For a long time, DC had trouble getting any other property other than Batman or Superman movies off the ground. Even Superman movies struggled, but one of the more infamous failures was the flopping of 2011's Green Lantern. It was originally panned by fans and critics alike and it did not do well at the box office.
While many will agree that Green Lantern is a flawed film and an example of mismanagement, is it really as awful as everyone made it out to be? For the first-ever attempt at telling the Green Lantern's story on the big screen, it can be argued that it could have been much worse and that it does have some redeeming qualities.
A Vibrant Color Palette
With a character like Green Lantern of Sector 2814, it would not be wise to fall back on the same color tones of the dark and gritty Batman movies at the time. Instead, Green Lantern features the same bright palette as the comics with colors as vibrant as can be.
Even when it's regular humans on Earth, everything is enhanced with extra saturation and color. On Oa, there is a heavy emphasis on greens, purples, and blues that help the alien world stand out. Director Martin Campbell brought a similar highly saturated look to other films like Casino Royale.
It Tried To Create A DC Universe
Before the DCEU was even a thing, Green Lantern was actually the first attempt at starting a DC Cinematic Universe, from the origin of Hal Jordan as Green Lantern to the involvement of Amanda Waller and the ARGUS program, which would have helped set up the Suicide Squad for the future.
There is even a seed planted for Carol Ferris to eventually become the Star Sapphire. None of these Easter eggs feel heavy-handed and overdone like the references in the failed Dark Universe. Though they ended up going nowhere, it was still a solid attempt at creating something bigger.
James Newton Howard's Score
Music is important to a film and what the case can be is that the soundtrack is undeserving of the film that it is for. One of the best examples is Hans Zimmer's score for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and James Newton Howard's score was no different for Green Lantern.
Howard composed a score that was equally as thrilling as it was fun. It matched the tone for a character as energetic as Green Lantern, but when it wanted to present the epicness of a scene, Howard did his job. His soundtrack could have easily been used for the likes of Superman or Spider-Man.
The CGI Is Flawed But Not That Bad
It's infamous at this point that Green Lantern's pure CGI suit was not the best choice due to the improper lighting. However, the complaint that Green Lantern features "some of the worst CGI in history" is a bit of hyperbole as there are many movies with worse CGI.
While the CGI of Green Lantern definitely could have used some polish, it could have been way worse. The Power Ring constructs conveyed the concept of the comics rather well, the aliens were all designed with care, and some of the environments, especially on Oa, were impressive.
It Brought Ryan Reynolds And Blake Lively Together
Ryan Reynolds and his real-life wife, Blake Lively, met during the production of Green Lantern. They have gone on to be a beloved Hollywood couple with a family of their own. That chemistry they have in is because of Green Lantern.
Similar to Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone in The Amazing Spider-Man movies, that same chemistry is also visible on screen. Many comic book movies struggle to establish a proper romance between the hero and their interest while Hal Jordan and Carol Ferris are cute together from the first minute. Their bond feels natural and every scene with them is filled with charm.
The Green Lantern Corps Were Standouts
It's very clear from the moment Hal Jordan arrives on the planet Oa that the filmmakers did their homework with the Green Lanterns. The legion of 3600 Lanterns is comprised of so many unique extraterrestrial races with some familiar faces for fans of the comics.
On top of that, members of the Corps such as Tomar-Re and Kilowog make for some of the more entertaining portions of the movie. The only problem is that Hal Jordan should have spent more time training on Oa rather than it being a small subplot of the film.
Ryan Reynolds Was A Good Hal Jordan
Despite Reynolds himself mocking Green Lantern and having proven himself to be a perfect Deadpool, he was far from being the problem with the 2011 movie. As Hal Jordan, Reynolds did his job as an actor portraying a cocky test pilot akin to Tom Cruise's Maverick from Top Gun.
At the same time, Reynolds grounded Hal Jordan and portrayed the very human side of the character. When he needed to be serious or show the fear and sadness of Hal Jordan, Reynolds delivered. In the climax, he also showcased that he can be a badass hero when needed. If Reynolds had been given a proper sequel with a better script, his Green Lantern could have become as famous as his Deadpool.
The Extended Cut Fixed The Biggest Error
Green Lantern is one of those movies that Warner Bros. meddled with, forcing unnecessary cuts. Though it's not as egregious as Justice League, it was still a problem for Green Lantern. The extended cut fixes what was many people's main problem: Hal Jordan's lack of development.
With 15 minutes of extra footage, there is a whole new prologue showing Hal Jordan's backstory with his father. Along with some extra scenes in the present, it shows how much his father's accident has affected him, making Hal's character more fleshed out rather than the hollow version of the theatrical cut.
The Green Lantern Oath
There are some lines that have to be said and done right, similar to the "I'm Batman" line from various Batman projects. With Green Lantern, it is the oath that all members of the Corps live by. It is a line that is often used to increase their willpower thus making them stronger.
The moments in which the Oath is spoken in the comics are usually ones to make the fans cheer on the hero. The Green Lantern movie managed to get this moment right when Hal Jordan is pinned down by Parallax. Hal Jordan speaks the Oath with Reynolds giving excellent delivery.
Sinestro Was Set Up Perfectly
While Parallax was a poor representation of the iconic Green Lantern villain and Hector Hammond was serviceable, it was Sinestro who stole the show. Among the many shortcomings of Green Lantern, even those who hated the movie agreed that Mark Strong as Sinestro was one of its strong points.
With his short time on screen, Sinestro was adapted straight out of the comics as the honorable but stubborn elite member of the Corps. His tension with Hal Jordan was properly established along with his dark heart that would lead him down the path to becoming the Yellow Lantern. If Strong had been given the chance to be the villain in a sequel, it likely would have been a superior film.