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Hulk (Geoff's Take)
01/01/2004 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Video: Universal 8206736. 132 minutes. Price: £10.99 (UK) - this varies so shop around for the best deal) stars: Eric Banna, Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Josh Lucas and Nick Nolte. It was rather odd watching this video with some awareness that this particular film based off the popular Marvel Comics character hadn't quite garnered the success as the recent 'X-Men' and 'Daredevil' films.
Although I tend to be cautious as to what other reviews I read these days, it's inevitable that I might investigate why a little further down. David Banner, forbidden to work on human guinea pigs, ends up using himself to carry some genetic modifications.
These don't do much for him but the modification is carried onto his son, Bruce, when he's born. Years later, Bruce Krenzler (actor Eric Banna), has odd re-occurring nightmares of some incident with his real parents. He's also an obsessive scientist working in a small lab on a Gammasphere device and the nano-technology that runs it. His ex-girl-friend and fellow researcher, Betty Ross (actress Jennifer Connelly), works beside him citing his coldness and dedication as the reasons why they split up although not why she hung around.
A fault with the Gammasphere and shoving another researcher out of the way ends with Krenzler getting a heavy dose of gamma radiation and whenever he gets angry, a not-so-jolly green giant metamorphosis takes place and goes on an angry rampage. The military, through Glenn Talbot (actor Josh Lucas), were already very keen to finance and take over the project and has the hots for Betty.
His boss, General Ross (actor Sam Elliott), is also Betty's father. Nothing like keeping it in the family, huh? 'Course, with the appearance of this green Hulk, the emphasis changes to discovering who and what it is. Somewhere in this mix, a caretaker seems to know more than he should and turns out to be a more elderly David Banner (actor Nick Nolte), released from prison and wanting to see things put right regarding his son. Consequently, the military put two and two together and figure out Krenzler is Bruce Banner is the Hulk and imprison him.
Bad mistake when he escapes and General Ross uses the full might of the military hardware to take the Hulk out. It might be a bit convoluted in places but the essential story of the comicbook version is in there even if it's a little cumbersome saying only people with this man-made DNA modification can become a gamma menace. I mean, if there are plans to bring in the Abomination or the Leader in future films, then you'll have to go through this same kibosh all over again rather than take it as a given that some people react differently to being irradiated with gamma rays but that might just be my way of thinking.
Director Ang Lee has brought the Hulk alive in a way that was impossible with the 70s TV series and, on the whole, ol'greenskin hops, skips and jumps like the comicbook version with equal disregard for real estate. The real problem lies with something I felt wrong with last year's 'Shrek'.
The sound effects are not used to convey the gravitas or weight of these characters moving around. Any object, especially organic, that can jump a mile is going to make a large crater wherever it or he lands as well as make one hell of a thunderclap.
Sound effects maketh the character. As a special effect, the Hulk is just too singularly green and lacked the necessary depth of colour that could have made him look more organic. At a distance, it reveals too much of its CGI origins and forgotten that the further into the distance you go, the bluer he should have become. No doubt, the fears of having a blue Hulk might have held them back but there's certainly a range of darker greens that could have been applied.
No doubt the effects team are learning their lessons from this film and it wouldn't surprise me if they announce improvements should a sequel get the go ahead. The retro 60s - circa the original 'Thomas Crown Affair' film - multi-scene screen gave the film something of comic page look and it will have to be left to the individual viewer how this is acceptable on a TV screen. Certainly, the film overall has a less oriental feel compared to 'Crouching Tiger' showing Lee has adopted Americanisms in his presentation and he does very well with the emotional states of most characters except for General Ross.
I know actor Sam Elliott has presence, just a shame that he doesn't live up to the occasional temper loss that gave him, 'tarnation, the nickname 'Thunderbolt' in the comicbooks. I mean, how can even people with military training remain so cool with such an unstoppable menace in their path? Yet another Danny Elfman score as well. I heard the soundscore a couple months back but wasn't that take by it. I wasn't going to review it without seeing it again in the context of the film.
This reviewer can't help but think Elfman's going automatic with musical cues and would really like to see someone else take a crack at the whip here with more dramatic music. As I commented above, I have to consider why the general public hasn't taken to this film despite having a popular cast, well-known director and what should have bee a good PR campaign. I think someone forgot the audience. When kids watched 'The Incredible Hulk' TV series, they couldn't wait for 'David Banner' to lose his cool and the Hulk to take over.
At the time, there were even plans to cut back on the number of times the Hulk was used per episode for cost reasons until it was realised this was the series' selling point. Granted, it would have been difficult to target a younger audience per se but the balance between the two characters in this film was rather drawn out. The human angle would have worked in any film format. After quarter of an hour, the use of the Hulk faced the same problem. How much destruction do you need to see before you affirm what he does? It doesn't lead anywhere. It isn't so much the Hulk versus the army but more a demonstration of what ordinance the army can chuck at the green behemoth.
It might have been more interesting giving the Hulk some serious opposition and plot rather than having the army trying to get in the way. Although by not means a poor film, I can understand the poor reception it received.
Looking through my review above, I've had a go at practically every stage of this film. If nothing else, it's more an indication that any blame for problems doesn't need to be placed on any particular person's shoulders. At the end of the day, it's probably not 'Incredible' enough. Whether the 'Hulk' would have gotten a better reception based on a Marvel product without the other three films to compare it to can be left open to discussion.
GF Willmetts
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