Directors: Christopher Berkeley, Lauren Montgomery
Writers: Michael Green, Marc Guggenheim 
Stars: Nathan Fillion, Jason Isaacs, Elisabeth Moss

I have a hunch that DC and WB decided to give the world a sneak peek before the release of the live-action Green Lantern movie. Ironically, in my humble opinion, “Green Lantern: Emerald Knights” shines brighter than the Ryan Reynolds extravaganza. Now, don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a cinematic masterpiece, nor is it a total trainwreck. I’d say it’s more like a lovingly crafted fan film for the Green Lantern faithful. On a personal note, I found “Green Lantern: First Flight” pretty solid, but I digress.

So, “Green Lantern: Emerald Knights” unfolds as a well-spun yarn. The story kicks into gear as the home planet of the Green Lantern Corps gears up for a showdown with an ancient nemesis. Hal Jordan (Nathan Fillion), with his signature ring, must groom the new recruit Arisia (Elisabeth Moss) for the impending fracas by regaling her with tales of the first Green Lantern and a bunch of Hal’s cosmic comrades. It’s a neat trick, weaving these comic book escapades that casual fans might’ve missed into the narrative. If you’re like me, a bit of a casual fan, you might be listening to Jordan’s yarns with the same wide-eyed wonder as Arisia. It’s a pretty clever way to tell the story. The side stories are genuinely engaging and keep you hooked throughout the movie. Yes, some of the alien characters and their animations, as well as their voices, might be a touch on the silly side at times. But hey, storytelling remains king, and it sure gave me a deeper understanding of this universe.

The voice cast, as is usually the case with these DC animated flicks, is top-notch. Nathan Fillion makes a comeback (you might remember him as Steve Trevor in “Wonder Woman” from 2009), Jason Isaacs steps into the role of Sinestro (previously, he voiced Ra’s al Ghul in 2010’s “Batman: Under the Red Hood”), Elisabeth Moss takes on Arisia (I believe this was her first and only foray into the DC Animated Universe), Arnold Vosloo of Mummy fame lends his voice to Abin Sur (previously he voiced Bar-El in “All-Star Superman” from 2011), and Henry Rollins voices Kilowog (Rollins, a seasoned voice actor, boasts a long list of animated features, including a stint on “Batman: The Brave and the Bold”). It’s clear that most of the cast has either comic book animation or live-action experience under their belts, and it shows in their stellar voice acting. Throughout the DC Animated Universe films, the voice actors have consistently delivered top-notch performances and proved that even with just their voices, they’re capable of playing at the highest level.

The action scenes are a high-octane thrill ride, with a rather graphic opening that sets the tone for the film. The vibrant colors work well in the film’s favor, and I was confident that with Christopher Berkeley (known for “The Batman” TV series) and Lauren Montgomery (who’s helmed several DC animations) in the director’s chairs, we were in for a treat. I might be imagining things, but I’m almost certain that each flashback features a different animation style to help us keep track of the storytelling. Although some of the alien creatures might look downright goofy, I won’t hold it against them because the storytelling is the real star here. The animation of Hal and Arisia’s interactions during the storytelling has that traditional comic book feel, and it’s clear that both characters come across as teacher and student, just as intended.

In the grand scheme of things, “Green Lantern: Emerald Knights” might’ve been made with the hardcore fanbase in mind, but newcomers like me can still dive in, pick up the plot easily, and get a crash course in the backstory of the other Green Lantern Corps characters and the broader universe they inhabit.

For me, “Green Lantern: First Flight” was an overall enjoyable experience, but when it comes to storytelling, “Emerald Knights” is one of the best in the DC Animated Universe. I’d recommend watching the DC animated films chronologically to build up to this gem from Christopher Berkeley and Lauren Montgomery. Trust me, it’s well worth the watch. Highly recommended!

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