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All Movie Info
Starring:
Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Josh Lucas, Nick Nolte, Cara Buono, Celia Weston, Mike Erwin, Lou Ferrigno, Stan Lee, Geoffrey Scott, Daniel Dae Kim, Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, Lou Richards, Paul H. Kim, John Littlefield, Lorenzo Callender, Johnny Kastl, Eric Ware, Jesse Corti, Eva Burkley, Michael Papajohn, Boni Yanagisawa, Kirk B.R. Woller, John Prosky, Victor Rivers, Rory J. Aylward, Jenn Gotzon, Paul Kersey, Todd Tesen, Kevin Rankin, Regi Davis, Craig Damon, Regina McKee Redwing, Daniella Kuhn, Michael Kronenberg, David Kronenberg, Jenn Gotzon, Louanne Kelley, Toni Kallen, Todd Lee Coralli, Rob Swanson, Mark Atteberry, John Maraffi, David St. Pierre, David Sutherland, Sean Mahon, Brett Thacher, Randy Neville, Amir Faraj, Ricardo Aguilar, Lyndon Karp, Andy Arness, Rondda Holeman
Directed By:
Ang Lee
Written By:
Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, John Turman, Michael France, James Schamus
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Hulk (2003)
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Don't make me review this movie......
..... you wouldn't like me when I review movies. Okay this is my first official review here and with the impending production of the second Incredible Hulk movie I figured, what better time then now right? Well I am doing it anyway. My first reaction to this film is "True fans are either going to love this or hate it. Casual fans will get bored quickly." The issue here is the delivery of the introduction of characters and the history given.
The basic premise of the story is about Bruce Banner who is researching a way of introducing "nano-meds" into the human circulatory systems in order to help repair severe wounds and diseases. This requires the audience to understand that "nano-meds" are variants of nanites which are theoretical microscopic robots that will be able to complete complex tasks in inhospitable environments. They don't adequately explain this in my opinion. During the process of the finalizing the tests on these nano-meds, which are radiated by gamma rays (one of the few comic accurate details) the military tries to commandeer the operation in order for the potential military applications. While performing maintenance on the gamma chamber in which the test subjects are placed, a coworker gets stuck and unintentionally starts the gamma venting process. Bruce Banner saves him by shielding him with his body, thus absorbing all the gamma radiation. This sets off a chain reaction inside his body which causes Banner to transform into a large lumbering green beast called "The Hulk" when he becomes angry.
Now I liked this movie, but I also like the first Fantastic Four and Daredevil. The reason for this is because I tend to go into these recent comic/movie adaptation movies realizing that they will all be set in their own universe separate for the comic book history. These are all going to pretty much be modern interpretations of origin stories written generally over 40 years ago so they feel the need to contemporized (Spiderman and Daredevil being the exceptions.) To understand the difference I will give you a little understanding. In the original history Bruce Banner was a nuclear physicist testing a "gamma bomb" when teenager Rick Jones unknowingly drives his jeep onto the testing grounds. Bruce Banner runs out into the blast zone and throws Jones into a trench and takes the brunt of the bomb blast. This is highly unrealistic in this day and age so they chose to go with a more modern approach. I understand and appreciate this. There are parallels in the movie such as issues with his father and his tumultuous relationship with Betsy Ross and disputes with her father General Ross.
I look at this movie as using the comic book history as a theme, but it does not find itself restricted to the original story. It follows the spirit of the comic while branching out to newer, younger audiences. I feel the choice of Eric Bana (TROY) to play Bruce Banner was not the best decision. First off his performance is very bland and lacking in any kind of emotion (besides getting mad and hulking out) or personality. Second, this was prior to his role in the movie Troy requiring him to bulk up in the muscle department. Sam Elliot (GHOST RIDER) was the perfect casting choice for general Ross, of course being a military general is not an unfamiliar role for him to play. Nick Nolte's (CAPE FEAR) roll in this movie as David Banner (Bruce's father) is highly dubious and you never quite understand what his true nature is (plus he looks about the same as he did in his infamous DUI mug shot.) Jennifer Connelly (DARK CITY) is adequate and does not go beyond or below the call of duty in her performance. Sadly the best performances in this movie come from the CGI rendered Hulk, Elliot and the obligatory Stan Lee (MARVEL/DC COMICS) cameo. The sequel is scheduled for next year starring Edward Norton (FIGHT CLUB) as Banner (he also co-wrote the movie and makes more sense aesthetically for the role) Liv Tyler (JERSEY GIRL) as Betsy Ross (which should make much of a difference) and William Hurt (DARK CITY) as General Ross (which seems like a bad choice but I will just have to wait and see.) The antagonist in this movie is going to be Emil Blonsky played by Eli Roth (RESIVIOR DOGS, which a good friend has nothing but disdain for him as a director) who becomes Abomination, another gamma eradiated monster. Until then I hope you have all enjoyed my first review. Excelsior!!!
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