Mr. Green Genes returns to the big screen — is it a smash?
In answering that question it may be useful to establish a couple of reference points. The first of these is Ang Lee’s 2003 take on the Green Goliath. Many were disenchanted with this movie. I did not think it was a bad movie (esp. the editing), but it was probably not a good Hulk movie. The audience has certain expectations for a Hulk movie, which Lee’s version failed to meet.
The second reference is this summer’s smash adaptation of Iron Man. Exceedingly good casting, generally snappy writing, with an adherence to the core elements that made Iron Man a durable franchise in comics made this movie — the first produced by Marvel Studios — a delight for most everyone and (for those who stayed through the end credits) a glimpse into a larger Marvel Universe.
This second run at the Hulk succeeds much more than the first as a Hulk movie, for many of the same reasons as Iron Man (though it is not as good as Iron Man). Ed Norton makes for a more convincing Bruce Banner than Eric Bana, and reportedly polished the screenplay from Zak Penn (who has plenty of experience adapting Marvel comics, including X2 and X-Men 3, Elektra, and the Fantastic Four). Liv Tyler’s Betsy Ross might suffer by comparison to Jennifer Connelly, but the script gives her enough time that the viewer cares about her fate as well as that of Banner. (We can hope the DVD will include the outtakes where Tyler splits her pants repeatedly.) William Hurt brings his own twist to Gen. “Thunderbolt” Ross; one suspects that we have not seen the last of him. Tim Roth comes aboard as Emil Blonsky, the core villain of the piece, and I tend to enjoy Tim Roth whenever he appears. Stan Lee and original TV Hulk Lou Ferrigno are only two of the cool cameos.
The weaknesses of the film are generally what I always found to be the weaknesses of the comic. The Hulk — at least the classic Hulk — is inherently simplistic, a manifestation of suppressed rage. He is so powerful that he is most often opposed by either the military or a comparable behemoth, and there is nothing new on that front in this movie.
One of the great bonuses of the film is that Marvel Studios continues to bring the audience into the wider Marvel Universe. Those who have seen Iron Man will spot some familiar names; comics geeks will recognize the allusions to the Captain America saga. Non-comics geeks reading this will be able to deduce what those allusions are.
The Incredible Hulk meets the audience’s expectations for a Hulk movie. It may exceed them, given the general disappointment with the 2003 version. There is plenty of “Hulk smash” action, with enough characterization to make the viewer concerned with the outcome of the mayhem. And if the Hulk has inherent limits as a story vehicle, this movie at least shows the promise of what is to come next summer.
I saw a preview on a movie channel with Tim Roth leaping around ninja style fighting the Hulk, it looked just stupid and plainly faked. And pointless, what’s this goofball with a pistol going to do to the Hulk, again?
Christopher,
Mild spoiler: Tim Roth’s character has volunteered to receive a re-creation of the Super-solider serum developed in WW2 that turned Capt. Steve Rogers into Capt. America. The original formula was destroyed by Nazi saboteurs and has yet to be duplicated.
Yeah, I left that vague, but the movie departs from the canon insofar as the US still has the original serum in storage. When retrieved, the tank carries a notation that it is the work of Dr. Reisman.
Rumor is Marvel Studio’s is into production on a few of these. Capt. America, Thor, etc. They won’t be great, but certainly not bad. Good popcorn flicks. Anyway, one big goal is just to introduce the characters, give their back stories to “newbies” and get all that out of the way. These films will all include fun cross-cameos because Marvel’s MAIN goal is to keep everybody psyched about the 2014, $350million Avengers movie. The back stories will already be done and they get to swing for the fences.
I saw this last night. Liv Tyler should be put into a large paper bag and foced to act her way out of it. I doubt she would survive the attempt.
The bit where Roth is jumping around is actually the only cool part of the movie. Later he’s gone and replaced by giant fake computer monster number 2 and by then I was pounding my forehead on the seat in front of me. And he needs to stop doing whatever he’s doing that makes him look like Jessica Tandy’s much, much older brother. I thought they were doing a crossover with The Mummy for awhile. (THESE ARE AGE JOKES PEOPLE! HE LOOKED LIKE A CORPSE!)
Also, I wanted Norton to hook up with the sweaty girl from the Brazilian factory. I was bitterly disappointed when he didn’t. Even if he couldn’t, cause of Banner’s love for Betty, someone certainly should have. You can’t have a loaded gun on the table in the first act if it doesn’t go off in the third. Or some other suitable metaphor.
GRRR…Apologist make Hulk sad…HULK SMASH APOLOGIST!
…and are you saying Liv Tyler can’t act?!?!
That scene in Armegeddon with her, Ben Affleck and the animal cookies? Scorsese on his best day couldn’t pull that off.
And, dude, I hear she orgasms in Elvish!
/(sark button flies off keyboard, slaps Lamont across face and challenges him to duel)
Either I’m saying she can’t act or I’m saying she would be better covered in brown paper while struggling. Choose your own adventure.
I’ve chosen to go with the former cause if I go with the latter and you add it to my sweaty brazilian factory girl fantasies I start to come off a little misogynistic. And I already seem a little ageist cause of the TandyRoth stuff.
The Brazilian factory woman was hawt. But they did have her there for a reason I won’t give away.
Lamont is right about what’s on the drawing board, though it’s more like 2011, if IMdB has it right.
Plus, let’s not be too harsh on Liv. She’s back on the market.
Techie, yeah I know: it looked retarded. I don’t care how powerful someone is in a comic book movie, I care how well it’s pulled off and how much sense it makes. He looked fake and whats more, pointless. Like throwing a gnat at a pit bull: what, exactly are you trying to achieve here? You’re lucky you even got his attention.
Hulk smash good.
One great part of the movie is how they basically tell the origin story during opening credits. More superhero movies should follow the example rather than spending half the movie boring the audience with the setup.
Christopher Taylor,
Like you, I was decidedly unimpressed with the trailers. It does play better in context.
I should add that the pistol comes into play only after Roth’s other more powerful weapons run out of ammo — and that the ultimate result of the encounter (bad for Roth) sets up the rest of the movie.
Oh yeah the segment I saw he started with a grenade launcher, which is like a bee against a pit bull. Still, I’ll see it some time, I just love the concept of smashing and being big and green and strong. I liked the first hulk movie for that matter, despite the cheesy dogs.