Ebert's Hulk review
warbea...@webtv.net
his less- then- kind review of Spiderman, that he'd give the Hulk the
same treatment. I am happy to report that I was mistaken. Three Stars
(Roeper gave it "Thumbs Up" as well).-Enjoy!
*Taken from the suntimes.com
By Roger Ebert
<<The Hulk is rare among Marvel superheroes in that his powers are a
curse, not an advantage. When rage overcomes Dr. Bruce Banner and he
turns into a green monster many times his original size, it is not to
fight evil or defend the American way, but simply to lash out at his
tormentors. Like the Frankenstein stories that are its predecessors,
"Hulk" is a warning about the folly of those who would toy with the
secrets of life. It is about the anguish of having powers you did not
seek and do not desire. "What scares me the most," Banner tells his only
friend, Betty Ross, "is that when it happens, when it comes over me,
when I totally lose control, I like it."
Ang Lee's "Hulk" (the movie's title drops "the") is the most talkative
and thoughtful recent comic book adaptation. It is not so much about a
green monster as about two wounded adult children of egomaniacs. Banner
(Eric Bana) was fathered by a scientist (Nick Nolte) who has
experimented on his own DNA code, and passed along genes that are
transformed by a lab accident into his son's hulkhood. Betty Ross
(Jennifer Connelly) is his research partner; they were almost lovers,
but it didn't work out, and she speaks wryly of "my inexplicable
fascination with emotionally distant men." Her cold father is General
Ross (Sam Elliott), filled with military bluster and determined to
destroy the Hulk.
These two dueling oedipal conflicts are at the heart of "Hulk," and it's
touching how in many scenes we are essentially looking at damaged
children. When the Hulk's amazing powers become known, the military of
course tries to kill him (that's the routine solution in most movies
about aliens and monsters), but there's another villain who has a more
devious scheme. That's Talbot (Josh Lucas), a venal entrepreneur who
wants to use Banner's secret to manufacture a race of self-repairing
soldiers. Lots of money there.
The movie brings up issues about genetic experimentation, the misuse of
scientific research and our instinctive dislike of misfits, and actually
talks about them. Remember that Ang Lee is the director of films such as
"The Ice Storm" and "Sense and Sensibility," as well as "Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon"; he is trying here to actually deal with the
issues in the story of the Hulk, instead of simply cutting to brainless
special effects.
Just as well, too, because the Hulk himself is the least successful
element in the film. He's convincing in closeup but sort of jerky in
long shot--oddly, just like his spiritual cousin, King Kong. There are
times when his movements subtly resemble the stop-frame animation used
to create Kong, and I wonder if that's deliberate; there was a kind of
eerie oddness about Kong's movement that was creepier than the slick
smoothness of modern computer-generated creatures.
"King Kong" is of course one of Lee's inspirations, in a movie with an
unusual number of references to film classics. "Bride of Frankenstein"
is another, as in a scene where Hulk sees his reflection in a pond. No
prizes for identifying "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" as the source of the
original comics. Other references include "Citizen Kane" (the Hulk tears
apart a laboratory) and "The Right Stuff" (a jet airplane flies so high
the stars are visible). There also is a shade of Gen. Jack D. Ripper in
Gen. Ross, who is played by Elliott in a masterful demonstration of
controlled and focused almost-overacting.
The film has its share of large-scale action sequences, as rockets are
fired at the Hulk and he responds by bringing down helicopters. And
there are the obligatory famous landmarks, real and unreal, we expect in
a superhero movie; the Golden Gate Bridge, Monument Valley, and of
course an elaborate secret laboratory where Hulk can be trapped in an
immersion chamber while his DNA is extracted.
But these scenes are secondary in interest to the movie's central
dramas, which involve the two sets of fathers and children. Banner has a
repressed memory of a traumatic childhood event, and it is finally
jarred loose after he meets his father again after many years. Nolte,
looking like a man in desperate need of a barber and flea powder, plays
Banner's dad as a man who works in the same laboratory, as a janitor. He
uses DNA testing to be sure this is indeed his son, and in one
clandestine conversation tells him, "You're going to have to watch that
temper of yours."
Connelly's character also has big issues with her father--she trusts him
when she shouldn't--and it's amusing how much the dilemma of this
character resembles the situation of the woman she played in "A
Beautiful Mind." Both times she's in love with a brilliant scientist
who's a sweetheart until he goes haywire, and who thinks he's being
pursued by the government.
The movie has an elegant visual strategy; after countless directors have
failed, Ang Lee figures out how split-screen techniques can be made to
work. Usually they're an annoying gimmick, but here he uses moving
frame-lines and pictures within pictures to suggest the dynamic
storytelling techniques of comic books. Some shots are astonishing, as
foreground and background interact and reveal one another. There is
another technique, more subtle, that reminds me of comics: He often cuts
between different angles in the same closeup--not cutting away, but
cutting from one view of a face to another, as graphic artists do when
they need another frame to deal with extended dialogue.
Whether "Hulk" will appeal to its primary audience--teenage science
fiction fans--is hard to say. No doubt it will set the usual box office
records over the weekend, but will it reach audiences who will respond
to its dramatic ambition? Ang Lee has boldly taken the broad outlines of
a comic book story and transformed them to his own purposes; this is a
comic book movie for people who wouldn't be caught dead at a comic book
movie.>>
John Davis
sequence" is pretty fantastic at depicting the freedom of an uncaged
animal - tres cool! The "realism" of the FX is secondary to the viseral
impact IMHO.
While I applaud the concept of the transitions and split screens as "comic
panel devices", I found them distracting, taking me out of the story. A
movie is not a comic.
I liked the movie. Pretty bold treatment and enough catharsis to rock the
action crowd.
JOhn
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warbea...@webtv.net
office record for a film opening in June with a 62.6 million haul! Which
is great news whether you're a Hulk fan or not. It opens even more doors
for other projects to get green-lighted (just p-l-e-a-s-e no "Shazam"
movie-ugh). And I hope that "Hulk smash puny Charlie's Angels 2" next
weekend!
WAR-I smell a possible Ghost Rider flick-BEAST
Hitman of Las Vegas
wrote:
> It opens even more doors
>for other projects to get green-lighted (just p-l-e-a-s-e no "Shazam"
>movie-ugh).
I would dig a Captain Marvel movie!
> And I hope that "Hulk smash puny Charlie's Angels 2" next
>weekend!
Keep hoping!
Doctor TOC
>
> I would dig a Captain Marvel movie!
Ditto. They could do a lot worse than adapt Ordway's "Power of Shazam"
graphic novel. It's a great version of CM's origin story.
Doctor TOC
--
The Reverend Doctor "The Other Chris"
Secret Elf, Jive Talkin' Choirboy, Kóri Wulfmangler
ICQ # 4814586
Argent Games - http://www.argentgames.com
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The TOC Files - http://members.fortunecity.com/toc
warbea...@webtv.net
Yeah, tell me about it!! :( But I just think the whole Charlie's
Angels concept (tv series most definitely included) is an inane exercise
in feministic excess gone berserk!
Ellen Ripley & Clarice Starling, now they were true cinematic female
hero/warriors! Not these Lethal Weapon-ish, Barbie doll wannabes
prancing around in gaudy/skimpy attire.
G Bell
>*Note: Ole' Roger Ebert proved me wrong. I thought long ago because of
>his less- then- kind review of Spiderman, that he'd give the Hulk the
>same treatment. I am happy to report that I was mistaken. Three Stars
>(Roeper gave it "Thumbs Up" as well).-Enjoy!
You forget the most important difference: Ang Lee directed The Hulk, Sam
Raimi directed Spiderman. Lee, a great director, could make Plan 9 and
still get brown-nosing thumbs up. He's seen as a serious artist who
condescends to make seemingly popular movies that are actually
subversive works of art that dumb teenagers just don't "Get".
Basically Eberts review is an insult to anybody, he sees as, stupid
enough to admit to enjoying Godzilla movies, comic books, or old SciFi
movies.
Graham
Hitman of Las Vegas
wrote:
>Hitman of Las Vegas wrote:
>>
>> I would dig a Captain Marvel movie!
>
>Ditto. They could do a lot worse than adapt Ordway's "Power of Shazam"
>graphic novel. It's a great version of CM's origin story.
Friend,
Coincidentally, on a pro wrestling newsgroup I frequent, an insider
tidbit posted that Warner is looking at developing a Captain
Marvel/Shazam feature film, and that they want current WWE superstar,
and star of Scorpion King, The Rock, as Captain Marvel.
Now, I like Captain Marvel, and The Rock is ok, but they don't mix
well.
Keep your fingers crossed!!
Lenell B.
It opens even more doors
> for other projects to get green-lighted (just p-l-e-a-s-e no "Shazam"
> movie-ugh). And I hope that "Hulk smash puny Charlie's Angels 2" next
> weekend!
>
> WAR-I smell a possible Ghost Rider flick-BEAST
I would like to see a Shazam! movie. If it's done right it could get
slow moving DC Comics into the films. I DON'T want to see another
Superman OR Batman flick! Shazam! would be perfect due to it being new
and fresh. It would tell the origin of Captain Marvel and for the
villian for him to fight would be Black Adam (he would be perfect! Or
maybe Dr. Sivana
I hope Hulk kicks Charlie's Angels asses this weekend.
Oh. I just got Gamera 2 and 3 from House of Monsters (the ADV version)
It's good!
Later
Lenell B.
Hitman of Las Vegas
On 24 Jun 2003 23:09:28 -0700, lene...@ameritech.net (Lenell B.)
wrote:
>I would like to see a Shazam! movie. If it's done right it could get
>slow moving DC Comics into the films. I DON'T want to see another
>Superman OR Batman flick! Shazam! would be perfect due to it being new
>and fresh. It would tell the origin of Captain Marvel and for the
>villian for him to fight would be Black Adam (he would be perfect! Or
>maybe Dr. Sivana
Me too! The origin story could link nicely with Black Adam, and Dr
Sivana could and should be a player in it. I would love it! IThe
Captain Marvel movie serial is my fave of all time/all genre. It's a
great character.
I posted above a net rumor that WWE werestlere The Rock is somehow
connected to the project. Weird! He'd make a better Black Adam,
though!
>I hope Hulk kicks Charlie's Angels asses this weekend.
Keep hoping - no buzz means no chance of thta happeing.
>Oh. I just got Gamera 2 and 3 from House of Monsters (the ADV version)
>It's good!
Awesome!
Doctor TOC
>
> Sivana could and should be a player in it. I would love it! IThe
> Captain Marvel movie serial is my fave of all time/all genre. It's a
> great character.
Seconded.
> I posted above a net rumor that WWE werestlere The Rock is somehow
> connected to the project. Weird! He'd make a better Black Adam,
> though!
That's exactly what I thought when I read your earlier post on the
subject. Maybe it's from watching The Scorpion King the other night, but
I could really see The Rock as Teth-Adam/Black Adam. Who do you think
would make a good CM?
Mazinger Z
"Doctor TOC" <other...@erols.com> wrote in message
news:3EFA0C74...@erols.com...
> Hitman of Las Vegas wrote:
> >
> > The origin story could link nicely with Black Adam, and Dr
> > Sivana could and should be a player in it. I would love it! IThe
> > Captain Marvel movie serial is my fave of all time/all genre. It's a
> > great character.
>
> Seconded.
>
> > I posted above a net rumor that WWE werestlere The Rock is somehow
> > connected to the project. Weird! He'd make a better Black Adam,
> > though!
>
> That's exactly what I thought when I read your earlier post on the
> subject. Maybe it's from watching The Scorpion King the other night, but
> I could really see The Rock as Teth-Adam/Black Adam. Who do you think
> would make a good CM?
>
Fred MacMurray!
I can't wait for a CG Talky Tawny.
James Kilbane
1: The Amazing Spiderman (working title fo sequel)...July 2nd, 2004
2. The Punisher.....Summer 2004
3. Fantastic Four....2005
4. Blade: Trinity (the final film, supposedly Dracula as the
villian)....2004/2005
5.. Elektra (Daredevil spin-off).....2005
6. Daredevil 2...????
7. Hulk 2...????
Goyer has written a script for Dr. Strange and Ghostrider. Hopefully
Ghostrider will get made. I think it will depend on the next couple of
Marvel films, it may be overkill. Believe it or not, the Hulk is
technically a FLOP (compare it to what the other movies made), and
Marvel made only a couple million dollars off it when it opened. But
it's successful enough fo a sequel.
No doubt in my mind Spidey 2 will do well, the story is phenomenal.
I wish I never found out all the little plot twists in it. The first
one was my fav, but the new one sounds too be a lot more promising.
Oh, anyone hear about Batman 5? LOL....supposedly Ashton Kutcher
(sp?) is Batman. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, folks, if that's true, it's possible ther can be a WORSE movie
than Batman and Robin.
warbea...@webtv.net
villian)....2004/2005>>
Where did you hear this from??
I read that in the 3rd film, some sort of apocalypse takes place & the
Vampire Nation uses mass media propaganda to place the blame on Blade.
So now, Blade has not only Vampires to contend with but, human mobs as
well.
James Kilbane
baddest vampire of all time, Dracula." But you're right about the other
plot points. Blade will also encounter the vampire-hunter group, the
Nightstalkers w/ Whistler's daughter. Search the net, you're bound to
find something about it. I know there's a script review somewhere.
BTW, Ghostrider is supposedly coming out fall of next year. I hope
they use Goyer's script, I'm sure he would do the character justice.
Next year is a big year for comic movies:
1. Van Helsing (sp? w/ Hugh Jackson),
2. Spiderman 2
3. The Punisher w/ Travolta as the villian
4. The Son of The Mask w/ Jamie Kennedy
5. Catwoman w/ Halle Barry
6. Ghostrider
I'm looking forward to all of those next year (except the Mask
sequel, and Catwoman).
warbea...@webtv.net
<<It's in the final draft of the script. Blade WILL fight the "biggest,
baddest vampire of all time, Dracula." But you're right about the other
plot points. Blade will also encounter the vampire-hunter group, the
Nightstalkers w/ Whistler's daughter.>>
The same group he teamed with to hunt down the Reapers with in Blade 2?
Also, is Whistler (a.k.a Kris Kristofsen) in it too? Who is directing?
Btw, do you think having Dracula in Blade (who is playing Drac I
wonder?) will diminish the Blade franchise's credibility? If they do
decide to go that route, I say bring in Morbius to team with Blade
against Dracula & The vampire nation. Cool huh?
<<BTW, Ghostrider is supposedly coming out fall of next year. I hope
they use Goyer's script, I'm sure he would do the character justice.>>
Great!! I hope they do a good job with GR. Afterall, he (along with The
Punisher) doesn't have the notoriety of a Spiderman, Hulk, or X-Men.
M
next week, which means a call for auditions, not actual choices. you won't
hear anything until the end of this month.
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