As created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in the 1960s, The Incredible Hulk comic-book was a cross between Universal Studios’ version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and umpteen muscleman films. Virtually everyone is aware that the Hulk is the superpowered monster that emerges whenever Dr. Bruce Banner loses control of his emotions, although not everyone is equally aware of other mainstays of the comic such as Banner’s love interest Betty Ross. As directed by Ang Lee, Hulk polarizes audience in a way that’s poetically fitting given the divided nature of its protagonist. Hulk is a Love-It-or-Hate-It film, and which camp you belong to is probably best determined by your attitude towards the special effects of the film, for Ang Lee made the controversial decision to have his Hulk as a totally CGI creation.

In his own way, Ang Lee’s version of the Hulk character is as credible as Peter Jackson’s version of Gollum in The Two Towers or Chris Columbus’ version of Dobby the Elf in Chamber of Secrets. Being credible and being believable, however, are two very different things. Audiences accept credible animated characters as "real" as long as they are watching the film; audiences find characters believable only if they can imagine those characters having lives outside of the film. While far superior to virtually any of the CGI creations in Final Fantasy, Ang Lee’s Hulk is far less believable than the entire cast of Pixar’s entire animated output. That’s a major problem for a lot of people. Ang Lee’s Hulk harkens back to Ray Harryhausen’s Cyclops in The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, right down to the jerky, exaggerated movements – therefore, if Harryhausen isn’t your idea of a good time you may as well stop reading now.

That said, many of the animated Hulk’s body motions are uncannily similar to those illustrated in the comic-book of the same name. Any fan of the series will likely be slack jawed as they watch the Hulk leap miles in the air, smash army tanks, and catch missiles in his bare hands. He’s far from subtle, but that’s par for the course when you’re a raging green giant. Ang Lee made a bold choice by representing the Hulk in this way, a choice that (judging by box-office receipts) was a miscalculation.

Ang Lee’s treatment of Hulk’s screenplay is also a drastic departure for the genre. Most filmed adaptations of comic-book characters include a flamboyant super-villain, and the story eventually degenerates into a "good vs. evil" scenario that ends with the death of the villain. None of the characters in Hulk qualify as a traditional hero or villain. General Ross (Sam Elliot), who dogs the Hulk throughout most, is a career military man with good reasons to distrust Dr. Banner. Bruce Banner (Eric Bana), outwardly a bland nice guy, is only dimly aware of his internal contradictions and conflicts. Banner’s father (Nick Nolte), portrayed as an abusive husband and father, comes across as less of a villain as an eccentric scientist with a serious lack of ethics. Banner’s ex-girlfriend Betty Ross (Jennifer Connelly) doesn’t exist merely to swoon over heroics but to play a role of her own within the film. Ang Lee’s stress on back story ensures that all characters have complex, long-term motivations All of the above likely alienated the preteen core audience for most comic-book adaptations.

Is Hulk worth your time? Those expecting a glorious CGI romp like Spider-Man, or hoping that Ang Lee will rechannel some of his Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon magic will be sorely disappointed. I, on the other hand, am in the minority who enjoyed Hulk on its own merits, and don’t hesitate to recommend it.

Other NonAnime Reviews Star Wars Holiday Special Review Jimmy Neutron Review Island of Misfit Toys Review Attack of the Clones Review Fantasia 2000 Review*

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