Summary:
Bruce Banner's (Eric Bana) peaceful existence as a brilliant researcher working with cutting edge genetic technology
hides a nearly forgotten and painful past. His ex-girlfriend and fellow
researcher, Betty Ross (Jennifer Connelly), has grown tired of Bruce's cordoned off emotional
terrain and relegates herself to remaining an onlooker to his quiet
life--until a simple oversight in the lab leads to an explosive situation in
which Bruce heroically saves a fellow researchers life by absorbing a normally deadly dose of gamma
radiation. Surprisingly unscathed from the accident, Bruce
can't deny experiencing some strange side effects--including blackouts and
the feeling that there is some kind of strange and dark, yet attractive,
presence within him. All the while an impossibly strong, rampaging creature, who
comes to be known as the Hulk, continues its sporadic appearances, cutting a
swath of destruction in his wake. But Betty Ross has her theories, she knows the
shadowy figure lurking in the background, Bruce's father David, is somehow
connected. She may be the only one who understands the link between the
scientist and the Hulk, but her efforts may be too late to save both man and
creature.
Review:
Eric Bana's portrayal of Bruce Banner is absolutely brilliant in this Ang
Lee take on the Green Meanie. Most critics concur the computer generated
Incredible Hulk doesn't look real enough and moviegoers should be forewarned
before throwing down $9. Well I'm here to tell you the contrary. I believe
early trailers and the video game had a lot to do with the critics take on
this movie. The final product (including the Green Meanie) looks like a
polished piece of work, ready to steer box office patrons into the world of
Bruce Banner and his alter ego. The video game follows a different format
entirely and should be discernable to the trained eye. The video game
features an obviously cartoon-like representation of the Green Meanie using
cel-shading. Cel-shading has become a popular effect in videogames including
Auto Modellista (Capcom), Jet Set Radio Future (Sega), Legend of Zelda: Wind
Waker (Nintendo). The movie on the other hand utilizes realistic CG which
looks ten times better than previous CG counterparts (Shrek, Scooby Doo,
etc). Hindsight tells us using cel-shading in the videogame and releasing it
weeks before the movie was a bad decision on Universal Studios part. Since
most critics are stubborn and stupid (unable to discern from business trends
in videogames and movies), the video game placed critics in a negative
mindset when it came to the movie, making them far too critical.
Despite a lackluster storyline, Ang Lee's direction for this film is
Oscar worthy. Considering all the obstacles he had (main character CG,
high-budget=high expectations=dumbing down movie for bigger demographic).
Ang Lee uses various camera angles and visual effects to concisely display
Bruce Banners mental state. This gives the movie short of an artsy Japanese
feel and is a pleasant turn-around from action and CG packed X2: Xmen
United. One of the nicer effects is when Bruce Banner is looking at a
picture and it begins to move like a moving picture, coalescing his
emotions.
In short, don't go to this movie if you are expecting a run-of-the-mill
action flick. Ang Lee shows us why he's one of Hollywood's greatest
directors by raising the bar in the comic-book movie genre by giving it a
much need boost in integrity and direction.
See this movie if you're a fan of:
X2: X-men United (2003)
Spider-Man (2002)
Daredevil (2003)
Batman (Popular movie franchise 1989-Present)
Ang Lee (Director, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon)
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