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Reviews
Hulk (2003)
Long time Hulk fan finds latest treatment disappointing
I have been a long time Hulk fan, having watched most of the seventies television series, and followed the comic book for 17 straight years. So naturally, I was eager to see Ang Lee's treatment of my favorite character. On the surface, it would seem that you cannot do much with a character like the Hulk. Here you have a big green guy who goes around smashing things. How can anyone make a good story out of that ?
Well, it would seem some people have managed to do just that notably Kenneth Johnson, Len Wein and the writer-of-writers Peter David. Unfortunately with the treatment delivered by Schamus and Lee, this audience member simply doesn't buy it. When I was a kid, the one thing that would intrige me the most was the transformation. Unfortunately when Eric Bana finally manages to get green behind the gils, you get the most uninspired transformation I have ever seen. The plot is average to poor. Some saving graces from the performances of Nolte and Elliot, but Bana as the main character is somewhat lacking in representing the tortured soul that is Bruce Banner. Schamus and Lee seem to have missed the point of the Hulk being a tragic character. The creature seemed to have no soul whatsoever.
If you want to see a good Hulk movie, get the DVD release of Kenneth Johnson's 1978 classic. This pales in comparison.
Four out of ten stars.
The Incredible Hulk (1977)
It is by far better than I remembered it to be
The last time I saw this movie I was 7 years old. When I saw the DVD in the shop some 24 years later, I could not resist to buy it. After watching it, I think it is money well spent.
It is by far better than I remembered it to be. Kenneth Johnson takes some strong liberties with the character's name and origin. Nonetheless, the audience bought his treatment, and the show ran for five years.
After seeing way too many hokey comic book adaptions as well as the latest big screen blockbuster, I must say that this is most certainly very well done. The acting was top notch and Bixby will always be the definitive David Bruce Banner. Lou Ferrigno gave the creature more soul than the recent CGI incarnation. Ferrigno portrayed a non-evil, but nonetheless frightening creature, an element which is sadly lacking in the big screen adaption. The lonely man theme at the end, sets the tone for the story. The Hulk/Banner is a tragic story, and despite all of Johnson's liberties is more true to the character than the big screen adaption ever will be.
A classic for people like me who enjoy adaptions of comic-book characters. 8 out of 10.