Sat laying in wait for a long, long time, The Green Hornet was finally shot by Michel Gondry, a director who's work I am not familiar with except Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind. From what I have seen in these two films, I am not a fan. I don't mean to start off negative but I feel its the only way to start with this film. There are a few positives and we will get to them later.
The film had all the makings of a great one. It has the stupidly rich lead male trying to make his mark on the world, the small foreign arse-kicking, kung fu, bond car making side kick/coffee boy(Chinese pop star Jay Chou) and of course the Russian villain hell bent on taking over the world(Christoph Waltz), but for some reason they have taken all this potential and turned it into a cheesy 2 hour crapfest.Instead of taking the serious and moody masked crime fighter route that looks to be prevailing recently they have tried to make a camp and comedic 60's style super hero film. The trouble is that the film isn't funny, a lot of jokes are just simply Seth Rogan getting hit in the balls, which is coincidently is how I felt after paying to see this film in 3D. The little 3D that was offered in this film was just about acceptable for a film these days. The best 3D in the entire film was the closing credits, and they weren't even that great. I was honestly more impressed with the 3D in 'Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs'.
Most of the acting was at best poor, I was disappointed with Rogan as I am a big fan, I can't even blame it on a bad script as he wrote it. From the start when he is a drunken party boy heir to the fortune right up until the end I couldn't help but think that he could be so much more!
I did mention before that there are some good points and I think its about time I talk about them. My favourite thing about this film was the main villain's double-barrelled 9mm pistol, I don't know much about the original radio show or the TV show from the 60's so I don't know if it was just taken straight from there but I think it was great, something that I haven't seen before and probably wont ever see again because on the off chance a sequel gets made I will be steering well clear of it. My second favourite thing about this movie is 'The Black Beauty'. There is something about a car with guns and gadgets that I just can't help but love, maybe it all goes back to James Bond or maybe its just a boy thing that when the roar of an engine is mixed with twin miniguns you can't help be feel like a 10 year old. A notable mention goes out to James Franco for his cameo as the hip new drug lord trying to take over from Bloodnofski, only to be blown to bits after a confrontation with 'nofski' himself.
But these few high points aren't enough to keep The Green Hornet afloat in the sea of superhero films that are emerging in recent times (I realise that The Green Hornet is just a rich guy not a 'super' hero but the same is true for the caped crusader known as Bruce Wayne and yet he is labelled a superhero).Overall this film is a flop and if you were hoping to get a buzz out of this film you will find yourself stung. I would go see this film if you are between the ages of 8 and 14 or you just want to watch explosions and bullets. If its a good film and intense hero plot line your after then go buy Batman Begins.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
No comments:
Post a Comment