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    The Hulk

    Reviewed by
    adamwatchesmovies@

    Fans received Ang Lee's "Hulk" poorly when it was first released but the movie deserves a re-visit. Sure, this superhero-meets-art film isn't a fun action movie about the mindless destruction that's traditionally associated with the Hulk character, but what’s wrong with a drama/thriller about the internal conflict of a man whose inner demon takes the shape of a 12-foot-tall green beast?

    In the 1960's, David Banner (Nick Nolte) is experimenting with human DNA, attempting to create soldiers that will heal quickly from any wound. Banner tests a formula on himself, but the results are inconclusive. Years later, David’s son Bruce (Eric Bana) is accidentally exposed to Gama rays. Combined with his altered DNA (inherited from his father), the radiation results in an extraordinary physical transformation, a manifestation of the emotional trauma Bruce suffered as a child.

    This movie has some great performances, strong emotional resonance and a couple of pretty solid action sequences to break up the ever-present drama. Although the popular image of the Hulk has always been a giant, green muscular man in purple shorts running around and yelling "Hulk Smash!" there's a lot more to the character than just a raging strongman, particularly when you thrown in the character's alter ego, Bruce Banner. In this story, Bruce is depicted as a gentle, emotionally distant character, who as a child didn't resort to violence to solve his problems and as an adult is more comfortable in the lab than out confronting his feelings. His tumultuous past has created something inside him, a seething pool of anger that lies asleep until the events of this film. There are many moments where Bruce is looking at himself in the mirror, as if he is noticing something a little bit off about his face but can't quite pinpoint what. As the movie progresses, he starts having frightening nightmares about what lies deep in his psyche.

    Eric Bana does an excellent job portraying Bruce and the supporting cast does just as well, particularly Sam Elliot as General Thunderbolt Ross and Nick Nolte, who are perfectly cast. These actors, along with Bana and Jennifer Connelly (who plays Betty Ross, Bruce’s love interest) play well-developed characters. You can see that there are always many wheels turning inside their heads as they are forced to confront the Hulk. They serve to make the film interesting on an intellectual level. Bruce faces multiple antagonists, all of which see him as something different. General Ross sees him as a walking catastrophe, a danger to humanity and to his daughter Betty. Others see an opportunity to gain power by duplicating the Hulk's abilities but there's more to it than just that. Their “professional” interests mix with personal feelings about Bruce. The Hulk himself is often portrayed as a dangerous, unstable force that genuinely needs to be restrained. At the same time, you see that it often only lashes out when provoked so you're torn about your feelings about the titular character. It’s a complex movie.

    When it comes to the action sequences, they are as well done as any scene with a computer-generated green man is going to get. No two scenes are the same and the green guy causes plenty of destruction (although it's limited mostly to deserted areas, not in the middle of the city) Get ready to see it rip apart tanks and helicopters alike. Even in the adrenaline-pumping sequences, the film never loses focus on the meat of the story. The emotional drama is always there, even when the creature rages and pulverizes the threats against it. You see Betty cower in fear, unsure whether the creature that used to be Bruce is really defending her or just looking for a fight.

    The film is beautifully shot with multiple locations that range from desert canyons to the giant sequoia forests. These locations give the Hulk plenty of room to move in while showing an eerie contrast of how small he actually is compared to nature's work. What people will remember most is the way that the scenes are pieced together, with several "comic book panels" stacked together to create the frames. They simultaneously evoke the original source material that created the Hulk character while also allowing the movie to move quickly. Montages of military vehicles being set up are condensed in just a few moments and shots that require you to see everyone's reactions are shown all at once, reducing the number of cuts required. Some of the transaction are quite beautiful and clever and it's a wonder this technique hasn't been done more often for how effective it is. There are also some subtle touches in the movie that you can really appreciate if you know about them, like the uses of color, and the recurring themes of conflict between father and son/daughter. You'll also notice a lot of frogs, who go through a metamorphosis that's just as extreme as a butterfly or Bruce himself during their lifetimes. There's also something to be said about the "realism" of the movie. The military never refers to Bruce's alter ego as "Hulk" for example, instead giving him the codename "Green Man" and you never see anyone cheering for the big guy, everyone is always frightened by him on a certain level.

    If you recognize the potential for emotion in the character of Bruce Banner and the Hulk you should take another look at Ang Lee's interpretation of the character. Not only is it unlike any other superhero movie that you've seen but there's a lot more going on here than just mindless action. You get to see the soft side of the green guy as well as the frightening animalistic rage that's within. Along with the solid performances and inventive camera work it demands a second chance to please its audience. (Fullscreen version on Dvd, June 19, 2013)

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    adamwatchesmovies@  8.7.2016 age: 26-35 2,867 reviews

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