Hulk REVIEW

Hulk: A

So Marvel Entertainment has had another one of its great franchises adapted to the film format --- and there are a few more coming including Punisher, which there was a preview for during HULK --- yes, yes, no preceding The, so brainwashed, ha --- and Submariner --- and a few more

Here's what I notice after this recent deluge of comic book adaptations, the film reviewers comment heavily on the film --- as they should. The fanboys of the comics comment both on the film and its fidelity to source material.

I find that I fall into category number two, so every time I see my favorite heroes light across the big screen. Three things happen.

Number one, there is an awe to see them come to life -- and this feeling seems stronger nowadays as opposed to former film adaptations just because the direction and production in these movies gets better and better.

Number two, does the comic book movie really match up well with the comic book, most of the time it does not --- so I look for at least some vibe that the director gets it about the story they are telling or the characters they are telling a story about

Lastly, I should be enjoying the movie, I certainly am not observing the intricacies of surgically repairing burst capillaries --- sometimes, it's hard just to sit back and enjoy these movies, because of my familiarity with the other format, the comic book

As a point of reference, my generation has three Hulk related things going on during our formative years. The campy, made for TV Bixby/Ferrigno classic series made its run, and most of my friends (and family too) watched that show pretty religiously. There was also this serial cartoon much like how they have X-men Evolution nowadays on WB. Also, the Hulk had his own comic book and would make appearances from time to time in crossover issues --- so I believe the green altered human is pretty firmly entrenched in the popular consciousness of my generation of 30-somethings

And back to the film --- there is always a tension between keeping it tight to comic book set character boundaries and plot --- with the freedom of film, its limitations of time, and the need to entertain the 99.9% of the audience who could give a rat's petoot about the comic book source material themselves. That being said, I leave it to other sources here on the Internet to fill you in with their textual interpretations as to source fidelity, they certainly can do it better than me

I think that they'll have less to talk about this time because Ang Lee has taken most of the issues out of their hands. In other words, where previous films have hacked and slashed at storylines and continuities and cherry picked for the most dramatic or compelling aspects of a comic book series, Ang Lee took in what the Hulk was all about and basically gave us his vision of HULK --- and told us THAT, or his version of what the HULK means --- and what a fine vision it is

I suppose that some of you would like me to cut to the chase and rate the film, I would place it in between the two best of the latest bunch. In other words, somewhat behind X2, and somewhat in front of Spiderman.

I think that where this movie gets beyond its counterparts, and perhaps boldly dare I say, it pushes the boundaries of the genre further is in its pacing. The pacing is highly, highly fluid. In fact, I read some review where they were talking about how it "reads" (I suppose, views) like a comic book. Your eyes are taking in all of the expansive vision of Lee's movie, however, he gives you most of the story visually --- and the dialog is compressed to to being minimal and only to get points across to carry us to the next scene --- what happens next, what happens next? -- the essence of seriality in comic books. His use of frames onscreen serve both as a visual reminder of the original comic form, but also as some kind of underlying visual-mind training of how to watch the film (in terms of helping your mind organize the story) --- sounds too psychobabble, yes, but I think it happens

I don't think I'm going to get too deep into spoiler territory today. One of the really exciting things about the movie besides this almost revolutionary style of filming it is that Ang Lee gets it right about the Hulk. The Hulk, the comic, is a dynamic, powerful, energetic book --- often with heavy duty emotional undertones. The movie really captures this so well, it's very impressive --- at times its almost sensory overload, actually after the film we both felt as if we were stomped on a few times by Mr. Green

Here's one minor complaint: the audiences know that movie is about perhaps the outer limits of science and ethics. However, the long and drawn out explanations of the science and the underlying technology does nothing but buzz in your ears (and dull your senses in a bad, boring way) --- honestly, in words, it doesn't convey the same as perhaps seeing amphibians blow up, if you know what I mean

As far as the acting, Jennifer Connelly has the I'm concerned because I'm in love with a weirdo thing down pat (cf. A Beautiful Mind). Eric Bana ---I believe the hype over Mr. Bana is a bit misplaced, and I do believe the CGI outdid his performance (the Shrek effect or Roger Rabbit Syndrome).

As far as the ensemble goes: Nick Nolte was brilliant, and check to see if there was an Oscar moment in this one (SheDev sure thinks there was one). General Ross is played as hard ass as he is in the comics, the Lee treatment comes off more complex (it's almost as if he's torn at times). And of course, Talbot comes off as smarmy par excellence, good work

You want action? This movie will give you all that and more. Effective action. Action that actually serves some greater purpose of moving the story ahead (the Wack Bros. should take copious notes). Action that shows how unlimited the power of the Green Machine actually is

This movie perhaps is the next step of the summer blockbuster genre. Action, but not just BLAM, wow --- BLAMM, wow. Prior to seeing this film, I would have doubted that such exists, but this is an INTELLIGENT summer blockbuster, and I am very surprised that it took so long to ever mix the two elements --- BLAMM and BRAINS

I think that the angle that most reviews do not hit on precisely is that this is a great monster movie. It has all the elements of psychodrama and tragedy, of free dynamic energy and deep misgivings, and questions the distinction of good/evil. Whether unintended or not, it is a postmodern Jekyll and Hyde with a cautionary tale about human genetic experimentation

I enjoyed this movie a great deal, it falls short of X2 probably more in terms of performances from the actors, but that may have been by design. But this one is clearly, the second best of the bunch with elements that push the limits of genre, and hopefully take higher and better results for the next comic book adaptations --- I'm excited --- go see (the) HULK