The world of superheroes can sometimes be a bit random and chaotic, especially when it comes to how a hero acquires their "powers." "Green Lantern," released this past weekend, is a bit different from most in that its primary protagonist was actually chosen to receive his gifts.
Many of the most popular superheroes stumble upon their powers – Spider-Man is randomly bitten by a radioactive spider, the X-Men are a product of genetics, and Superman was simply born a superhero. Yet the Green Lantern series of comic books, and the first films in the series, put a greater emphasis on brain potential and positive attributes like willpower and imagination.
In the film, Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) is given a power ring by a dying alien, who is a member of the Green Lanterns. The ring grants Jordan the power to create almost anything his mind can dream up, making him incredibly powerful. However, he must ultimately be taught to use this ability by the other members of the Lanterns, who are all aliens.
While not explored as much in the recent films, the comic books actually feature a broad spectrum of Lanterns – everything from evil Yellow Lanterns to undead Black Lanterns. Each color is tied to a certain aspect of being, with Green's corresponding emotion being willpower.
Thus, someone without willpower would be useless if given the ring. Rather than simply being granted immense power, the ring actually "chooses" Jordan for his willpower and imagination – effectively demonstrating the power of brain potential in a superhero film.
