Editor Stuart Baird does it again. With two Oscar nominations to his name (for Superman and Gorillas in the Mist), he’s an artist more than overdue for recognition. His impressive output within the action genre continues with Green Lantern, a tale of cosmic anarchy directed by Martin Campbell.

What the film lacks in originality, it makes up for in gumption. Pilot Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) is chosen by Green Lantern Guardian Abin Sur (Temuera Morrison) to succeed him. That includes wearing an all-powerful ring to prevent an evil presence called Parallax from wreaking havoc in the galaxy. Naturally, there’s a woman involved – Jordan’s childhood sweetheart, Carol Ferris (The Town’s Blake Lively), whose love/hate relationship with Jordan seems to change overnight when the latter makes a bold display of his new powers.

Seeing Reynolds transform from a relative failure to the man of the hour, all clad in green, instantly lets us know what type of movie Campbell is trying to make. Green Lantern pokes gentle fun at the genre of comic book adaptations. Where some may be dark (like the graphic novel Sin City), Green Lantern stays light and true to the spirit of Saturday morning pictures.

I must confess my bias upfront and state that actress Blake Lively steals the picture for me. She exhibits a wonderful sense of control and calm in the more perilous scenes. She avoids the scream tactics of many past heroines and makes sure to leave a lasting impression. Meanwhile, Ryan Reynolds applies humour to the proceedings. There’s even a character arc and some good dialogue here. As he grows from the reluctant chosen one to the hero he’s meant to be, it feels believable.

Covered up in ghoulish make-up, Peter Sarsgaard also shines as Dr. Hector Hammond, a man who becomes exposed to Parallax’s powers when doing an autopsy on Abin Sur. His oversized head and telepathic powers lead to some insights into his psychological state. Basically, Hammond is an outsider -- always has been -- who now has the chance to be the center of attention. Sarsgaard brings some emotion to an unsentimental character while maintaining a cold front.

Composer James Newton Howard also excels in this nod to the Superman theme, made famous by contemporary John Williams. Howard’s smooth string writing sets the tone very nicely during one love scene. Like the previous year’s Salt (2010), Green Lantern gives Howard the opportunity to show his versatility. He’s by no means an unassuming composer who only writes gentle melodies like the kind heard in Unbreakable (2000) and Lady in the Water (2006). He can do propulsive action music as well. If anything, the film proves he is on a par with Hans Zimmer, his Dark Knight collaborator.

The screenplay for Green Lantern finds writers Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, Marc Guggenheim and Michael Goldenberg directing their work at a certain audience. Young kids will love the film and adults are likely to have a good time, too.

(Released by Warner Bros. Pictures and rated "PG-13" for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action.)