Hulk (2003)

Director:

Ang Lee

Writers (WGA):

Stan Lee (Marvel comic book character) and
Jack Kirby (Marvel comic book character) ...

Release Date:

20 June 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Unleash the fury!

Plot:

Bruce Banner, a genetics researcher with a tragic past, suffers an accident that causes him to transform into a raging green monster when he gets angry.

Plot Keywords:

Laser | X Ray Diffraction | Dream Sequence | Crushed To Death | Dog Killed

Awards:

1 win & 8 nominations

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Eric Bana	...	Bruce Banner
Jennifer Connelly	...	Betty Ross
Sam Elliott	...	Ross
Josh Lucas	...	Talbot
Nick Nolte	...	Father
Paul Kersey	...	Young David Banner
Cara Buono	...	Edith Banner
Todd Tesen	...	Young Ross
Kevin Rankin	...	Harper
Celia Weston	...	Mrs. Krensler
Mike Erwin	...	Teenage Bruce Banner
Lou Ferrigno	...	Security Guard
Stan Lee	...	Security Guard
Regi Davis	...	Security Guard
Craig Damon	...	Security Guard

Also Known As:

Big Green (USA) (fake working title)
The Hulk (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some disturbing images and brief partial nudity.

Runtime:

138 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES | Dolby Digital EX | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Portugal:M/12 (original rating) | Malaysia:U | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:PG | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 (cut) | Germany:16 | Ireland:12 | Mexico:B | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39955)

Filming Locations:

Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Both Sam Elliott and Rebecca Romijn have played major and supporting roles as different characters throughout the Marvel Universe. Elliott played a major role as Gen. Ross in this film and a supporting role as the Caretaker in Ghost Rider (2007). Rebecca Romijn had a major role as Mystique in all 3 X-Men movies, and played a supporting role as Joan (Frank's neighbor) in The Punisher (2004).

Goofs:

Continuity: The breast pockets on Betty Ross's denim jacket switch from buttoned to unbuttoned between shots when she is confronted by David Banner in her house at night, and again, later, when she approaches the Hulk in downtown San Francisco.

Quotes:

Betty Ross: Bruce, you were going to die. And I was standing there, helpless, knowing you were going to die!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The Helix... Loaded (2005)

Soundtrack:

Set Me Free

Terrible Marketing, Great Film

"Hulk" is a film which is widely considered a failure, both financially and artistically. Yet in the latter category this movie has a lot on offer: masterful editing, good acting and the direction of a true master.

What Ang Lee has tried to achieve, namely merging the pulp-story of the Hulk with the scale and drama of a Greek tragedy has been well achieved. The scope of the story and its effects on the characters are only to be taken seriously on a truly grand scale, and by supplying the protagonists with interwoven back-stories Lee and his screenwriters are making it clear that this is not to be seen as a realistic story, but an epic metaphor.

Special kudos goes to Timothy Squyres, who does one marvelous job of creating an editing similar to a comic's design. This pays tribute to the source material's pulp origins as well making an impressive visual statement. "Hulk" looks and feels like no other film, which makes it one of the most interesting, if not one of the best comic- adaptations of all time.

The crux is that this movie does not know who it's aimed at. The intellectual Ang Lee- connoisseur picks his nose when it comes to the Hulk, simply due to its humble roots, while the average popcorn-cinema-goer is slightly irritated when confronted with the films "odd" approach to comic-movies. This means that only viewers which are a bit of both can truly appreciate this masterpiece.

All the other elements for a good piece of entertainment are there and present: Eric Bana is, as usual, fine as the tormented soul which manifests itself in green rage, Jennifer Connelly is as solid as ever and Nick Nolte steals the show with what is a truly weird turn as Bruce Banner's/the Hulk's dad. The visual effects are beautifully executed as well. There is not much left to be desired.

It's a pity such an interesting and brave film gets a rating of slightly above 6 at IMDb.