Kobe Bryant Video: Watch Black Mamba Star in Nike Italy Short Film

Kobe Bryant reprises a role that we see during every Lakers game. This time, the Black Mamba is saving lives as protagonist in an Italian film that is simply a classic commercial. 

From the land of hidden treasures comes a movie that has been magically uncovered. The film is by famed Italian director of '70s exploitation movies, Enzo G. Castellari. 

This is a classic tale of thieves and a hero from America that has to come to Italy to save the day. This Nike film wouldn't be fitting without over-the-top shots of bullies yelling, soccer balls getting kicked to stop would-be robbers or Bryant literally blowing up Wesley Sneijder. 

The Inter Milan star was not sacrificed in vain; we got to see an enormous explosion and post-match walk of swagger by Kobe Bryant. 

This commercial scratches me precisely where I itch, and proves once again how marketable Bryant's brand is the world over. 

This isn't the first "movie" in which Bryant has been featured. Famed director Robert Rodriguez had a similar ad that saw Bryant blowing things to smithereens. You can see it here. 

Rodriguez gave us a commercial with all the feel of a current Hollywood hit and a touch of '70s exploitation. 

Castellari makes reference to it when he states, "I think the Americans came up with a remake of this film."

Bryant is that rare star that can captivate fans no matter the locale. He is just as popular here as he is in Italy, and Nike has yet another brilliant ad campaign.

The theme of the commercial is simple: Don't mess with the Black Mamba. 

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