The Jolly Green Giant Returns

[Obi-Ron]

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[kedrell]

I have to make the difference: in no way the campy Batman TV series could be compared to the serious incarnation of the TV series pilot.

The references to the TV series were alright in TIH but what a Hulk movie really needs to rescue from the TV series is the serious tone and the loneliness of Banner.

Oh I agree that the Hulk TV show was, in general, better since it wasn't played campy and silly by comparison.

I'd say we've got that serious TV show, Banner-centric tone in BOTH movies actually. What we've never really gotten was more of the Robert Louis Stevenson type stuff that is ever so prevalent in the comics but was completely ignored in the old TV show. And I totally understand why they did that. Ferrigno really couldn't act beyond pure physical stuff and roaring all the time. So I'd like more Stevenson and less Mary Shelley please.

 

[El Payaso]

Oh I agree that the Hulk TV show was, in general, better since it wasn't played campy and silly by comparison.

I'd say we've got that serious TV show, Banner-centric tone in BOTH movies actually. What we've never really gotten was more of the Robert Louis Stevenson type stuff that is ever so prevalent in the comics but was completely ignored in the old TV show. And I totally understand why they did that. Ferrigno really couldn't act beyond pure physical stuff and roaring all the time. So I'd like more Stevenson and less Mary Shelley please.

By R.L. Stevenson you mean to explore Hulk's personality as separated from Banner's?

Well, Ferrigno acted in one episode a role other than Hulk and he was eager to explore more himself as an actor. He asked many times to the creator/producer/director Ken Johnson for dialogue for the Hulk, but Johnson refused since it could result ridiculous (well in fact, Ferrigno didn't even do the roaring). Plus, the Hulk in that incarnation was supposed to be merely a giant angry version of Banner. It was Banner's body and mind deformed, not another separate character.

 

[kedrell]

By R.L. Stevenson you mean to explore Hulk's personality as separated from Banner's?

Well, Ferrigno acted in one episode a role other than Hulk and he was eager to explore more himself as an actor. He asked many times to the creator/producer/director Ken Johnson for dialogue for the Hulk, but Johnson refused since it could result ridiculous (well in fact, Ferrigno didn't even do the roaring). Plus, the Hulk in that incarnation was supposed to be merely a giant angry version of Banner. It was Banner's body and mind deformed, not another separate character.

Precisely. Jeckyl & Hyde. We've never really got much of a sense of this in any live action Hulk adaption. Suprising since it's probably the single most important element of the Hulk from the comics. With it he's a dark and complex character, worthy of genuine interest. Without it he's just another special effect.

 

[Obi-Ron]

It was Banner's body and mind deformed, not another separate character.

This is the biggest problem with every live action version we've gotten so far.

 

[Judson Caspian]

Maybe because he didn't speak so much. But then again, what if too much dialogue really would've made him silly? The small amount of dialogue in TIH worked fine. But too much? I don't know.

 

[Nivek]

This is the biggest problem with every live action version we've gotten so far.

banners dialogue in the recent movie indicated he had very little recollection of the Hulk, he just thought he was a murderous brute. Even though I bet in all instances the Hulk snapped out, it was either provocation or self defense.

 

[dcHulk]

You know, I was thinking today about how the dichotomy of Bruce and the Hulk could have played out in TiH. A dream sequence is always a good way to do this and Ang's movie took advantage of this. For instance, right before the military gets to Bruce in the first act, we could be introduced to his tortuous mind in a dream sequence. I can see Bruce, in the dream, get out of bed and walking to a closet to grab his clothes. This closet has a mirror on it and we clearly see Bruce in the mirror. He opens the closet and on the inside of the door we see a picture or a note or some kind of memorabilia of Betty which puts a smile on his face. But his dream quickly becomes a nightmare when he notices the news clipping of the carnage at the radiation lab. When he shuts the closet door, we now see the Hulk, mostly in shadow, in the mirror with fists clenched and the Hulk says, "Banner" in a deep grisly voice. Banner, in horror falls to the floor pushing away from the mirror when it shatters. Bruce wakes up for real this time in a cold sweat to hear the military coming.

 

[kedrell]

Maybe because he didn't speak so much. But then again, what if too much dialogue really would've made him silly? The small amount of dialogue in TIH worked fine. But too much? I don't know.

Only if you're in the camp that believes the Hulk can ONLY talk like a moron. He's actually spent more time talking with some intelligence in the comics that he ever did with his 3rd-person type speech. Hell, that's how he talked all the way back at the very begining.

Just say NO to silly 3rd-person speaking but YES to the Hulk being allowed to talk and be a complete character.

 

[bubbadoom]

I always hated the "Hulk smash" versions, and would much rather see him as a more articulate character.

 

[Obi-Ron]

Just say NO to silly 3rd-person speaking but YES to the Hulk being allowed to talk and be a complete character.

I can dig it.

 

[dcHulk]

While I agree that the Hulk needs to speak more to develop more personality and character, a talking Hulk is not trivial. Especially considering the way the powers-that-be have already portrayed him. If the Hulk were to go away from the 3rd person speech, there needs to be an obvious reason for why he can do this to convince an audience with limited Hulk knowledge.

 

[Judson Caspian]

He's actually spent more time talking with some intelligence in the comics that he ever did with his 3rd-person type speech.

Then you obviously haven't read too many comics. Most of the time he begins, or finishes, every sentence with "Hulk".

 

[Kirmit]

Then you obviously haven't read too many comics. Most of the time he begins, or finishes, every sentence with "Hulk".

All the more reason not to change it imo.

 

[kedrell]

Then you obviously haven't read too many comics. Most of the time he begins, or finishes, every sentence with "Hulk".

I actually have been reading Hulk comics for over 30 years. Yes, the stupid 3rd person speach is the best known version, but IMO it is one of the most inferior ones. Gravage Hulk(which really is Hulk issue #1 brought back), Mr. Fixit, hell even the Professor are all better than the silly 3rd person speaking Hulk. The Savage Hulk persona may be his single longest running personality but all the others combined actually have more time than the Savage Hulk does in terms of # of issues they've been in. And none of them talk in the 3rd person.

Actually the Savage Hulk persona was created to lighten Hulk up a bit to make him more palatable to readers. The original Hulk was far darker. I mean in issue #1 he actually was going to murder Rick Jones because he was the only one who knew Banner & the Hulk were the same person. But he reverted to Banner before he could do it.

 

[Compi716]

So TIH has been on Cinemax lately, and of course I tend to watch it whenever I run across it. It really is an enjoyable film, and part of that stems from its ties to the greater Marvel film universe. That particular element is something I'm looking forward to in the coming Marvel films.

On another note, I'm really curious to see if Marvel will make another Hulk movie. The ending is very open ended, and I know that Norton's draft of the screenplay was titled "Part I." Obviously he had at least one more part in mind.

 

[dcHulk]

So TIH has been on Cinemax lately, and of course I tend to watch it whenever I run across it. It really is an enjoyable film, and part of that stems from its ties to the greater Marvel film universe. That particular element is something I'm looking forward to in the coming Marvel films.

On another note, I'm really curious to see if Marvel will make another Hulk movie. The ending is very open ended, and I know that Norton's draft of the screenplay was titled "Part I." Obviously he had at least one more part in mind.

To my knowledge, he and LL (and maybe Marvel) had three parts in mind. Norton has said that they left certain things out of TIH to explore in future installments. I envision that the psychological dichotomy of Bruce/Hulk will be included in this, much like the alcoholism of Tony Stark in IM2.

 

[Sarg92]

To my knowledge, he and LL (and maybe Marvel) had three parts in mind. Norton has said that they left certain things out of TIH to explore in future installments. I envision that the psychological dichotomy of Bruce/Hulk will be included in this, much like the alcoholism of Tony Stark in IM2.

Yeah...

I have scans of a Total Film interview with Norton in which he talked about this being a total reboot and having no ties with Ang's film and how he envisioned the entire story as a trilogy.

And like you said, he and LL left things out on purpose so they can explain them in other films. He said it himself that he hates origin films and that the origin doesn't have to be shown right at the beginning of the film because sometimes the good part of the story doesn't start at the beginning. He wanted the origins of Hulk/Banner to be "spooled" out throughout this film and future films but I take it that Marvel changed things and had the origin wrapped up in the main titles.

Also the Arctic Scene was meant to be the prologue of the film. Shame that they weakened the scene as it was much more dark in the script and that they didn't manage to finish the CGI for the scene so that is why it wasn't in the theatrical cut.

And another thing about Norton. He was the one who made the film into a reboot. Originally with Zak Penn's script the film was a loose sequel like how Aliens is a sequel to Alien but Norton's rewrites made the film it into its own entity.

 

[dcHulk]

I truly believe they should bring the entire cast back. Norton is an absolute must. But ya know, another person who needs to come back to this Hulk series is Craig Armstrong. I find myself listening to his musical score of TIH everyday. That score was one of the best, if not the best of the summer. The three-note intro to the Hulk is a classic. I absolutely love the scores of the alternate opening, the opening credits, the campus scene and the final battle. It gives me chills.

 

[kedrell]

Yeah I liked the score as well:

 

[DarthDaveBanner]

Definitely a fitting and memorable score. The Hulk's theme reminds me so much of the intro to the 1982 animated version - which is a very very good thing.

 

[dcHulk]

Definitely a fitting and memorable score. The Hulk's theme reminds me so much of the intro to the 1982 animated version - which is a very very good thing.

Yeah I know what you mean. It seems there are elements of the tv show and the cartoon. Maybe not, I don't know. There just seems to be some familiarities.

 

[Sarg92]

I truly believe they should bring the entire cast back. Norton is an absolute must. But ya know, another person who needs to come back to this Hulk series is Craig Armstrong. I find myself listening to his musical score of TIH everyday. That score was one of the best, if not the best of the summer. The three-note intro to the Hulk is a classic. I absolutely love the scores of the alternate opening, the opening credits, the campus scene and the final battle. It gives me chills.

Totally agree!

The score is very underrated and unknown in my opinion. It is a great piece of music and fits the film very well.

The music in the main titles gives the film a really horror feeling and essence. And the music throughout the Brazil scenes is great especially when Banner is being chased.

Great work by Craig Armstrong! Louis Leterrier should does pick great talent on his films.

 

[Obi-Ron]

The score is very underrated and unknown in my opinion.

I would have bought the score a year ago if anyone ever sold it.

 

[Judson Caspian]

Can't say there was anything wrong with the score. It set the mood pretty good.