Comments on: Green Lantern: First Flight (2009) Movie Review

By: Blu

Blu — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:50:34 +0000

Though I eagerly anticipated this animated film for months I must admit I was not that excited about it as it unfolded once I got it. This was unfortunately you’re a-typical comic story line changed to fit a movie format. The beginning was intriguing until I saw the Guardians and the way Sinestro was introduced. The blue guys talked liked a bunch of cackling politicians in a senate debate (with emotion mind you!). Also their combined powers should have been able to at least keep Sinestro pretty busy covering his ass while the corps tried to fight the problem. The Quadians where not portrayed as they should have been. Sinestro never had a mobile main power battery (at least in the time line I recall) and not the uniform of the Sinestro Corps (that was a slight inconsistently). Also most of all Sinestro killed! Despite his will of contempt and desire to be his own master and user of the yellow power he was after he should not have been able to kill with the green power ring. This may have delighted new fans and the younger crowd. But being a hard core GL fan of two generations I fear for the live action movie. I can forgive animated programs and movies. But when it comes time for Hal to be seen on the big screen I am concerned it may be in jeopardy. This is a very complex story line with stories with in stories. Maybe the Warner Poozers should leave well enough alone. Just my view.

By: Nix

Nix — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:06:43 +0000

Ah, but see, you're saying *I* am taking Hal Jordan's use of silly constructs too seriously, which I did not. I merely mentioned that I found them silly, that's all. The other fellow decided to defend the use of giant green hammers by saying it means Hal Jordan is powerful and insinuated that I did not “get” that making giant hammers and hitting people with it was an example of Jordan's “great power”. Which, again, is just silly.

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:36:43 +0000

Bruce Timm and Lauren Montgomery mentioned before that the reason they didn't spend much time on Hal Jordan's origin story was because they had already done that in Justice League: The New Frontier, as you mentioned. They said they didn't want to repeat themselves and if you read other reviews online, you'll see some people appreciated that. A small number of people, like you, felt the movie should have stood on its own. And you're not wrong. But I think the producers are aiming this to a specific audience….which is odd considering you'd want to make as much a profit as possible.

It is funny that you mention how “silly” you found Hal's energy constructs were. In the commentary for the Justice League animated series, which featured the character John Stewart as Green Lantern, Bruce Timm and the other producers mentioned that they intentionally refrained from having their Green Lantern use “silly” constructs when battling aliens/mutants/villain of the week. They said that they wanted to distant themselves from the previous Saturday morning children's show adaptation of Justice League, Superfriends. They also mentioned that having John Stewart's constructs and energy blasts being practical in appearance (no guns or rocket launchers) reflected the character's no-nonsense personality. However, the appeal of the other Green Lanterns making such frivolous and superfluous constructs with their rings is to show off the creativity and imagination of those characters. Are they silly? Yes, but so is the idea of random no-name red shirts dying in Star Trek to show how serious the situation is for the main characters….and yet, they're fun. If those ridiculous things don't put a smile on your face, you're taking things way too seriously when you probably shouldn't be. Sometimes you have to step back and realize what you are watching. A comic book movie that was never meant to be dark like Batman.

By: Nix

Nix — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 02:20:49 +0000

Now you're just being silly. It was bad (and sad) enough your big issue was that I pointed out the colorists FUBAR some of Sinestro's scenes in regards to his red color (note: I said some scenes, not “every scene in the history of cinema”), but then you went and called it the best superhero cartoon you had ever seen. Clearly, you're deluded. Also, if your idea of Jordan being the most powerful Green Lantern is because he can make silly giant hammers to hit people with, you're beyond logical. While your precious Hal Jordan is coming up with his big fist and swinging it to hit me, I could just shoot him to death with a simple blast which wouldn't require creating something and THEN making the effort to swing it.

By: Andrew_Bator

Andrew_Bator — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:28:39 +0000

All the places you are referring to Sinestro 'not being colored in' were on purpose as it was different ambient lighting in those scenes. If you are going to review products you should be more professional and pay close attention. You are making this sound like a flawed product when the lapse was in your attention. That is not fair to all the people who worked hard on this product.

This in my opinion, is one of the best superhero cartoons ever made. I thought the fact that they established his origin before the opening credits and got right to an adventure story was brilliant. To each his own I guess.

A critical part of what makes Hal Jordan one of the most powerful Green Lanterns in the galaxy is his ingenuity and creativity in using the ring, as it is one's willpower and this essence that allows one to use it. The least powerful Green Lanterns are the ones that simply 'blast things to smithereens' with their rings.

At least that is what I remember from occasionally standing at the comic store shelf and browsing through the Green Lantern Corp comics 20+ years ago.

By: Paul Fleming

Paul Fleming — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:46:21 +0000

i think the reason Jordam seemed so comfortable and knowledgable in an alien enviroment was the “Ring”. The Ring passes knowledge to its wearer, knowledge that was “topped up” again when Sinestro forces him to connect with the Lantern.

Im not as familiar with the Green Lantern as I am other comic book characters but I think you were given about as much “origin” info in the film as you were in the comics.

Hal Jordan tends to make familiar items with his ring hence the golf club, baseball bat etc. which just points to Hal's Earthly origins more than anything else.

By: EMF

EMF — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:24:18 +0000

Must agree with the lack of character development esp. with Hal's introduction, as a person and to the new worlds. The universe also felt strangely empty.