Film Review: Hulk (2003)

Hollywood history, like all history, is subject to historical revisionism. In recent times the greatest success story of American film industry is Marvel Cinematic Universe, which officially began in 2008 with Iron Man. Its origins, however, date five years earlier when the first attempt to bring one of its comic book superheroes to screen was made with Hulk, 2003 film directed by Ang Lee, an effort these days considered to be a failure.

The film represents adaptation of popular Marvel Comics series, which had been created in 1962 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and adapted in late 1970s as television series starring Bill Bixby. The new version begins in 1960s when young scientist David Banner (played by Paul Kersey) takes part in secret genetics experiments for US government, aimed at developing supersoldiers. He experiments on himself, as a result, passes mutant DNA to his young son Bruce before trying to kill him, resulting in explosion that would kill his wife and result in himself being brought to mental hospital. Thirty years later adult Bruce (played by Eric Bana), raised by foster parents, is brilliant scientist working at Berkeley where he meets an attractive colleague Betty Ross (played by Jennifer Connelly), not knowing that she is estranged daughter of US Army General Thadeus Ross (played by Sam Elliott), official who was in charge with father’s experiments. During one of the experiments that goes wrong, Bruce tries to save his co-worker and gets exposed to gamma radiation, which doesn’t kill him but instead leaves him with frightening medical condition. Any time he gets angered or sufficiently upset, Bruce transforms into huge green-skinned semi-humanoid creature called Hulk that is able to leave trail of destruction of everyone around him. As Bruce struggles with his alter ego, he also has to deal with janitor who is revealed to be his old father (played by Nick Nolte) and Glenn Talbot (played by Josh Lucas), shady corporate executive who wants to use Banner’s research for his own corrupt agenda.

Attempts to bring Hulk to big screen began in early 1990s, but it took X-Men and Spider-Man to finally convince sceptical studio executives that superheroes other than Superman and Batman could bring success at the box office. Universal, studio behind the project, took somewhat unusual and rather bold move of giving huge budget to Ang Lee, Taiwanese director best known for small-scale dramas. Lee, on the other hand, has shown that he could direct action with his Oscar-awarded film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Same skills, to a degree, can be seen here in number of spectacular scenes, although at CGI, which was acceptable for cinema standards of twenty years ago, does show little of its age today. Lee makes a mistake in the end by having a great showdown take place at night, which makes the action a little bit confusing. Lee is, on the other hand, more interested in personal drama and takes the best out of its cast that involve talented Australian actor Eric Bana, ethereally beautiful Jennifer Connelly and veterans like Nolte and Elliott. Those scenes, however, also make Hulk look more like an art drama than big budget superhero film. Lee does bring a little of personal touch and ingenuity with clever and effective use of split screens that could remind cinephiles of some of the great works of 1970s cinema.

That makes Hulk look interesting, but can’t compensate for the issue that make Hulk ineffective as standard superhero film. Most of it has to do with script. The tone is dark and the motive of domestic abuse make Hulk not that suitable for younger audience. The older audience would notice lack of humour and too much adherence to censorship, especially in the scenes of Hulk rampages where the raging giant leaves trail of destruction while somehow failing to kill anyone. Another problem is lack of humour. Another problem, which affected Hulk at the premiere more it does now, is its critical treatment of US military-industrial complex, which was at odds with American chauvinistic and militaristic sentiments shortly after invasion of Iraq. Although well-directed, Hulk had decent results at box office, but way below high expectations. Unsurprisingly, the next film, The Incedible Hulk, was made five years later and took different approach, replacing the lead star and working more like a soft reboot than sequel, being later retconned into Marvel Cinematic Universe via one of its side characters. Hulk, despite being considered a failure, is a mostly satisfying experience although the people most likely to enjoy is those Marvel fans who want to know how their favourite franchise could have looked very differently than it looks now.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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