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| The Hulk |
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| Anticipation Level: |
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| How excited (or not) I am to see this movie... |
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6/22/2003
Forgive me, but I found "Hulk", based on one of my all-time favorite comic characters, to have had his cinematic debut be a bit more -- well, incredible.
Mind you, that though this review is spoilerish, I won't give away the ending.
Still with me? Good. Here's my review.
The film's plot is simple enough: after an accident in his lab bombards him with nanomeds and gamma rays, Dr. Bruce Krensler (Eric Bana) learns his birth father, Dr. David Banner (Nick Nolte, who resembles his drunk driving mug shot to a tee and deserves most of the applause for this film), is alive and tells him he's unique.
And "unique" means that Bruce Banner turns into a big, 15-foot, green-skinned monster with the ability to leap 3 miles away in one jump and smash things real, REAL good with his limitless strength.
Banner is then the target of Glenn Talbot (Josh Lucas), who wants to exploit both Banner's work and Hulk's genetic code, and General Ross (wonderfully acted by Sam Elliott), who wants to stop the Hulk's rampages at all costs. Of course, the fact his co-worker and on-again, off-again girlfriend, Dr. Betty Ross (Jennifer Connelly, as talented as an actress as she is visually gorgeous), is the General's daughter doesn't help much for Bruce, either.
The Hulk himself (itself?) is what steals the show. Tossing around tanks and leaping away from helicopters are just the tip of the iceberg of what he can do, but what's equally impressive is the fact this computer-generated Hulk can ACT. From the soft facial expressions when smitten for Betty to the green skinned one's p. o.-ed snarl whenever enraged, the actor is a worthy replacement of flesh-and-blood original Hulk actor Lou Ferrigno.
But some of "Hulk" could be better. Danny Elfman does some great music, but sometimes the vocals of the woman's singing in the score is not only distracting to Elfman's work, but the mood of the film. It's as if Ang Lee told Elfman he could do the score if some "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"-like themes HAD to be incorporated. Still, Elfman DID get the job a mere two months before the film's release, so I'll forgive him by default of possible rushed timing to score this.
Also, the comic book-like panels, while clever, also distracts from some moments of the film. Multiple frames can leave viewers confused on what's going on, and some stilled frames - like the death of a character during an explosion - is unintentionally comical (I know, 'cause I heard the audience's chuckles).
And it never really did explain Bruce Banner's condition on why gamma rays would make him become a 15-foot green giant, since it has different effects on another character (and a lack of green). It's as if David's tinkering on himself that passed onto his son, as seen in the film, allowed Bruce to survive, but why is another story.
And speaking of story, the film's "what the--?" ending will leave some people confused on why things happened to some characters. It was as if it was to scream "sequel", but other Marvel films before it like "Spider-Man" and "X-Men" did it in more subtle - and more clever - ways.
Also, notice the alterations of the comic to the film version: Besides the fact gamma radiation turned Bruce into a gray-skinned Hulk in his comic debut (it was actually cosmic rays in the second comic that turned Hulk's skin green, if I recall correctly), even Bruce's name in the film is different. In the comics, his full name is Dr. Robert Bruce Banner, but called Bruce in the comics. Here in the film, the "Robert" of his name is absent.
Still, despite nitpicks, continuity errors and in need of more explanations and a tad less of Lee's psychological take (I know that's what the Hulk is about, but come on -- 2 hours and fifteen minutes worth of it?!?), "Hulk" is head and shoulders "X2" and "Daredevil" -- literally -- in terms of superior film making.
I am anxious to see another "Hulk" film, but I'm even more anxious to see a slightly BETTER "Hulk" film.
'Nuff said.
your friendly neighborhood comic critic |
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