It should be said, though, that "Hulk" is not as artistically accomplished as Director Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" or perhaps other acclaimed films in his catalog. "Hulk" at times suffers from uneven pacing, some mind-numbing psycological probing and timid acting. But overall, "Hulk" stands on its own as a dark, brooding and spectacular comic-book adaption that had the balls to take the "Hulk" to places no one ever expected something like the "Hulk" to go. And while having the guts to do something daring is instantly laudable, "Hulk," even with its flaws, still succeeds surprisingsly well.

10 of 11 found the following review helpful:

It isn't easy being Green  Oct 10, 2005
By Dark Mechanicus JSG "Black Ops Teep"
I'll just ask you this: isn't it better to have a trippy, funky, eccentric flick like Ang Lee's "Hulk" than no Hulk movie at all?

Look, let's boil Ang Lee's rippingly fun new movie 'Hulk' down to its core components: it's about brilliant nanotechnological research scientist Bruce Banner who one day, while working in his lab, gets 'belted' by Gamma rays. What should have been a fatal exposure combines with certain---erm, genetic irregularities---to create some major anger management problems for Dr. Banner.

You see, every time he gets angry---really angry---he turns into a big green man. A big green man with expandable purple stretch pants that assist with his modesty during his transformations from Eric Bana into a completely CGI-generated bright green monster.

A big green man that hurls tanks and helicopters about like they were toys. A big green man whose erstwhile captor, General Ross (played competently but shallowly by Sam Elliot), decides to let escape from an underground Area 51-esque base, the better to 'fight him outside.'

Umm, OK. The truth is that Ang Lee brings his stellar cinematic sensibilities (from movies like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Sense and Sensibility") to Marvel's storied Incredible Hulk: like the little nanites that flow through Bruce's body and the gamma rays, the marriage of Lee to the comic book material results in a whole that is greater---and greener---than the sum of its parts.

'Hulk' is solidly entertaining, visually gorgeous, and---especially for a summer blockbuster---an unusually experimental film that manages to entertain and startle simultaneously.

Those who go to "Hulk" looking for stellar special effects will leave highly satisfied. SEE:

*green gamma-ray mushroom clouds!

*nasty insane killer giant poodles!

*Banner's mad scientist father David, who undergoes some startling transformations of his own (seriously: Nolte doesn't just *chew* scenery in this movie, he absorbs it!)!

*the incredible battle sequences between the Hulk and his tormentors---be they the hideous hulk-Dogs or our brave boys in the US Army---the latter pitted against the real "Army of One"!

The special effects centerpiece award of "Hulk" goes, of course, to the eponymous hero: the Hulk himself is completely computer generated. Does it work?

Actually, the Hulk is one of the superhero pandemic's most sympathetic characters, and displays far more humanity than his alter ego, played with considerable reticence by Eric Bana. The last superhero we saw who was this withdrawn was Michael Keaton's Bruce Wayne.

The acting here is all top-notch, and there aren't any uneven performances: Bana doesn't exactly reprise his "Chopper" performance---he's way too restrained---but then again, he's a nice counterpoint to his lab-destroying Green Inner Child. Jennifer Connelly re-affirms her position as Hollywood's most gorgeous underrated actress. Nick Nolte plays his leering, rasping role to the hilt, and ultimately steals the show.

There are times where the movie gets a little too awkward and goofy for its own good: I'd still love to know where the Hulk gets his one-size-fits-all purple stretch pants. There's Josh Lucas's death scene, in which they freeze frame the horrified Lucas in front of an explosion---highly goofy, but very comic booky, and it works; I laughed, anyway.

The Hulk's surrender scene in downtown San Francisco also makes little sense; after all, if the Big Green Guy is so fond of leaping, why doesn't he just leap out of the way of all those army men and hop over to Oakland?

And speaking of that, what was General Ross thinking when he figures that it's a good idea to let the leap-loving Hulk escape the underground base, reasoning that it will be easier to fight the Big Guy on the surface? Time for a court-martial, Soldier.

But even though the buildup and exposition of "Hulk" makes the movie run a tad long, the film ultimately comes together, a testament to the solidity of its actors, the seamlessness of its CGI, and the talents of both Ang Lee and Director of Photography Fred Elmes, who worked with Lee on "Ice Storm" and has been a long-time DP for David Lynch (his credits include "Eraserhead", "Wild at Heart", and "Blue Velvet")---so it's no wonder that such lurid, dark emotions can be shot on such a visually brilliant palette.

Yes, "Hulk" is a Evil Dad vs. Good Son movie---and like so many other films that used the same device to telling effect (think Star Wars, or even, in a lopsided way, Spider-Man), "Hulk" succeeds at a very primal level.

"Hulk", after all, is about secrets repressed under a banal, nondescript surface, about the rage that lurks within all of us. Ang Lee's "Hulk" says that if it isn't easy being Green, at least it looks good. Just don't make him angry---you wouldn't like him when he's angry.

JSG

9 of 10 found the following review helpful:

Faithful to the Marvel comic, too deep for the average joe  May 27, 2005
By T. Cardozo "Thanos"
This is a complex, sophisticated film and one that most closely captures the essence of the Hulk comic. True comics fans who love the individual character development and the art first and find the violent action a delicate garnish should LOVE this movie. I wouldn't be surprised that these true fans also dislike the Batmans, daredevils, catwomans as these are horrible schlock that pervert the comic form. Even Spiderman and X-men, while paying tribute, do not quite capture the spirit. The best true comic book movies to date are not even Marvel or DC: Sin City (but its graphic novel style) and Unbreakable. Hulk is the best of the the DC/Marvel crowd to date for those of us who were buying the phoenix series, electra and captain marvel fresh off the shelves...true believers. It also beautifully sets up sequels, but it is clearly above the heads of the average moviegoer and tragically appropriate sequels may not get made. Reminds me of 1990 when these morons were shelling out $100 a ticket for phil collins and aerosmith when they could see the pixies, jane's additiction, nirvana, soundgarden...etc almost free in local clubs. Same thing happening today with U2/Coldplay/Radiohead etc. when bands like Cold Duck Complex are there in small clubs for the taking. Go figure.

11 of 13 found the following review helpful:

Hulk (2003)  Jun 13, 2008
By Nicanor Journey "Movies are love"
4.5/5 stars

"Hulk" 2003 is very different from what you would expect from a typical summer popcorn creature-feature. From the advertising campaign it appeared to be a mindless special effects extravaganza with little to no plot whatsoever; AKA Summer Fun. For those who went to see it with that mindset it was undoubtedly a not so pleasant surprise. Most of whom who saw this on its initial theatrical release obviously had not foreseen Ang Lee's philosophical drama, and they instantly retaliated causing Hulk to fail in most ways.

I was surprised, but not in the way these common viewers were, because I loved Hulk. It is a superhero movie unlike any other comic based film in the last twenty-five years. This is a film that is filled with heart and emotion and delivers it fully in ways no other film of this genre has done before it. The art direction and special effects are astounding, and helps bring this comic character to life and oh so much more.

The plot starts off rather simply with David Banner, a geneticist who has been studying regeneration, experimenting on various animals and finally ends up injecting himself. Eventually the mustached scientist has a son - Bruce Banner - who has apparently inherited his father's lab created gene.

We now skip forward several years as Bruce begins studying exactly what his father had all those years before: regeneration. This only ends in what can only be described as disaster as an exposure of "Gamma Rays" causes his inherited gene to emerge transforming him into the not so jolly, green behemoth known as the Hulk. From there we are thrown into several well done action sequences as the military under the command of Gen. Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross (a very human and well-crafted performance by Sam Elliot) begins an attempt to capture Bruce/Hulk to obtain this gene. Only complicating Bruce's hectic life is the reappearance of his crazed father who also cares more about the studies of his past opposed to his son's well-being which goes beyond abuse before finally leading up to an enormous CGI confrontation between mutated father and son.

The Hulk does lack in the category of CGI at times with quality going up and down during a few cuts, and an adrenaline junkie will not enjoy the level of dialogue and drama that fills this plot that must have been a cinematic fusion between King Kong, Frankenstein and Marvel Comics. Ang Lee perfectly utilizes the split frame, thus turning this film into a living comic book and the entire cast does their part in moving the plot along. This isn't so much a superhero film as it is a doorway looking into the delicacy of humanity. You know and care about the characters, and you can certainly care about the man beneath the giant green muscled frame of the Hulk. That is what the movie is about, not a giant green man smashing things up for ninety minutes like so many 2003 movie goers were expecting.

Sadly this film didn't hit the audience it should've due to Universal's careless advertising that passed this off as a popcorn film. If you're someone who likes emotionally compelling and ambitious tales Hulk (2003) may be the superhero film for you. If you liked Frankenstein or any of the King Kong adaptations Hulk will probably be a movie for you, just don't go in unprepared to think about the material you're viewing. This is one that one should defiantly pay attention to because it is probably the most underrated film of the 20th century.

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