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- First reviewJune 13, 2008
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Hulk Definitely No Abomination
PostedJune 13, 2008
Django
from Philly, PA
Lean, Trim, a little rough around the edges but definitely one tightly packaged movie, the Incredible Hulk adds one more Movie Myth to the Marvel Universe, that's been translated more or less faithfully from the books.
I just can't wait to see the rest of the movie.
According to recent reports, a full 70 minutes of extra footage will be on the DvD and Blu ray. (I really hope they put it all on the DvD, cuz I'm not buying another machine just to see that!)
Louis Letterier, the young, French director of edge of your seat indie action films like the Transporter and Unleashed may not be the obvious choice to direct this "Requel" to Ang Lee's ponderous, overly cerebral foray into Hulk's oedipal origins - but he does a fine job, spinning the Hulk a yarn less about Hulk/'s psychology, and much, much more about what Hulk is CAPABLE of.
Call me a perfectionist, but I wish I could've seen a bit more of what Ed Norton was capable of.
Alas, what we do know is that a good sum of those 70 minutes included exposition about Bruce Banner. And that, perhaps, in their bid to distance themselves from Ang Lee's 2003 film, they developed a phobia of Bruce's character itself.
But why, I ask, why?
I'll tell you why. One of the most riveting scenes - that would have established concretely the relationship between Bruce's Jeckyl and Hulk's Mr. Hyde was cut.
And this film could have GREATLY benefited from it.
It was cut because it was deemed controversial- not by test audiences or civic groups - but by the production company themselves.
Marvel decided an establishing scene, in which Bruce Banner tries to rid himself of his curse by trekking to the Arctic to attempt to kill himself, with a gun- only to be Saved by the Beast Within, before the bullet pierced his skin - was not necessary.
While I understand their concerns - with kids buying Hulk Hands left and right and parents unsure whether to take their kids to this film, I feel they took a gamble at the cost of some needed clarity, in what otherwise is a rather excellent film.
I absolutely LOVE the opening sections that take place in Brazil.
HOWEVER, if we're going to have about 20 minutes of exposition explaining where Dr. Banner lives, what he does with his time, and where he works - I can't help but think somewhere in those 70 minutes (Letterier confirmed in an interview that they'd cut action, drama, scenery - everything!) there might have been something which would have told us more about Banner himself - his motivations, his relationship to his Jade-skinned alter ego, etc.
As it is, we get nearly two hours of Hulk Smash tentpoles, filled out with a whole lot of "Banner sulk."
There are points of humor spread across the film - but certainly don't go in expecting Iron Man, let alone Spider man level chuckles.
I'd say what ended up on screen can best be described as "HULK KONG", with a "Bruce Bourne" exposition in the beginning, and "Bruce & Betty" on an almost X-files like mission to meet with "Mr. Blue" who provides much needed comic relief, and altogether these elements sets things up nicely for a possible sequel.
One side note: I thought Louis was a frenchman! Even HE should know the cardinal rule of daylight photography, that you don't do an important scene in broad, direct daylight!
Picture the college campus showdown scene, if it took place at Sundown, and you'll get what I mean. Heck! It would've played like a "showdown at Sunset" btw. two of the main characters! And that would've been a nice visual means of establishing their relationship, a little more than - "General Hunt, Hulk Fight Back."
Overall, the Incredible Hulk falls short of it's namesake hyperbolic adjective. It's last half hour is amazing, the chase sequences are fantastic, but overall, the Incredible Hulk is "Very good".
I just can't wait for that DVD.
Call me a perfectionist, but I wish I could've seen a bit more of what Ed Norton was capable of.
Alas, what we do know is that a good sum of those 70 minutes included exposition about Bruce Banner. And that, perhaps, in their bid to distance themselves from Ang Lee's 2003 film, they developed a phobia of Bruce's character itself.
But why, I ask, why?
I'll tell you why. One of the most riveting scenes - that would have established concretely the relationship between Bruce's Jeckyl and Hulk's Mr. Hyde was cut.
And this film could have GREATLY benefited from it.
It was cut because it was deemed controversial- not by test audiences or civic groups - but by the production company themselves.
Marvel decided an establishing scene, in which Bruce Banner tries to rid himself of his curse by trekking to the Arctic to attempt to kill himself, with a gun- only to be Saved by the Beast Within, before the bullet pierced his skin - was not necessary.
While I understand their concerns - with kids buying Hulk Hands left and right and parents unsure whether to take their kids to this film, I feel they took a gamble at the cost of some needed clarity, in what otherwise is a rather excellent film.
I absolutely LOVE the opening sections that take place in Brazil.
HOWEVER, if we're going to have about 20 minutes of exposition explaining where Dr. Banner lives, what he does with his time, and where he works - I can't help but think somewhere in those 70 minutes (Letterier confirmed in an interview that they'd cut action, drama, scenery - everything!) there might have been something which would have told us more about Banner himself - his motivations, his relationship to his Jade-skinned alter ego, etc.
As it is, we get nearly two hours of Hulk Smash tentpoles, filled out with a whole lot of "Banner sulk."
There are points of humor spread across the film - but certainly don't go in expecting Iron Man, let alone Spider man level chuckles.
I'd say what ended up on screen can best be described as "HULK KONG", with a "Bruce Bourne" exposition in the beginning, and "Bruce & Betty" on an almost X-files like mission to meet with "Mr. Blue" who provides much needed comic relief, and altogether these elements sets things up nicely for a possible sequel.
One side note: I thought Louis was a frenchman! Even HE should know the cardinal rule of daylight photography, that you don't do an important scene in broad, direct daylight!
Picture the college campus showdown scene, if it took place at Sundown, and you'll get what I mean. Heck! It would've played like a "showdown at Sunset" btw. two of the main characters! And that would've been a nice visual means of establishing their relationship, a little more than - "General Hunt, Hulk Fight Back."
Overall, the Incredible Hulk falls short of it's namesake hyperbolic adjective. It's last half hour is amazing, the chase sequences are fantastic, but overall, the Incredible Hulk is "Very good".
I just can't wait for that DVD.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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