By Malice Intended

Cartoons are a natural fit for the world of comic books heroes.  One wonders why the major studios that release adaptations of our favorite comics haven’t produced more big-budget cartoons for the big screen.  Animation allows for the suspension of disbelief that often eludes live-action productions.  Live action films go to great pains to get audiences to “buy into” the often outlandish costumes and ideas presented.  Why go to all that trouble when artists and animators can do so much more easily?

Green Lantern: First Flight is based on the DC comics character of the same name. As the story opens, test pilot Hal Jordan (voiced by Christopher Meloni) is on a seemingly routine flight when a downed alien spacecraft “summons” his plane.  Upon uncovering the dying pilot of the craft, Hal Jordan is unwittingly inducted into the “Green Lantern Corps”.  The Green Lantern Corps functions as a police force for the universe, with each individual officer given his own “sector” to defend.  The Corp does not discriminate as the officers represent every alien race conceivable.  The officers are all equipped with rings that enable them with a vast array of superpowers.  Jordan is put under the tutelage of Sinestro (voiced by Victor Garber) as many are skeptical of his ability to live up to Corps standards.  Hal Jordan soon learns that a conspiracy is afoot that could destroy the core and threaten the universe.  So goes the first ever adventure of The Green lantern.

The DC Heroes have always been larger than life in the broadest sense of the word.  Many of them have powers befitting a god, and the dilemmas they face are often downright outlandish.    Over the past 17 years, Producer Bruce Timm has allowed these characters a smooth and seamless transition to the world of animation by creating cartoon series and animated features that are both completely true to the source material and transcendent.  He continues that tradition here, as Green Lantern: First Flight provides a good jumping on point for both die-hard fans and new comers.  Director Lauren Montgomery keeps the story moving along with energy and speed.

The simple but distinct character designs found in Bruce Timm’s productions have always been part of their charm.  The designs aren’t very detailed but they allow for both fluidity and economy of movement.  There don’t appear to be many frames used, but Bruce’s team gets the most out of them.  The designs also give the characters a sense of mass and weight, which adds an extra punch (no pun intended) to the fight scenes.

The voice work is solid throughout.  As Hal Jordan, Christopher Meloni strikes a balance between cockiness and the old school values associated with heroism.  As Sinestro, Victor Garber finds a tone and vocal cadence that perfectly fits the design and facial expressions of the character.  Sinestro is overly ambitious and driven to the point of relentlessness.  At first these qualities are presented in a way that is designed to make the viewer take them for granted.  Garber does a good job of slightly hinting at what lies ahead without completely telegraphing the punch.

If Green Lantern: First Flight has a weak link, it is Hal Jordan himself.  Aside from the powers bestowed on him by the ring, and the extraordinary situation he finds himself in, Hal just isn’t very interesting.  He seems to have no internal conflicts to speak of, and often comes across as more clueless than anything.  This has the affect of making some of his super heroic deeds seem kind of weightless as there doesn’t seem to be much motivating aside from Hal’s innate goodness.  I assume this will be rectified in future installments as the character is more fleshed out.

Green Lantern: First Flight is a solid superhero fable.  It manages to be a good origin story without getting bogged down in the expository baggage that weighs down most origin stories.  It jumps head long into the world of its hero and never looks back, carrying the audience along for the ride.  It features fights and conflicts big and small, bouncing from one end of the galaxy to the other.  It accomplishes all of this with seemingly little effort.  Score one more for Bruce Timm and his team.

Out of 5

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