The NBA All-Star Game went down this past weekend and superstar Kobe Bryant was the center of attention - and it wasn’t for grabbing his fourth All-Star MVP.
Rather, Bryant was highlighted for his starring performance in a Nike-funded short-film commercial directed by Robert Rodriguez called The Black Mamba. Nike has been teasing The Black Mamba with thirty second spots in the weeks leading up to the All-Star Game and finally showed the entire film during this weekend’s big event. The result was nothing short of spectacular.
The story is pretty simple as it all revolves around Rodriguez sitting down with Bryant to discuss his idea for a film called The Black Mamba. As the two discuss how the story will unfold the scenes play out for the audience, including cameo appearances by Danny Trejo (The Crippler), Bruce Willis (Mr. Suave) and musician Kanye West (The Boss). Rodriguez must have hung out with Michael Bay before making this film because almost everything explodes in a giant ball of flames – including Bryant’s bus!
Watch The Black Mamba below and enjoy:
Making short films to show off new products isn’t a new form of marketing for Nike. In the ’90s the company released several well-done commercials showcasing their soccer products. This is the first time, however, they have brought on some A-list talent from multiple outlets – sports, films and music. Rodriguez has worked with Willis and Trejo before on several occasions, and Kanye West directed a short film called Runaway that accompanied his latest album release, but this is Bryant’s first time in front of the camera for something other than sports or news related items – and I think he did just fine.
Most of the credit goes to Rodriguez for his direction of taking a basketball star like Bryant and making him come across as a natural actor who has been in movies for years. Some basketball stars have had a hard time crossing over to film (I’m looking at you Dennis Rodman, Shaq and yes, Michael Jordan) but Bryant does a good job here.
Besides being very cool to watch, Nike does have an ulterior motive with releasing Black Mamba – to promote their new line of shoes the Nike Zoom Kobe VI, which can be seen being worn by Bryant in every shot.
What did you think of Bryant’s acting skills in The Black Mamba and would you like to see more advertising in the short film format?
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Source: Nike
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Wasn’t Black Mamba a porno film title?
Personally I find Kobe Bryant disgusting. And I don’t watch commercials so no I wouldn’t like to see more of these.
The only Black Mamba I acknolwedge is Uma Thurman in Kill Bill. Kobe is a joke. let the hate begin, I dont care LOL. He didn’t start winning Titles till Jackson took over as Head Coach.
As a former Lakers fan, I never was that big of a Kobe fan. Now? I can’t stand him or the Lakers, nor anyone in their organization.
But, I do like Michael Jordan, and to say that Kobe’s a nobody because he didn’t start winning until Phil Jackson came aboard, well, the same can be said of Jordan. But that doesn’t diminish how great of a player Jordan is. Sometimes, the things fall into place just so…
That’s not defending Kobe, but not allowing such a thought to diminish Jordan’s legacy.
(Hoping for the Lakers to crash and burn in the playoffs!)
Jordan was never a selfish player, and is 10 times the player Kobe can EVER hope to be.
Pre-Phil Jackson, and during Jackson’s early days with the Bulls, one could argue that Jordan was selfish. But I personally chalk it up to the fact that the team really was bad pre-PJ, and it took awhile for things to gel, with Jordan coming to trust the system, trust his new teammates, etc.
But, I digress. Yes, Jordan is 10 times (or more) than Kobe will ever be. Yes, there are some specific things that Kobe does better than Jordan, such as clutch, long-distance shots.
But Kobe simply doesn’t have the drive, that insatiable will to win that Jordan had. Jordan was THE MAN for the Bulls in every one of those playoff runs.
Kobe, as good as he is, didn’t get the regular season MVP AND Finals MVP awards as Jordan did. Jordan was the clear-cut MAN for the Bulls. Without him, they don’t win one championship.
Kobe was not the man for the most recent championship. In that game 7, if Kendrick Perkins wasn’t injured, and Ron Artest didn’t step up, the Celtics would have been holding up the championship trophy.
And Kobe gave up in games. Something I never saw Jordan do.
Did Rodriguez direct this? It was very Micheal Bay’ish, but it had the 70′s exploitation aspect similar to Rodriguez’s work.
Couldn’t see it because I don’t have Time Warner cable, or a thousand dollars to buy a Lakers game ticket.
Hope the Black Mamba and the Lakers go down in flames.
Betrayal’s an evil, insidious thing, and I can’t wait for the Lakers to fall out early in the playoffs. Very little would make me happier. I’d just as soon become a Justin Bieber fan than ever, ever become a Lakers fan again.
Haha, awesome. I wish there more people did this style of ad. Though I’m not going to buy the shoes, at least 200 I bet.
Kanye And Kobe = Fail.
HAHAHAH Sully..good call. I’m not sure the comparison to Bay hold weight either. Bay usually has double, maybe triple the budget that RR has in his films. We all know what big budget translates to on screen.
rodriguez has been slipping. machete a new spy kids. now this? dudes making som crappy decisions
Machete was GREAT IMO. He doesn’t wanna make Oscar calibur films, and wont, he makes films that he likes.
I loved Machete. Not my favorite RR film but it was fun.
All the hate wont take away the fact that kobe has 5 rings.
Typical Laker fan. That’s all you can say. And all the love won’t take away the fact that you root for a rapist.
What else am I supposed to say, I don’t care about his life, I only pay attention to what he does on the court so your statement means nothing to me.
You need to get the facts straight, it wasn’t rape. It was exploitation on the accusers part. Trial hearings confirmed this when the “victim” gave 4-5 different stories about the incident and had past run-in’s with exploitation frauds with past boyfriends. If you want to root for a rapist then root for the steelers. At least that case was a little more plausible to call it “rape”, though even that could be questionable. In the end, people just hate winners. Otherwise Duke would be deep fried golden awesome in everyone’s book.
Don’t EVEN get me going on that big dumb Oaf.
I know the facts. I know it was “adultery” and the poor guy was so sorry about it. But who cares, her idiot wife wasn’t gonna leave him after he bought her that billion dollar ring. I just hate morons that defend him calling people “haters” when that cocky idiot makes it so easy to hate him. BJ Armstrong has 3 rings. Does that mean he’s one of the best players ever? Stupid argument.
I agree with your Steelers comment, though.
LOL, Dc
Yeah all he did was cheat on his wife. I’m sure it won’t happen again. They’re in love now after he purchased that big diamond ring to make up for it.
Lol, he’s a classy guy and role model.
He’s a douche. His wife has him by the short hairs and HE knows it.
this video was tight. i dont care bout the haters. lakers win cuz they the best. Robert Rodriguez is the ish and Kanye is THE BOSS
wow you guys are crazy lol. it clear none of you guys are real sports fans. saying Kobe doesn;t have talent? stick to your films guys lmao
I didn’t read one post that said he didn’t have talent. And just because most people dislike your beloved Kobe you say we’re not real sports fans? Bah. Classic fair-weather fan. Cant even name the other four Laker starters.
Mr Bronson, lol, from where I come from a “sports fan” is slang for retard. ^
Nothing personal just my crazy world,,,
So you’re saying you’re from Ohio.
Black Mamba? Phsss, I should have been mother f’n Black Mamba.
I understand the Kobe-rage, but oh well. D-Rose baby, bringing my Bulls back to glory! Good example of a GREAT talent and a humble personality.