Green Lantern

As a kid, I always thought that Green Lantern was the coolest of all the superheroes. He fights crime wearing a powerful accessory — the mythical ring that grants him ability to create anything his mind can imagine.

Plus, Green Lantern was not as popular as Superman or Batman, so I deemed him an underdog. I latched on to his signature line, “In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight.”

So I was happy when I heard that Warner Bros. Pictures was producing the first feature adaptation of the DC Comics superhero. And I'm still happy after watching it, although it could have been better.

The film version is bogged down by too many expositions. Being a second-tier property, the filmmakers felt the need to over-explain the character's origins. In the comic book world, Green Lantern first appeared in All-American Comics in 1940 and the character has evolved over time.

Through the years, many humans have worn the powerful ring, namely Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, John Stewart, Kyle Raynor and Jade. But Hal is the most popular of the bunch, so in the film version we get to see his story.

Hal, played by Ryan Reynolds, is a cocky test pilot who becomes the chosen one to wear the ring. You see, in our mysterious universe there's a powerful force that exists to protect our peace and justice. They are called the Green Lantern Corps — warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order.

But there's a new enemy on the horizon called Parallax threatening to destroy the balance of power in the universe. Now, the fate of mankind lies in the hands of Hal. But first, he must overcome his fears.

Fear is ultimately the greatest villain in “Green Lantern.” In the film, yellow is the color of fear while green is the color of will. Hal is chosen for his pure willpower and determination.

Director Martin Campbell, who gave us “GoldenEye” and “Casino Royale,” trades his James Bond skills to go Green. As expected, Campbell is adept at bringing the larger-than-life action scenes to the big screen, but he's weighted down by the uneven script.

‘Green Lantern'

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1 hour, 54 minutes

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, John Tenney. Directed by Martin Campbell

Playing at: Century at the River, Mary Pickford, Metro 8, Palm Springs 9, Rancho 16