Why Mark Ruffalo?

[Picard Sisko]

I understand that Ed Norton wanted a bigger paycheck, and refused to reprise his role as the Hulk. That was very disappointing for me, but I moved on. But why did they choose Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk? I think his performance wasn't bad, but it just didn't feel like the character at all to me.

He signed on for 6 more films, so it seems like he is here to stay. Why did they choose Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk?

[jaqua99]

cause they figures he could pull it off. And he did.

[Picard Sisko]

He looked uninterested in playing the role throughout the entire movie in my opinion.

[Boom]

I couldn't disagree with you more. His performance was one of the film's highlights for me.

Do not confuse subtle and understated with uninterested.

[Picard Sisko]

I think it was a downgrade from Ed Norton. Heck, I thought even Eric Bana was a more believable Bruce Banner.

[Norm3]

Originally Posted by Picard Sisko

I think it was a downgrade from Ed Norton. Heck, I thought even Eric Bana was a more believable Bruce Banner.

I totally disagree. Ruff was the best movie Banner so far. Norton was playing Ed as Banner. He phoned it in. Bana wasn't given much directing. Ang Lee was clueless!

[L0ngsh0t]

It seems as though you are the only one with this opinion

[Picard Sisko]

I'm the only one who posted on this thread, but I know many people who watched the movie and agree with me. It's all opinion anyway.

[warhorse78]

Well, Mark Ruffalo is way better than Norton or Bana, and he's here to stay, so get used to it!!!!!

[Picard Sisko]

Him being better than Norton or Bana is just opinion. Honestly, if Ruffalo was in the Incredible Hulk, and Norton was in the Avengers, I bet everyone would be talking about how much better Edward Norton was as the Hulk.

[cherokeesam]

Originally Posted by Picard Sisko

Him being better than Norton or Bana is just opinion. Honestly, if Ruffalo was in the Incredible Hulk, and Norton was in the Avengers, I bet everyone would be talking about how much better Edward Norton was as the Hulk.

And you'd be absolutely right. That's why I just laugh at the people who ***** and moan about recasts being the end of the world, when it's clear that the vast majority of audiences move right along with the switches.

But in reference to Norton, it wasn't that he refused to play Hulk again; it's that he and Marvel butted heads over the direction they wanted to take Hulk and the sequels, so Marvel fired him, point blank.

[Norm3]

Originally Posted by cherokeesam

And you'd be absolutely right. That's why I just laugh at the people who ***** and moan about recasts being the end of the world, when it's clear that the vast majority of audiences move right along with the switches.

You hit the nail on the head. Only the actor fanboys care. When their guy gets fired or quits.

[natey2k4]

Originally Posted by Picard Sisko

Him being better than Norton or Bana is just opinion. Honestly, if Ruffalo was in the Incredible Hulk, and Norton was in the Avengers, I bet everyone would be talking about how much better Edward Norton was as the Hulk.

And it's just opinion (yours) that Norton and Bana were better than Ruffalo...

Ruffalo is an incredible actor. Bana was solid but had nothing to work with. Norton did a solid job but didn't feel like Bruce Banner to me.

I'd rank them;
1. Ruffalo
2. Bana
3. Norton

Ruffalo made me interested in The Hulk again. Thank god.

[Picard Sisko]

Originally Posted by natey2k4

And it's just opinion (yours) that Norton and Bana were better than Ruffalo...

Ruffalo is an incredible actor. Bana was solid but had nothing to work with. Norton did a solid job but didn't feel like Bruce Banner to me.

I'd rank them;
1. Ruffalo
2. Bana
3. Norton

Ruffalo made me interested in The Hulk again. Thank god.

I actually love Bill Bixby the most. A man always on the run.

I haven't really seen Ruffalo in anything other than chick flicks. I will research some of his movies, maybe try to get a better idea of his work.

[flickchick85]

Ruffalo's Hulk AND Banner was the best part of the movie, imo. This is the first time they've ever managed to get me to care about Bruce Banner.

[Angamb]

Mark did a decent job, but.... he didnt look like Bruce to me.

Edward fits the role more than Mark, and there are many actors out there that have the look of comics/animated movies and series Bruce.

But anyway, it is what it is. Not all the actors are the best option, in my opinion, so we just have to deal with it.

[Picard Sisko]

Originally Posted by Angamb

Mark did a decent job, but.... he didnt look like Bruce to me.

Edward fits the role more than Mark, and there are many actors out there that have the look of comics/animated movies and series Bruce.

But anyway, it is what it is. Not all the actors are the best option, in my opinion, so we just have to deal with it.

Yeah unfortunately that's just the way it is. But as I said before, if it was the other way around, and Norton was the one to play Banner in the Avengers, people would be praising him saying "he is the best one to date."

Ruffalo just does not feel like Bruce Banner at all.

[Brian Braddock]

Originally Posted by Picard Sisko

Yeah unfortunately that's just the way it is. But as I said before, if it was the other way around, and Norton was the one to play Banner in the Avengers, people would be praising him saying "he is the best one to date."

Ruffalo just does not feel like Bruce Banner at all.

As long as we're doing picture comparisons,



To me, Ruffalo resembles Bixby's Banner as much as Norton resembled comicbook Banner so in terms of physical representation there is a precedent. Avengers Banner looks like the Banner from a previous TV show as opposed to the comics (not an issue for me as Bixby was God - come to think of it you say you also love Bixby the most so I wouldve thought Ruffalo would have been right up your street, tbh ). All this 'I couldnt buy him as Banner as he didnt look like him' stuff that I read on occasion on these boards doesnt really hold water as far as I'm concerned.

Following on from that, in terms of performance I just dont get your critique of MR either as he absolutely nailed it. Yes, so did Norton (no arguement there) and both were excellent as the Banners they were playing but that's the key thing - the Banners they were playing were in very different places, emotionally.

He didnt feel like the character? He looked uninterested?

You're entitled to your opinion obviously but I'm scratching my head at it.

[TheOriginalman]

Originally Posted by Angamb

Mark did a decent job, but.... he didnt look like Bruce to me.

Edward fits the role more than Mark, and there are many actors out there that have the look of comics/animated movies and series Bruce.

But anyway, it is what it is. Not all the actors are the best option, in my opinion, so we just have to deal with it.

I don't know. My lady said that in many ways Ruffalo reminded her of Bill Bixby.

[R_Hythlodeus]

because he's awesome and the best Banner to date. That's why.

[Silvermoth]

I thought he was wonderful. He's better than the other two because he brings that ruffled 'i've been through rough times' look. He was great.

[KangConquers]

Originally Posted by R_Hythlodeus

because he's awesome and the best Banner to date. That's why.

Exactly...I can't see how anyone can ***** about him, except for hardcore Norton fans (who are honestly, getting to be as annoying as Nolanites...)

Norton turned in a very average performance as Bruce Banner, with some very average line delivery and very little emotion. Ruffalo's Banner was fully formed, lived in and subtle. He in my opinion, is Downey's equal in the movie.

[uniqueweasel]

Imo I thought he played it brilliantly, I liked the way as Bruce he always kept an even keel to his voice, and acting kind of sheepishly. Then he explains as he changes that it's because he's always angry, as though he's always fighting the urge to let go. To me he played that excellent.

[Chewy]

Because he was brilliant

[hopefuldreamer]

I think the nice thing about Ruffalo WAS how 'disinterested' he came across sometimes. He was detatched, and kept at this sort of mellow tone and pace that seemed exactly how someone would be if they were controlling anger issues. You'd have to become detatched and controlled.

It certainly wouldn't make sense for banner to be really 'interested' and hyper and not controlled.

And everything he said just sort of sounded really mattter of fact, which I liked too. He's past the initial freak out of becoming the Hulk and has accepted his 'curse' and is doing the best he can with it.

He was putting up no false pretenses, not worrying about protecting people's feelings/trying to soften anything.

And I think Ruffalo totally sold that with his delivery.