For all the backlash aimed at 2011's Green Lantern film, it's actually a film that got some things right; and those things it did incredibly well. With recent talk out of the industry that a sequel is, for all intents and purposes, a "no-go," we here at What Culture take a quick look back at the film and those few things that it got right with the silver screen production of the Green Lantern universe...
5. Casting (And The Role Of Sinestro)
The casting and creation of the Sinestro character for the Green Lantern film was probably the one thing that was done completely and absolutely correct and spot-on for the 2011 film. Casting Mark Strong as Sinestro was a homerun; he commanded the screen in each and every scene he was in. You were drawn to him every single time he was in the frame, as a viewer looking for guidance as to where Lantern part of the story would lead us to next. He was relatable as our hero (initially), and believable as our ultimate anti-hero, falling into the darkness in search of the Yellow Ring and its power and control over the emotion of fear. We, for one, were looking forward to his descent into madness within the yellow hue, and his ultimate one on one with Hal Jordan as a result. And for the most part, the casting of the film itself was actually well done. Say what you will about Ryan Reynolds, but he was not miscast in this role. Hal Jordan is funny, comedic, and brash; Ryan Reynolds is all of these things in most of the roles he's had in his career. Couple with him the breathtaking Blake Lively as the headstrong Carol Ferris (Ferris/Star Sapphire is drop dead gorgeous in the comics), Strong as Sinestro, and Peter Saarsgard as Hector Hammond, and the core cast was pretty well put together. While the writing of the characters suffered some in transition from page to screen as DC Comics raced to try and match pace with Marvel's Phase One films, i.e. Iron Man, Hulk, etc. However, this miscued rush was not at the fault of the cast.