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Parents' Guide to

Green Lantern: Beware My Power

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Superhero origin story has violence, some language.

Movie PG-13 2022 88 minutes
Green Lantern: Beware My Power Movie Poster

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

In GREEN LANTERN: BEWARE MY POWER, John Stewart (Aldis Hodge) is a former Marine struggling with PTSD. One night, while returning from the store, a spaceship crashes on his street, and when he goes to investigate, he finds what appears to be a dying alien and a mysterious ring that floats until it insinuates itself on Stewart's finger. Not wanting to wear this ring or to live up to the responsibilities of being the newest member of the Green Lantern Corps, Stewart wants the ring gone, but the only way to do that is to be taken to the Justice League Watchtower. Upon arrival, Stewart learns that the ring belonged to Hal Jordan, and Stewart meets Green Arrow (Jimmi Simpson), Martian Manhunter (Ike Amadi), and Vixen. As circumstances lead to Stewart keeping the ring on his finger (for now), he learns that Jordan is believed to be dead, and his death has something to do with battles taking place on Oa. Stewart and Green Arrow go to Oa, where they confront and then work with Hawkgirl, as they find themselves in the middle of a confusing galactic war filled with rogue technology and shifting alliances.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Here's yet another origin story that's overwhelming in its needless complexity. Green Lantern: Beware My Power starts off simple enough: A former soldier has reluctantly become the newest member of the Green Lantern Corps. After that, much of the story is inaccessible if you're not a DCU superfan, and even then, the balance between lengthy backstory monologues and superhero/supervillain battles royale is out of whack, and by the time we get to the "plot twist," it shouldn't surprise anyone, although some superfans are likely to get miffed.

In terms of positives, this movie is part of a larger trend toward greater diversity in superheroes. However, this aspect is overshadowed by the fact that this is just another origin story -- and it's starting to feel like the writers and studio are unable or unwilling to come up with anything besides either origin stories or alternate universes where familiar characters are in unfamiliar roles (Clark Kent as an Orlando Magic power forward instead of a newspaperman, Bruce Wayne as a Parisian during the French Revolution, etc.). It's becoming tiresome, and if this movie is any indication, it's past time for the DCU to deliver something new.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about diversity and representation in Green Lantern: Beware My Power. Why is diversity and representation important in movies, and why might it be particularly important in superhero stories?

  • How is this similar to and different from other superhero origin stories you've seen or read?

  • Did the violence seem necessary to the movie, or was it excessive? Why?

Movie Details

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