The Hulk
the hulk
grrr. grrr grrr. I am the hulk. grr grr grr. I grow big. grrrr. green paint! (ok, got that out of my system)
This movie is kinda boring. Ok, I get what's going on, there's bruce banner, and there's his chick friend, and that's his dad, and things aren't well. Ok, so noone really has a simple relationship. Normal fodder for a slow character study... but The Hulk? I haven't even seen the hulk yet, so why is the movie called that?
That is what I was thinking about halfway through the movie. I will say somewhere around this time I turned my head an noted to myself "hey, the exit signs are green". To say the movie was holding my attention would be an overstatement. I was still interested, but that was quickly waning.
Ok, I'll admit it was after midnight, but that shouldn't matter.
Let me say something here: The Hulk Trailer lied. Sure, it is a sin of ommission rather than a sin of commission, but that does not let the trailer-makers off the hook. Let me use an example: a highlights reel of a chess game where a bawl broke out at the end. The evening news would show a couple seconds of the game for place-setting purposes, and then show the duo beating the snot of out each other. This, is understandable, as they are not claiming to have fully represented the chess match. The Hulk Trailer pretended that the Hulk Jumping! (exclaimation point) and Breaking Things! (exclaimation point) was the center focus, with a little expostion thrown in for good measure. Boy, how many people are going to be dissappointed when they see the slow theme-study that is The Hulk?
This is an Ang Lee movie, but more Ice Storm than Crouching Tiger. As a director, he thrives on the emotional realities of the people in the stories, and has the ability to make outstanding movies where the largest action scene involves a power line and a guard rail. So why do they feel the need to pretend the film is some rip-roaring actioneer? Ok, that's rhetorical. They did it because people are ten times more likely to see "BAM - The Hulk" then "Bruce Banner's Psychological Darkness Manifests Itself as bam-The Hulk".
Enough of that, though. This is about the movie.
So I'm sitting there staring at the exit signs, and I realize I am bored. Somewhere within the next few minutes, though, the movie just kicks up the dust and goes into cinematic gear, because the next thought I remember having is "Oh, I get it" during the final few minute of the movie.
I see this movie as an exercise in patience. Most people would expect the payoff to be the action sequences. In this movie, the payoffs are the commentaries about power, control, and freedom. The action sequences, while thrilling, are not ends-within-themselves, but tools.
Truthfully, as character development goes, this movie is about Betty Ross. Everyone else exists as a fairly static entity, whereas by the end of the movie Mrs Ross has changed her outlook on things. Even her father does more psychological movement than the main character (Banner). Really, I'd say this movie is more about Living with Hulks than Being a Hulk. (hulks equaling things almost unmovable). I'd say its about realizing your own inability to help some people and things.
Ok, so I'm getting all psycho-babble, and I might be wrong. Whatever. I'd say this movie is what would be called a think-piece, a meditation.
Let me also say this: The acting overall was superb. I'd say the three main characters were well cast, and extremely capable. First off, there's Jennifer Connelly, who I'd give credit to as the glue that holds this together. Her performance is a perfectly understated example of her abilities as an actress. She never seemed cardboard; she never played into the damsel-in-destress motif. She is the real emotional center for the film, as the moment the Hulk appears, Bruce Banner is no longer a person, but an enigma of anger.
Add in Sam Elliott's strong potrayal of a father in uncontrollable circumstance, and Nick Nolte as a man unhinged by his ghosts, and you've got more talent in one movie then in most multiplexes at any given time.
But, there is one other character amalgamation that is hard to put a good finger on, so I'll seperate it into its elements. Eric Bana does a fine job pulling off his role of Bruce Banner, who denies his past's influence until it smacks him in the face. The desperation and fear are all there in his face. But, then Bruce Banner disappears for a good portion of the movie. He is replaced by a child disguised as a hulk, and I'll give credit to the special-effects people. They pull off all the emotional needs well (even though they are overshadowed by SBI (stuff blowing up)). Really, the action sequences are not about the hulk, as it is fairly soon known that he is kinda invincible, but about the questions that arise. So, the main character is transformed and downplayed, and that is fine with me because it works. This isn't a good analysis of the hybrid qualities, but I hope you get the point.
I'm going to share another trailer anecdote (not really funny, though). I saw a trailer that basically called the Hulk a hero. That's interesting, because he spends most of the movie beating up american soldiers. He causes panic and injury and pain to old ladies, so where is this hero? Just a note to the trailer-makers: stop making so much crap up. You're making fun of the viewing public with your manipulations, and making a cynical audience as a results. Dunno, not the end of the world, but its perturbing to say the least.
There are flaws in this movie. I understand the movie after seeing it, but I still would hold that the first half needs trimming. Not excessive trimming, but the pacing needs work. Split-screen and other techniques are used to spice up a straightforward exposition, but it needs more. I don't know exactly, but its really a quibble.
I've typed too much. I hope its not drivel, but it might be. oh well.
It is quite a good movie, and solidifies Ang Lee in my book. It's definitely a mood movie, though. It should be seen when you have the brainpower to dedicate to it. If you don't have the brainpower, watch something like Old School instead. Really, don't waste this movie on a testosterone-fueled night with the boys.
As you might can tell, sometimes I enjoy being a bit confused. ;)
I give it 3.5 out of 4. |
