Review: Green Lantern First Flight

Described as "Hal Jordan's Training Day," the Denzel Washington picture, First Flight is a pretty accurate, adventurous, and fun origin of Green Lantern. The designs were great and modern, and the animation was smooth. A truly great looking film.

The voice acting is pretty decent. I had high expectations for Christopher Meloni as Hal, and he excelled pretty well, but not as great as I thought. Tricia Helfer was just passable as Boodikka. John Larroquette and Kurtwood Smith were both strong performers, but I was really surprised at Michael Madsen as Kilowag. I was on the fence initially about how well he would do, but he was really great as Kilowag. And the best of all was Victor Garber. He was the perfect Sinestro. Like Hamil as Joker, Garber is definitely the voice I'll be reading Sinestro in from now on.

The plotline was near perfection. It moved swiftly, and had equal amounts of adventure, humor, and drama. I did not expect it to be so "adult," not that it is incredibly un-kid-friendly, but the use of "ass" and "crap" and a few of the deathscenes were surprising to say the least.

The worst part is the lack of Green Lantern mythos, spoilers ensue. There was no emotional spectrum, not even the relationship between willpower and fear. Instead there were "color elements" which were power sources for their respective Corps, green and yellow being the only ones present. The oath was used once in more of a traditional sense like someone would say the Pledge of Allegiance rather than the mantra to unlock the power within the battery. Nor were the individual batterys seem to play a big part. There was also redesigns of Abin Sur and Kanjar Ro. Abin Sur's was fine since before he was basically a featurless pink man, but Kanjar Ro looked distractingly different and seemed more warlord-like instead of the scumbag smuggler I thought he was.

Ultimately, Green Lantern fans and DC readers will surely enjoy the movie. It is action-packed and well-paced. I suppose a first time viewer would certainly get the gist of the Green Lantern concept and be well prepared for the upcoming live action project, but it skips a lot of the major mythos elements that have really defined the title in recent years.

Top 10 Comic Adaptations I Want to See

10. Beware the Creeper
When Bruce Timm reintroduced the character in his animated series, I fell instantly in love. Of course DC wasn't as lovestruck until Steve Niles reintroduced the character. The way I envision it is The Creeper, a horror slasher type, is hunting down the mob and a GCPD police officer, like Crispus Allen who probably won't appear in Nolan's flicks, is trying to find. Hit up Sam Rockwell for the Creeper and you have a sleeper hit/cult classic.











9. Daredevil-redux
I tried to leave the remake type stuff off the list, but I have been reading Daredevil more often again and the comic has been consistently awesome. It captures the noir-ish grit and gothic tone Daredevil has come to be, and what the movie was the opposite. Michael C. Hall for Daredevil.













8. Nick Fury/SHIELD
I love Samuel L. Jackson, but I am not excited about Ultimate Nick Fury because he makes chances slim that Hasselhof will be the closest to getting a great Steranko Fury movie. Steranko's Fury was just so cool. It would effectively balance the modern blockbuster sensibilities with the dingy, edgy 70's exploitation movies a la Taxi Driver and Easy Rider













7. Aquaman
When Marvel was first making movies and described Namor as Star Wars underwater, I have been absolutely sold on an underwater Atlantis adventure. I think I'd prefer Aquaman as the subject though. The paralells to Arthurian legends are too good to pass up.













6. The Inhumans
The Inhumans are the result of primitive humans being experimented on by an alien race thus creating a new spieces devoted to isolation and peace. While depicted mostly as antagonists in Fantastic Four, I think the Inhumans present a great oppurtunity for great "science fantasy." It would look like a sci-fi movie, but feel like a period piece. Think along the lines of Dune.













5. Wally West as The Flash
It has gotten to the point in the genre where origin stories just don't cut it anymore. So and so gets power, is clumsy with power, beats the bad guy just bores me now. I'd say it was lucky Downey was so charming in Iron Man, or else it would have been a bore. Seeing Kid Flash graduate to Flash and deal with the pressure of living up to a predessor would present a much more dynamic superhero story.











4. Green Lantern Corps
Emphasis on Corps. I want the whole team fighting battles in space. With the absence of Star Wars and a bland expanded universe and not up to snuff copycats, a big budget space opera would be a welcome version. With 4 very different Earthling GLs who have great chemistry between each other, the audience should find it easy to relate to one of them.












3. Deadpool
Deadpool is easily one of my favorite characters. Cable and Deadpool series certainly made him something so much more than a movie quoting mercenary. He is ripe for a thrilling action movie with a funny memorable hero. Look for a spin off from the Wolverine flick because the Fox producers, the Marvel producers, Hugh Jackman, and Ryan Reynolds (who is cast as DP) seem completely in love with the character.












2. Hitman
Hitman is another one of my favorite characters. Superhero (sorta) who hates his superpowers. A hitman with morals; only going after the bad guys. Think Gross Pointe Blank with superpowers and less romance. Fun Hollywood fluff. It probably won't break any grounds but certainly be fun as hell. Dean Winters IS Tommy Monaghan (The Hitman).












1. Iron Fist
Haven't really been into Iron Fist until his most recent run Immortal Iron Fist. It takes the martial arts superhero from the street level to something much more grand. The tournament for the 7 Cities, the Iron Fist serial killer, and now the Eight City adventure. I just can't see Iron Fist going back to Heroes for Hire after all that. The series has proved to be quite stunning visually, and absolutely thrilling and dramatic without forgetting to be charming and quirky when necessary. I think this would be the groundbreaking comic movie that could follow something The Dark Knight. Upstart Charlie Hunnam would be perfect for Iron Fist, but please no Ray Park or Cyril Raffeli. Fantastic martial artists, but do you really think they can act?

Casting Call: Green Lantern Corps

Hal Jordan- Leonardo DiCaprio

DiCaprio has pretty much solidified himself as an excellent actor and bankable leading man. While he has a pretty-boy reputation, if you actually check out his filmography he has built his career playing confident, hot-headed, and/or anti-authoritarian type characters.
Runner Up: David Boreanaz- He loves the character and had progressed in leaps and bounds since Angel as seen on his new show, Bones.


John Stewart- Jamie Foxx

Over the last couple years, Jamie Foxx proved he was more than just a funny actor. He actually had some acting chops to hold his own in dramatic performances. His personality, charisma, and screen presence are so big I feel like he could add to a character that tends to be kind of bland.
Runner Up: Omar Epps- On House, he has shown he can play the stoic, over serious type but still likeable as well as mediating clashes of people with big personalities like say Guy vs Hal


Guy Gardner- Jeremy Renner

Jeremy Renner gave one of my favorite performances last year in The Hurt Locker, where his character had so many similarities to Guy. He does the likeable asshole thing really well. He's a rising star but not a super star so he could come relatively cheap, which is always a big perk.
Runner Up: Bradley Cooper- Another likeable asshole guy, but he seems to come from more comedy roots. He was far superior an actor than Midnight Meat Train deserved and performed better than I thought he could so I could reallysee him getting into the role.

Kyle Rayner- Chris Pine

Chris Pine has laid the foundation of his career with naive nice guys in romantic comedies. Now that he is in Star Trek he'll be showing off a more serious side and more action-oriented side to his acting repetoire.
Runner Up: Justin Chatwin- Not a choice I am 100% for but I think he has a lot of potential, more potential than the god awful Dragonball movie would allow him to showcase, but mostly I didnt want to suggest Milo Ventimiglia, who seems to have convinced most forum fanboys, since he annoys me so.