Green Hornet Review Spoiler Free

[MIB41]

The sophomore weekend will give us the consensus. The first weekend is always manipulated by front-end hype and marketing. From here on, it's word of mouth.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Green Hornet is doing well at the box office, despite kickback from some diehard fans.

'Green Hornet' Kicks Into Top Gear Over MLK Weekend - Box Office Mojo

Now next weekend, it may plummet, who knows. But its off to a successful start.

Chris

[MIB41]

Look,

I'm not saying it isn't going to be enjoyable for some people, but from my own personal point of view, I look at film as a director's medium. I strive to make something artistic and visionary every time I get behind the camera. Does that mean I would never make a studio movie? No, If I ever get the opportunity to do that, and it was the right material for me, sure I'd do it. I'd love to simply have that experience and I know that I wouldn't have creative control. I'd prefer to make independent films, but the problem with that is, I don't want to be poor for the rest of my life.

This is always a double edged sword that frankly, IS my life. I have all these projects out there in "the ether" and if or when those scripts get financial backing, the can of worms will then be open and you take it a day at a time. This was "Hunter Prey", and I'm sure it will be the next one... That's just the film making process.

When I watched TGH, I just couldn't help thinking how much more a movie it could have been. How the source material could have been respected more and thus treated like a real dramatic film, that had some comedic scenes or instances in it, instead of the absolute farce that it was.

It helps to understand how Hollywood works and how these movies get greenlit and then get made. It's all about packaging, not in the literal sense of the word, but in the sense that a package of people, resources and money are usually built around a "talent". In this case; Seth Rogen. So a particular studio executive or high level producer wants to make a movie with Seth because they feel he's bankable, or maybe just because they like him. So... They set out to find what they call a "vehicle" for Seth Rogen. They start looking through all the scripts that are either in turnaround or have been sitting on a studio shelf somewhere, to see where and how they can "fit" Seth into it. TGH comes across his or her desk and even though Seth Rogen is completely wrong for the part, they think it could work because what they'll do is "build" the movie around him and play to his strengths. In other words, make it a comedy and turn the character into a bumbling idiot. Perfect!

My real beef with the film is this; Instead of finding something more suited for Seth Rogen, or God forbid, hiring a writer to actually write and develop something for him, they "plug him in" to TGH and make a stupid movie. I like Seth Rogen. He's funny... I liked "Knocked Up", "Fanboys" and the Adam Sandler one he did. But really, come on... Is he the Green Hornet??? Really??? In my opinion, no.

Whatever, I'm done...

SC

Thanks for your review and industry perspective Sandy. To me, Seth Rogen looked like a guy who was trying to take advantage of the popularity in this genre and thought he could get away with it by using a character that hasn't been in the spotlight for some time. I honestly don't think they expected the kind of kickback from fans or those who take this genre seriously and expect some reverence to the material.

[kennermike]

You would Think after Christopher Nolan presented Batman Begins and The Dark Knight and how people really were drawn to the way he respected the material other studios would have picked up on that Sony needs to take a lesson from WB at the moment

[starsky]

that's a great point sandy. in this case, seth actually wrote the script and presented it to sony who then said "hey, we can plug seth's script for the green hornet!" especially since the studios have been looking for a script and trying to capitalize on this franchise. and that's how seth became the green hornet because they're using his script.

[Cmonster]

Look,

I'm not saying it isn't going to be enjoyable for some people, but from my own personal point of view, I look at film as a director's medium. I strive to make something artistic and visionary every time I get behind the camera. Does that mean I would never make a studio movie? No, If I ever get the opportunity to do that, and it was the right material for me, sure I'd do it. I'd love to simply have that experience and I know that I wouldn't have creative control. I'd prefer to make independent films, but the problem with that is, I don't want to be poor for the rest of my life.

This is always a double edged sword that frankly, IS my life. I have all these projects out there in "the ether" and if or when those scripts get financial backing, the can of worms will then be open and you take it a day at a time. This was "Hunter Prey", and I'm sure it will be the next one... That's just the film making process.

When I watched TGH, I just couldn't help thinking how much more a movie it could have been. How the source material could have been respected more and thus treated like a real dramatic film, that had some comedic scenes or instances in it, instead of the absolute farce that it was.

It helps to understand how Hollywood works and how these movies get greenlit and then get made. It's all about packaging, not in the literal sense of the word, but in the sense that a package of people, resources and money are usually built around a "talent". In this case; Seth Rogen. So a particular studio executive or high level producer wants to make a movie with Seth because they feel he's bankable, or maybe just because they like him. So... They set out to find what they call a "vehicle" for Seth Rogen. They start looking through all the scripts that are either in turnaround or have been sitting on a studio shelf somewhere, to see where and how they can "fit" Seth into it. TGH comes across his or her desk and even though Seth Rogen is completely wrong for the part, they think it could work because what they'll do is "build" the movie around him and play to his strengths. In other words, make it a comedy and turn the character into a bumbling idiot. Perfect!

My real beef with the film is this; Instead of finding something more suited for Seth Rogen, or God forbid, hiring a writer to actually write and develop something for him, they "plug him in" to TGH and make a stupid movie. I like Seth Rogen. He's funny... I liked "Knocked Up", "Fanboys" and the Adam Sandler one he did. But really, come on... Is he the Green Hornet??? Really??? In my opinion, no.

Whatever, I'm done...

SC

[starsky]

i havent personally seen it yet but intend to this weekend. i'm not sure what to expect being a BIG fan of the tv series but the movie is currently number one maybe cuz there's nothing else out?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl.../01/16/enterta...

[kennermike]

What a steaming pile of garbage. Only Hollywood could push out a bowel movement of a movie like that. What a shame...

SC

love it Sandy!

[Cmonster]

What a steaming pile of garbage. Only Hollywood could push out a bowel movement of a movie like that. What a shame...

SC

[Mr.Krusher]

I dunno...I'll give almost anything a shot, but that commercial with them in the car with Coolio playing...ehhhh....

The Hornet is/was a serious guy, like Batman, and shouldnt get this treatment in my opinion. Maybe a character like Booster Gold or Guy Gardener would fit, but NOT GH...
(Which is why I still cant watch the Bats TV series....shudder...even as a kid I saw through the attempt at 'camp', I just thought it was corny and lame...though many of my friends constantly disagree about this! )

[HardyGirl]

I care what he thinks. Van Williams did a great job w/ the Green Hornet. Was there an article I missed where he told what he thought of this poor excuse for a movie?

I didn't exactly grow up w/ GH, but my older brother did, and we both agree that this version sucks! If anyone bothered spending money on this production, why oh why couldn't it have been someone who could play the Hornet straight, and not someone who plays for the under 30 demographic?

[Hector]

Does anybody really care what Van Williams think?

That can't act retired television B actor...really...

[MIB41]

Not true, There were a lot of Old Folks my age around me and they were roaring with laughter.

I grew up with the Old Hornet and have the bootlegs.....I loved it.

I get it. You love it. I just want to agree to disagree. It's nothing I want to do a point by point comparison on. But I'm glad you and others here enjoyed it.

[Evel KMego]

I don't recall many four letter words. It was just a fun movie. Why do you have to compare it to the t.v. series? Can't a movie stand on it's own? I'm a huge Bruce Lee fan, but I didn't judge this Kato to him. Also, to be fair - it's a bit of a stretch to think of Van Williams as some great actor that Rogen is so inferior too

[kingdom warrior]

With the Hornet, I think it's generational. If you didn't grow up with the show, there is nothing for you to find wrong with the film. If you did, everything is wrong with it. Even Van Williams (the original Green Hornet) doesn't like it. Its for teenagers who think the use of four letter words is "clever". The critical mass hates it and it's barely above fresh even in the community rating. It will be gone in a few weeks.

Not true, There were a lot of Old Folks my age around me and they were roaring with laughter.

I grew up with the Old Hornet and have the bootlegs.....I loved it.