Hulk

Goodshape

Just saw this today. Really good I thought. Easily the best comic book film since Burton's Batman.

Eric Bana seemed perfect for the role, as did everyone else... Sam Elliott for instance. Nick Nolte did good too (I quite liked his rant toward the end).

I thought the (over-?) use split screen would get on my nerves, but they used it really well... seemed very much like a comic book, while at the same time not being overly 'comic'. Or at all comic for that matter... it was all played out very serious, but I think they pulled it off.

And while it does, obviously enough, leave it open for many a sequel, it's far more a film in its own right than any of Spiderman, X-Men, Daredevil, or whathaveyou.

The CGI was great too. Not perfect - it didn't exactly look 'real' - but it did look pretty f*cking cool. For me anyway, the effects played second fiddle to the story itself, which is quite refreshing these days (especially in a film like this).

The Hulk really did come to life as a character though. There's some great fights... the dogs were ok, the tanks were excellent and the stuff you don't see in the trailer is even better.

One thing though, keep in mind this is a 2:20 long film from the director of Crouching Tiger Hiddon Dragon, not Spiderman with that lovable lad Tobie Maguire... there were a good few parents in with the kids when I went to see it. Half way through they were bored sh!tless and crying and moaning all over the place. For the love of god leave them at home.

Anyroad, hats off to Ang Lee. Anyone know if he has plans for a sequel?

(use the 'rate this thread' thingy to rate the film)

Johnny Gomez

I did'nt really like it all that much, a few people had seen it before me and told me about it and only one of them liked it. But I didn't listen to them being a comic fan but I was dissapointed. I don't know why really, it was just missing something? And a bit of humour wouldn't have hurt.

Goodshape

Originally posted by Johnny Gomez
And a bit of humour wouldn't have hurt.

Maybe not, but surly it would have been out of place?

Apparently Ang Lee made a point of telling the actors to take their charactors seriously. No tongue-in-cheek carry on and no little winks to the audience or in-jokes.

All for the best IMHO.

Third_Echelon

just after seeing the film tonight....

overall i enjoyed it and thought that it was a good film.... have to say that its not one for the kids really.... there are moments that kids will enjoy but its a pretty long film.... i didnt know when i went in that it was going to be 2 & 1/2 hours long.... it took very long to get started though, but it had to be done to set up the story and the background for the rest of the film....

the story wasn't bad and the overall level of acting was pretty decent... the only thing that really annoyed me about the film was the insane overuse of those boxy things (which turn out to represent a comic book style look)... too much info on the screen at one time....

the CGI was very good.... there wasnt many dodgy moments in the CGI.. only one or two which weren't really all that noticeable.... the only kinda dodgy bit of the film was the bit were the evil scientist guy (cant remember his name) tries to get a sample from hulk who is trapped in a load of foam stuff.. anyway he fires a grenade thingy at him and it bounces back and explodes beside him.... anyway when it explodes the whole scene is a bit charlies angels if you know what i mean....


overall though it was a very entertaining film.... a 7/10 i think

Dr. Loon

Use spoilers ya gimp!!

Retr0gamer

I liked it but didn't love it. Theres far worse on in the cinema (cough charlies angels). Only problem I had was that it was too long before the action started but I suppose it was necessary. I actually loved the comic book style editing. It's worth going to see. I'd give it 3 1/2 out of 5.

Hyzepher

I saw it last night and to be honest I was fighting not to fall asleep. It was way way too slow, full of redundant dialog, over extended action scenes, repetitive, and it ranted on abit.

IMO, it is far too complex of a story for kids - in fact I would go as far to say that it isn't a kids movie - too long for kids, plot is very mixed up and dis-jointed, and some parts are bound to be a little scary - its worth the 12 cert and really not suitable for under that , with or without parent.

The 24ish style if 'picture in picture' was ok - again too confusing for kids.

I thought soem of the acting was terrible - especially the scenes between Dr. Ross and her father the general - totally plastic. The dialog was terrible and cheesey made all the worse by the actors saying them with straight faces.

The whole Banner family sub-plot was badly explained and confusing. They didn't explain the father's 'change' enough and I expect alot of the audience didn't pick up on it.

All in all - 4/10 for a movie - 6/10 for the action.


Hyzepher

koneko

Ok, rephrased my post because the last one was a bit messy

I appreciate what Ang Lee tried to do with this comic/story. I really do. Sometimes films need a bit more plot and drama, because, to be honest, CG alone doesn't make a film great.

But something went wrong. First off I have to say I didn't think Eric Bana was good. At all. I think his acting in some parts was completely off and I just didn't get a good feeling off it. The CG was a bit flakey in some parts aswell (and great in others!).

I think if they wanted to do this type of version of the Hulk, a big long thinky version, they should have at least explained some of the story and events, elaborated, or at least focused on interesting things. The film would have worked *much* better as a straight-forward action film. Some parts of The Hulk were genuinely boring and unfortunately I did actually feel like I was going to sleep.

And the end? Yuck. Really feels like they ran out of ideas and just tacked that whole thing on there. Didn't like what they did with his father at the end. Completely pointless

Don't bring your kids to see it. They will be bored out of their little heads and will ruin what good parts this film has for anyone that's actually trying to watch it.

One of the stinkers of the year for me. Disappointing.

Retr0gamer

Heres my explaination of what happened at the end. However the end did suck a bit:

Bruce banners da took all of the Hulks energy into him self which left bruce in his normal form before he was exposed to the gamma radiation. The gamma bomb killed bruces dad since he couldn't handle all the energy but the gamma radiation from the gamma bomb also recharged bruce banner back into the bruce banner/Hulk form

koneko

Oh yeah, I know that's what it was, but it just felt a bit off, you know?

Like they couldn't think of a proper ending and just came up with that. Really didn't like it.

Retr0gamer

The ending was a bit rough and rushed. I can see why there are lots of mixed opinions about this film. Even more so than matrix reloaded this is a film you either thought was great or diappointing. I liked. Maybe because I wasn't expecting much and got more than I expected. I also thought ang lee got the comic book style down to a tee.

The Brigadier

The ending sucked eggs... It reallt did feel tacked on...

Best bit....Lou Ferigno and Stan Lee walking out of the labs...
(chuckle chuckle geeky injoke...)

Sposs

Worst Film Ever

Never seen a film so bad,it was long and boring with pointless diaglogue and piss poor action scenes.

Im i remember correctly

Didnt his girlfriend dump him at the start of the film and suddenly when he turns into thsi big green monster she loves him again,WTF

Tusky

I liked it... very Ang Lee ! im glad he didnt go for the fast moving no story lots of action styley that all the other superhero films are going....it did drag a bit and the ending made me angry as it was very very sh!t !

I love the funky camera stuff he used to make it comic booky ! that was great, Eric Bana was PERFECT IMO and nick n was very good too ( specially his rant )

and the CGI was fabulous

Retr0gamer

Well at the very least it was much better than (*cringe) Spiderman.

Goodshape

I liked the ending. Thought it was very intence... also,

I thought the film was going to end at the top of that road in San Fransisco, as the picture was plastered all over magazines and websites for ages... so the fact that there was still something else for Hulk to beat up afterwards was OK in my book

.

Third_Echelon

Originally posted by Dr. Loon
Use spoilers ya gimp!!

didn't know that spoilers existed ... sorry about that

ya gimp!!! c'mon gimp, isnt that word a bit 80's at this stage!!!!

aine

[/QUOTE] [/B]
One thing though, keep in mind this is a 2:20 long film from the director of Crouching Tiger Hiddon Dragon, not Spiderman with that lovable lad Tobie Maguire... there were a good few parents in with the kids when I went to see it. Half way through they were bored sh!tless and crying and moaning all over the place. For the love of god leave them at home.

Anyroad, hats off to Ang Lee. Anyone know if he has plans for a sequel?
[/B][/QUOTE]

I would completely agree...this isn't one for the kiddies! CGI was pretty good though and in fairness to Ang Lee....he seems to have hit the nail square on when it comes to directing comic book movies! The split screen stuff was class and the comic book writing!

Can't say I'm dying to see a sequel but I would go and see it if it came out!!

Went to see Hulk today and I must say I really enjoyed it. The one problem I had was the fact that the audience consisted mainly of children under the age of seven and their parents. This resulted in an awful lot of talking and asking of questions concerning the plot. I plan to go see it again during a late showing in the hope that all children will be tucked up in bed at home.

Mark

Now if Nick Nolte hadn't gotten those powers I'd have been happier.

I was very disapointed at the "Ang Lee's apparent decision to represent the Hulk solely as The Good Guy and keep the cert down" in fairness. He killed...what, one guy maybe? That's not the Hulk. I felt cheated.

For instance, he rips the **** out of the tanks and helicopters, yet the pilots/drivers are all grand, excepting one or two chaps. Could have used a few explosions and dead bodies tbh. Not out of a desperation for gore mind, but to show that the Hulk was one mean bastard.

From the trailer I was expecting great big battles, the Hulk vs dozens of tanks and troops, the whole shebang so to speak.

Instead I got 4 tanks in the middle of the desert. Oh and two helicopters. Goody.

Loads of potential, ended up pissing me off.

TomTom

I was a bit dissapointed also. Did not know what to expect. I had head the first hour was spent explaining but i did not think it would be that dull. Lots of oddities in it.
liked the action but though it could have been more intense. not enough brute force hulk, needed more raw anger. a little bit of mindless raw anger deaths would have been nice in a moderated way.
ending was pants. the were able to track his so easily when he was doin three mile jumps could they not track him to the amazon of where ever it was.
The bit with the fater had potential (attaching to stuff) but just seamed to be dropped all of a sudden. What was the point of the ending?

Gordon

I loved Nick Nolte's

cool superpowers

although couldn't quite grasp what exactly that was - oneness?

I am confused about the end

was the frog on Banner's hat - his Dad?

. It is also a shame that it was too dark to actually see the final fight sequence... where everyone on the planet dies a horrible death killed by the moon. Oops sorry forgot the spoiler.

jamesd

I went to see this Friday night - I was not impressed with it as I taught it was very dragged out.

daveg

My own thoughts on the film.....

Story - Ropey to say the least and a tad slow in parts. I think were def in for a sequel.

Casting - Excellent. Erica Banna was a superb choice. Really suits the part in the same way Toby MaGuire suited Spiderman. Nolte also an excellent choice... superb actor... very underrated. Nice to see Sam Elliott in a big role.

Acting - Banna/Nolte & Elliott were excellent. I found Jennifer Connelly's character a bit wooden but she was ok.

CGI - Superb. My god have they cracked it on this film. If you compare with Superman you can see how far they have come.

Spoilers -

The tank scene was amazing... it looked so real.... Also the F22 scene where he jumped on the back of the aircraft was very well done. When I saw trailers I thought his "jumping" looked very silly but it turned out to be a great idea and was very well done. I thought the fight scenes in the dark were a waste. Perhaps it was the cinema I was in but you could hardly see it.

All in all an excellent film imo. I'd give 4/5 with 1 star lost for the storyline. Go see it if only for the cgi.

Also the split screens & comic book effects were very well done.

Draco

Hulk SMASH!

While I did enjoy the film, it would have been nice to have the hulk say a bit more. The CGI was a vast improvemnt on Spiderman and Daredevil. It was a bit on the long side but I'm not sure what could have been dropped. I liked the comic book effect of splitting the screen and it worked far better than I expected.

Mr E

Yeah, I loved it..... great effects, above average story. Bana was a great choice for Banner. The battle in the dark at the end was terrible, though......

Oh and I want to agree with some previous posters' comments - If you have kids under 10 years old - DON'T BRING THEM! They'll be bored rigid for an hour, talking, messing and throwing popcorn (I saw first hand proof of this). Little f**kers.....

- Dave.

Bannor

Originally posted by Mark
I was very disapointed at the "Ang Lee's apparent decision to represent the Hulk solely as The Good Guy and keep the cert down" in fairness. He killed...what, one guy maybe? That's not the Hulk. I felt cheated.

For instance, he rips the **** out of the tanks and helicopters, yet the pilots/drivers are all grand, excepting one or two chaps. Could have used a few explosions and dead bodies tbh. Not out of a desperation for gore mind, but to show that the Hulk was one mean bastard.

In a recent interview Ang Lee said that the purpose of the movie was to give a background to the Hulk - at the end of the movie Bruce Banner still has an element of control over the Hulk but it's fading, any sequels will see a far more violent/nastier Hulk.

He also said that he turned down the opportunity to direct T3 to do Hulk - good for the Hulk franchise and bad for Terminator.

The reason we didnt see the Hulk kill anybody is because we are supposed to fell sympathy towards him. All of the greatest anti heros throught out literature and film history have had their most dispicable acts off screen. From Macbeth killing Duncan to anyone the Hulk may have killed. This is done so that we will sympathise with them.

BlitzKrieg

Saw it.


Thought it was impressive enuf


But while i understand the need to explain the story at the start. it could have been edited down a bit. (They overdid the whole cell vision)

-does anyone else feel all marvel films seem to have the same start and theme song the whole flying through our inner selves opening?

Well i liked the story at start but what i really liked/disliked was the lack of central villian cause it was purposely messy and confusing on who wants what. Its good from one perspective...but from a comic nut u want a super villian to have whooped.



The Father though

spoiler:

I think i got lost here. I thought the father was a bit screwed up by the events BUT he did want to cure his son. (he says so a few times) and though his method was mad in the end he developed his asorbing powers to suck away the hulks power. Course in the end this wasnt completed cause of the bomb. But enuf so that bruce can live with his powers. I could be (most likely) completely wrong. But thats how i looked at it. I didnt feel the father was much of a villian.

I was also disapointed by the flashbacks

spoiler:

[I expected more of a he killed his own mother or something? cause u see the hulk. Or something more surpriing.

Mr. Fancypants

The DVD menus are up here http://www.dvdanswers.com/index.php?r=0&s=1&c=2075&n=1&burl=


Look quite cool. But what you may notice is the cool looking extras that will be on it. Including a commentry by Ang Lee.

galactus

Total pants apart from the Hulk bits. Wait 4 the vid is you haven't seen it. X2 was waaay better.

On the brigh side at least T3 is out this week.

nuvolari

i wasn't mad on it. it felt like there were bits missing (bad editing?) and yet it seemed very long. i thought the cgi was kinda dodgy in parts, especially in the desert. also felt kinda sorry for jennifer connolly, she didn't seem to have much to do.

all in all, it just didn't come together as a coherant whole for me

Pigman II

I thought Hulk was rubbish to TBH. Ang Lee was clearly trying to do a 'jaws' by making us wait til the second half of the movie to see the creature. That would be fine except that he forgot to construct a decent first half to ease our collective suffering in the meantime.

And something tells me Lee knew in his own mind that the that the first half was weak as hell because of his excessive use of 'photograpic trickery'. Lee explained this as trying to establish the look of a comic book but if that was the case then why did the the amount of splitscreening and morphing cuts reduce dramatically once Hulk appears? Surely a comic book is still a comic book even when the action hots up?

No, I reckon Lee thought he could cover up the sheer tedium of the characters and the plot with lots of fancy cuts and effects. Didn't work IMHO.

Nick Nolte? Don't even get me started.....

uRbaN

so from reading this, it looks like the hulk was toned down so it could be sold to the low cert market as well. Looks like he couldnt define his traget audience tbh.....sounds disappoiting.