DVD Review Green Latern: First Flight

Directed by: Lauren Montgomery Cast: (voices) Christopher Meloni, Victor Garber, Tricia Helfer, Michael Madsen Running Time: 1 hr. 20 mins. Rating: PG-13 Due Out: July 28, 2009

Plot: Hal Jordan (Meloni) accepts a mysterious, powerful ring from a dying alien and it transforms him into the Green Lantern. He has the power, and now the Guardians of the Universe come a calling. Green Lantern Sinestro (Garber) trains him, but there is an evil lurking that could be the end for all of the Green Lanterns.

Who's It For? Comic book fans who can't wait for Ryan Reynolds to don the green ring will be entertained enough by this straight-to-DVD animated superhero movie.

Movie: The title says Green Lantern: First Flight, but that's not really what it feels like. They really make a misstep right off the back. This is the first flight and Hal has his powers and is off to the Guardians of the Universe withing 15 minutes. Why? Sinestro, voiced by the great Garber ("Alias") simply makes the comment that Hal has been training. But why can't we see it? He's been giving an all-powerful ring and we don't get to seeing a training montage? Bad decision. Otherwise, this is a decent flick. It moves quickly and when one of their own turns on the other Lantern's there's some good tension. It just never feels like we get to know Hal and his transformation into a hero. Part of the fun of the ring is that it turns into what Hal wants at that moment, like a big fly swatter to deal with some alien foes. But they never connect the dots that this is Hal's quirky personality. Kilowog (Madsen) makes for a good sidekick, though no one else really stands out. It just feels like this is one of many Green Lantern stories out there, as opposed to a great way to kick off the introduction to his superhero. Score: 6/10

EXTRAS

A First Look At Superman/Batman: Public Enemies - It's a great behind the scenes look at an animated film I can't wait to see. Tim Daly as the voice of Superman? So much better than Lowell (Thomas Haden Church) as the Sandman.

Green Lantern: Behind the story with Geoff Johns - I've never met a Geoff that I've liked. We Jeff's all feel this way I think. But Johns seems like an excited fan and creator of comic books. I love how he got an internship from the great Richard Donner.

Bruce Timm's Top Picks: Green Lantern - "Once and Future Thing," Part One & Two - Totally separate cartoons. A guy creates a time machine, which helps him get away from his annoying wife. The whole "Justice League: Unlimited" crew is in on this one. Wonder Woman, Batman and Green Lantern try to save everyone, in every time.

The other extras: From Graphic Novel to Original Animated Movie, Justice League: The New Frontier Wonder Woman: The Amazon Princess Batman: Gotham Knight - An Anime Evolution Blackest Night: Inside the DC Comics Event Duck Dodgers "The Green Loontern" In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night: The Green Lantern Corps - Sinestro, The Guardians of the Universe Trailers (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Ben 10 Alien Force, Bakugan, Batman: Gotham Knight)

Extras Score: 9/10

OVERALL

If you want inside looks at DC projects, you buy this two-disc special edition. Green Lantern: First Flight manages to whet the appetite. The movie is a fun ride, but doesn't seem like it should be the end-all, be-all for the Green Lantern saga. I guess that's all well and good, since Ryan Reynolds will be putting on the jewelry for a big-screen live action adaptation. The main whetting of said appetite is the bonus features. There's tons involving Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and more that don't have anything to do with Green Lantern.

Final Score: 8/10

Promotional Site: www.greenlanternsweeps.com

Clip Title - "Labellas"