Huh? Michel Gondry to Direct 'Green Hornet'

Tuesday

24Feb2009

Huh? Michel Gondry to Direct 'Green Hornet'

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 1:49PM

Variety reports today that Columbia Pictures has finally filled the director's chair vacancy on The Green Hornet, hiring the great and extremely esoteric Michel Gondry to guide the big budget TV adaptation.

If you'll recall, the movie was set to go with director Stephen Chow, who was and might still be playing Kato opposite Seth Rogen's crime fighting hero. But Chow decided he didn't want to make the film the way the studio did and here we are.

Personally, I think this could be one influence too many for the poor Green Hornet. I mean, updating it is fine. Updating it with Seth Rogen's specific slacker comedy vibe is fine. Combining that with Stephen Chow's creative and hilarious action visuals was a good choice. But now it's an old TV show re-written by Rogen, co-starring the former director, and directed by one of the more peculiar filmmakers to ever take a meeting on a Hollywood lot.

It's just like anything else: How's the chemistry? You can't just pick actors and directors who do their own things very well. They've got to be able to make all those different styles and rhythms work together, and I really have doubts about this one now. Does Rogen's comedy match Gondry's visual style? And if you don't want Gondry's visual style, why would you hire Michel Gondry?

It sounds great when you first hear it, but kick it around a little bit, and it's just a very, very odd mixture.

Colin Boyd |

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Michel Gondry,

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3 Comments |

Reader Comments (3)

I like Michael Gondry. When he's paired up with Charlie Kaufman it's pure genius. Eternal Sunshine is one of my favorite movies of the alst ten years.

And where "Be Kind Rewind" has it's moments, I'm not prepared to say that Gondry is ready to be let off the leash just yet.

I like Hornet directed by a comedic director. The original idea of having Kevin Smith do it is beginning to sound like the best ida yet...especially since Chow dropped out. Before Gondry though, I might suggest Jay Roach, Ben Stiller, or a slew of other directors who would play this by the books...

Now it could just be whacked...

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 |

Will

And yeah Colin, I realize I made a few typos/grammatical errorsin my comment. Looks like I better get my GED after all...

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 |

Will

I grew up watching the Green Hornet and think this version will be horrific. If anything THIS will put me further in the closet. As always, mention Colin's name and get a free sugar body scrub (men only) at Brucie's Warehouse of Hair. Now with two locations - one in Fountain Hills and our new Pink Warehouse located just outside Sherrif Joe's tent city. We are male friendly and await the arrival of Sir Charles Barkley....

Friday, February 27, 2009 |

Brucie

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