Eric Bana’s anger triggers his metamorphosis into the CGI marvel known as the HULK. HULK
2003, Universal Home Video, DD-5.1/MA/16:9/LB/ST/CC/+, $26.98, 137m 20s, DVD-1 By Shane M. Dallmann
Given the success of X-MEN
and SPIDER-MAN, it was only a matter of time before Marvel Comics’ green goliath The In- credible Hulk smashed his way to the big screen. This anticipa- tion was tinged with more curi- osity than usual when it was announced that the project would be directed by Ang Lee (a long-time art house favorite best- known for scoring a huge main- stream hit with CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON). No- body knew quite what to ex- pect—which was just as well. The build-up to the film known sim- ply as HULK guaranteed a strong opening weekend, but word-of- mouth quickly drove business down; while not a certified box- office disaster, HULK performed considerably less well than ex- pected. Bizarre stylization and flagrantly broken rules alienated many a fan—but the film has its passionate defenders, as well.
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The premise of HULK, though significantly different from the Marvel concept, retains more of the origin story (and characters) than did the popular CBS-TV se- ries starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. Lee’s film starts in 1966, as scientist David Banner conducts experiments in cellular regeneration for the supposed benefit of the US Army. Soon breaking with ethics and proto- col, Banner uses himself as a guinea pig—realizing too late that he has passed certain results on to his son Bruce. The project ends in disaster, and Bruce grows up in the custody of rela- tives, believing himself to be named “Bruce Krenzler” (BLACK HAWK DOWN’s Eric Bana). Be- coming a doctor like the father he barely knew, Bruce and col- league/object of frustrated ro- mance Betty Ross (Jennifer Connelly) conduct experiments of their own in Berkeley, Califor- nia—involving gamma-radiation- infused “nanomeds” intended for the good of mankind. Trouble comes in the form of Glen Tal- bot (Josh Lucas), who intends to hijack the project for the Army—
and Betty’s father is none other than General Ross (Sam Elliott, dropping the “Thunderbolt” nick- name remembered from the Mar- vel comics). Fate takes charge: Bruce saves a teammate’s life by absorbing a massive dose of gamma nanomeds himself during a lab accident. Thanks to his ge- netic inheritance from his father, Bruce not only survives but thrives on what would have killed anybody else. Only ex- treme emotion, first brought on by the surprise appearance of his presumed-dead father (Nick Nolte) reveals what the man who now knows himself to be Bruce Banner has truly become. A literal translation of the comic book had already been deemed unsuitable for a live-action television series and, conversely, the series concept was unlikely to work on the big screen, as present-day au- diences would demand more than a green-skinned bodybuilder. (Nevertheless, comic and series fans are rewarded with a joint cameo by creator Stan Lee and series star Lou Ferrigno in the early going.) The Hulk could only be realized through CGI technology
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