Monthly Archives: June 2011

Movie Reviews

Movie Review – Green Lantern

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Green Lantern

Directed by Martin Campbell

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Temeura Morrison, Tim Robbins, Angela Basset, and the voices of Clancy Brown, Geofery Rush, and Michael Clarke Duncan.

Backstory

I was never a devote of the Green Lantern comics, but I always had a soft spot for the character. I’m sure it all goes back to when I was but a wee lad in Entwistle, and I got a Green Lantern action figure for Christmas. As the explosion of superhero films began, I could hardly wait for Warner Brothers to begin mining the DC archives, and to bring us a Green Lantern film. “A Green Lantern film could easily be a space opera the equal of Star Wars!” I’d tell my Marvel zombie friends. So, we finally have our Green Lantern film. Did it live up to its potential?

Plot

Hal Jordan is a test pilot…reckless, headstrong, and completely without fear. One fateful night, Jordan is brought before the dying alien Abin Sur, and is given a power ring. With this ring, Hal Jordan is inducted into the Green Lantern Corp, an intergalactic peacekeeping force. Sadly, though, Jordan feels that this great power carries far too great a responsibility, and is reluctant to take the role. Meanwhile, the entity Parallax, the embodiment of fear, has escaped from his prison, and has enlisted human scientist Hector Hammond to be his agent on Earth. With this newfound power, Hammond begins to rampage and take vengeance on those who have wronged him. Will Hal finally be able to embrace the power and become the Green Lantern of Sector 2814?

What I Liked

The space stuff. All the scenes on planet Oa (the home base of the Green Lantern Corp) are amazing. When Hal finally lets loose with his ring, he does come up with some very creative devices to assist in his crimefighting. Ryan Reynolds gives a great performance, and really does do Hal Jordan justice.

What I Didn’t Like

The plot is cliched and formulaic for superhero films…not the space opera I was hoping for. I never really got Hector Hammond as a villain, and the connection between him and Jordan seems forced at best. A lot of this film takes place on Earth, and it’s all very flat.

Final Assessment

This film reminded me a lot of the Fantastic Four films…the filmmakers barely tapped the full potential of the source material, and instead gave us something very disposable. It was OK, but it could have been so much more.

2.5 Nibs

Movie Reviews

Movie Review – X-Men: First Class

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X-Men: First Class

Directed by Matthew Vaughn

Starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Rose Byrne, Jennifer Lawrence, Oliver Platt, January Jones, Nicholas Hoult, Caleb Landry Jones, and Lucas Till.

Backstory

So another X-Men film has been thrust upon the world. And this one had quite an interesting pedigree. Bryan Singer, director of the first two, returns to the franchise, in the position of co-writer and producer. Matthew Vaughn, director of Kick-Ass, takes over as director. And, I’ve always enjoyed the novelty of period superhero films, so its 1960s setting intrigued me. How would this prequel tale fit in with the rest of the franchise?

Plot

The year is 1962. CIA Agent Moira McTaggert is on the trail of Sebastian Shaw and his organization the Hellfire Club. When it appears that members of the Hellfire Club have certain…unique gifts, McTaggert seeks out the world’s leading expert on genetic mutation…Charles Xavier. Their hunt for Shaw soon leads them to cross paths with young Erik Lehnsherr. Shaw was a Nazi commandant who experimented on Lehnsherr when Lehnsherr was a boy, Lehnsherr has dedicated his life to revenge. Xavier and Lehnsherr know the only way to stop Shaw is with others like themselves, and begin recruiting a team of mutants. A war is brewing…which side will everyone eventually be on? And how will the world at large react to these mutants?

What I Liked

This is the most action-packed X-Men film. It moves very fast. Appropriate to its 1960s setting, Shaw’s ultimate evil plot is very reminiscent of a James Bond film. I really Xavier’s portrayal as a cocky young man…this is almost a coming-of-age tale for Xavier. Oh, and there’s some very clever cameos by some other members of the X-Men franchise.

What I Didn’t Like

The film moves so fast that some times, it’s tough to get a handle on some of the characters. I’m still not too sure about some of the choices some of the characters make.

Final Assessment

I’d say this is one of the best films in X-Men film franchise. X2 is still the best, but this would be a close second.

3.5 Nibs