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Comics 101
Art tips and techniques, reviews and interviews from my studio. Archived here and at World Famous Comics.

Comics 101 Archives

Comics 101 for 06/26/2003

Movie Review -The Hulk

I checked out the Hulk last week and really liked it a lot. The film was an enjoyable, meloncholy, brooding romp through the darker side of the Marvel Universe. Somewhat like their earlier 'Daredevil' release only with less camp and more consistent artistic flare than the man without fear could muster. Even with the slower paced first act of the film (which I can tolerate when it seems the occasional norm for setting up origin stories of complex, realisticaly portrayed super heroes these days) it really wasn't until the last few minutes of the final confrontation scene of the climax where I felt only a little disappointed in director Ang Lee's psychologically complex super hero opus.

So it's with this film's particular finale's problem that prompted me to discuss it in this week's Comics 101. In reviewing the film and discussing first what bothered me, then what I really thought was great, I'll be dishing out some massive spoilers. I you haven't seen the film yet, go now since it's definitely worth checking out and then come back and read this week's column.


The following review contains SPOILERS. I'll do my best to be vague in referring to some characters and scenes but this if your final warning!

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With the final act of the film there were truly some great ideas (the Absorbing Man!) and visuals (Hulk being taken on a ride through the night sky on the 'lightning' and the electric shock leaving an impression of him on each cloud) on display for the final showdown but the payoff of the villian's defeat bordered on being a bit too surreal. I would have preferred the resolution of the main conflict between the Hulk and his antagonist be portrayed with abit more humanity. The swirling nova of super energy he morphed into was cool but I think they should have brought the villian back to physical reality after that for the end of their confrontation for both character's sake. Mainly because Ang Lee and screenwriter James Shamus build up the estranged relationship and tension between the two characters so well throughout the delivery of the story you really want Bruce or the Hulk to resolve the final conflict and not have the military interfere and steal his thunder or purpose.

It would have been great if they would have added another minute or two of the villian having him break back down into human form (perhaps from absorbing so much power that he starts to perish or deteriorate) with some final words of spite or hatred for the Hulk. This would have set up one last connection between these characters, giving their storyline more closure. Then I would say have the bomb explode immediately after the Hulk forgives the villian and is about to turn away to leave him in his desperate misery. Besides giving the characters closure, having the Hulk resisting the temptation to smash and forgive the villian who cursed him, would remind the audience of the redeeming qualities of the man inside the monster that was touched on earlier and further echo the 'Frankenstein monster' quality that's always been instilled in the character.

Perhaps because the villian was more interesting and just plain more scary looking to me in his burned out, human form than as a huge ball of energy I would have liked to seen it come back to that briefly for the end of the fight. I guess I just would have liked to have seen a little less sci-fi and a little more depth between the two in their final seconds but all in all, a great movie nonethless despite my best criticisms.

The comic book geek in me who used to collect and read the Incredible Hulk religiously as a kid wanted to see him smash even more stuff in the movie. Just as I would have liked to have seen a more balanced Hulk with a few more sympathetic scenes I would have definitely loved to see him in action more too. Especially for the final confrontation which could have been a true showcase for these super powered-like gods slugfesting it out longer on an epic scale of a good monster B-movie. Though, I love that they did give him a few lines of dialogue ('puny human!') and the fight with the military in the desert was incredible as well as the near perfect shots of the Hulk running and jumping. I really enjoyed the few introspective, serene moments with the Hulk and the muscial score that often accompanied the scenes of him leaping through the desert sky or pondering the beauty of nature.

The movie was even peppered with some humor throughout, albeit mostly 'black' comedy, knowing full well not to take itself *too* seriously sometimes I believe for being a tale more along the lines of a tragedy than a regular drama or obvious action story. From the Hulk's brilliant use of turning the military's weapons and armor against themselves, the scene stealing Nick Nolte (perhaps the film's best, fully developed character) with his over the top ranting and the more cartoonishly and dastardly villain, Talbot, there was enough to make you creep out a smile here and there while you follow the main character on his downward spiral.

The use of split screens as comic panels along with the dissolves and wipes were at time genius like when General Ross in the underground base after they captured the creature is on the phone with Betty while he's coordinating it's containment. There was so much they decided to show and tell us here, heightening the drama and mounting the tension and Ang Lee did a bang up job of allowing the audience to feel and follow everything in that scene coherently.

The split screen technique really did lend to the pulpy feel of a comic book (and make no mistake, Ang really tried to capture the spirit and language of comic books a well as the titular character on film) but there were a few instances where it was kind of jarring (like the freeze frame and heavy outline around Talbot) or even just felt out of place at times (the use of a wipe which would overlap a shot in the foreground with the next scene in the background and then for a few seconds the perspective of the two scenes wouldn't match up creating weird opticals).

But the good outweighs the bad in these experimental film techniques and doesn't detract from the slumbering, straight forward focus of the story leading up to the highlight of the second act, when the Hulk escapes and demolishes the military and their base and then proceeds to take the fight outside.

Overall, Ang Lee really captured the essence of the character, the flavor of the comic book (even a little of the TV show with an epilogue that feels slightly out of place with the rest of the film) and then went beyond expectations. Then again, I expected it be great since I really enjoyed The Ice Storm and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (especially Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). Both Ang and ILM definitely deliver the goods with the Hulk.

See you next week for a new Comics 101 feature!

-Joe


<< 06/19/2003 | 06/26/2003 | 07/03/2003 >>

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