Green Lantern: Emerald Knights

Green Lantern: Emerald Knightsis a 2011 Americananimatedsuperhero filmthat tells various stories featuring members ofGreen Lantern Corps,includingAbin Sur,Laira,Kilowog,andMogo.It was released on June 7, 2011.While not a direct sequel toFirst Flight,the film uses the same character designs and includes a cameo byCh'p,who had a speaking role in the previous film.

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights
Cover of the U.S. Blu-ray
Directed by	Christopher Berkeley Lauren Montgomery Jay Oliva
Written by	Eddie Berganza Alan Burnett Todd Casey Dave Gibbons Michael Green Marc Guggenheim Geoff Johns Peter Tomasi
Based on	Hal Jordan by John Broome Gil Kane
Produced by	Donald De Line Greg Berlanti Lauren Montgomery
Starring	Nathan Fillion Jason Isaacs Elizabeth Moss Henry Rollins Arnold Vosloo
Edited by	Margaret Hou
Music by	Christopher Drake
Production companies	Warner Premiere DC Entertainment Warner Bros. Animation
Distributed by	Warner Home Video
Release date	June 7, 2011(2011-06-07)
Running time	84 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

It is the eleventh film released under theDC Universe Animated Original Moviesbanner. It is also the second DC Animated Movie followingBatman: Gotham Knightto feature ananthologyformat, though unlike the latter, it features a single, uniform animation and visual style and anoverall linking story.Animation was outsourced toStudio 4°C,JM Animation andStudio Pierrot.The film received mixed-to-positive reviews with many critics praising the animation, voice acting, and action sequences, but criticizing the story and characterization.

Two of the stories ( "Mogo Doesn't Socialize" and "Abin Sur" ) were based on comic stories written byAlan Moore,who has a standing policy of not allowing his name to be used in the credits when his stories are adapted to other media. Although it uses the same name, it has no relation with the 1998 comic bookEmerald Knights.

Despite the film featuring a standalone story,Nathan Fillionwould later reprise the Green Lantern role in several DC films, particularly theDC Animated Movie Universe.

Plot

The sun of theGreen Lantern Corps' homeworld,Oa,is becoming a gateway for an anti-matter entity calledKrona.In response, theGuardians of the Universestart evacuating Oa of all valuables, such as the Central Battery. While in line to charge their power rings before the Battery is removed, new recruitArisia Rrabadmits she lacks faith in her abilities. Hearing this,Hal Jordantells her the story of the first Green Lantern.

Green Lantern

Avra, the Guardians' humblescribe,was chosen by one of the Corps' first four power rings despite not being a warrior. He,G'Hu,WachetandBluare tasked with stopping theDominators,but Blu is killed in battle. Nonetheless, Avra uses his imagination to create the first ring construct and lead his allies in destroying the Dominator fleet. Since then, shaping constructs from the power rings became the standard operating procedure. After his death, Avra's ring is passed down through the years, eventually coming intoAbin Surand Jordan's possession.

At present, Jordan and Arisia meetKilowog,the Green Lantern Corps' head drill sergeant. Jordan tells her not to fear Kilowog and recounts the story of Kilowog's own trainer.

Kilowog

SergeantDeegan trained the rookie Kilowog, among others, by removing their power rings and putting them into deadly situations. An angry Kilowog accused Deegan of not valuing his trainees' lives before they and the recruits were called to defend a nearby planet from theKhunds.Deegan abandoned Kilowog to lead the other recruits, ordering them to protect the refugees while he fought the invaders. Once Kilowog caught up, Deegan had been mortally wounded. Before he died, the latter revealed he was doing what was best for the rookies and passed hisauthorityto Kilowog, who completed the mission.

Jordan and Arisia arrive at a border patrol at the sun to await Krona's return, where they hear a prophecy fromLaira,whereupon Jordan shares Laira's story.

Laira

For her first solo mission, Laira was sent back to her homeworld, Jayd, to address war crimes committed by her people. After learning they were ordered by her father, who was driven into rage and jealousy after her ring chose her instead of him, she eventually defeated him in combat, after which he admitted she had truly become an adult before committingritual suicideto maintain his honor. He died in a tearful Laira's arms, claiming that she was Jayd's true protector, not him.

Back at the border patrol, every Lantern extant is called to await Krona's return, with the apparent exception ofMogo.When Arisia asks who Mogo is, Jordan explains.

Mogo Doesn't Socialize

The warmongerBolphungasought to fight and kill the universe's most powerful warriors. After his latest opponent tells him he will never defeat Mogo, Bolphunga traveled to a mysterious planet in search of him. He spent weeks tracking a plethora of powerful energy signatures, but his search proved fruitless and he planted explosives to flush out Mogo. However, Bolphunga soon discovered Mogo is the planet itself as the latter extinguished the bombs and captured him before he can escape.

At Oa's sun, Hal and Arisia are attacked by Krona's Shadow Demons and rescued bySinestro,who speaks of the prophecy that Oa will be destroyed and relates a story of Abin.

Abin Sur

While capturingAtrocitus,Abin and Sinestro discussed Atrocitus' prophecies, with Sinestro insisting that he does not believe in destiny. Abin took Atrocitus to the prison planet Ysmault, where Atrocitus spoke of Abin's imminent death, Sinestro's betrayal, and the formation of a fear-based Lantern Corps. Refusing to believe his friend would do so, Abin imprisoned Atrocitus.

Emerald Knights

As Krona emerges, the Corps fight his shadow demons but suffer heavy casualties. While regrouping, Arisia devises a plan to kill Krona with an equal or greater amount of matter to counter his anti-matter. The Corps fall back to Oa and push it towards the sun. The Shadow Demons kill more of their number until Mogo arrives to assist his comrades, killing Krona and destroying Oa. In the aftermath, Mogo agrees to become the Green Lantern Corps' temporary base until they build a new Oa while Arisia receives an entry in theBook of Oafor her ingenuity.

Cast

• Nathan FillionasHal Jordan / Green Lantern
• Elisabeth MossasArisia Rrab
• Jason IsaacsasSinestro
• Henry RollinsasKilowog
• Kelly HuasLaira
• Roddy Piperas Bolphunga
• Arnold VoslooasAbin Sur
• Tony Amendolaas Kentor, Appa Ali Apsa(uncredited)
• Steve Blumas Kloba Vud, Palaqua(uncredited),Ranakar(uncredited),G'Hu(uncredited),Additional Voices
• Grey DeLisleas Ree'Yu, Ardakian Trawl(uncredited),Boodikka(uncredited)
• Michael JacksonasGanthet
• Peter JessopasSalaak
• David Kaufmanas Rubyn
• Sunil Malhotra as Bolphunga's Ship
• Andrea Romanoas Abin Sur's Ring, Deegan's Ring(uncredited)
• Jane Singer as Wachet
• James Arnold TaylorasTomar-Re
• Bruce ThomasasAtrocitus
• Bruce Timmas Galius Zed(uncredited)
• Mitchell Whitfieldas Avra
• Wade Williamsas Deegan
• Gwendoline Yeoas Blu

Related media

In the animated seriesYoung Justice,in the episode "War" of its second season, exactly the same designs used in the previous filmFirst Flightand inEmerald Knightsfor the various alien races appearing were also used in the first scenes of the episode, which involves one of the Green Lanterns from Earth,John Stewart.

Reception

The movie has received a mostly mixed to positive reception. Joey Esposito ofIGNpraised the film's visuals, voice acting, and action sequences, but criticized its thin plot and characterization. Esposito felt that it was difficult to connect emotionally with the characters, and asserted thatEmerald Knightswas best watched by established fans of the Green Lantern comics series.In a review forDVD Talk,Jamie Rich also praised the animation and action sequences, while panning the film's storyline. Rich also recommended the film to "true Lantern fans" in particular.On the other hand, Alan Kistler ofNewsaramacalled it "a solid feature [that] should be enjoyed by any Green Lantern fan, as well as anyone who knows nothing about the comic and wants to learn."Joseph Szadkowski ofThe Washington Timespraised the design decisions made in the making of the movie and, specifically, called the fight between Laira and her father one of the best animated hand-to-hand combat sequences that he had ever seen.

Green Lantern: Emerald Knightsearned $3,468,925 from domestic home video DVD sales and $2,228,971 from domestic Blu-ray sales, bringing its total domestic home video earnings to $5,697,896.

External links

• Official website
• Green Lantern: Emerald KnightsatIMDb
• Green Lantern: Emerald Knightsat The World's Finest