Green Lantern

Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) is a cocky, womanizing test pilot who just happens to be the best at what he does. While Hal works for Carl Ferris, President of Ferris Aircraft, he clearly still has a soft spot for his childhood sweetheart, Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), who is stepping up to take the reins of her father’s company.

Little does Hal know that his small universe is about to get infinitely bigger.

For billions of years, the self-appointed Guardians of the Galaxy have been maintaining order through their peace keeping force known as the Green Lantern Corps. Powered by a gigantic lantern on the planet Oa, they are about to face the greatest threat in the form of an evil being, Parallax, that is able to draw out the life force from any living being.

Mortally injured by a battle with Parallax, a Green Lantern is forced to land on Earth. Commanding his ring to find a worthy successor, it chooses and brings Hal to his side. Now, gifted with the power to create almost anything he can imagine, Hal Jordan will soon come face to face with the entire Green Lantern Corp, train on Oa with a brusque Green Lantern named Kilowog (Michael Clarke Duncan) and try to save the Earth from the threat of Parallax.

Areas of concern

Language: Moderate. The film is rated PG-13, primarily for violence and language. ‘Hell’, ‘damn’ and ‘screwed up’ are used only once each, the Lord’s name is taken in vain twice (God____), ‘son of a b____’ 2x’s, b___ by itself 1x , the s___ word 2x’s, the ‘a__h___ 2x’s, bast___ 1x, and Hal uses his middle finger in a sneakily obscene manner, once. This is probably as minimalist as Hollywood will go in a PG-13 film, but it is still family inappropriate.

Violence: Moderate. When the villain feeds off the life of his victims, we see their life essence in energy form, and it seems as though their souls and skeletons are being ripped from their bodies. It is the most disturbing visual, especially for younger children, of the film, and it is repeated several times. Dr. Hammond, the scientist who examines the dead Green Lantern alien is accidentally exposed to Parallax’s essence during his autopsy (not graphic), and he reacts violently to this later. Hal Jordan’s initial examination on Oa is equally unpleasant, gut wrenching and unnecessary. There is, also, a scene where Hal is beat up by some disgruntled workers.

Sexual Innuendo: Moderate. There is no sex or nudity in the film, but there is one scene where Hal wakes up in bed with a girl, and, although nothing is seen, the implication is inescapable. As are some of the other suggestive remarks, “disappointing girls everywhere,” ‘flying’ (a metaphor) with any girl that will ride a plane with him or when Carol, explaining why she saw through his Lantern disguise remarks, “I’ve seen you naked!”

Upon his first arrival on Oa, Hal is rendered unconscious, and, during a prolonged examination, he is undressed and only in skivvies (underwear).

Lessons

The dying alien tells Hal that in order to recharge his ring he needs to recite an oath, only he never gets the chance to tell him what the oath is. Hal futilely tries different oaths, until the Lantern’s light reveals it to him, and he finds himself speaking what needs to be said.

I could not help but be reminded of how, in our Christian outreach to the world, we should not be surprised when the Spirit gives us the words to speak.

“But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” —Matthew 10:19.

The villain, Parallax, seems to feed off of fear, and even remarks to his first victims, “You are afraid. Good!”, but the Word of God reminds us where our true concerns need be.

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” —Matthew 10:28.

During Hal Jordan’s crisis of faith, Tomar-Re, a fish-like Green Lantern voiced by Geoffrey Rush, tells him that, “The ring never makes a mistake. It saw something in you that you haven’t seen yet.” Hal may not have felt worthy to be a soldier in the ‘Corps,’ but neither were any of us when God called us.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” —John 15:16.

“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the Truth” —2 Thessalonians 2:13.

The concept of making your thoughts become reality by sheer force of will has always had a great appeal to a comic book audience, and Hal Jordan lives up to this in force, by the climactic battle. But, perhaps, it also appeals to something in all of us that says faith in the one true God can accomplish anything.

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” —Matthew 17:20.

“Green Lantern” is an original comic book film entry, which showcases its hero’s unique powers impressively via visuals that do leap to life in 3D. As a film, “Green Lantern” is hampered by sporadically poor pacing in a script that seemed to be missing crucial back story and, as such, the film, while entertaining, does not live up to its full potential. It is an average effort that is not suitable for younger kids who should have been the film’s ideal target.

Violence: Moderate / Profanity: Moderate / Sex/Nudity: Mild

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

• Positive
• Neutral
• Negative
• Young people