Lantern? Hornet -- that’s cool sounding. But, Lantern? Doesn’t quite have the superhero "ring" to it. Or is it just me? Perhaps because of the name, I didn’t expect much from this production. But, honestly, quite frankly, I ultimately enjoyed this film.

First and foremost, it’s an origin story. The tale of how a guy who can’t quite beat his own fear becomes the Green Lantern. Even though aliens are involved, and a secret agent ring of sorts, and well, a lantern, the themes are everyman issues. Each one of us has fears in life to face. Each one of us can measure our worth by our will to overcome those fears. In a world where the almighty dollar seems to be garnering so much attention, these themes are sorely welcomed.

As comic book-to-movie films go, I’m often disappointed with the super villains. But, Lantern has a rather interesting one to offer. Kudos to Peter Sarsgaard for giving that character juicy nuances, especially in facial expression. Add in some high impact action (but not too much), a decent sense of humor, romance even, solid 3-D .. and hey, this Lantern shines. It has some bumpy editing seams, and a comparatively tame climax. Additionally, I would have liked the tender family/nephew connection to reprise. Lastly, towards the end, the writing behind the strong female lead begins to wane into sap. Still, I enjoyed it’s unexpected exploration of basic human nature. Strong B+, weak A-. I’ll round up.

-- Books by Author/Illustrator Ross Anthony --