Green Lantern Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A space cop gives a magic ring to Ryan Reynolds, and then a giant fear monster loses to Ryan Reynolds because he didn’t believe in himself enough, but then he did.

🍿 Green Lantern: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Origin of the Green Lantern Corps and Parallax

Billions of years ago, the Guardians of the Universe created the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic police force powered by willpower. The universe is divided into 3600 sectors, each protected by a Green Lantern. However, a being of fear named Parallax threatens the Corps. Parallax was imprisoned, but he escapes and begins to grow stronger by consuming fear.

Abin Sur’s Crash and Hal Jordan’s Selection

Abin Sur, a Green Lantern of Sector 2814, is mortally wounded by Parallax and crashes on Earth. His power ring seeks out a successor: Hal Jordan, a reckless test pilot haunted by his father’s death. The ring chooses Jordan, transporting him to the crash site where Abin Sur bestows the ring and its powers upon him, tasking him with protecting Sector 2814.

Hal Jordan’s Training and Doubts

Jordan is transported to Oa, the home planet of the Green Lantern Corps, where he meets Sinestro, Tomar-Re, and Kilowog. Sinestro doubts Jordan’s worthiness due to his fear. Jordan, overwhelmed and unsure, quits the Corps and returns to Earth. Meanwhile, scientist Hector Hammond is exposed to Parallax’s essence while examining Abin Sur’s body, gaining telepathic and telekinetic powers but losing his sanity.

Hector Hammond’s Descent and Parallax’s Arrival

Hector Hammond, driven mad by Parallax’s influence, seeks revenge on his father and endangers Carol Ferris. Jordan, despite his doubts, uses the ring to save them, revealing his identity to Carol. Hammond continues his descent, ultimately killing his father. Parallax then arrives on Earth, seeking to destroy it and consume its inhabitants’ fear.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds): A reckless test pilot who becomes the first human Green Lantern, tasked with overcoming his fears to protect Earth.
• Carol Ferris (Blake Lively): Hal Jordan’s childhood friend and colleague, a skilled pilot and co-owner of Ferris Aircraft, who supports him despite his recklessness.
• Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard): A scientist and the son of a senator who is exposed to Parallax’s essence, gaining telekinetic powers but becoming increasingly unstable.
• Sinestro (Mark Strong): A highly respected and skilled Green Lantern who initially doubts Hal Jordan but later acknowledges his potential, eventually succumbing to the power of fear.
• Parallax (Clancy Brown): A powerful, fear-based entity who was once a Guardian but now seeks to destroy the Green Lantern Corps and spread fear throughout the universe.
• Abin Sur (Temuera Morrison): A Green Lantern who crash-lands on Earth and chooses Hal Jordan as his successor to wield the power ring.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Hal Jordan: “In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might, beware my power, Green Lantern’s light!” – The Green Lantern oath, recited by Hal Jordan as he embraces his role as a Green Lantern.
• Abin Sur: “The ring chose you.” – Abin Sur’s last words to Hal Jordan, indicating that he has been chosen to become the next Green Lantern.
• Sinestro: “We’re not just soldiers, we’re peacekeepers.” – Sinestro explains the Green Lantern Corps’ mission to Hal Jordan.
• Hal Jordan: “You can overcome fear.” – Hal Jordan’s final line before he defeats Parallax by controlling his fear.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $200,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $116,601,172
• Worldwide Gross: $237,201,172

💥 Green Lantern Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, I went into Green Lantern with low expectations, and honestly? It wasn’t *that* bad. Ryan Reynolds was a decent Hal Jordan, though maybe a bit too quippy. The whole origin story felt rushed, and the CGI was… well, it was CGI. But seeing Oa and Kilowog and Tomar-Re was actually pretty cool! I think if they’d focused more on the Green Lantern Corps, and less on Hector Hammond’s giant head, it could’ve been awesome. The after-credits scene gave me hope for the future. I might watch it again, just for the space stuff!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of comic book movies”
  • “Viewers interested in superhero origin stories”
  • “Those who enjoy visual effects-heavy action films”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Sci-fi violence”
  • “Some scary images (Parallax’s appearance)”
  • “Brief language”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “Despite Reynolds’ charisma, *Green Lantern* suffers from a convoluted plot, unremarkable special effects, and a distinct lack of thrills. The movie feels more like a setup for future installments, with less focus on a compelling standalone narrative.
• IGN: “Green Lantern is ultimately a flawed but watchable superhero origin story. Reynolds is well-cast, but the film suffers from pacing issues and a weak villain. The visual effects are impressive, but they can’t mask the overall lack of substance.
• Entertainment Weekly: “*Green Lantern* struggles with a muddled narrative and uneven tone. While the visual spectacle is engaging, the film fails to create a compelling emotional connection with its characters, leaving viewers with a sense of unfulfilled potential.

Audience Reactions

Ryan Reynolds was a good choice for Hal Jordan!: Some viewers enjoyed Reynolds’ portrayal of Hal Jordan, finding him charming and charismatic.

The Oa scenes were visually stunning!: Many praised the visual effects, especially the depiction of the planet Oa and the various Green Lantern constructs.

Overall Consensus: Green Lantern is a visually impressive but ultimately flawed superhero film, suffering from a weak script, uneven pacing, and underdeveloped villains.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Blake Lively’s line, ‘I’ve seen you naked! You think I wouldn’t recognize you because you covered your cheekbones?’ was an ad-lib.”
• “An extended cut released on Blu-ray adds about 10 minutes of footage, including more details about Hal Jordan’s father’s death.”
• “Geoffrey Rush and Michael Clarke Duncan voiced Green Lantern Corps members Tomar-Re and Kilowog, respectively.”

🖥️ How to Watch Green Lantern?

Green Lantern (2011) is available to rent or buy on various digital platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for availability. It is not typically available on subscription-based streaming services. You can also purchase the Blu-ray or DVD for physical media viewing.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Green Lantern, you might like these similar films:

• Thor (2011): Another superhero origin story released the same year, featuring a cosmic hero with unique powers and a struggle to prove himself.
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014): A modern space-faring superhero team with a mix of action, humor, and cosmic threats, appealing to fans of Green Lantern’s intergalactic setting.
• Flash Gordon (1980): A classic sci-fi adventure with a campy tone, outlandish villains, and a hero thrust into an intergalactic conflict.
• Iron Man (2008): Features a flawed, cocky but brilliant protagonist who must overcome personal demons to become a hero.

🛒 Green Lantern Related Products

• Green Lantern: Emerald Knights (Blu-ray): An animated anthology film featuring different Green Lantern stories, offering a deeper dive into the Green Lantern Corps.
• DC Comics Green Lantern Hal Jordan Action Figure: Highly detailed action figure of Hal Jordan, complete with interchangeable hands and accessories, a perfect Green Lantern collectible.
• Green Lantern: The Animated Series – Complete Season One: Join Hal Jordan, Kilowog, and Razer as they face thrilling adventures throughout the cosmos in this action-packed animated series.
• Green Lantern Movie Poster – Hal Jordan: High-quality poster featuring Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan in the Green Lantern suit, a great addition to any fan’s collection.

🎧 Soundtrack

Green Lantern features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Titles” – performed by James Newton Howard
• “Abin Sur Attacked” – performed by James Newton Howard
• “In brightest day, in blackest night” – performed by Ryan Reynolds
• “Baby You Don’t Wanna Know” – performed by Sum 41

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Everything Wrong With Green Lantern In 6 Minutes Or Less

Curious to know what’s so wrong with Green Lantern? This video will have you laughing at the flaws in just 6 minutes.

Honest Trailers – Green Lantern

Get ready for a hilarious ride as Honest Trailers takes on Green Lantern, exposing all the funnily frustrating aspects of the film.

Did you see this in DEADPOOL?

Marvel fans, did you catch the sneaky references to Green Lantern in Deadpool? This video reveals a hidden gem you might have missed.

Unironically DEFENDING The CGI Of Green Lantern

Prepare to be surprised! This video goes against the grain and actually defends the much-criticized CGI in Green Lantern. It’s a thought-provoking take that might change your view.

✨ Rate