The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/3D Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
82
Studio and Year: Warner - 2011
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Feature running time: 123/114 minutes
Genre: Action/Fantasy
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC/MVC
Video Aspect: 2.40:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio, Spanish/French Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Tim Robbins, Mark Strong, Peter Sarsgaard, Angela Bassett, Jay O. Sanders
Directed by: Martin Campbell
Music by: James Newton Howard
Written by: Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, Marc Guggenheim, Michael Goldberg
Region Code: A,B,C
Blu-ray Disc release Date: October 14, 2011
"In brightest day, in blackest night"
Film Synopsis:
In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, an elite force of protectors for peace and justice has existed for centuries. They are the Green Lantern Corps. When a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of the Corps' newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds).
My Take:
Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal's humanity is one weapon no member of the Corps has ever had, and if with willpower, determination and the encouragement of fellow pilot and sweetheart Carol Ferris Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the resolve to overcome his inner conflict, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax but a worthy addition to the lineage of fearless heroism established by the Green Lanterns that have come before him. As a kid I wasn't much of a DC Comics fan BUT I did start out reading them and Green Lantern was among those that I picked up here and there. He was okay but I recall not being overly impressed with his powers especially since they were derived solely from his ring. When the film was announced I became interested when I learned that Ryan Reynolds was cast in the role. My son and I went and checked it out in the theater.
It's a CGI fest (not unexpected), with an ambitious scope that unfortunately can't be sustained by its relatively thin story. The setup is what you might expect, we meet our unsuspecting hero, see how/why he is chosen to become a Green Lantern, his transformation, and finally his encounter with his first foe. In between there is relationship melodrama (both romantic and interpersonal), a bit of background on the intergalactic Green Lantern corps, and storyline fragments pertaining to Hal's personal life, acceptance among his Green Lantern peers and a backstory on the villain Parallax and his connection to victim/minion Hector. I never really found myself immersed in the story. There are elements of humor that play to Reynolds' effecting charisma however they seem misplaced especially if you are at all familiar with the comic book. The development of the characters is fine but the narrative's focus gets watered down by too many inane obstacles and a bloated runtime. Parallax, the destroyer of worlds is pretty lame, as is his connection to Hector (and Hector's subplot, which falls into the inane obstacle category). The finale and the events leading up to it are corny both in explanation and execution not to mention lacking in sense based upon what transpired earlier in the film. The special effects are a mixed bag, but most of the time work well and coincide nicely with the source material. The plethora of characters (another inane obstacle) is played well enough by the cast but other than Reynolds few are given the opportunity to shine. This Blu-ray release contains both the theatrical version as well as an extended cut which adds an additional 9 minutes. Most of that is dedicated to footage on Hal's childhood and the events surrounding the death of his test pilot father (some of which is seen during flashbacks in the theatrical version). I don't think the additional material hindered or helped the outcome. I didn't dislike Green Lantern per se but found it to be a mundane superhero flick that barely has enough steam to qualify as a popcorn movie.
Parental Guide:
Both versions of the film contain intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 90
3D Presentation: 74
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Green Lantern 3D comes to Blu-ray Disc from Warner Home Video featuring 1080p MVC encoded video and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 4.1 Mbps.
This film wasn't shot natively in 3D but was converted in post production for theatrical release. A large portion of the film is CGI based and/or shot against green screens and the reproduction of digital effects and their integration with live action is quite good. Depth onscreen ebbs and flows leaving certain shots with an appreciable sense of dimension as evidenced by the separation of objects and/or people layered in the foreground/background while others are noticeably devoid of those attributes and appear 2D by comparison. Apparent resolution is consistent with the 2D presentation with aspects that shine in high definition and those that are questionable. Similarly the film's multitude of low level sequences, don't hold up well and suffer from dynamically tweaked contrast, flat blacks and unresolved shadow detail. There is a distinct lack of 3D effects that transcend the boundaries of the screen which makes for a somewhat less involving experience especially for an action oriented film of this type. In terms of the reproduction of color and fleshtones this 3D presentation mimics the 2D version. The end result is a sporadic and unremarkable 3D video presentation.
It is hard not to be impressed with the innate quality of lossless surround sound. Warner utilizes DTS-HD Master Audio sound on their Blu-ray Disc releases and this is the type of film that benefits from its inherent attributes. Similar to my recollection of its theatrical presentation this makes for an engaging and active surround mix that has extended dynamic range that renders the film's action based elements with aplomb. The is several sequences that effectively transform the room into a three dimensional sound field filled with immersive 360 degree surround activity that engage the listening position from multiple directions. Low frequency effects produce deep, authoritative bass that energizes the room. Dialogue is reproduced with lucid expression and exacting clarity that produced just the slightest hint of sibilance in the upper registers. This is a rewarding and dynamically enhanced sound design that features high level sonic detail, excellent directional correlation, and rhythmically charged bass that makes for an involving audio presentation.
2D Video Quality:
Video: 84
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Green Lantern comes to Blu-ray Disc from Warner Home Video featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 18 Mbps.
Thinking back to my experience with this film in the theater I would say that in general this presentation is similar. Overall I found it to be satisfactory but distinctly lacking when compared to the better high definition renderings of new release films that have come to Blu-ray. This isn't an especially bright film as many of its essential sequences take place in limited lighting and/or low level environs. Blacks are plenty deep but slightly crushed. Shadow detail isn't definitive and the dynamically tweaked contrast occasionally overdrives the image. Color balance is quite good as both primary and secondary hues are cleanly rendered with a pleasing level of saturation and depth. Skin tones are warm, with delineated highlights and predominantly lifelike complexions. Resolution and clarity is estimable although sharpness can be inconsistent. This appears innate and generally affects CGI derived sequences however it is not limited to them. When all is right images appear well resolved with discernible definition and fair rendering of fine detail during close up and mid level camera pans. I noticed a few noisy backgrounds and minor banding but neither rose to a deleterious level. It would probably be unfair to say that Green Lantern doesn't look good in high definition. It just doesn't look as good as it should.
Bonus Features:
Final Thoughts:
I had high hopes for Green Lantern, but unfortunately it suffers from an overdrawn script, bloated runtime and derivative superhero action. Having said that, I will admit that as a fan of Ryan Reynolds and the genre there are aspect of Green Lantern that I find entertaining. Green Lantern comes to Blu-ray from Warner Home Video in a three disc set that includes 3D/2D Blu-ray/DVD (the subject of this review) as well as a standard Blu-ray/DVD combo set. It features high definition video quality that will more than likely satisfy most viewers but will fall below the standards of critical videophiles.
I wasn't blown away by its 2D to 3D conversion which is lacking in the kind of involving dimensionality/effects that take full advantage of the format. Diehard 3D fans may find it adds an enjoyable element nonetheless. On a positive note it features an excellent DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio soundtrack, a strong supplemental package (including Warner's new Ultraviolet Digital Copy), and includes both the theatrical version and extended cut of the film. If you're a fan the decision to go with the 3D release will depend on how important that is to you. I can't recommend Green Lantern as a blind buy, but if you enjoy these types of films, it's probably worth a rental.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS50 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100 16x9 Screen
Onkyo PR-SC5508 THX Ultra 2 Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Furman SPR-20i Stable Power Regulator
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package
The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/3D Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
82
Studio and Year: Warner - 2011
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Feature running time: 123/114 minutes
Genre: Action/Fantasy
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC/MVC
Video Aspect: 2.40:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio, Spanish/French Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Tim Robbins, Mark Strong, Peter Sarsgaard, Angela Bassett, Jay O. Sanders
Directed by: Martin Campbell
Music by: James Newton Howard
Written by: Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, Marc Guggenheim, Michael Goldberg
Region Code: A,B,C
Blu-ray Disc release Date: October 14, 2011
"In brightest day, in blackest night"
Film Synopsis:
In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, an elite force of protectors for peace and justice has existed for centuries. They are the Green Lantern Corps. When a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of the Corps' newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds).
My Take:
Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal's humanity is one weapon no member of the Corps has ever had, and if with willpower, determination and the encouragement of fellow pilot and sweetheart Carol Ferris Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the resolve to overcome his inner conflict, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax but a worthy addition to the lineage of fearless heroism established by the Green Lanterns that have come before him. As a kid I wasn't much of a DC Comics fan BUT I did start out reading them and Green Lantern was among those that I picked up here and there. He was okay but I recall not being overly impressed with his powers especially since they were derived solely from his ring. When the film was announced I became interested when I learned that Ryan Reynolds was cast in the role. My son and I went and checked it out in the theater.
It's a CGI fest (not unexpected), with an ambitious scope that unfortunately can't be sustained by its relatively thin story. The setup is what you might expect, we meet our unsuspecting hero, see how/why he is chosen to become a Green Lantern, his transformation, and finally his encounter with his first foe. In between there is relationship melodrama (both romantic and interpersonal), a bit of background on the intergalactic Green Lantern corps, and storyline fragments pertaining to Hal's personal life, acceptance among his Green Lantern peers and a backstory on the villain Parallax and his connection to victim/minion Hector. I never really found myself immersed in the story. There are elements of humor that play to Reynolds' effecting charisma however they seem misplaced especially if you are at all familiar with the comic book. The development of the characters is fine but the narrative's focus gets watered down by too many inane obstacles and a bloated runtime. Parallax, the destroyer of worlds is pretty lame, as is his connection to Hector (and Hector's subplot, which falls into the inane obstacle category). The finale and the events leading up to it are corny both in explanation and execution not to mention lacking in sense based upon what transpired earlier in the film. The special effects are a mixed bag, but most of the time work well and coincide nicely with the source material. The plethora of characters (another inane obstacle) is played well enough by the cast but other than Reynolds few are given the opportunity to shine. This Blu-ray release contains both the theatrical version as well as an extended cut which adds an additional 9 minutes. Most of that is dedicated to footage on Hal's childhood and the events surrounding the death of his test pilot father (some of which is seen during flashbacks in the theatrical version). I don't think the additional material hindered or helped the outcome. I didn't dislike Green Lantern per se but found it to be a mundane superhero flick that barely has enough steam to qualify as a popcorn movie.
Parental Guide:
Both versions of the film contain intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 90
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency extension:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
3D Presentation: 74
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Depth (Onscreen):
- Dimension (Beyond the screen):
- Realism:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Color reproduction:
Green Lantern 3D comes to Blu-ray Disc from Warner Home Video featuring 1080p MVC encoded video and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 4.1 Mbps.
This film wasn't shot natively in 3D but was converted in post production for theatrical release. A large portion of the film is CGI based and/or shot against green screens and the reproduction of digital effects and their integration with live action is quite good. Depth onscreen ebbs and flows leaving certain shots with an appreciable sense of dimension as evidenced by the separation of objects and/or people layered in the foreground/background while others are noticeably devoid of those attributes and appear 2D by comparison. Apparent resolution is consistent with the 2D presentation with aspects that shine in high definition and those that are questionable. Similarly the film's multitude of low level sequences, don't hold up well and suffer from dynamically tweaked contrast, flat blacks and unresolved shadow detail. There is a distinct lack of 3D effects that transcend the boundaries of the screen which makes for a somewhat less involving experience especially for an action oriented film of this type. In terms of the reproduction of color and fleshtones this 3D presentation mimics the 2D version. The end result is a sporadic and unremarkable 3D video presentation.
It is hard not to be impressed with the innate quality of lossless surround sound. Warner utilizes DTS-HD Master Audio sound on their Blu-ray Disc releases and this is the type of film that benefits from its inherent attributes. Similar to my recollection of its theatrical presentation this makes for an engaging and active surround mix that has extended dynamic range that renders the film's action based elements with aplomb. The is several sequences that effectively transform the room into a three dimensional sound field filled with immersive 360 degree surround activity that engage the listening position from multiple directions. Low frequency effects produce deep, authoritative bass that energizes the room. Dialogue is reproduced with lucid expression and exacting clarity that produced just the slightest hint of sibilance in the upper registers. This is a rewarding and dynamically enhanced sound design that features high level sonic detail, excellent directional correlation, and rhythmically charged bass that makes for an involving audio presentation.
2D Video Quality:
Video: 84
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black level/Shadow detail:
- Color reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
Green Lantern comes to Blu-ray Disc from Warner Home Video featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 18 Mbps.
Thinking back to my experience with this film in the theater I would say that in general this presentation is similar. Overall I found it to be satisfactory but distinctly lacking when compared to the better high definition renderings of new release films that have come to Blu-ray. This isn't an especially bright film as many of its essential sequences take place in limited lighting and/or low level environs. Blacks are plenty deep but slightly crushed. Shadow detail isn't definitive and the dynamically tweaked contrast occasionally overdrives the image. Color balance is quite good as both primary and secondary hues are cleanly rendered with a pleasing level of saturation and depth. Skin tones are warm, with delineated highlights and predominantly lifelike complexions. Resolution and clarity is estimable although sharpness can be inconsistent. This appears innate and generally affects CGI derived sequences however it is not limited to them. When all is right images appear well resolved with discernible definition and fair rendering of fine detail during close up and mid level camera pans. I noticed a few noisy backgrounds and minor banding but neither rose to a deleterious level. It would probably be unfair to say that Green Lantern doesn't look good in high definition. It just doesn't look as good as it should.
Bonus Features:
Disc 1:
- 3D (Theatrical cut) version of Green Lantern
Disc 2:
- Theatrical and Extended cuts of Green Lantern
- (HD) Maximum Movie Mode (with Picture-in-picture pods): Green Lantern's light - It includes trivia, facts, inside/behind the scenes information, SFX breakdowns, cast/crew interviews, character related bios and more
- (HD) Focus points -
- The art of Green Lantern - 6 minutes
- Weapons hot: The U.C.A.V dog fight - 4 minutes
- Reinventing the superhero costume - 7 minutes
- Ring slinging 101 - 5 minutes
- We are the Corps - 5 minutes
- Acting under 10 pounds of silicone - 7 minutes
- Guardians revealed - 6 minutes
- When Parallax attacks - 4 minutes
- (HD) The universe according to Green Lantern - 20 minute featurette
- (HD) Ryan Reynolds becomes The Green Lantern - 9 minute featurette
- (HD) 5 Deleted scenes
- (HD) Justice League # 1 - 9 minute Digital Comic
- (HD) Green Lantern: The animated series - 9 minute preview
- ** New ** Ultraviolet Digital Copy of Green Lantern - Ultraviolet Digital Copy Allows consumers to instantly stream their movies from a digital cloud to computers, tablets, and smartphones.
- Bonus DVD of Green Lantern
- BD-Live access
Final Thoughts:
I had high hopes for Green Lantern, but unfortunately it suffers from an overdrawn script, bloated runtime and derivative superhero action. Having said that, I will admit that as a fan of Ryan Reynolds and the genre there are aspect of Green Lantern that I find entertaining. Green Lantern comes to Blu-ray from Warner Home Video in a three disc set that includes 3D/2D Blu-ray/DVD (the subject of this review) as well as a standard Blu-ray/DVD combo set. It features high definition video quality that will more than likely satisfy most viewers but will fall below the standards of critical videophiles.
I wasn't blown away by its 2D to 3D conversion which is lacking in the kind of involving dimensionality/effects that take full advantage of the format. Diehard 3D fans may find it adds an enjoyable element nonetheless. On a positive note it features an excellent DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio soundtrack, a strong supplemental package (including Warner's new Ultraviolet Digital Copy), and includes both the theatrical version and extended cut of the film. If you're a fan the decision to go with the 3D release will depend on how important that is to you. I can't recommend Green Lantern as a blind buy, but if you enjoy these types of films, it's probably worth a rental.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS50 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100 16x9 Screen
Onkyo PR-SC5508 THX Ultra 2 Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Furman SPR-20i Stable Power Regulator
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package