DVD Reviews

The Green Hornet (Three-Disc Combo) – Blu-ray Review

By June L. May 5, 2011, 13:45 GMT

In "The Green Hornet", Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) is the son of LA\'s most prominent and respected media magnate and perfectly happy to maintain a directionless existence on the party scene - until his father (Tom Wilkinson) mysteriously dies, leaving Britt his vast media empire. Striking an unlikely friendship with one of his father\'s more industrious and inventive employees, Kato (Jay Chou), they see their chance to do something meaningful ...more

There are a lot of superhero action films these days, with characters who often harbor dark secrets or have tortured emotions with strange obsessive personalities.

It is refreshing to see in The Green Hornet, the story of a guy with abundant flaws whose only talent appears to be in constructing outlandish schemes.

Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) has a rocky relationship with his father, stemming from childhood hurts to present day snubs and insults. When the elder Reid (Tom Wilkinson) is killed by a bee sting, Britt inherits the family fortune and the newspaper and media empire.

His disinterest couldn’t be greater until he discovers Kato (Jay Chou) an inventor genius and martial arts expert who has been working as his father’s mechanic and the idea to team up and fight injustice is born.

When he meets Kato, Britt can appreciate the other guy’s intelligence and skills, and he visualizes them becoming a team. At first, it is just to do something wild and outlandish, but after rescuing a couple attacked by thugs, the idea to make something of his life by fighting crime and injustice emerges.

Instead of being heroes, Britt decides they should hide under the guise of being villains. Britt is well meaning, overbearing and annoying most of the time. Kato is forbearing, and seems to actually like Britt, adopting him as a sort of brother. Together they are a force for chaos and ultimately good.

Cameron Diaz adds to the fun as Lenore, an excellent journalism major that Britt hires to be his personal assistant. Both guys fall for her, but rather than becoming the sweetheart, love interest, she displays intelligence and self reliance and quite a bit of fight. The real villain of the show is played by Christophe Waltz, and is given some of the best lines.

The Green Hornet (Three-Disc Combo) has it all. The film is available on three discs in Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD formats. Disc one the Blu-ray 3D version has the film plus filmmaker’s commentary and 3D animated story boards.

Disc two has the Blu-ray version of the film with “Awsoom” gag reel, deleted scenes, commentary, “Finding Kato” featurette, “Writing the Green Hornet,” The Green Hornet cutting room where viewers can put together their own video using clips and tools included, “The Black Beauty: the rebirth of cool” featuring the incredible vehicle designs, “Trust Me” with director Michel Gondry, The Stunt Family Armstrong and The Art of Destruction.

Disc three has the DVD version of the film.

Entertaining and exciting, with some very funny scenes and great lines, this film should be in the collections of action adventure fans, and those who enjoy comedy. Classic cars make an appearance throughout and the wanna-be inventor in all of us will be thrilled by Kato’s creativity.