Review:The Green Hornet
Last Updated on Saturday, 12 February 2011 12:58 Written by John Sunday, 16 January 2011 23:19
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Well I had the opportunity to see the big screen adaptation of The Green Hornet recently and to be honest I wasn’t blown away as I was hoping I would be. While Seth Rogen gave a good performance as the title character, the breakaway star in this was Taiwanese singer/actor Jay Chou in his first Hollywood production as Kato in a role originally made famous in the 1960’s TV series by the late Bruce Lee. The character of the Green Hornet AKA Brit Reid started out as a radio serial drama in the 1940’s but most people remember the Green Hornet from the 26 TV episodes that aired in 1966-1967 which stared Van Williams as Brit Reid/The Green Hornet and Bruce Lee. The TV series while done in the camp that was the 1960’s was a more serious take on the characters than this film. The movie started out strong but a weak script and too many comedic moments made the film drag in the center. Not even Academy Award Winning actor Christoph Waltz could save this film. Cameron Diaz was miscast in this, but I have to say I am not the biggest Cameron Diaz fan in the world so I am probably biased here. The script was written by Rogen and Evan Goldberg and the film was directed by Michel Gondry. It is also safe to say that this film has been in developmental hell for at least 20 years. I remember back in the 1990’s picking up a screen play for a green hornet film with George Clooney attached to play the role. So I give kudos to Rogen for getting this film made. It did stay true to some aspects of the TV and radio drama. Most importantly the gadgets and the third star of the movie (imo) the rolling arsenal known as the Black Beauty. I feel that the movie would have been better if Kevin Smith had written this film. It is worth at least one viewing.
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It is also safe to say that this film has been in developmental hell for at least 20 years. I remember back in the 1990’s picking up a screen play for a green hornet film with George Clooney attached to play the role. So I give kudos to Rogen for getting this film made.
It did stay true to some aspects of the TV and radio drama. Most importantly the gadgets and the third star of the movie (imo) the rolling arsenal known as the Black Beauty.
I feel that the movie would have been better if Kevin Smith had written this film. It is worth at least one viewing.