The Avengers The "I Believe In Mark Ruffalo!" Support Thread

[jadejaws]

The Hulk's talking in the 'Planet hulk' animation worked fine, and as JeetKuneDo noted, a monstrous character talking is not without precedent.

There's no reason why he couldn't talk more on film. It's just been the 'creative' decision of the director and writers to have him mostly grunt.

I don't mind if he talks more...I just want him to refer to himself in the third person.

 

[Hoblin]

Oh no! The 1% is speaking up.
Try going to a mall, an airport, an amusement park, or a grocery store and asking 20 random people what they thought about Ang Lee's Hulk.

You'll be saying, "GTFO" a lot.

I kinda liked Ang Lee's Hulk. I think it did some things better than the 2008 movie. If certain aspects of each one could be combined I think an ALMOST perfect Hulk movie could be made.

 

[Obi-Ron]

If certain aspects of each one could be combined I think an ALMOST perfect Hulk movie could be made.

I've been saying that since TIH came out.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

I kinda liked Ang Lee's Hulk. I think it did some things better than the 2008 movie. If certain aspects of each one could be combined I think an ALMOST perfect Hulk movie could be made.

Agreed. The desert fight is still the best Hulk action scene for my money. And at least Ang knew that the Hulk hates Banner.

 

[Marvel Spider]

The front page has an interview with Ruffalo and he mentions that another solo Hulk movie is a possibility.

http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/108289-ruffalo-and-elba-on-their-marvel-studios-deals

 

[Obi-Ron]

Sweet. SAm Sterns is mentioned in the SHIELD files on the Iron Man 2 Blu-ray as being in [CLASSIFIED] status after the events of The Incredible Hulk, maybe we'll be seeing more of him.

 

[FaT_tONle]

Feige/Marvel can sell you whatever nonsense they want about relaunching the Hulk franchise, be it references or cameos by Stern/Ross for that matter. If Hulk is written as another dumb brute who is a filler for action and is still suspect in the CGI department, there won't be solo movies with Ruffalo any time soon.

 

[ArtTeacher]

If Hulk is written as another dumb brute who is a filler for action and is still suspect in the CGI department, there won't be solo movies with Ruffalo any time soon.

Ok, so what *would* cause there to be another solo Hulk movie any time soon?

 

[marcvader]

I kinda liked Ang Lee's Hulk. I think it did some things better than the 2008 movie. If certain aspects of each one could be combined I think an ALMOST perfect Hulk movie could be made.

I agree with this.

 

[FaT_tONle]

Ok, so what *would* cause there to be another solo Hulk movie any time soon?

Have Hulk be more of a centerpiece in the movie. Set up some stuff with Stern. And take the character to a level slightly above "Hulk Smash..." they need to hammer home that Banner/psychology conflict a lot harder this time, without being another Ang Lee debacle. TIH didn't find the balance IMO. Avengers needs to touch upon that with whatever time the Hulk/Banner gets in the movie.

 

[Dark Raven]

Agreed. The desert fight is still the best Hulk action scene for my money. And at least Ang knew that the Hulk hates Banner.

The desert fight with the military should've been in The Incredible Hulk. Also, Sam Elliott should've been General Ross. If an ultimate (not Ultimate) version of a Hulk movie could be made from the two movies, I would've kept all the desert scenes with the army base etc, but gotten rid of Nick Nolte's character, Hulk as Giant Man, the Hulk dog fight, Hulk as mutant and most of the rest of the film. I would've kept the breakfast eating scene in the cabin though.

 

[jadejaws]

Have Hulk be more of a centerpiece in the movie. Set up some stuff with Stern. And take the character to a level slightly above "Hulk Smash..." they need to hammer home that Banner/psychology conflict a lot harder this time, without being another Ang Lee debacle. TIH didn't find the balance IMO. Avengers needs to touch upon that with whatever time the Hulk/Banner gets in the movie.

"Hulk Smash" can be interesting if done properly. I like how you said "slightly above" because that's all it would take. Have him talk in the third person, but let him talk in full sentences just like he did in back in the day.

 

[Dark Raven]

I just don't think that the concept of Hulk connects with the general audience in all honesty. Even if you change certain aspects of him to bring him more in line with the comic (eg make Hulk the star, make him talk, make him intelligent etc) the fact is that the general audience still see a big green monster and think that it is a mindless movie. Lots of people (friends, colleagues etc) I know just groan when they hear about a Hulk movie, whichever incarnation it was (2003 or 2008). Even when the Hulk TV series was showing, my mom would groan at the idea of it, but would more actively watch the live action Spider-Man with me, even though she wasn't exactly a comic fan. It didn't matter that Bill Bixby (the human form of Hulk) was the star - the fact that there was a raging brute of a monster just was off putting.

Friends of mine (non comic fans) even prefer Iron Man to Spider-Man. Hulk just doesn't seem like all that much of a viable concept to general audiences. He might be A-list in the comics, but I don't think he is in the movie world. Heck, Hulk himself might even be a reason general audiences might not want to see the Avengers. If they do, it will be because the excitement of watching Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark will override the disdain of watching the Hulk. They shouldn't push Hulk as too much of a main character compared to the big three.

 

[ArtTeacher]

Hulk himself might even be a reason general audiences might not want to see the Avengers. If they do, it will be because the excitement of watching Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark will override the disdain of watching the Hulk.

Night Raven, there are about a million or so things wrong with your entire post, but I only quoted one short section. "The *disdain* of watching the Hulk"?
Double-you.
Tee.
Eff?
The Incredible Hulk is the 253rd top grossing movie of all time. Of all time. To put that into perspective for you, 633 movies came out in 2008 alone. That's one year, only. I'm not sure cracking the Top 300 of all time (from the 1930's-today) happens when the general audience "disdains" the main character.

And as far as the TV show goes, the second-highest demographic for that show was women. So while your mom may have been watching the quickly canceled Spider-Man live-action show, more women (and men) were tuning in to see Bix & Lou.

Source: http://www.mpaa.org/policy/industry

 

[marcvader]

That tv show was a hit so I don't get what your mom not liking it has anything to do with it and by the way both Hulk movies made money so someone's watching them. You'd have a better case if the movies flopped or the tv show was cancelled its first season.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

I just don't think that the concept of Hulk connects with the general audience in all honesty. Even if you change certain aspects of him to bring him more in line with the comic (eg make Hulk the star, make him talk, make him intelligent etc) the fact is that the general audience still see a big green monster and think that it is a mindless movie. Lots of people (friends, colleagues etc) I know just groan when they hear about a Hulk movie, whichever incarnation it was (2003 or 2008). Even when the Hulk TV series was showing, my mom would groan at the idea of it, but would more actively watch the live action Spider-Man with me, even though she wasn't exactly a comic fan. It didn't matter that Bill Bixby (the human form of Hulk) was the star - the fact that there was a raging brute of a monster just was off putting.

Friends of mine (non comic fans) even prefer Iron Man to Spider-Man. Hulk just doesn't seem like all that much of a viable concept to general audiences. He might be A-list in the comics, but I don't think he is in the movie world. Heck, Hulk himself might even be a reason general audiences might not want to see the Avengers. If they do, it will be because the excitement of watching Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark will override the disdain of watching the Hulk. They shouldn't push Hulk as too much of a main character compared to the big three.

I would amend what you wrote to "I don't think the version of the Hulk that Hollywood has put onscreen so far resonates with audiences".

That's all we can say. No one has put the real Hulk onscreen yet...so we cannot say it won't work. There can only be opinions about the real Hulk character. What have gotten so far looks like the Hulk...that's it. He isn't even a real character so far. He doesn't interact with the other characters, he has no emotions, he doesn't have any thoughts at all. He smashes stuff..then we get back to Banner's never-ending angst story.

Not surprising that "character" is not as popular as the other heroes in movies.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

That tv show was a hit so I don't get what your mom not liking it has anything to do with it and by the way both Hulk movies made money so someone's watching them. You'd have a better case if the movies flopped or the tv show was cancelled its first season.

Depends on what is meant by "hit". It never broke into the top 25 in the ratings. (only getting to #26 one year) This was back when getting into the top 25 was much easier than today. (3 networks...little cable competition)

It was just successful enough to stay on the air and pollute the character of the Hulk in the public's mind.

 

[Mace Dolex]

Yeah. All three films are definitely worth checking out.

I must admit, I watched him in 13 Going On 30. And he was even good in that.

I mean... uh... I did. Should I be ashamed I watched 13 Going On 30? I was bored and there was nothing on tv.

Heh don't worry I was bored too and happened to catch it on FX one day, it's a nice little sappy heart warming film and Ruffalo shows that he has leading man material.

Zodiac was good too and I just realized that Mark was there alongside Iron Man RDJ.

 

[ArtTeacher]

What have gotten so far looks like the Hulk...that's it. He isn't even a real character so far. He doesn't interact with the other characters, he has no emotions, he doesn't have any thoughts at all. He smashes stuff..then we get back to Banner's never-ending angst story. Not surprising that "character" is not as popular as the other heroes in movies.

Was Karloff's monster in "Frankenstein" not a real character?

 

[ArtTeacher]

It was just successful enough to stay on the air and pollute the character of the Hulk in the public's mind.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

You want to talk pollution? Let's compare the TV series to Ang Lee's masterpiece:

1) The Hulk didn't vehemently stare at moss throughout the series
2) The Hulk stayed one constant height and didn't grow to Mighty Joe Young proportions while looking completely unrelatable to humans at the same time
3) Banner didn't try to strangle women
4) Banner's last name wasn't Krenzler
5) Banner's dad wasn't the Absorbing Man
6) Banner's dad didn't turn into a gigantic jellyfish cloud at the end
7) The first hour of the pilot didn't have people yawning and counting the light switches in the room
8) At no point in the series did a poodle turn green and attack
9) The Hulk didn't look pudgy
10) Foam didn't stop the Hulk and no one died in a bizarre, freeze-frame, campy death scene.

If the TV series was "pollution", then Ang Lee's Hulk was genocide.

 

[The Hulk]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

You want to talk pollution? Let's compare the TV series to Ang Lee's masterpiece:

1) The Hulk didn't vehemently stare at moss throughout the series
2) The Hulk stayed one constant height and didn't grow to Mighty Joe Young proportions while looking completely unrelatable to humans at the same time
3) Banner didn't try to strangle women
4) Banner's last name wasn't Krenzler
5) Banner's dad wasn't the Absorbing Man
6) Banner's dad didn't turn into a gigantic jellyfish cloud at the end
7) The first hour of the pilot didn't have people yawning and counting the light switches in the room
8) At no point in the series did a poodle turn green and attack
9) The Hulk didn't look pudgy
10) Foam didn't stop the Hulk and no one died in a bizarre, freeze-frame, campy death scene.

If the TV series was "pollution", then Ang Lee's Hulk was genocide.

Jason you crack me up!! But as always your right on the money dude!!!

 

[Obi-Ron]

4) Banner's last name wasn't Krenzler

At least Bruce's first name wasn't David

As for the other stuff...well, let's just say I agree with some of it.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Heh don't worry I was bored too and happened to catch it on FX one day, it's a nice little sappy heart warming film and Ruffalo shows that he has leading man material.

Zodiac was good too and I just realized that Mark was there alongside Iron Man RDJ.

Also Jake Gyllenhaal almost played Spider-Man in SM2, so you've got the almost Spider-Man, Iron Man and Hulk in the same movie by David Fincher.

 

[wobbly]

Hulk 03 had a very good opening weekend, so the idea that audiences were not interested in the Hulk character isn't true. Unfortunately the majority of those that did see it that opening weekend gave it terrible word of mouth, critics were generally not impressed (who can blame them?), so it's drop off the next week and onwards was drastic (Domestically nearly half it's earnings came in that first weekend!!). No small wonder Universal agreed to hand him back to Marvel after that.

TIH I think would have done better had it not been so soon after Ang Lee's misjudged efforts. Not talking Iron-Man numbers, but still a good deal more than it did eventually take (and had it done better I figure a sequel would already have been lined up). Having said that though it was not my ideal Hulk film at all (better than 03, but could have been a lot better still)

On that I'm with others in thinking taking the best elements from both movies would make for a much better and more successful film, though giving the Hulk a proper personality of his own (and that is a must for me) has yet to even be attempted in any of the 3 live action versions. God knows why the producers/writers/directors keep wimping out on that

 

[wobbly]

"Hulk Smash" can be interesting if done properly. I like how you said "slightly above" because that's all it would take. Have him talk in the third person, but let him talk in full sentences just like he did in back in the day.

Now that's the Hulk I grew up with