It was an agreeable film, something I could see myself watching again, but I don’t feel comfortable suggesting it to others. I understand the story draws from a vigilante character originating in 1936, which is earlier than Batman's debut in 1939—a lengthy and detailed backstory exists—but frankly, that doesn't matter to me. I wasn’t curious about its origins or inclined to look into them. The film felt like it…

I'm really let down by this film; I entered with some anticipation. I recall reading magazines featuring the character when I was younger, and I believe I even owned a Green Hornet toy car once. The idea of a masked crime fighter accompanied by an expert in martial arts and someone skilled with machines, plus a genuinely impressive automobile—that appealed to me. Not one of those silly, weak ones, but a classic Ameri…

It’s almost necessary to state upfront that I have no connection to the source material—the comic book or TV series—because the backlash from fans when adaptations disappoint can be quite intense. The Green Hornet came out in 2011, and I recall the negative reaction it got from those familiar with the original stories. That’s not unusual, really; Green Lantern, also released that year, experienced a similar fate. …