Went to my first movie preview in ages the other day to see Louis Leterrier’s The Incredible Hulk that’s out this week in the UK. Critical lore requires one to pass slighting reference to Ang Lee’s dismally soapy Hulk of 2003 before pronouncing this latest as at least true to the Marvel comic spirit. Which is about right. And Ed Norton is suitably anonymous – he’s like a cock version of Tilda Swinton, tall, thin, faceless – and William Hurt is drolly unsympathetic as the general who would turn Hulk into a super-soldier if he had his way. A nice anti-militaire feel there.
Certainly worth seeing, but its one major flaw is the CGI. Hulk and his fellow gamma rayed foe The Abomination (Tim Roth) move far too fast, blurring in the fight sequences, seeming not to belong to the film at all. I was left nostalgic for Lou Ferrigno, who played the Hulk monster in the ‘70s TV series (and has a joke cameo in this film). He was forever getting through (I think) plaid shirts when his alter ego Dr Bruce Banner threw a wobbler before launching forth in slow-mo. Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man is similarly blighted by crazy-speed animation, with our comic book hero bouncing off buildings like hail stones. It just undermines the desire to suspend disbelief.
Judging by the terse ending a sequel must already be in the works with the same cast, I’d have thought. One nice touch. When Banner is getting an unseen erection prior to hoped for penetrative sex with Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) he has to stop for fear of invoking his inner green giant. I had often wondered how Banner copes with sex and now I know. It’s most important he doesn’t get het up.
I think I may have developed a taste for movie previews. Perhaps I’ll turn Arcati into a movie site. When you’ve seen one celebrity cock you’ve seen them all, doncha think?
2 comments:
More movies! More movies!
I'm with you - Lou Ferrigno is looking better and better. Though, controversially, I was told recently that Lee's Hulk is worth seeing...
Lee's Hulk is certainly worth seeing - it's interesting to see a super-hero being moved out of fans' comfort zones: it was all a little bit too much, what with the psychology and what not. It failed on the effects I'm afraid. You have to deliver the money shots. Leterrier is a much safer director for Marvel purposes, but there are signs of a slightly mischievous mind at work.
We must talk about your new book Ms Baroque. I shall of course put up a link shortly. x
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