So how does the 2011 film compare to the show with bruce lee? I enjoyed the movie today probably the best movie I watched from 2011
The TV show is much better if you can get past the less sophisticated special effects. Actually the Black Beauty in the TV show actually used rockets and other devices on the set instead of CG effects. Least to say, the show keeps faithfully to the OTR show because Van Williams insisted on it or he wouldn’t have taken the role.
He was quoted (paraphrasing) saying about Rogen’s movie, “It was campy from what my friends told me. I insisted the TV show follow the radio show when I was the Hornet. I won’t see Rogen’s film.”
The movie only follows the Green Hornet canon in basics. Britt’s personality in the new movie is 100% different than in the classic radio program and 60s TV show.He was a sophisticated, intelligent, witty playboy who knew when to hold his tongue; not a pompous, irresponsible, clumsy, jerk of a playboy. He also respected the law unlike the movie portrayed. This whole essence of “dudism” the movie added is new and in my opinion, not very faithful to the Hornet canon.
Lenore Case’s personality is 75% different too.In the 60s show, she knew who Britt was. In the 40s-50s OTR show, she didn’t. In both, she respected her boss-even had a crush on him.
Kato was originally Japanese (masked as Filipino in the OTR because of WWII tension). Then he was Chinese only because of Bruce Lee and they kept that ethnicity. Not sure why. In the comics save a few from Dynamite, Kato and his whole family (his wife is French) are also Japanese.
Two characters changed in negative manners in the movie: Scanlon, who was never a bad guy in the 60s show and knew who Britt was (helped him too); and Mike Axford, who was Britt’s protector as he grew up, a police officer, and then a loud-mouthed Irish reporter for The Sentinel. Not sure why they toned him down in the movie…
I will say the movie played homage to the Hornet Canon well in the first round of costumes Kato and Britt wore.
Well I’ve rambled on enough to bore a Colosseum. ~ Cashlin Snow
