06-22-2003, 03:09 AM
I just got back from the movie, so here's my review:
Background: I've never been a big Hulk fan, never really followed his comics other than when he made guest appearances (Hulk vs Weapon X, etc), so I guess I didn't go in with too many expectations.
The first thing I have to note is that while Ang Lee can definitely use camera angles to get the mood going, he has a tendency to do a sort of collage--several windows each showing basically the same scene from a different angle, all at the same time. The effect works, but I found it a bit disorientating at first.
I didn't notice the music much, but I put that to me concentrating on all the great CG in my first viewing.
Speaking of CG, all the effects were done well, even the Hulk. The only complaint I had was that the CG characters (Hulk, and some four-legged critters) seemed to be a little too, well, graceful? I guess would be the word. Hulk was modeled beautifully, but his movements didn't telegraph. A body that size, super strength or not, has alot of inertia to overcome when changing directions, and it just didn't seem like that was portrayed well.
The setting worked for me (not being a comic buff, anyway), except for the change to the Hulk's origin. I can see why it was changed (similar reasons for having Spider-Man bitten by a genetically altered spider instead of a radioactive one; using current fears), but the explanation they chose was hackneyed. All of a sudden the Hulk is a mutant? (ok, not really a mutant, but inheriting his father's altered DNA is about this |--| far from it)
I can't speak for authenticity of the actors vs the comic, but the ones they chose fit the movie well. Eric Bana really does come across as a bottled-up semi-nerd who could blow his top at any moment. The guy who played Talbot could really do a jerk, and Sam Elliot's character was much deeper than I was expecting. Nick Nolte left a bit to be desired as David Banner, though (and the whole plot twist with him seemed so surreal and unneccessary).
The dialogue was pretty good. Bana didn't really have many stand-out lines (but then again, he spends half the movie as the Hulk), but some of the extra's lines are memorable. My favorite: "Holy sh*t, he's got my missile!" :ph34r:
All in all, I thought the Hulk was a pretty dang good movie that could use a lot less Absorbing Man.
- WL
Background: I've never been a big Hulk fan, never really followed his comics other than when he made guest appearances (Hulk vs Weapon X, etc), so I guess I didn't go in with too many expectations.
The first thing I have to note is that while Ang Lee can definitely use camera angles to get the mood going, he has a tendency to do a sort of collage--several windows each showing basically the same scene from a different angle, all at the same time. The effect works, but I found it a bit disorientating at first.
I didn't notice the music much, but I put that to me concentrating on all the great CG in my first viewing.
Speaking of CG, all the effects were done well, even the Hulk. The only complaint I had was that the CG characters (Hulk, and some four-legged critters) seemed to be a little too, well, graceful? I guess would be the word. Hulk was modeled beautifully, but his movements didn't telegraph. A body that size, super strength or not, has alot of inertia to overcome when changing directions, and it just didn't seem like that was portrayed well.
The setting worked for me (not being a comic buff, anyway), except for the change to the Hulk's origin. I can see why it was changed (similar reasons for having Spider-Man bitten by a genetically altered spider instead of a radioactive one; using current fears), but the explanation they chose was hackneyed. All of a sudden the Hulk is a mutant? (ok, not really a mutant, but inheriting his father's altered DNA is about this |--| far from it)
I can't speak for authenticity of the actors vs the comic, but the ones they chose fit the movie well. Eric Bana really does come across as a bottled-up semi-nerd who could blow his top at any moment. The guy who played Talbot could really do a jerk, and Sam Elliot's character was much deeper than I was expecting. Nick Nolte left a bit to be desired as David Banner, though (and the whole plot twist with him seemed so surreal and unneccessary).
The dialogue was pretty good. Bana didn't really have many stand-out lines (but then again, he spends half the movie as the Hulk), but some of the extra's lines are memorable. My favorite: "Holy sh*t, he's got my missile!" :ph34r:
All in all, I thought the Hulk was a pretty dang good movie that could use a lot less Absorbing Man.
- WL