Green Lantern - Basically Convoluted and Derivative

If there were no comic book-based films like "Superman", "Spider-Man", "Iron Man" and" X-Men", this cinema rendition of "Green Lantern" would easily have wowed audiences.

Alas, having so many superhero fantasies that have been so well fleshed out on the screen before, this one looks sloppily-done and derivative. And with its convoluted background mythology that the film-makers seem to be throwing at us instead of allowing us to 'experience' it, we are left feeling detached about the whole Green Lantern stuff. And maybe feeling a little deja vu...

Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) is a cocky test pilot who's still haunted by the death of his father in an aircraft accident. After his latest stunt gets him grounded, Hal finds himself enveloped by a strange green light which takes him to a wrecked spaceship where a dying alien (Temuera Morrison as Abin Sur) passes him a ring and tells him that he has been 'chosen' to join an inter-planetary peace-keeping force known as the Green Lantern Corps. The ring enables him to create anything his mind can imagine.

Meanwhile, an evil entity known as Parallax is planning to destroy the Earth and when scientist Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard) becomes infected with Parallax's powers, he goes after Hal's partner, test pilot Carol Ferris (Blake Lively). Thus Hal is burdened with the tasks of saving the universe, the world - and his girlfriend.

• Prometheus - Great premise - disappointing execution
• Max Steel - As cliché as it could be

Green Lantern

Although Reynolds (who was picked for the role over Sam Worthington ad Chris Pine) provides the requisite brash personality and glib jokes as Hal Jordan, he can't shake off his own Ryan Reynolds-ness to be the conflicted superhero, Green Lantern.

Thus the sequences of his Green Lantern at the 'summit conference' at Oa with Sinestro (Mark Strong) look badly contrived and phony. For me, the best parts of the movie are when Hal/Green Lantern interacts with Lively's Carol. At the media screening I attended, the loudest laugh was when Carol recognises Hal in his silly green mask. Indeed, Lively provides more than just eye-candy as Hal's sexy girlfriend and daughter of his 'boss' (Jay O. Sanders), she is the center of attraction whenever she appears.

Sarsgaard can be compelling as the accidental and tragic villain - and he even manages to convey his feelings through his Elephant Man make-up. Tim Robbins has a cameo as Senator Hammond, Hector's domineering father, while Angela Bassett plays a (forgettable) doctor.

As far as action set pieces go, there are a few mayhem sequences - but none to beat those of "Fast Five" and "Transformers". The 3D effects are just serviceable, not spectacular. Basically, "Green Lantern" is just another summer cinema fodder. (limchangmoh.blogspot.com)