Directed by:
Ang LeeCinematography:
Frederick ElmesComposer:
Danny ElfmanCast:
Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Josh Lucas, Nick Nolte, Cara Buono, Celia Weston, Lou Ferrigno, Stan Lee, Daniel Dae Kim, Michael Papajohn (more)VOD (2)
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After a freak lab accident unleashes a genetically enhanced, impossibly strong creature, a terrified world must marshal its forces to stop a being with abilities beyond imagination. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (9)
This is not a comic book action film, this is a deeply penetrating drama about split personality and the consequences of one's own sins... and a little bit of comic book action. What Ang Lee unleashes in the final half hour is a psychological blast and the redeeming sacrifice from Betty helps cleanse the soul of the viewers. Such a shame that most of them weren't ready for such an experience at the time.
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An adaptation of a comic book that was a little before its time. It was one of the first to favor psychological aspects over action. Both elements are here and both great, although the low-key part is central point and the pillar carrying all of Hulk's weight. Eric Bana made the most of his opportunity, Jennifer Connelly is enchanting as usual and the rest of the cast fits its roles too. The only downside is that it is so strictly divided into a long psychological section at the beginning and pure action at the end. Better balanced blending might have improved things.
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At the time, Hulk was quite misunderstood and maybe it still is. The psychological comic adaptation was not positively accepted by the audience although I don’t get why. Ang Lee layers the atmosphere and brilliantly develops the personalities of the characters, Bruce Banner, Banner’s father, Betty, General Ross and only then does he focus on the action. The interesting thing is that even in the action scenes he doesn’t forget to think about the motivations and psychology of the characters. All their actions have a purpose. The action in itself is amazing (The Hulk vs. the dogs or the battle in the desert are genius). The cast is also excellent, especially Nick Nolte and Eric Bana. Thanks to those two, the final dialog was amazingly intriguing. I’m so sorry that the second Hulk is going to be shot with different creators according to a different template. If it was up to me, I would just keep developing the promising concept created by Lee. But who am I to be giving advice to the bosses in L.A., right?
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What, five stars? For the boredom? Are you able to see properly? You do! I think this Hulk is perfect. Ang Lee probably figured that since he was making a comic book film, he wanted it to look like one... So he turned the canvas into comic book pages. He divides the image into frames and boxes, with the characters missing only bubbles with written texts above their heads. Lee's next feat is to turn a comic book that is all about fighting on paper (90% of Hulk’s stories) into an almost psychological film, a father and son drama, a description of the tragedy of a family. The scenes, dialogues and so on are well thought out, you can think about them, it's not just a dull chewing of the text. And when it comes to the action, it's spectacular and imaginative (the tank throw and dogfight lead the way). What more do you want? Me personally, nothing. One of the best comic book adaptations. Why, you ask? Precisely because it's different.
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Hulk is fresh and innovative in its details, but it’s inconsistent as a whole. As the minutes pass, its large number of excellent (not just action) scenes and praiseworthy psychological dimension are transformed into a dramaturgically unbalanced and muddled mishmash. The second half of the film would need some relief from the “family drama” and to let the brilliant action and adventure go full throttle. Then it would have been a hell of a movie. The action scenes in the desert are outstanding.
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