Ang Lee's The Hulk is a great new interpretation of the old Greenskin. I highly encourage everyone to go see it. I'll review some of the points of the movie below so, capital capital letters spoilers below capital capitals -- read no more if you haven't seen the film. Go see it first!
I caught a little buzz about the movie -- who couldn't help but see some of the trailers for the movie? -- and frankly was a little skeptical. The "shrek" comparison came up and I felt a little disheartened. Overall, what I was hoping would pull the movie out of the can was: 1) the cast and their talents; 2) Ang Lee. These hopes were rewarded.
First of all,the direction of the movie is incredible. Although it does seem a little long at 2.5 hours, and yes, there are some parts that drag (but no one I've spoken to agrees upon which parts, curiously enough -- attesting to the variety of audience that will appreciate the film), but the movie gives so much information, tells such an epic story in the space it does, that you have to forgive it at 2.5 hours. The way it tells the story is greater than you can imagine. What you haven't seen in the trailers (thank god) is that the movie is told in dynamic panels at times much the way a motion-picture comic book would be told. Different angles, close-ups, long shots, detail shots, etc. and all combined in a collage of story fragments. What you end up with is a comic book torn up and floated across the surface of a swimming pool on a hot summer day. The movie has a sparkling quality to it -- very kinetic and at the same time very astute. Many of the dissolves or cut-aways (often retaining a central image -- thus you get two or more images) are so smart, so obviously influenced by (and intrigued by) comic book forms that you wonder how they planned all of it out on film so well. Imagery blends together so nicely. Fans of movies too will find tons of movie references or visual puns to keep them busy -- so in that way, it works like a Disney movie -- fun for various interest groups. (Did I just compare Hulk to a Disney movie?)
OK: How about action? There are three main action sequences in the movie. The first is with David Banner's gamma dogs. Nice fight, sort of a teaser for the bigger battles Hulk will fight. I think this scene is done well -- in the darkness of the forest, it forces you to keep your eye on the screen to judge the contest. I'm glad the Gamma Dogs won't be making reappearances -- I never have liked them from the recent years of Hulk comics, but hey, it is funny to see a French poodle on steroids trying to take a bite out of da Hulk.
The major action sequence is Hulk escape from Gamma Base as he first fights his way out of the underground base (very cool), past Glenn Talbot, outside into the desert, past tanks, past helicopters, and far, far across the desert (this part of reality from the film was excellent -- I like how the Hulk actually has to hoof it quite a ways before he can reach...), into San Francisco where there are (get ready for this, Herb Trimpe) Air Force jets trying to shoot Hulk down. Some of the effects they do in the city are incredible -- I love the toppling cars. One of the great things Lee does with Hulk is that the more punishment he takes, the bigger -- freakishly bigger -- Hulk gets. This is something you could only show in film -- in comics, the actual growth of the Hulk can only be shown by certain limits -- but here in film, Hulk grows second by second. I love how when Betty hurries down the steps from a hill in San Francisco -- what great emotional build-up -- we get the final release of Hulk's anger as he calms and shrinks back into Banner.
The final action sequence, in my opinion, is weak. Yes, the rumors are right -- David Banner does gain the powers of the Absorbing Man. I would say that he also becomes like Zzzax, as well, but that's pedantic. The problem I had with the final conflict is that it is so hard to see what's going on. As Banner, Sr. tries to absorb Hulk's energy, you can barely tell what's going on. The darkness that Lee used to cover up the details of the Gamma Dogs fight does not work as well here. Instead, you get these blocks of ice, these clouds of radiation, these lightning storms where Hulk is imprinted in them, yet there is no action. Now, don't get me wrong -- I recognize that the action here is "emotional" and has transcended the physical -- still, I didn't appreciate the fact that I couldn't make out anything on the screen. Yes, Hulk's "shadows" on the clouds with the lightning bursts are cool -- but I think Lee should have brought out that kind of static (comic book?) imagery more with clarity, not obscurity. Frankly, I think he should have kept on using his panels and just had the movie break down into stills of Bana, Nolte, Banner, Banner, with the soundtrack of the actors' voices to tell the story.
What Lee did right -- and you can argue with me -- was that dramatic dialog Nolte and Bana have before Banner, Sr. absorbs the energy. I loved how the film dissolved into a stage set -- with the two met sitting across from each other. Nolte is so awesome as a megomaniac -- he actually brought to stage and film true villainy. You could close your eyes and imagine the Leader, or the Future Imperfect Hulk speaking these lines. It was awesome and again: casting was the key.
There's a lot more to discuss about the film. But, why not tell me what you think? I loved it. Did you?