Directed by Jeff Wamester and featuring the voice talents of Aldis Hodge, Jimmi Simpson, and Nolan North, Green Lantern: Beware My Power is an animated sci-fi adventure movie, based on the popular DC Comics character of the same name. The film – the latest instalment in Warner Bros.’ DC Universe Animated Original Movies series – is available to rent or buy on digital platforms from today and follows the story of John Stewart, the newest recruit into the intergalactic police force, known as the Green Lantern Corps.
In the movie, John Stewart is on his way home when he witnesses an alien vessel crash land on Earth. After investigating the crash site, and briefly meeting an alien lifeform before he passes away, Stewart is given a powerful ring.
The ring grants John Stewart the abilities of a Green Lantern. He can form hard light objects at will, and he can fly.
After the ring transports him into space, Stewart soon discovers he is the last of the Green Lantern Corps. All the previous GLs appear to have been killed, with their deaths connected to a powerful doomsday weapon which could threaten every life throughout the universe.
Working with fellow heroes, Green Arrow, Hawkgirl, and Adam Strange, John Stewart attempts to get to the bottom of the deaths, uncovering a sinister plot along the way. But can this new Green Lantern prove he has what it takes to become the hero the universe needs or is every being in existence doomed?
Featuring some slick animation, and plenty of action, Green Lantern: Beware My Power is a fun, adventure-filled sci-fi romp. It is a movie which works for long-time fans of Green Lantern, as well as those who are new to the character.
The aim of the film is to set up John Stewart as the new Lantern, so acts in large part as an origin tale. However, this movie is also about reworking the Green Lantern mythology here and there, to give things a bit of a shake-up, while at the same time pitting Stewart against a formidable and familiar foe.
The story gives the movie the opportunity to include some lesser-used heroes in Hawkgirl, Adam Strange, and Green Arrow, and this proves to be rather good. DC animated movies often favour Superman and Batman over other characters, so this film provides a nice little break from the norm and a chance for some fan-favourite heroes to shine, by ditching the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight.
Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Superman and Batman action, but I do enjoy watching other DC heroes on screen. The inclusion of Adam Strange in this movie in particular was something which I appreciated greatly, and I really liked his character design.
Having watched the previous Green Lantern animated movies (2009’s First Flight, 2011’s Emerald Knights, etc), I half expected this film to be a bit of a re-tread of what’s come before, with John Stewart spending 90-minutes learning the ways of the Green Lantern Corps. But this isn’t what Green Lantern: Beware My Power is all about, and while it does feature some exposition about the Corps, it isn’t Lantern heavy.
The film provides enough background to the Corps to fill in the blanks, but then takes the central hero off in a new direction. It essentially provides a starting point for new Green Lantern adventures, by wiping the slate clean of everything before.
Yes, at times the storytelling does play out a bit like a television pilot (albeit for a series I wouldn’t mind watching), but as the story develops it does become more filmic. The movie takes advantage of the space setting, to lean into the grander sci-fi elements of the character, and there are some good visuals throughout.
The final showdown between John Stewart and the movie’s chief villain is also quite strong. Once again, the character design work here is a lot of fun.
While I don’t believe Green Lantern: Beware My Power is the greatest DC animated movie of all-time, and it could benefit from some more depth in the story department, this is enjoyable stuff. Green Lantern: Beware My Power understands its audience, has a firm handle on its tone and its characterisation, and delivers enough story to keep things interesting.
If you are a fan of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies, then this latest one should tick all the right boxes for you. After the somewhat disappointing Catwoman: Hunted (2022), as well as the divisive Injustice (2021), Green Lantern: Beware My Power offers a bit more stability and reliability, and that’s certainly not a bad thing.
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