Green Hornet director points out limits of 3D
By Lee Hyo-won
French director Michel Gondry may have made a stellar Hollywood debut — hauling in $34 million in the U.S. box office as of Monday — with the 3D superhero movie “The Green Hornet,” but expressed criticism about the shortcomings of the medium.
“It was fantastic to work with 3D but there has to be more than (just 3D effects to a film),” Gondry told reporters in Seoul, Wednesday when asked about his film being shot in 3D like “Avatar.”
The 47-year-old, known for poignant indie films such as “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and “The Science of Sleep,” explained that focusing too much on the 3D aspect of a film is as futile as comparing black-and-white films with color ones. “It’s a matter of taste. If you don’t like 3D then you can close one eye and watch it in 2D.”
He pointed out some of the shortcomings of the James Cameron blockbuster.
“The style of ‘Avatar’ has become very, very prominent, and when you look beneath the surface you’re sort of judged in comparison to it. Personally I have respect for the film but I must admit I’m not every interested in characters in 3D or CGI. I find that characters that are rendered entirely in CGI don’t deliver emotions. But of course I can’t criticize a film that has had such a great success, and I don’t really have anything to say when it comes to that.” He added, “I thought it would be better to be upfront about criticism rather than say it in the shadows, like through the Internet.”
The new technology has nevertheless enabled the filmmaker to expand his horizons. “Three-D has enabled me to use effects that I wasn’t able to before. The method of dividing the screen, into foreground and background, has given me plenty of space to work with.”
The opportunity to experiment with 3D, moreover, meant realizing a longtime fascination with the original story, which debuted on radio in the 1930s and reached its peak on television in the 1960s before gaining a cult following via comic books. “I worked on ‘The Green Hornet’ (screenplay) for years, and it (movie project) went to other directors... They asked me as a last resort.”
Other filmmakers and actors including Kevin Smith and George Clooney were reportedly considered for “Hornet.” The $90 million project is the brainchild of Seth Rogen, who not only produced it but also wrote the script and played the lead role of the playboy-turned-masked superhero. Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou plays his sidekick Kato while Cameron Diaz stars as Rogen’s love interest and Academy Award-winning actor Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds”) is the villain.
Rogen, best known for comic roles in films like “Superbad,” said that producing the movie was difficult but the filming itself was enjoyable. “We wanted lots of action but also lots of comedy, and so it was somehow within my wheelhouse,” the 28-year-old said.
The film’s comic elements, it seemed, was not limited to the screen — the cast and crew ignited laughs during the press conference, as Rogen fiddled with “The Green Hornet” sign in Korean that hung on the stage, and Gondry photographed photographers. At one point, Gondry said he wanted to do an “experiment” — and asked all the photographers in the hotel ballroom to take flash photos on a count of three. “It’s been an incredible adventure touring Asia,” he said, having flown in from Beijing Tuesday evening. “I wanted to capture everything.”
“I’m very excited we came here and I want to say that European and American films have been influenced by Asian cinema, especially action movies where martial arts movies are at the heart of it all,” said Gondry. “We should not see this as a competition but a tribute to (Asian martial arts movies). Exchange is what makes cinema. Film noirs from the U.S. influenced French films, while the Nouvelle Vague influenced the U.S. It comes back and forth,” said the filmmaker.
Gondry added that he was a fan of Korean director Bong Joon-ho, whom he met while working on the omnibus project “Tokyo!” He said he enjoyed Bong’s “Memories of Murder” and “The Host.”
Rogen said he hoped Koreans would enjoy “The Green Hornet” as much as he is a fan of local works such as “The Host” and Park Chan-wook’s “Oldboy” and “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance.”
“I’m also a big fan of ‘bibimbap’ and I’m excited to have it fresh from the source,” he added, saying he plans to have the mixed vegetable rice dish for lunch.
Meanwhile, the director said his reasons for choosing an Asian star like Chou for the role of Kato was obvious. “Bruce Lee (who played the original Kato) was immense and we didn’t try to imitate him. One of the reasons we liked Jay is that he didn’t try to imitate him. He was himself and was very relaxed.
“As a French person I was shocked when I saw a lot of American movies. We used to watch a lot of Westerns in the ’70s and all the Indians were played by white actors painted like Indians. It was shocking and very racist,” he said. It’s about time that movies portray reality, he added.
Chou added that he did not try to live up to the legend of Bruce Lee. “I do some martial arts, but I tried not to mimic Bruce Lee,” he said. He explained that he brought in some music elements to the film, remaining true to his pop roots. When a reporter pointed out how he resembled Korean singer-actor Rain, he said, “I saw his Hollywood debut piece (‘Ninja Assassin’), and I am not muscular or good at dancing like Rain. I think I should start working out to build some muscles.”
In terms of making his Hollywood debut, the 32-year-old hopes more Asian actors would bring their talent abroad. When a member of the Taiwanese press asked about Chou being cast over Korea’s Kwon Sang-woo for “Hornet,” Chou said, “We’re all fellow Asians and I don’t think anyone can oppose any of us going to Hollywood. I think such talks of rivalry is trivial in this shared struggle to expand our horizons.”
The star, who gained popularity here through the musical teen romance “A Secret I Cannot Tell,” added that he hoped “Hornet” would also do well in Korea.
“Hornet” hits local theaters in 3D on Jan. 27. Distributed by Sony Picture Releasing Buena Vista (Korea).