*Every week, we gather around the Hatorade Cooler to hear Mr. Hatorade’s thoughts on upcoming films. This week, Mr. Hatorade gives us five reasons why the Green Hornet will prove naysayers wrong….
1. World Class Writing Crew
Rogen was handed the keys to the Green Hornet during the summer of 2007, which was the peak of “Rogen-mania” after the critical and commercial success of Pineapple Express and Superbad. Rogen and longtime buddy Evan Goldberg wrote both films. Since then, Rogen’s star has faded after starring in lackluster films such as Observe And Report and Zach & Miri Make A Porno. However, Rogen or Goldberg did not write either of those films. Rogen and Goldberg’s strength is writing films centered around two friends, a la the “buddy cop” genre. What made Superbad and Pineapple Express such great movies (other than the perfect casting) was the relationship between the protagonists. I expect Rogen and Goldberg to apply that same magic to the Green Hornet and Kato.
2. Refreshing Freshness
From the initial look of the trailer, the Green Hornet promises to bring audiences a superhero film more in the vein of an action/adventure film than the traditional capes-and-tights epics. However, right off the bat, the Green Hornet can look to be a light-hearted spoof on the Batman: both Bruce Wayne and Britt Reid are billionaire playboys, both are inspired to fight crime by the death of their parent(s), and both have an impressive armory of gadgets at their disposal. Luckily, in the hands of director Michael Gondry, the Green Hornet has the potential to be anything but.
Gondry, if one remembers, is the Academy-award winning director of endearingly unique films such as Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind and Be Kind, Rewind. Gondry is more than capable of taking this film and injecting it with an artistic feel no one will expect. For example, Gondry has publicly stated when filming fight scenes he will shoot Kato using fast-motion capture and the Green Hornet using slow-motion capture in order to emphasize the physical difference between the two men. It is little nuggets like these that will help separate the Green Hornet from other superhero films.
Another unique aspect of the Green Hornet is that this is the first superhero film since George Clooney’s god-awful Batman & Robin where a hero will have a sidekick. Rogen has revealed the relationship between Green Hornet, the hero, and Kato, the sidekick, will be explored. “The whole notion of these two guys going out and fighting crime together, and then only having one guy take credit for it in the papers and stuff, I think that makes for some good drama,” Rogen revealed at San Diego’s 2010 Comic-Con. “People scoff at the whole sidekick thing, but I think sidekicks can add a lot of new stuff to these characters.”
3. A-list Casting
Even I admit Rogen is wrong for the role of Britt Reid/Green Hornet. I would have loved to see Jesus Christ himself, Jim Caviezel, in this role; but other than Rogen (who is just too much of a nice guy to play a billionaire douche bag), the Green Hornet has stacked an impressive cast.
Bruce Lee made the role of Green Hornet’s valet Kato a household name in the 1960s. Jay Chou, a Taiwanese singer/writer/actor, will be making his American film debut as Kato. My first impressions of the film’s trailer indicate Chou, apparently a megaloid celebrity throughout Asia, will do just fine as the cool-minded ying to Rogen’s goofy yang.
Cameron Diaz will play Lenore Case. Traditionally, Case was simply Reid’s secretary; in the film, Case will be both love-interest and snoopy undercover reporter. Despite what you may think about Diaz, she brings celebrity star power to the film. Plus, Diaz is too old to carry a film on her own but as a complementary character she’ll do fine; but again, can you really believe Seth Rogen could pull off dating her? Me neither.
The Green Hornet never had a traditional arch-nemesis, just a mysterious mob figure known as Mr. X. Originally, Nicholas Cage was signed on to play the villain but was removed when Cage insisted Mr. X have a Jamaican accent (wtf?). High fives to the studio for having the balls to say no to an actor for once, especially as it allowed Mr. Christoph Waltz to play the re-written role of Benny Chudnofsky.
For Waltz to sign on to the Green Hornet indicates there really is something special about this film, especially as Waltz could have signed on to any other project after winning the Oscar. Rogen also has revealed the role of Chudnofsky will not be campy: “We wanted a scary bad guy. The comedy’s not supposed to be coming from the bad guy.”
Christoph Waltz attempts to kill to kill one bird with two bullets
Other actors include the always-dependable Tom Wilkinson as Rogen’s father; Edward James Olmos and David Harbour in unannounced roles, and the super hot Annaleigh Tipton as the character Anna Lee.
4. Cooler Than The Other Side Of The Pillow
This film is determined to be cool. The trailer focuses on the arsenal of gadgetry the Green Hornet has at his disposal, from gas guns to the rolling fortress that is the Black Beauty. Also, by creating a world where the Green Hornet, despite heroic intentions, is seen as a bad guy by both the underworld and law enforcement gives Green Hornet and Kato plenty of opportunities to blow things up with awesome weapons and some pretty sweet street cred. Plus, it’s 3D! We all know how much people like 3D!
5. What’s The Worst That Can Happen?
Seriously, even if this movie proves to be a flop, it cannot be worse than The Spirit or Ghostrider. The reported budget of The Green Hornet is $100 million dollars; I don’t think, even if the film is a hit, it will turn a profit on American soil but at the overseas box office I believe Jay Chou’s celebrity status will pull enough seats to make The Green Hornet a solid studio film.
The Green Hornet is doing everything: a unique director at the helm, Oscar winner for the villain, today’s brightest comedic star (for better or worse), major foreign celebrity in a headlining role…and of course, 3D.
I believe this film is going to be the surprise hit of 2011.