Hulk

Went and saw The Hulk at the movies tonight.

Overall not too bad – Eric Bana just keeps getting better as an actor, although you see more of his digitally created alter ego than you do of him I think.

I thought the movie suffered a little too much from trying to be a comic book story – a little physics reality would have been nice I think – there was really not much need for it in the story… but then again, I can understand the comic book element given the origins of the story.

The ending seemed to be wrapped up all too quickly and conveniently – I would have done the ending with his father differently – you didn’t really get to understand why his father was the way he was and what he was actually trying to achieve with his actions.

So much more could have been done with this part of the story, since the story seemed to really be about the father, about the man who created the boy and what the consequences of that man’s actions were. The quest for knowledge, the wonder of creation, the realisation of the horror created, the attempt at resolving the mistake, the psychological effects of being prevented from finding a cure and then from the devastation that followed, and about the twisted person he became as a result – not looking for redemption, but only ever looking for revenge, which eventually consumes him. The Hulk himself even seemed a bit of a sideshow to this other, more powerful story – a bit of action thrown in to amuse the teens.

So much potential, ruined by Hollywood once again – and yet another painful example of the “Hollywood Happy Ending” – not quite all peaches and cream and living happily ever after, but at least socially just. *hurl*

I rate it:

7/10 for story – suprisingly high score for a Hollywood action flick. Marks taken off for not following through and for giving in to Hollywoodisms.

7/10 for wow factor – it had some great effects – especially with the tanks and helicopters, and of course the transition of The Hulk. Marks taken off for being too much of a comic book – I really didn’t think they needed to.

6/10 for acting – Eric really didn’t get a chance to shine, and The Hulk doesn’t count. Jennifer Connelly spends most of her time weeping – but she does add some pleasant scenery to the picture :>> – oh yes, I thought her acting was pretty good too. Sam Elliot was the rather wooden military father, who softens just a little at the end towards his daughter – quite good acting, but not exactly difficult. Nick Nolte was rather forgettable – unless deluded, uncomprehensible madman was the entire effect he was aiming for (which I suspect it was) – I think so much more could have been done with this character.

2/10 for avoiding Hollywoodisms – could have been such a great film if they had spent just a little more time on the story as well as the action. Marks taken off for the ending, both the demise of The Hulk’s father and the saccharine closing scenes. Marks also taken off for taking the action too much into comic book land – just because it’s a comic book story, doesn’t mean you need to alter the basic laws of physics in a movie necessarily. Hollywood strikes again. *sigh*