 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Green Lantern: First Flight
- Review Date: August 10, 2009
- PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Dark animated superhero yarn will entertain older viewers.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this animated film is a bit darker than most superhero cartoons. The villain, Sinestro, uses violence to intimidate people, tortures suspects, and isn’t above murdering his allies if they no longer fit into his plans. This casual brutality and menace makes him seem a shade more evil and more intense than most bad guys as he plots to rule the universe. There’s some minor swearing and even a scene that seems to involve an alien drug, so the film is probably a bit too much for younger viewers.
What's the story?
A mysterious spacecraft crashes on Earth bearing a mortally-wounded alien, whose final act is to pass on a very special ring to fighter pilot Hal Jordan (voiced by Christopher Meloni). To Jordan’s amazement, he discovers that the ring marks him as a member of the Green Lantern Corps, an ancient, intergalactic police force that was created by the Guardians of the Universe. Jordan soon meets some of his new comrades, including Sinestro (Victor Garber), a red-skinned Lantern with a mean streak and a secret agenda.
Is it any good?
GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT is an entertaining superhero yarn that manages to combine both the necessary secret-origin tale with a surprisingly complex story. Hal Jordan, the newest Green Lantern and the first Earthman ever recruited to the Corps, is fun to watch as he quickly figures out how to use his ring and learns his way around the galaxy. A key part of the story is Jordan’s gradual realization that his new partner Sinestro is plotting to overthrow the Guardians and install himself as ruler of the universe.
Sinestro is what sets this film apart from the standard superhero flick. Yes, he seeks ultimate power, but his motivations are more nuanced than the average super-villain; he thinks the Guardians have gone soft, and the universe needs a firmer hand that only he can provide. But as Jordan observes, Sinestro’s budding megalomania manifests itself while on the job as a Lantern, when he is eager to abuse his authority to wring information from a reluctant witness or even torture a suspect. The unusually dark Sinestro makes the film richer and more mature, and but is too much for younger kids.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about authority. The Green Lantern Corps report to the Guardians of the Universe, benevolent beings who try to maintain peace throughout the cosmos. The villain, Sinestro, believes they have gone soft, and that the only way to ensure harmony is for him to seize power. Do you think that an all-powerful ruler could be a good leader? Could this be an effective form of government, or do you think too much power would inevitably corrupt such a supreme leader?
Discuss animated violence. So many cartoons feature exaggerated fight scenes that destroy buildings but leave the participants unscratched. This film features torture, intimidation through violence, and even a cold-blooded murder. Do you think these scenes make the story more interesting, or less appealing to viewers? Does the violence make the movie comparable to a gritty live-action film? Does animation do justice to this style of violent storytelling?
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AGE
A good comic film.
I liked this film. Not as great as other, but still a solid animated comic film.
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AGE
Not that dark, some mild language
Not too bad. I saw it on television, so they cut out the language, but the violence isn't that bad either. If your kids can watch "Teen Titans" or "Justice League", they can watch this.
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Kid, 11 years old
June 19, 2011
AGE
Good movie
Loved the movie. Enjoyed watching with my 10 yr. old son. Had a positive message for kids. May be too scary for younger kids. Know your child and use your best judgement.
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AGE
Less-than-heroic language
I was disappointed that this movie contained profanity. It marred an otherwise good superhero film.
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AGE
I love this movie! There is gore in it whenever someone dies or is wounded but not very much. Green Lantern must convince the Guardians that Sinistro is evil and the movie is based on him doing that.
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Kid, 12 years old
February 14, 2012
AGE
Cool!
WATCH THIS MOVIE NOW!!!!!!
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| Topics: | superheroes |
| Studio: | Warner Home Video |
| Director: | Lauren Montgomery |
| Cast: | Christopher Meloni, Michael Madsen, Victor Garber |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 77 minutes |
| DVD release date: | July 28, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | sequences of sci-fi action violence. |
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