The Hulk Review
by Susan Granger (ssg722 AT aol DOT com)June 23rd, 2003
Susan Granger's review of "The Hulk" (Universal Pictures)
This is a mythic comic-book movie about a man at war with himself and the world. Brilliant scientist Bruce Banner (Australian actor Eric Bana) has so many acute emotional problems that he's alienated his co-worker/girl-friend, Betty Ross (Oscar-winner Jennifer Connelly). Yet it's not until he's accidentally blasted with gamma radiation during a nanotechnology experiment that the mean, green Hulk, who's lurked inside of him since birth, emerges as Banner's powerful alter-ego. ("You're making me angry," he warns. "I don't think you're gonna like me when I'm angry.") But that's only the superficial plot. Then there's a complex, multi-level struggle involving Bruce's ex-con renegade-scientist father (Nick Nolte) who altered his genetics, Betty's estranged military-commander father (Sam Elliott) and a larcenous rival researcher (Josh Lucas).
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the Hulk first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1962 and spawned a TV series (1977-82) with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. But it's taken the lyric sensibility of Oscar-winning director Ang Lee ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") and writer James Schamus to forge an emotional connection between Bruce Banner's inner turmoil and his repressed childhood memories and to invent a poignant ending that invites a sequel. Stylistically, Ang Lee adroitly utilizes montage sequences and splits the screen into panels, showing several images at once. And while ILM's 15'-tall, rage-filled Hulk is reminiscent of King Kong, don't expect a CGI character with the depth of the Gollum in "Lord of the Rings." On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, "The Hulk" is an unexpectedly intense, engaging 9. It's not only this summer's blockbuster creature-feature but it also cleverly fuses pop culture with psychodrama.
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
