The Hulk

Months before The Hulk director Ang Lee proclaimed he�d rely solely on CGI to create his colossal star, fanboys from Portland to Poughkeepsie worried about how the not-so-jolly green heavyweight would look on screenland. Early trailers fuelled meditation that Hulk would resemble Shrek, which made consecrate Hulk-a-maniacs selfsame angry. And as we know, you wouldn�t like them when they�re angry.


In the words of the immortal Public Enemy, don�t believe the hype. Nothing you�ve seen does Lee�s finished product justice. For the most part, the Hulk looks fantastic. He has texture, and he certainly has mass. There�s the occasional slippage to video game-quality graphics, only the aftermath of Hulk�s actions, the devastation left in his wake, win over us of his existence. Until you�ve seen the Hulk smash a tank car and wrestle a whirlybird in midair, you ain�t seen nothing.


Lee catches newcomers up at a fevered clip. In 1966, initiate scientist David Banner enjoys breakthroughs in the field of operation of immune system alteration. He of necessity a human guinea hog, but his supervisors prevent it, forcing Banner to run tests on himself. When Banner and his wife conceive a child, the father suspects he�s passed his mutated genes onto his offspring, Bruce.


Years later, scientist Bruce (Eric Bana) unwittingly follows in his father�s footsteps. Working alongside early flame Betty Ross (Jennifer Connelly), the mild-mannered brain analyzes cell regeneration information until the day he�s exposed to extreme doses of gamma radiation. As a resultant role, Bruce�s emotional damage and suppressed childhood memories manifest themselves physically in the form of a massive green teras when he�s angered.


At a time when expectations for comic book movies were low, X-Men director Bryan Singer earned respect for not ruination Marvel Comics� unique vision. Now, Lee�s obligated to go one giant leap further, and he successfully elevates the comic rule book adaptation to an artwork form without forgetting his source. Amazing frame wipes effectively fructify the film�s mood, as new scenes enter and exit in circles and squares lifted from the pages of comic books.


Not mental object with the basic �Hulk smash� attack, Lee and his team of screenwriters introduce moral quandaries we�re meant to chew on between rampages. Digs at the military�s inclination towards dominance through advanced implements of war will sting the most patriotic of viewers. Nerds will revel in the passionate debates involving a scientist�s natural desire to control nature.


Ever the perfectionist, Lee leaves no stone (or enormous boulder) left wing unturned. He receives quality acting across the display board, particularly from an overachieving Nick Nolte as Bruce�s deranged dada. The grizzled thespian plays Banner as more a �mad scientist� than a concerned paternal figure. He�s a living, breathing court to B-movie evil geniuses, the ones who cackle at the sky when they hatch devious plans to take over the world. Still, the loudest response comes from a Lou Ferrigno walk-on cameo. He�ll always be our Hulk.


Sad to say, Lee�s Hulk can�t sustain its emotional impulse. The film succumbs to its bloated 2-plus-hour run time regular as it introduces one of the comic�s most recognizable foes while egg laying the basis for a sequel. The fact that another installment is comprehended � even anticipated � speaks to how far Lee has come, though, in delivery this emerald green caption to life.


Aka Hulk.




Hey, that's my gondola!