Hulk (2003)

Bruce Banner, a genetics researcher with a tragic past, suffers an accident that causes him to transform into a raging green monster when he gets angry.

Director:

Ang Lee

Writers:

Stan Lee (Marvel comic book character), Jack Kirby (Marvel comic book character)

Stars:

Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott

3 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eric Bana	...	Bruce Banner
Jennifer Connelly	...	Betty Ross
Sam Elliott	...	Ross
Josh Lucas	...	Talbot
Nick Nolte	...	Father
Paul Kersey	...	Young David Banner
Cara Buono	...	Edith Banner
Todd Tesen	...	Young Ross
Kevin Rankin	...	Harper
Celia Weston	...	Mrs. Krensler
Mike Erwin	...	Teenage Bruce Banner
Lou Ferrigno	...	Security Guard
Stan Lee	...	Security Guard
Regi Davis	...	Security Guard
Craig Damon	...	Security Guard

Storyline

Bruce Banner, a brilliant scientist with a cloudy past about his family, is involved in an accident in his laboratory causing him to become exposed to gamma radiation and Nanomeds (a tiny lifeform that is supposed to heal wounds, but has killed everything with which they have made contact). Confused and curious about his survival, Banner discovers that since the accident, whenever he becomes angry, he transforms into a giant green monster destroying everything in sight in an act of rage. Bruce's mysterious past and the answer to why the radiation had this effect becomes revealed to him as his birth father David Banner intervenes with hopes to continue experimenting on him.

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Plot Keywords:

radiation | monster | scientist | general | technology | 

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Taglines:

Rage. Power. Freedom.

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some disturbing images and brief partial nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site UIP [Germany]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

20 June 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Big Green

Filming Locations:

Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$137,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$62,128,420, 22 June 2003, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$132,177,234

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$113,107,712

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Marvel Enterprises, Valhalla Motion Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

138 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the time, the "gamma dogs" were some of the most complex creatures Industrial Light & Magic had made. The poodle alone had one and a half million hairs.

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Goofs

When Hulk sees the mutant dogs approaching, he picks Betty up and puts her in her car for safety. His hands, though, would be far too large to operate a car door latch.

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Quotes

Ross: Look, I'm gonna get right to it.
Betty Ross: It's about Glenn, isn't it? He's been snooping around my lab.
Ross: Glenn noticed some things, asked me to make some inquiries.
Betty Ross: Are you here to question me?
Ross: No. We've turned up some surprising things. This Krenzler you work with - you know who he really is? How much do you actually know about him?
Betty Ross: I think the question is, what is it that you know about him?
Ross: Well, right now, I'm not at...
Betty Ross: Not at liberty to disclose it to me. Right, right. You know, I think I was hoping...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The closing credits are contained in comic book panels and speech bubbles.

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Connections

Referenced in The Big Bang Theory: The Desperation Emanation (2010)

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Soundtracks

Song for Classical Guitar
Written by Marc Ferrari & Don Great
Performed by Don Great
Courtesy Marc Ferrari & Tinseltown Music

User Reviews

Terrible Marketing, Great Film

"Hulk" is a film which is widely considered a failure, both financially and artistically. Yet in the latter category this movie has a lot on offer: masterful editing, good acting and the direction of a true master.

What Ang Lee has tried to achieve, namely merging the pulp-story of the Hulk with the scale and drama of a Greek tragedy has been well achieved. The scope of the story and its effects on the characters are only to be taken seriously on a truly grand scale, and by supplying the protagonists with interwoven back-stories Lee and his screenwriters are making it clear that this is not to be seen as a realistic story, but an epic metaphor.

Special kudos goes to Timothy Squyres, who does one marvelous job of creating an editing similar to a comic's design. This pays tribute to the source material's pulp origins as well making an impressive visual statement. "Hulk" looks and feels like no other film, which makes it one of the most interesting, if not one of the best comic- adaptations of all time.

The crux is that this movie does not know who it's aimed at. The intellectual Ang Lee- connoisseur picks his nose when it comes to the Hulk, simply due to its humble roots, while the average popcorn-cinema-goer is slightly irritated when confronted with the films "odd" approach to comic-movies. This means that only viewers which are a bit of both can truly appreciate this masterpiece.

All the other elements for a good piece of entertainment are there and present: Eric Bana is, as usual, fine as the tormented soul which manifests itself in green rage, Jennifer Connelly is as solid as ever and Nick Nolte steals the show with what is a truly weird turn as Bruce Banner's/the Hulk's dad. The visual effects are beautifully executed as well. There is not much left to be desired.

It's a pity such an interesting and brave film gets a rating of slightly above 6 at IMDb.