Ouch! Oh! Too Bad: I'm way sorry BK didn't like "The Hulk." I, too, watched this film last night. I have some reservations about it, but not about the director, not about the story and not about it's totally arresting presentation. My reservations are about the music, and the stereotypical bug-a-boo of an eternally evil, always-against-the-civilians, military. Gimme a break.
I was fascinated, mostly, although the mid-eastern wailing affectations forced onto some of the scenes were joltingly banal and stupid. One doesn't expect that in scenes taking place in the American desert with only Americans in sight.
The story is the "front" for the entire comic strip series -- how Bruce Banner became "The Hulk." I thought the story developeld this "front" with compassion, intelligence and technical savvy.
It did not, however, have wit. And it needed some wit.
Eric Bana was fine as Bruce Banner, pre-Hulk. His character was mostly confused, so that's what Bana did with him throughout. I'd have loved seeing him -- just once -- forego the shame and embrace the Hulk within. I caught a glimmer of that in the last scene, but it WAS the last scene.
The CGI Hulk worked fine, for me. I accepted him quite easily, although I hate it when movies reveal all their special effects secrets before the film is ever released. Way too much calling attention to the special effects folks making us ever mindful that what we're seeing is not real and can NEVER SEEM REAL now that we're onto how they did it.
Jennifer Connelly was, in my estimation, adequate. Her character never rang true for me, although I don't blame Ms. Connelly for that. It was not a sympathetic character. She was too analytical in her relationship with Bruce and when he needed her most, she turned him over to the person with whom she had the most issues -- her father. Toward the end, when she said she loved Bruce, I think I sneered, so little did I believe her. And I'm a softy for screen romance.
Overall, it's a far more satisfying film than many of its ilk. I liked it better than "Spiderman," and 1,000 times better than "Armageddon." That measure ought to count for something by someone.
