Talk about pop culture comics with a heart, "Hulk" is really an incredible movie that combines sci-fi with elements of film noir. While most of those who have seen it complained of too much 'blah-blah' and not much 'blam-blam', I would say this goes down as one of the most gripping films I have ever seen.
Yes, the story is complicated and has a tendency to take itself far too seriously; so if it has to work, it has to be engrossing and exciting. The good news is, it is. It also brings along deeper motivations than just providing another action story by providing its own social critiques which gives the plot a significant depth lacking in most modern Hollywood movies. It asks the kind of questions about morality, justice, exploitation, society and a father-son relationship while telling the audience that this is not about a hero saving the world from evil. It's about saving oneself from the incarceration of anger and hatred.
Perhaps the most notable thing about this film is the offbeat cinematography that keeps a few idiosyncrasies around, probably to enhance the feel of comic books. This is shown mostly by the way some scene transitions were made especially the split-screen techniques, which all looked clean and functional blending with the aura that gave the film a unique characteristic. Plus the direction is brilliant, as might be expected from Ang Lee after his sensory feast that is "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".
Nick Nolte and Jennifer Connelly as Bruce's father and girlfriend, respectively, as usual give fine performances. Nolte's character could have been over the top as it is, but he manages to keep it right. Eric Bana delivers a fine performance as well as the troubled scientist who always had to live in fear and he manages to share the terror and vulnerability almost like a baby's reflex that makes him a character you immediately care about, innocent and tragic. And while the Hulk CGI doesn't really equal his LOTR counterpart Gollum in terms of quality, he does manage to hold his own by maintaining the central focus on him on every scene he is in.
Overall, while it did not catch up with Spidey who has now swung himself atop the box office, I liked the film as it really showed what Marvel superheroes really are: that they are heroes first because they save themselves from their own demons.
And that I think is all that matters.
Grade: A-
Yes, the story is complicated and has a tendency to take itself far too seriously; so if it has to work, it has to be engrossing and exciting. The good news is, it is. It also brings along deeper motivations than just providing another action story by providing its own social critiques which gives the plot a significant depth lacking in most modern Hollywood movies. It asks the kind of questions about morality, justice, exploitation, society and a father-son relationship while telling the audience that this is not about a hero saving the world from evil. It's about saving oneself from the incarceration of anger and hatred.
Perhaps the most notable thing about this film is the offbeat cinematography that keeps a few idiosyncrasies around, probably to enhance the feel of comic books. This is shown mostly by the way some scene transitions were made especially the split-screen techniques, which all looked clean and functional blending with the aura that gave the film a unique characteristic. Plus the direction is brilliant, as might be expected from Ang Lee after his sensory feast that is "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".
Nick Nolte and Jennifer Connelly as Bruce's father and girlfriend, respectively, as usual give fine performances. Nolte's character could have been over the top as it is, but he manages to keep it right. Eric Bana delivers a fine performance as well as the troubled scientist who always had to live in fear and he manages to share the terror and vulnerability almost like a baby's reflex that makes him a character you immediately care about, innocent and tragic. And while the Hulk CGI doesn't really equal his LOTR counterpart Gollum in terms of quality, he does manage to hold his own by maintaining the central focus on him on every scene he is in.
Overall, while it did not catch up with Spidey who has now swung himself atop the box office, I liked the film as it really showed what Marvel superheroes really are: that they are heroes first because they save themselves from their own demons.
And that I think is all that matters.
Grade: A-