* CompleteMonster: [[Characters/GLRedLanternCorps Atrocitus]] is a [[AdaptationalVillainy terrorist]] who has been imprisoned on an abandoned world for 700 years. Killing the first person who crash lands there, he commences a killing spree of [[SpacePolice Green Lanterns]] by making them overuse their [[ImaginationBasedSuperpower power rings]] so he can butcher them at his leisure. When his fourth target, [[TheHero Abin Sur]], manages to defeat Atrocitus, Atrocitus tries to smash the Lantern's power battery to [[TakingYouWithMe take the planet with him]]. After Atrocitus is captured, he tries to break Abin Sur by prophesying his best friend's fall to evil.
* EnsembleDarkhorse: Mogo, no surprise there.
** Laira was also quite well-received.
** Watchet is a highlight of ''The First Lantern'' for her interesting design, and being a tough fighter, and downplayed mentor figure to Avra.
* FridgeLogic: Galius Zed makes a cameo in Laira's story as [[DeathByOriginStory her predecessor]], but he also appears alive and well among the other Green Lanterns in the main story.
** Though this could have been another of his species, or even an interpretation of Galius Zed's short-lived successor Cundiff Cood.
* HilariousInHindsight: Creator/NathanFillion as Hal Jordan is a lot funnier if you've seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hTiRnqnvDs this]] back in 2009.
* HoYay: Sinestro and Abin Sur have this in spades.
** By extension, Hal and Sinestro. Their relationship in this movie is the friendliest compared to other incarnations. Hal even says the one Green Lantern he would trust the most to fight by his side would be Sinestro.
* IronWoobie: Laira. She discovers that her father has been massacring his enemies, and is forced to fight him in order to put a stop to it. Even though she wins, [[spoiler:she is still helpless to stop him from killing himself in the hopes of regaining his lost honor]]. All things considered, she holds up very well.
* NightmareFuel: The Shadow Demons. What they do to a Green Lantern at the start of the film is nothing short of horrific.
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