Newspaper mogul Britt Reid, aka the Green Hornet, hasn’t exactly enjoyed the pulp staying power of billionaire Bruce Wayne. But schleps working in a dying form of media typically don’t possess the same panache as tortured caped crusaders.
Still, with bombastic director Michel Gondry and co-writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg steering The Green Hornet movie, the masked vigilante’s story has been updated from its 1930s radio roots into a gadget-and-gear-filled buddy flick with a solid comedic sting.
The Green Hornet TV series from the ’60s packed plenty of gear, from a sonic disrupter called The Hornet Sting to a transmitting ring used to summon weaponized whip the Black Beauty (the show’s answer to the Batmobile).
All the gear’s been upgraded for Gondry’s movie, which opens Friday. Here’s a look at the cool new gizmos and contraptions used by the Green Hornet and his masked sidekick, Kato.
The Black Beauty
Why it’s wired: A 1965 Chrysler Imperial decked out from steering wheel to exhaust pipe, this horseless carriage is equipped with two .30-caliber M1919 Browning machine guns that are hood-mounted and retractable. The killer car also includes front- and rear-bumper loaded Stinger missiles. What really gets our engines revved up? The grill-mounted M2 flamethrower and retractable tire spikes. Why it’s tired: Be careful on the open highway: Driving with infra-green headlights is kind of like driving without headlights. Inspiration: Same car used in the 1966 Green Hornet TV series, although in the 1930s radio show, Kato chauffeured his boss around the crime-filled streets in a modified limousine. Danger factor: 
Sushi Flash Drive
Why it’s wired: It’s a flash drive. That looks like sushi. Why it’s tired: NAND flash memory chips store a very limited amount of data, making them especially bad for spies and crime-fighters. Inspiration: Secret microphones and tape recorder used for playback in the Green Hornet TV series. Danger factor: 
(choking hazard)
Gas Gun
Green Hornet gas gun replica.
Why it’s wired: Without Britt Reid’s explosive belt buckle and voice-communicating pocket watch of yore, Rogen’s Green Hornet needed some type of weapon. He got an updated gas gun he could use in close encounters or at a distance. Effects of exposure to the gas can range from a sleepy, one-hour nap to an 11-day coma. (A limited-edition Green Hornet gas gun replica, pictured right, sells for $150 from Hollywood Collectibles Group.)
Why it’s tired: Wearing a gas mask easily protects against the gas gun’s effects; inaccurate at long distances.
Inspiration: In the TV series, the Green Hornet also packed a gas gun that could knock out bad guys.
Danger factor: 
Garage Turntable and Lair Entrance
Why it’s wired: The garage turntable ensures that the Black Beauty is as hidden as the Green Hornet and Kato’s true identities. Using rams that connect the car to the floor, a press of a button flips one of the many vehicles in Reid’s garage to reveal his most dangerous weapon. Every secret lair should have a hidden entrance that opens up. Thank you, Kato. Why it’s tired: A noticeable lack of security measures — lasers would have been nice. Inspiration: Every secret lair in the world. Danger factor: 
High-Tech Coffee Maker
Why it’s wired: Whether serving elaborate espresso orders, nonfat vanilla lattes or specialty mochas, the average barista’s bustle would be cut down tremendously using this machine. Why it’s tired: Arthritic hand issues. Inspiration: Think of it as Britt Reid’s version of a martini that’s shaken, not stirred. Danger factor: 
Why it’s wired: With Green Hornet, director Gondry has evolved kitschy bullet-time into something completely new and fun to watch. It embodies what the movie is about: Elaborate jokes that border on slapstick, but not in a cheap way. Why it’s tired: 2-D-to-3-D conversion; Kato-Vision would have been crisper if filmed in 3-D. Inspiration: The Matrix Danger factor: 
