About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 19, 2011)
IT STINGS IN A GOOD WAY THE GREEN HORNET (PG-13) More uncon ventional on paper than Ang Lee's Hulk, The Green Hornet is an interesting entry in the overpopulated, same-y superhero genre. The original 1930s radio serial created by George W. Trendle begat a 1940s film serial and 1960s television program starring Bruce Lee before spawning this latest, strangest adaptation, directed by French visualist Michel Gondry {Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and written by slacker star Seth Rogen and his Superbad partner Evan Goldberg. What is , stranger still is that this unconventional pro duction never really goes beyond convention, and the fun movie is no worse for it. For those unfamiliar with the Hornet's M.O., let me brief you. The Green Hornet, AKA newspaper publisher Britt Reid (Rogen), is a masked vigilante who poses as a criminal in order to get close enough to the bad guys to take them out for the police. By his side is nis faithful sidekick, martial arts expert Kato (Jay Chou). Gondry brings his usually limber visual style to the film. His version of a fight scene—first unveiled when Britt and Kato attempt to foil an assault—is a thrilling bullet-time ballet. Appropriately, Rugen and Goldberg script all the proper markers of a superhero movie before humorously subverting them. Rogen is perfect as their slacking version of the usually dashing Britt Reid, and Chou is not only athletically gifted but slyly, comedically brilliant. However, the star may as well be the car, or cars, Gondry employs to portray the Hornet's famed Black Beauty, a stunning Chrysler Imperial Crown out fitted with missiles, sidedoor machine guns, ejector seats, you name it. Yet The Green Hornet suffers from an outdated flaw forged in its creation and magnified ty the casting/writing/acting of Rogen. Ultimately, the Green Hornet isn't cool because he's utterly superfluous, a hero in perception only. If Gondry, Rogen and Goldberg intended to critique society through the Hornet's non-heroicness, they failed. But the movie they made is a blast. For those who care, this review is of the 2-D version, though I don't think it really matters. Drew Wheeler UJJ SIMS R FLICI4SI4INNY rucicsitmNY.cOM f\r\ Alcoholic u>v*\Vy SV\ger tAeeJhs ou Musician oJkile \1\ ieWo ouaA ckHeMpte+o OfcVestote- 4 around kis -Mtft+s. Socw qMocl/K oc a. lore^W sWe-Wf of Drugs Draft*. (aVv ef u3UfcV\a#*- kiggetf iWletfas). As i<\1V Haoro faiM -to Cow toft * Vafioas loctel iftor5 stage. CktnoKc MeMdlow)f) s tOortHTVe rfice.. of AAm\sgMJ?W . IM ^ o!ood\-" GxmW H Ac-to* \ I y f£Sfecife eUevS-T ^x , pecrfy\g4vbVvoo^5 of | fbp (CMf'fbp -for , boV iASteui J rJr\zs,<vtA eW< ad Dow ‘ lite l ‘CooAVy SVmq’ / vjOtA" ^ew&ics ad alMosV" lAate yoO postal gev\fe plog-j (ote'TKls Shtfvjlv^ SbftjJoere TASTE OF 1TMDJA PINE INDIAN CUISINE LUNCH BUFFET Serving Seafood, Chicken, Lamb, Goat & Vegetarian Entrees Serving Beer & Wine Dinner: Mon-Sun 5pm-10pm Open 7 ‘Days • 131 B East Broad St. 706-559 0000 uWtV. indiaathcns.com m jrij GOLDEN GLOBE BEST PICTURE: THE SOCIAL m NETWORK WWW.ATHENSCINE.COM 706.353.3343 234 W. HANCOCK AVE DOWNTOWN ATHENS •nincn I IM\S • \/1 u l. u min l 706-543-2288 • (Call to Reserve Movies) 1 mile south of 5 Points on Milledge NEW POP STUFF Buried Jack Goes Boating NEW COOL STUFF The Disappearance of Alice Creed Restropo Valhalla Rising WINTER SALEi BLU-RAY • DVD • RECORDS • TV SHOWS i nmnm nmn CIAt\ „ ■MY Y-M® S20/PERS0H at 781-393-3^' * I| W.G00DD1BT»*' TAMIIY TRY Cl AY" Hand-Building Wnrkshnu EVFfi? SUNDAY 2-4pm - fun for AH Ages! You don't have to wait for a sale! Open Mon-Fri 2pm-2am Sat 12pm-2am POPCORN! Pool Tables • Grc«it Jukebox Friendly Neighborhood Bar Every Wednesday • 9:30pm ■" KARAOKT with Lvnn Thursday, Jan. 20‘ # 7pm Saturday, Jan. 22 • 9:30pm THE BIG DON BAND WHISKEY BAND 2455 JefTerson Rd. in Homewood Hills 706.S46.0840 Many Brush & Color Lines CUmtumr Cl *f s So Good! ^ burgers • Subs • Hot flogs * Grilled Sandwiches /S<> (dui/loit M. • 70/, 14 / V V/S m Cozy Yum Yum 4 Authentic Thai Cuisine 170 N. Jackson St. • Downtown • 706.208.1747 JANUARY 19, 2011-FLAGPOLE.COM 11 IllfllfT
