Green Lantern: First Flight
Review by Jason Gaston
After the rousing entertaining Wonder Woman animated movie, I just about fell out of my seat when I learned that Green Lantern, my favorite superhero, was up next to the drawing board. How fun! Hal Jordan was finally going to make his small-screen debut as a space cop with a ring that can do anything his imagination wants. How is it possible to screw this up.
It's possible. Dear god, it's possible.
Serving
as an origin story to the emerald ring-slinger, Green Lantern:
First Flight follows test pilot Hal Jordan as he receives a
powerful ring from a dying alien. This ring is a weapon, you
see, and with it Hal becomes a member of the Green Lantern corps, an
intergalactic police force that brings order to the galaxy.
Green Lantern: First Flight is a dull and plodding story with voice talents that sound almost as bored as those of us watching our hero go down in flames. Unlike previous DC animations, Green Lantern never seems to connect with what makes the character unique and, what's worse, if you're even the little bit familiar with the mythos behind the comic book or have watched any episodes of Superfriends or Justice League, there's is absolutely nothing in this story - other than a surprise turncoat - that will shock you. It all happens the way it's laid out to happen almost like you're watching a redo of Goldilocks and the Three Bears with nothing put in to spice up the story.
The movie is a little strange as it lacks any real wonder and awe - even Hal takes getting an alien ring pretty much in stride with eating Corn Flakes and taking a wizz - and the movie rarely rises above Saturday morning cartoon show plots while rattling off a mild profanity every now and then.
While a disappointment, I guess the movie itself isn't terrible but when you're confronted with a character and mythology so rich that all you have to do is cherry pick certain elements to create a fantastic sci-fi tale, it seems that Green Lantern: First Flight picked all of the wrong fruits.