COMICS ON SCREEN: HULK (2003) REVIEW

Hulk (2003)

Review by Jeff Williams

Editor: Jeremias de Leon

Since this month, is Avengers month here on J1 Studios and Comic Book Clash. I though this would be the proper occasion to take a look back a Marvel film, that while it has its flaws, it was released at the wrong time. Fanboys and Fangirls, here's the Review to Ang Lee's take on the Green Goliath himself, 2003's Hulk.

The 2003 Marvel Films (this pre-dates "Marvel Studios")/Universal Pictures distributed film, based off on "The Incredible Hulk" comic created by Stan "The Man" Lee and Jack "The King" Kirby. The script was written by Michael France and John Turman, but writer James Schamus, not only re-wrote the script later in the film's development, but Schamus also gets the "Story by" credit. The director was Ang Lee, mostly known at the time the director of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".

This movie from it's theatrical release in June 20, 2003 to 2012, has gotten a bad reputation for it being a more serious take on the character itself and it being more of a character study rather than what we've got with the Marvel Studios'  2008 reboot, "The Incredible Hulk". Though this is a review, I want this review to be a positive one and to show fans why this movie, was and still is an underrated interpretation of the goliath.

For the first Hulk film (theatrical, not the "made for TV" movies), we have Eric Bana as Bruce Banner/Hulk, Banner's love interest, Betty Ross was portrayed by Jennifer Connolly (Labyrinth), Betty's father and Bruce's antagonist, "Thunderbolt" Ross was portrayed by Sam Elliot (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) and Anti-Mickey Rourke himself, Nick Nolte played David Banner, Bruce's demented father.

The plot to this film is as follows, David was trying to create super-soldiers for the U.S.military, by mutating his own DNA to study a way on how a body could recover quickly from a wound or injury.

However, this and the countless experiments that followed were denied by the U.S. army. When Bruce was born, it was discovered that David's mutated DNA was passed on to young Bruce and he was attempting to find a cure for his son as time passed. However, In 1973  after learning of David's "experiments", a then Lieutenant "Thunderbolt" Ross shuts down his research.

David, with losing his work that expanded years, he caused a massive explosion to the gamma reactor facilities in an attempt to kill his son. However, he accidentally kills his wife while she interfered with what was happening. After the "incident", David was re-located to a metal hospital, while a then 4 year old Bruce was sent into foster home and later adopted. As time progressed, Bruce suppressed the memories of his biological parents.

Long story short, due to his mutated DNA and the gamma radiation/nanomeds that happened latter in his life, created the beast inside Banner…. known only, as the Hulk.

While I do like Norton portrayal as Bruce in the Reboot and the supporting cast that portrayed their respective roles in "Incredible Hulk". I personally feel that the 2003 film's cast was not only had a stronger group of actors (excluding Nolte), but it was a better cast for the respective roles.

Lee's direction for the film, while different by showing a traumatized Bruce and its outcome with Banner's "inner feelings". He really had a very good eye for directing the action shots in the movie. Yes they were, few-in-far between, but they were not only choreographed with care, but at sometimes brutal.

The story while slow and yes at some points, sloppy. Its narrative felt like it was heavily inspired by Peter David's run on the ongoing series, from 1988 to its end in 1998 with issue #467 "The Lone and Level Sands".

When it comes to the score of Hulk. I honestly think that Danny Elfman was suited more for this film, then he was with the 2001 Spider-Man film and its sequel "Spider-Man 2", that followed in 2004. The way he captures the character(s) and their emotions in this film, was utilized properly then what we got with the first two (already mentioned) Spider-Man films by "Evil Dead" director, Sam Raimi.

To close this review, let me leave an allegory...

Like how 2004's "The Punisher" had the story down and 2008 "Punisher: War Zone" had the dark, vibrant and gritty tone.  Ang Lee's Hulk had the more serious side of the character down, while the 2009 "Incredible Hulk" had the feel and excitement that a Hulk movie should have.

If this film was released a year or two after Christopher Nolan envisioned Batman's origins and universe with "Batman Begins", this film would probably not only received critical success in the box office, but would be probably be hailed by critics and comic fans alike as " a fresh, yet daring take" on Marvel's green goliath.

Rating: 4/5

While I did state that the plot was messy at some points in this film. This is not only a different take on the character, the supporting cast and its universe. It's a refreshing take that should be given another chance by the Merry Marvel Marching Society.