Hulk *** (2003, Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott) – Classic Movie Review 309

Ang Lee is the surprise director for this underrated 2003 action sci-fi thriller, based on the Marvel comic book character by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. It’s a smart, lovingly crafted film that didn’t get its proper due at the time. It’s a tricky character to make work well on screen, but Lee’s done a good job here.

Eric Bana stars as Dr Bruce Banner, a brilliant genetics researcher scientist with a tragic past, who really does need anger management. He has an accident in his laboratory exposing him to gamma radiation and causing him to turn into a far from jolly green giant, actually a raging green monster, when things get pesky and he gets angry.

That’s the hulking plot of this eagerly anticipated movie of the old 70s TV series, The Incredible Hulk, with Lou Ferrigno, who has a cameo here as a Security Guard. Delivering human drama as well as big action sequences in a great value 138 minutes, the film has got some serious intentions along with providing the big comic-book thrills.

The likeable, hunky Bana provides all you need as the confused and raging hero action and Oscar-winner Jennifer Connolly is a posh heroine called Betty Ross. Hooray for striking visual effects and polished acting from Josh Lucas as the villain Talbot, Nick Nolte as Bruce Banner’s father David, whose DNA experiments have led to the Hulk situation, and Sam Elliott as Connolly’s dad, a general out to destroy the Hulk. David hopes to continue experimenting on Bruce to reverse his son’s condition.

It cost $137million and grossed $132million in America and £8million in the UK. Though this seems respectable enough, it was not considered a hit and Edward Norton took over the Bruce Banner character for The Incredible Hulk in 2008, only to be dumped for Mark Ruffalo in Avengers Assemble in 2012 and Iron Man 3 in 2013. Many think this 2003 film is superior to the 2008 version, though Ruffalo’s current reign as the Hulk is much deserved.

© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 309

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