The Hulk review by Orlando C. Fernando June 22, 2003 Storyline: 8 (0=worst, 10=best) Originality: N/A Acting: 7 Special Effects: 9 Overall: C+/B- (F=worst, A=best)

A nother Marvel Comics superhero comes to the big screen - the big green guy.
The story starts right from the childhood days of Bruce Banner (Eric Bana), explaining the origins of how he gained the gamma radioactive capabilities to turn into an enraged bulked up version of himself - the Hulk. We learn that it all begins from his father (Nick Nolte), which from even as early as impregnating his wife, has had scientific intentions of producing a superhuman - defying the works of God. But his father takes it to the max, routinely injecting him with radioactive liquids routinely throughout his childhood. This brings Bruce to his first breaking points when he reaches adulthood. The father's experiments, formerly in a military scientific lab, becomes an obsession even when he becomes disassociated with his family. Pretty much evil scientist fare here. Shift to the present, and we see Bruce doing the exact same research his father did. However, we don't get a direct explanation why; perhaps we assume that he's simply finding a reason why he gets funky dreams and the jitters periodically throughout his life. During adulthood, the plot turns to how he comes to grips with what he really is, and his father's attempts to reconnect with him.

Storyline is great, but the execution is too lengthy to carry out, including the long-awaited action scenes.
This movie was hyped to death for the action and special effects that his movie would carry - largely of the composition of the Hulk himself. The problem, however, is that each scene takes forever to get to that point. It isn't until one-third into the movie that we actually get to see Bruce transform into the Hulk. Much of the starting sequences over-explain Hulk's origin and his relationship with his father and his lab partner and ex-girlfriend Betty Ross (Jennifer Connelly). Characterization is very strong here - especially showing the cryptic relationship between Bruce's father and Betty's military officer father (Sam Elliot) - the latter that had the former banned from the military lab. But once we feel "we got it," it continues showing us more mysterious dreams. There are also way too many quiet, slow, "touching" moments here. They don't justify themselves too well since we don't see enough tragedy yet to warrant feeling with these scenes. Once we do see Hulk in action, it is very awesome, especially when he leaps from location to location evading opposing forces along the way.

Split screen techniques, though novel, were overly used in this picture.
There's a camera effect used so thoroughly in the movie that it's a feature in itself and deserves mention. Frequently in dream and action sequences, the screen suddenly splits from twice to five times, showing simultaneous action of the same scene from different angles and sometimes different locations. It's almost like using the Angle button on your DVD remote control, but being able to see all the angles at once. It's ingenious and neat to watch when used sparingly. But did we really need to see alternate angles of military running down stairs or scientists turning on buttons to illustrate a point we can already understand without seeing them from EVERY vantage point? I guess the intent is to show the sheer magnitude of what's going on at the same time - but used excessively like in this film it becomes annoying and too showoff. It gave me an impression that director Ang Lee used such scenes more for flash than for substance and helps to bring the movie down a bit.

Worth a matinee, or just wait for the DVD.
Though the movie delivers on plot and storyline, it's short on action and ultimately interest. If the pace moved along quicker throughout the movie rather than just at the third chapter, it would have made for a better overall picture. Is there a setup for Hulk 2? Guess we'll have to find out!

Copyright 2003 by Orlando C. Fernando. Movie picture is copyright Universal Pictures. This page is for personal use only. It may be openly distributed for nonprofit in whole or part, but authorship must be credited.