love interest, but the most important thing it’s got on its side? Well, I’ll be the first to admit, it was my low expectations. While Green Lantern isn’t breaking any boundaries, it’s a fun time at the movies and a solid contribution to the DC Universe. Even the cast, which I was initially apprehensive about, managed to pull it together long enough to make a movie that was entertaining, even if it was safe. Green Lantern provides just the right amount of distraction, entertainment, and fun." Calhoun Kersten THE SCORECARD REVIEW

"I must say that the beginning of this with a thousand years of history encapsulated into fifty seconds of voice over and I'm going, whoa. I've got to take all this in and then I thought, oh, well, it doesn't really matter how much I understand of this film. I'm just going to go along for the ride. Once again, I think the special effects are pretty spectacular and I thought, for once, there's a decent woman in there, in the Blake Lively character. And, Ryan Reynolds, I think he is a pretty face and that nice little body in green." Margaret Pomeranz ABC AT THE MOVIES "If your lady is charmed by Ryan Reynolds, and it’s hard not to be, then you could convince her to come along for the ride. The cocky charm of Ryan Reynolds and worthwhile 3D give this movie just enough magic. Just like Thor I thought they had a lot to pull off with this superhero. He’s tougher to explain. But Green Lantern had Reynolds, Thor didn’t." Jeff Bayer THE SCORECARD REVIEW "Awesome! Cool! Wicked! If that's all you need to know about the Green Lantern movie adaptation from DC Comics, this film is for you. Bulging with oversized special effects and enough CGI to create a whole universe: which is exactly what it does." Andrew L Urban URBAN CINEFILE The only reason you go to see a movie like this is the special effects and the fight scenes, right? It has both in spades and the 3D effects are good, too. The story is good enough and there is enough humor in it so that it doesn't get too serious. When you are dealing with such silly, outlandish material as this, the last thing you want to do is get serious. On a comic book level, this delivers the goods." Robert Roten LARAMIE MOVIE SCOPE

The Inside Story "In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight." Hal Jordan At the edge of space, a war has been raging between those who rule with fear, and those who protect life: the Green Lantern Corps. And when one great warrior is lost, another must be chosen. This time, for the first time, one of us, an earthling, will become one of them. "I was so thrilled to be bringing Green Lantern to the big screen at last," says 2007 Britannia Award winning director Martin Campbell (Artistic Excellence in Directing), "because, to me, he is one of the most exciting and interesting superheroes in all of comics. First off, he’s a human being, and has a lot of character flaws, so on that level, he’s totally relatable. But he also gets to go to other worlds, so his adventures have infinite potential." One of the things that has always set Green Lantern apart from most superheroes: and one of the elements that has made him so popular; is that, by the very nature of the Corps, his job takes him to the farthest reaches of space. "Superhero movies are meant to capture our imagination in some of the most impossible ways," says Ryan Reynolds, who will next be seen playing Mitch Planko in "The Change-Up". "To that end, Green Lantern is a perfect character to bring to the movies because he really has it all: action, adventure, humour and humanity." Producer Donald De Line ("Body of Lies") agress, "Going in, we were all very excited, knowing that today’s filmmaking technology would allow us to bring Green Lantern to the screen in a way that would showcase the fun, fighting and fantastical escapades in great detail and epic scope." Blake Lively, who played Bridgit in "The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants", offers: "We’ve got explosions and fights and trips to outer space and back, but I love that the movie also has a great sense of fun and a hint of romance about it. And the Corps should appeal to women, too; representing virtually every species of alien imaginable, it’s definitely not a men’s-only club." Audiences who are new to Green Lantern might not be aware that Hal Jordan is only one of a force of thousands, all of whom have the title of Green Lantern. Mark Strong, who starred as Hani in Body Of Lies, was drawn to the film’s thematic issues. "I’m intrigued by the notion of the balance between fear and will. This is a story about what you can achieve, and overcome, if you put your mind to it, and it’s told in a really dynamic, electrifying way." "I think people love to see characters who have the courage to go up against the forces of evil on a grand scale and not succumb, but become, that hero we all wish we had inside of us," 2004 Las Palmas Film Festival Best Actor Peter Sarsgaard ("Shattered Glass") notes. "I’ve wanted to write a superhero film for a very long time," "No Ordinary Family" creator and "Everwood" producer Greg Berlanti offered. "I grew up loving comic books. As a kid I found Green Lantern so thrilling because he’s one of the few who goes off-planet. He was plucked from here and brought amongst the stars to protect the Earth, so for me and my friends, he represented real wish fulfillment. Through those stories, we got to see the entire universe." "Let those who worship evil’s might, beware my power: Green Lantern’s light!" Hal Jordan These words complete the Green Lantern oath. The vow taken by each of the Lanterns in the cosmos who have sworn to serve and protect. Words that aficionados of the character have known by heart for years, and that moviegoers will hear for the very first time when they are spoken by new inductee, Hal Jordan. "The oath is extremely important," Campbell says. "It has always been part of Green Lantern lore." For the uninitiated, the oath, along with the lantern and ring, are the outward tools that provide a Green Lantern his powers; with them and with his own strength of will, he can create or do anything his mind can envision. The character goes back over 70 years, first appearing in All-American Comics in 1940, and evolving over time. The Green Lantern Corps is a federation assigned to police the 3,600 sectors in the universe, overseen by an ancient race of immortals called the Guardians, who reside on the planet Oa. Most Lanterns are aliens, but of the six Earthbound members in DC Comics’ history (Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, John Stewart, Kyle Raynor and Jade), Hal is arguably the most popular. In 1959, writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane created Hal Jordan under the guidance of then editor Julius 'Julie' Schwartz (1996 posthumous Jack Kirby Hall of Fame inductee), reintroducing the character of Green Lantern to the world in Showcase #22, and earning their own title, "Green Lantern", the following year. Unlike his more mystically bent predecessor, this new Green Lantern was a little more 'sci-fi' as a member of an intergalactic police force comprised of numerous alien species, each with a ring that gave them extraordinary mental and physical abilities. Broome and Kane also created several of the main characters in Hal’s life who appear in the film, including Carol Ferris and Tom Kalmaku, and some of Hal's family members. After many years away from the Corps, Hal was brought back in 2005 by DC Comics current Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan van Sciver ("Flash: Rebirth"), in the miniseries "Green Lantern: Rebirth" and in the subsequent ongoing title. Their work reignited an interest in the comic that had been missing for some time, and garnered them both critical and commerical success. "Prior to Green Lantern: Rebirth, Hal Jordan was actually dead and buried and the Green Lantern Corps was no more. There was only one ring left," Johns explained. "When I took on the book, I really wanted to bring back the epic tales of Green Lantern and the Corps, and their role in the greater DC universe at large." As the readership grew, Johns decided to go back and tell Hal’s story "from an emotional point of view, and in a modern-day context." The result was 2008’s publication "Green Lantern: Secret Origin". "I created a storyline for new readers that related what made Hal who he is and how he became a member of the Corps." At the same time that Johns was penning Origin, the filmmakers were developing the motion picture, with his previous writings providing a good deal of inspiration. "Our film is the Hal Jordan origin story," De Line ("I Love You, Man") says. "In telling it, we wanted to be faithful and true to the spirit and the canon of Green Lantern, and Geoff’s body of work provided an ideal place to start." Just starting at the beginning, however, was not the only task at hand for the screenwriters. "He’s the first superhero I can remember, and he always remained a cool and provocative character for me," Marc Guggenheim ("Law & Order") says. "I couldn’t wait to bring his story to the screen." "What I find so unique about Green Lantern is that his abilities ultimately depend on the power of his imagination," Michael Goldenberg says. "Maybe it’s because I’m a writer, but there’s just something incredibly attractive about that." Something else the writers found enticing about the project was the copious amount of research it required. Crafting the screenplay, meant the writers had to delve into decades’ worth of adventures. Michael Green enthusiastically notes there was a benefit. "The most fun homework you could ever have. Sitting around reading comics all day." Just as Hal Jordan is chosen as the first human to wear the ring, 2011 ShoWest Male Star of the Year Award winner Ryan Reynolds, as the first actor to bring Green Lantern to the big screen, knew he’d have an entire legion of fans looking to him to live up to the oath. He didn’t let the parallels get to him as he relished playing the dual role of irreverent, high-flying Hal Jordan and his superhero in training counterpart. "What I love about Hal is that there’s nothing extra-ordinary about the guy. Of course, he’s not necessarily your average human being, in terms of what he does for a living, but for the most part, he’s not an exceptional example of his species. He’s just a guy, and a fairly irresponsible one at that, though there are, of course, reasons for his reckless behavior." Though Hal may wonder why the ring chose him, 'Why him?' was never a question the filmmakers asked themselves in casting Reynolds for the part. "Ryan is a superb actor," Campbell (who directed Mel Gibson in the 2010 thriller "Edge of Darkness") says. "He also physically looks the part, is charming, funny, and has a great sense of decency. Ryan did it all; his performance really sets the tone for the movie." "Hal is kind of a man-child," De Line ("The Italian Job") observes. "In a lot of ways, he’s never really grown up. So he has a lot to overcome if he’s to get past those childhood fears and be the hero that everyone needs him to be. Ryan played all of those layers so well. You really feel what Hal is going through, and how it’s affecting him, at every moment." If Hal’s new identity as Green Lantern comes as a surprise to him, it’s a complete shock to his lifelong friend, fellow Test Pilot and sometime lover, Carol Ferris. Blake Lively (Krista Coughlin in "The Town"), who plays Ferris, offers: "Carol and Hal have an interesting dynamic, and Ryan and I had that same sort of playful banter." "Blake and Ryan had great chemistry right off the bat," De Line confirmed. "They really hit it off and I think that translated nicely onto the screen, whether the characters are in the heat of passion or the heat of battle." Campbell asserts, "Carol is the alpha female in the film, and she really helps to enrich the story’s emotional spine. She’s strong and capable and responsible. And Blake truly combined all those qualities in a completely natural way. She was just great." The third wheel in Hal and Carol's on and off-again relationship is Hector Hammond, played by the 2004 Stockholm Film Festival's Best Actor, Peter Sarsgaard ("Garden State" which also starred Natalie Portman & Zach Braff). Sarsgaard, found the different facets of his character to be intriguing. "I was very interested in the world and in terms of the character, it was like, 'choose your adventure'. I immediately felt that there were at least fifty different ways that I could play this guy, and to me, that’s really motivating." The highly watchable Mark Strong was cast as Thaal Sinestro, the leader of the Green Lantern Corps. Mourning the loss of fallen Lantern Abin Sur, he has doubts about Hal. "He’s a very hard task master, but it’s all done for the right reasons; he’s totally committed to the cause," 2005 Broadcasting Press Guild Best Actor Award winner Strong ("The Long Firm") notes. "He genuinely believes in the Corps and that they can keep peace in the universe." "Mark Strong brought so much gravitas to the role of Sinestro," De Line notes. "Every time the camera rolled, he had great presence and commanded total attention and respect, which is precisely what was called for." 2004 Oscar winner Tim Robbins (who plays the dodgy Senator Robert Hammond) says: "Growing up, my favorite comic book was The Flash, but I did love Green Lantern, and I’ve gotten more and more into him over the years." What's It All About?

In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, an elite, powerful force has existed for centuries: the Green Lantern Corps. Warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him the ability to create anything his mind can imagine. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and that of the Earth, lies in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected. Hal Jordan may be a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal’s humanity is one weapon no member of the Corps has ever had. If he can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be the key to defeating Parallax. The ring chose Hal Jordan; and the ring is never wrong.

The Verdict "I can hear the moans, growns and I know what you're thinking. 'What! Not another comic book hero bigscreener?' Or, 'Geez, where do they keep digging them up from. Come-on, give me a break, please.' But never fear, because I bring good tidings from planet Oa, headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps. This latest DC Comics conversion, in both 3D and 2D, is pretty good stuff: especially if you are (1) a comic book fan; (2) love a good yarn and (3), are a big fan of Ryan Reynolds. Ring the bell! That's three out of three for me. After seeing Ryan Reynolds in films such as "Buried", "The Proposal", "Definitely, Maybe" and "Van Wilder: Party Liaison", I'm guessing he has plenty of fans. Thankfully he's not the only cast member who has a big fan base. There's 2004 Oscar winner Tim Robbins ("Mystic River") playing a Senator (and we all know where that can lead to); the gorgeous Blake Lively who played Bridget Vreeland in "The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants" 1 & 2 and plays Serena Van Der Woodsen TV'S "Gossip Girl"; the multi-talented and awarded Peter Sarsgaard ("Kinsey") playing a mentally disturbed Professor whose field is, xenobiology; and then there's the highly watchable British actor who was born Marco Giuseppe Salussolia but we know as Mark Strong, whose credits include: "Sunshine", "Syriana", Danny Boyle's "Sunshine", "RocknRolla", "The Young Victoria" and "Kick-Ass". Strong is cast as Sinestro, who also plays a big part in will be this films sequel. There are two very popular actor you won't see, unfortunately: but you will recognize their voices. Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush ("Shine") voices Tomar-Re, the Corps member who greets Hal upon his arrival on Oa. 2000 Black Reel Award winner Michael Clarke Duncan ("The Green Mile") voices Kilowog, Hal’s combat training officer. Both characters were computer generated, based on motion capture performances by stuntmen Dorian Kingi ("The Green Hornet") and Spencer Wilding (who doubled for Benicio del Toro in "The Wolfman"). There's plenty of reasons to see "Green Lantern" so don't let the critics put you off. If you're not sure, at the least, go see it in 2D on Super Tuesday. And please, don't get up from your seat when the film finishes. Why? Because just after the credits get going, there's a sneak peek at the sequel. Plenty of action; loads of laughs; good cast and excellent SFX/CGI effects. 4 STARS." Who Is Playing Who?

Ryan Reynolds Gattlin Griffith Blake Lively Jenna Craig Peter Sarsgaard Mark Strong Tim Robbins Jay O Sanders Taika Waititi Angela Bassett Mike Doyle Nick Jandl Dylan James Jon Tenney Leanne Cochran Temuera Morrison Jeff Wolfe

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Hal Jordan/Green Lantern Young Hal Carol Ferris Young Carol Hector Hammond Sinestro Hammond Carl Ferris Tom Kalmaku Doctor Waller Jack Jordan Jim Jordan Jason Jordan Martin Jordan Janice Jordan Abin Sur Bob Banks

The Production Team Directed by Martin Campbell Screenplay by Greg Berlanti/Michael Green/Marc Guggenheim/Michael Goldenberg Screen Story by Greg Berlanti/Michael Green/Marc Guggenheim Produced by Greg Berlanti & Donald De Line Original Music by James Newton Howard Director of Photography Dion Beebe Film Editing by Stuart Baird Casting by Pam Dixon Production Design by Grant Major Art Direction by Carl Horner/Andrew L. Jones/Iain McFadyen/Scott Plauche Set Decoration by Anne Kuljian Costume Design by Ngila Dickson Run Time 114 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2011 - Warner Bros Films - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2011 - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian & International Copyright, Trademark Laws & Intellectual Property Rights.