Movie Info
Movie Name: Green Lantern: First Flight
Studio: Warner Bros. Animation
Genre(s): Animated/Comic Book/Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Release Date(s): July 28, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Hal Jordan is……the Green Lantern!!!
Pilot Hal Jordan has just been tapped for a new job…helping defend the universe as a member of the Green Lanterns Corps! Shuttled to Oa, Hal finds himself as the newest of a long line of intergalactic peacekeepers and the other Lanterns aren’t happy about it. Hal’s predecessor Abin Sur was slain by Kanjar Ro’s crew and the Green Lantern’s must bring Kanjar Ro to justice before he unleashes fear across the universe. Kanjar Ro might not be working alone however and the danger to the Lanterns might be closer than ever expected.
Directed by Lauren Montgomery, Green Lantern: First Flight is a DC Universe Animated Original Movie. The fourth movie in the series, Green Lantern: First Flight follows Wonder Woman. The film was released to mixed reviews.
Green Lantern has always been one of my favorite DC characters. He isn’t top tier like Wonder Woman, Batman, or Superman, but he’s still up there. He’s problematic and brash, but in general a good guy (unless he goes crazy and kills all the Lanterns). As a result, Green Lantern: First Flight actually ranks a bit higher with me than some of the other DC animated films.
Green clashed with my pink skin
Despite being labeled First Flight, the movie isn’t much of an origin movie. It doesn’t focus much on Hal being selected for the Lantern Corps and instead rushes the story into the action and creation of his primary villain Sinestro. Despite being a rather short film (less than an hour and a half), the film flows and doesn’t feel jumpy. It is a typical Lantern story, but it is nice to see it brought to life.
DC never skips on its voice actors. Christopher Meloni plays Hal Jordon with Victor Garber playing Sinestro. Sinestro’s allies are made up of Tricia Helfer as Boodikka and Kurtwood Smith as Kanjar Ro. With the expansive Lantern Corps, there are a lot of small roles for actors. Michael Madsen plays the lead Lantern Kilowog with John Larroquette as Tomar Re and Juliet Landau as Labella. The Guardians were played by Larry Drake as Ganthet and William Schallert as Appa Ali Apsa. Olivia d’Abo also had a smaller role as Carol Ferris at the beginning of the film.
I’m sorry Hal Jordan, I thought the title of the movie was Green Lantern: First Fight!!! (bad villain puns)
Batman: The Animated Series is held as the pinnacle of DC Animated Films/Series and the films often fall in line with it or experiment. Green Lantern follows the style of Batman: The Animated Series, but due to the space setting, it doesn’t really resemble it (but it is nice to think that the stories are occurring in the same universe…Bruce Timm is involved in the film but it hasn’t been confirmed as canon).
Green Lantern: First Flight is a fun animated movie for fans of the character. It is still better than the live action film that really missed the boat. Green Lantern and the Corps was featured in a second film Green Lantern: Emerald Knights in 2011 which featured the same character designs but Nathan Fillion taking on the role of Hal Jordan. Green Lantern: First Flight was followed by the DC Animated film Superman/Batman: Public Enemies also released in 2009.
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