5 replies to this topic

[Chaac]

I had avoided this film for a specific, picky reason (more on this later), but I really want to see The Avengers, so I decided I should know the specific background of my favourite character of the group in that film.

The Incredible Hulk has been seen as the black sheep of the Marvel Studios films, a title that as far as I'm concerned should go to the mess that is Iron Man 2, because this is by no means a bad film. It's not perfect either. Spoilers ahead.

The film starts telling the origin of the Hulk in no time. I love this, I always wanted a "first" super hero film do this. In fact, the film treats the origin thing as not important at all: Bruce Banner has a problem due to an experiment gone wrong or so. So, completely unlike Ang Lee's very good Hulk, which felt like Geoff Johns retelling the whole origin story of the Hulk and adding new things to it, the origin of the Hulk isn't the story at hand, but Banner's efforts to avoid the military and cure himself. Which I liked.

So the film starts with Bruce Banner in Brazil. This part is great. Very visual. In fact, when I was around half an hour into the film I realized that I could've understood almost everything without spoken dialogue, save for a pair dialogue between General Ross and Blonsky. There are some cool shots around here and every scene has a purpose, no meandering around. It's a good foundation for an action film. I like the mood.

Banner's search for his cure has him come into communication with a "Mr Blue" who might help him. Very in media res. It works. We don't know who the hell is that guy we don't actually need to. Mr Blue needs some of Banner's medical data, so we've got a McGuffin to look for.

Bruce Banner is described through the film as a symphatetic guy, without even needing to bring out his problem. This is helped by being played by Edward Norton who is perfect in this film. Norton also rewrote dialogue and characters in the film. Now, another thing that I appreciated here is some of the film's humour. It's very entertaining.

The cast for this is good in general, with one exception.

The story progresses. It continues the idea of showing instead of telling. Bruce's reaction to seeing Betty tells us anything we need to know. In an aim of avoiding introductions it might go a bit too far at trying to hide the general is her father. You might realize if you look at the names. But what the film tries to do there is unnecessary. The relationship between the guy and his daughter feels underdeveloped anyway.

The set up for the different action scenes are quite fun (my favourite is when Bruce is locked in the crystal hallway). The story progresses effortlessly, Bruce always has a problem at hand, an obstacle of some kind. The main threats of the film, other than the Hulk, are Ross and Blonsky. The Blonsky storyline ties with the Captain America universe (some fun is made of this by Tony Stark himself). Blonsky is played by Tim Roth who is awesome. Ross is played by William Hurt who I didn't recognize at first.

The first time we see the Hulk he's in shadows and treated like a grotesque monster from an old film, which we then discover to be not necessarily all that bad. I love the situation of having the second of the main villain become a sort of Final Boss, an alternate, evil, intelligent Hulk. A brutal fight develops. And the moment after the Hulk has defeated him and he's got to run anyway makes a great ending.

I wonder what the hell the general is supposed to do to the Abomination.

Now, I need to point out some stuff that I don't like about this film. It's precisely something that shouldn't have failed in this story:

1) The Hulk. Yes. I don't like how he looks. This was the reason why I hadn't seen it. For a start, I don't like the dark green. The ripped look, I dunno. But the problems concentrate in the face, and the animation. A lot of the time it doesn't come out as an alive creature.

2) The problem with the Hulk can be extended to a lot of the special effects. A lot of them in this film look just wrong to me. I'm not an expert, but when in your climatic moments everything looks false something isn't working here.

3) Liv Tyler. She plays Betty Ross in a very soft manner which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. And when it doesn't she just doesn't feel believable.

The score of the film, as heard in the film, feels irrelevant. Danny Elfman's effort in the other version sounded like a lot of more fun.

However, I think The Incredible Hulk is a very entertaining film, that tells a coherent story in a very effective manner, despite the special effects. It shows how a Hulk film can work being completely different to Ang Lee's Hulk, which requires some balls. To the contrary of a lot of commentaries I've read, I don't find this film "insulting". Like, at all. I think it's a simple action superhero film with a heart.

[Stefancos]

The film starts telling the origin of the Hulk in no time. I love this, I always wanted a "first" super hero film do this.

Huh. It was not the first film, you know that, right?

[Chaac]

The film starts telling the origin of the Hulk in no time. I love this, I always wanted a "first" super hero film do this.

Huh. It was not the first film, you know that, right?

It is at all effects. Even the origin of the Hulk is different. I meant the first superhero film on its own franchise. Even though it seems this one has been left without sequels, like the previous film.

I think the new Spider-Man film is doing somnething similar.

[Trent Bennett]

I still haven't seen either Hulk film in full. I guess I should check them out at some point. However, after seeing bits and pieces from both films I never quite liked the animation for how Hulk was designed. With how they have him made in the upcoming Avengers film, the animation looks A LOT better than before and a bit more realistic.

Regarding the Spider-Man reboot...it's definitely known the reboot is a lot more closer to the original comic book origins than what Sam Raimi's version of the films portrayed. I was against the upcoming Spidey reboot but after having seen the final full theatrical trailer for the film it has me real curious now. Personally I'm hoping the Spidey reboot will be the same way with the Star Trek reboot. Be totally against it at first, then having my completely changed and liking it after seeing the film.

I know a lot of people have been against Iron Man 2 but honestly I for one have enjoyed both Iron Man films. Supposedly too Iron Man 3 has now been confirmed. I think they wanted to wait to make that after The Avengers film was made.

[Ro Sajooc]

After reading this review, I would like to see the two Hulk films again, but I am more interested in Ang Lee's version.

[Chaac]

They're both fun films. I think I like more the 2003 version as well.

I still haven't seen either Hulk film in full. I guess I should check them out at some point. However, after seeing bits and pieces from both films I never quite liked the animation for how Hulk was designed. With how they have him made in the upcoming Avengers film, the animation looks A LOT better than before and a bit more realistic.

I think the new Hulk looks great. He also looks like Ruffalo!

Regarding the Spider-Man reboot...it's definitely known the reboot is a lot more closer to the original comic book origins than what Sam Raimi's version of the films portrayed. I was against the upcoming Spidey reboot but after having seen the final full theatrical trailer for the film it has me real curious now. Personally I'm hoping the Spidey reboot will be the same way with the Star Trek reboot. Be totally against it at first, then having my completely changed and liking it after seeing the film.

I have similar feelings here. Although after a while I felt unsatisied with that film. I hope the same doesn't happen with Spidey.

I know a lot of people have been against Iron Man 2 but honestly I for one have enjoyed both Iron Man films. Supposedly too Iron Man 3 has now been confirmed. I think they wanted to wait to make that after The Avengers film was made.

Presumably they've set up something in Avengers for Iron Man 3. Which has cast Guy Pierce, by the way