THE INCREDIBLE HULK
US, 2008, 114 minutes, Colour.
Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell, Lou Ferrigno.
Directed by Louis Letterier.
The Hulk is probably the strangest of the comic strip characters created by Marvel. While many of the heroes are mutants of one kind or another, Hulk is not only mutant because of scientific experiments gone wrong, his appearance is that of a gigantic green mutant. And what might look credible enough (?) on the page, does not look so persuasive on the screen despite top of the range special effects. This was one of the features which did in Ang Lee’s 2003 version, Hulk, with Eric Bana. The computergraphic hulk looked too bizarre and leapt and bounded far more bizarrely.
This time, the Hulk’s appearances are more limited and he looks a bit more believable – but still not quite. By the time he is battling his transformed enemy at the end, the film degenerates into a groaning, growling, bashing, pounding, galumphing battle of the computergraphic giant monsters.
However, before that, it is much better. The opening (after credit images which recapitulate the failed experiment and its effect on Bruce Banner and Betty Ross) is a striking sequence in the favelas of Brazil and the factory where Bruce is working unbeknownst to the US military. When they do discover where he is, there is a kind of mini American invasion of Brazil which leads to a long pursuit of Bruce through slum streets and into the factory and wholesale (and retail) destruction. Bruce, after taking courses in anger management, gives in to his rage and transforms into the Hulk. Director Louis Letterier (Transporter 2) does action very effectively.
This introduces us to the brains and power behind the experiments and the hopes of creating an ultra-physically strong human weapon, General Ross (William Hurt) and his co-opted tough soldier, Blonsky (Tim Roth). Blonsky is defeated by the Hulk but wants to be injected with serum so that he can confront him. After Blonsky is again defeated, after another long chase sequence, this time through a university campus, his severe injuries are rapidly healed and he becomes another giant mutant, completely angry and malevolent. Which leads to the groaning, growling… battle.
Edward Norton would not be the immediate choice for working in this kind of film let alone playing Bruce Banner. He brings his usual serious style to the role, making Banner an anguished and tormented soul, still in love with Betty (Liv Tyler) but anxious to be healed – and in email contact with an anonymous scientist who may be able to cure him, something General Ross does not want to happen.
Spiderman, Iron Man and even the Fantastic Four are more congenial than the Hulk. While he is a victim of strange circumstances and mutations, the actual Hulk is not a hero but anger and rage personified.
In a nice homage, Lou Ferigno voices the Hulk this time but also has a role as a genial security guard who enjoys a pizza.
1.The popularity of comic strip films? The increasing number? Alternate heroes? Confrontations between good and evil?
2.Marvel Comics, the comic tradition, establishing studios, the many films made from Marvel Comic heroes?
3.The Hulk as a comic? As a television series? Ang Lee’s film and its commercial failure? A new telling of the story?
4.The Hulk as a character, as mutant, as full of rage, trying to control his anger, his reactions, measuring them, his capacity for destruction?
5.The Hulk as science gone wrong, the tests, the lack of control, the errors, the consequences?
6.The Hulk and the interest in the military possibilities, the powerful weapon, the pursuit of Bruce Banner in order to get the serum, the capacity of the Hulk for destruction? The general wanting to save the Hulk and do further experiments?
7.The opening in Brazil, the atmosphere of the favelas? Authentic atmosphere? Guatemala and the jungle? The United States, the university campus, the labs, the ordinary settings, the streets and the pizza parlour?
8.The special effects, the creation of the visuals of the Hulk himself, activity, doing battle, the transformations? How credible? The fights and the chases?
9.The special effects for the chases, the explosions, the fights?
10.The credits, the giving of the information about Bruce Banner, Betty Ross, the general, the experiments, the failure, the consequences?
11.Bruce Banner in Brazil, his trying to control his anger, going to courses, learning to breathe? His watchband and the indication of the increase in rage? His work in the factory, his expertise, relationship with the boss? The interaction with the workers, saving the young woman from their taunts? This being used later, the workers, their pursuit of Bruce, the chase through the factory, the destruction? The issue of his blood, stopping production, missing the blood in the bottle that went to the United States? The information given to General Ross? Bruce’s correspondence with Mr Blue, the details, the possibilities of a cure? His having photos of Betty?
12.General Ross and his role, Betty and her injury during the failed experiment? Ross getting the information, the decision to go to Brazil, the squad, the pursuit? Blonsky and his presence? The trip to Brazil, finding Bruce, the pursuit, Blonsky particularly pursuing Bruce? Bruce’s rage, transforming into the Hulk, impervious to the explosions and bullets? His escape?
13.Bruce finding himself in Guatemala, getting help, begging, the money, buying clothes – especially the expansive clothes for when he became the Hulk? Getting to the US? Going to the pizza parlour, his friend, getting the job, going to the university, trying to get the data, its disappearance? The meeting with Betty and Doctor Sampson? Betty and her joy at seeing him, the kiss? Her giving him the memory stick? The continued pursuit, the chase in the campuses, the library? Blonsky in pursuit as well as the general? Betty and her disgust with her father?
14.Blonsky and the discussions, his undergoing injections, the effect? His brash nature, clashing with the Hulk, his severe injuries on the campus, the quick recuperation, his transformation into a monster?
15.Bruce and Betty going to New York, finding Mr Blue, General Ross finding the same information from the computer? Mr Blue and his enthusiasm, his laboratory, the change? The attack on the laboratory? The confrontation with General Ross?
16.The further pursuits, explosions, the fire, the Hulk rescuing Betty from the fire? The soldiers, the confrontations? Blonsky and his transformation, the fight of the two monsters? Blonsky’s death?
17.Ross, his grief at what happened to Betty, relenting?
18.The end, Betty and Bruce, a future? Bruce transformed?
19.The humorous coda for the film, Iron Man appearing, the discussions – possibility of sequels?
