The Avengers The Official 'Hulk in Avengers' thread. - Part 9

[The Incredible Hulk]

Thought most of Norton's Banner's Hulk Outs pretty much mirrored Bixby's in that the Hulk came out when Banner was getting his ass kicked (soda factory) or when he thought someone he cared about was being hurt (when he's locked in the walkway he only "loses it" when he sees Betty getting roughed up by the military guys).

His other transformation were more like the comics when they induced (and then quelled) by Sterns in the lab, and then as a matter of self-preservation when he jumped out of the plane.

Norton played it as more of the "man on the run" from the army as well as from himself. He hadnt really gained an understanding yet of what he was and certainly didnt accept it seemingly until the end of the film.

Ruffalo's Banner was the next step in this process after he comes to know what he is and accepts that.

 

[DarkJester]

Let me start out by saying I enjoyed Ruffalo as Banner and enjoyed Hulk overall in The Avengers.

That being said, I'm completely baffled by, what seem to be the majority of, fan reactions to Ruffalo. "Best Hulk ever!" "Absolutely perfect!" "What an amazing actor!" Now, I'm not snubbing Ruffalo at all: he's a damn fine actor, but I really just don't see what HE specifically did that makes his Banner so "perfect." The "simmering, underlying anger"? Tony Stark electrocuted him and he looked back at him with the same face a girl would make at her room-mate after initiating a pillow fight. "Heyyyyy *tee hee* Don't prod me with that!"

I'm not even being a Norton fanboy here. I'm not going to begin comparing the two as they played Banner in completely different ways. I'm just saying, he just kinda seemed... THERE. If it weren't Ruffalo, can we honestly say that NO OTHER ACTOR on the planet could've played that role to the exact same effect? Especially in his very first scene, it seemed like his mindset was more "Yep. I'm here. Here are my lines. Annnnd scene."

I enjoyed his scenes in the lab the most, finally getting to feel like part of the "team" so-to-speak and his banter with Tony. But when he talks about putting a bullet in his head, could he have possibly had LESS emotion? He straight up talked about killing himself to his peers, men who have DEEP respect for him, and he may as well have told him he lost a game of chess the other day and it bummed him out a bit.

Like I said, I enjoyed him enough as Banner and it didn't ruin the film for me at all, but I'm in the severe minority that feels Ruffalo could've (and should've) brought more. Perhaps we'll see....

 

[Joeyjojo72]

Your opinion should be respected, like anyone. But yeah, you are in the severe minority. And I'm talking GA's, fanboys, movie critics, the Pope (okay, made that one up), and everybody I know who saw it. Doesnt make it right or wrong, but thats the story.

I had absolutely no love for the Norton Banner, who I found to be dull as dirt - Norton in his "decent everyman" mode, same as half a dozen of his other roles. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Banner is an eccentric, a super genius, and none of that came out in Norton's performance. Plus, as Ive said before, he has the head and neck of a chicken, making facial capture dicey at best.

 

[DarkJester]

Again, Norton/Ruffalo is like Apples/Oranges as far as their respective portrayals of Banner goes. Not even trying to open that can of worms.

My point is that Ruffalo, while doing a good job, did nothing spectacular. RDJ IS Tony Stark, Hemsworth IS Thor. For me, Ruffalo wasn't Banner, Ruffalo was Ruffalo playing Banner. I want to truly believe that he IS Bruce Banner, he has this monster inside of him that up until the climax he practically despises, and always on-edge for fear that he may lose control and have this monster unleashed.

Instead, Banner's pretty much cool as a cucumber the entire film, save the one scene where the truth behind "Phase 2" finally comes to light.

 

[BigThor]

Thought most of Norton's Banner's Hulk Outs pretty much mirrored Bixby's in that the Hulk came out when Banner was getting his ass kicked (soda factory) or when he thought someone he cared about was being hurt (when he's locked in the walkway he only "loses it" when he sees Betty getting roughed up by the military guys).

His other transformation were more like the comics when they induced (and then quelled) by Sterns in the lab, and then as a matter of self-preservation when he jumped out of the plane.

Norton played it as more of the "man on the run" from the army as well as from himself. He hadnt really gained an understanding yet of what he was and certainly didnt accept it seemingly until the end of the film.

Ruffalo's Banner was the next step in this process after he comes to know what he is and accepts that.

I'm with you on this my man, I think of Norton's "man of the run" angle opened the door for Ruffalo's more relaxed, quirky version.

Let me start out by saying I enjoyed Ruffalo as Banner and enjoyed Hulk overall in The Avengers.

That being said, I'm completely baffled by, what seem to be the majority of, fan reactions to Ruffalo. "Best Hulk ever!" "Absolutely perfect!" "What an amazing actor!" Now, I'm not snubbing Ruffalo at all: he's a damn fine actor, but I really just don't see what HE specifically did that makes his Banner so "perfect." The "simmering, underlying anger"? Tony Stark electrocuted him and he looked back at him with the same face a girl would make at her room-mate after initiating a pillow fight. "Heyyyyy *tee hee* Don't prod me with that!"

I'm not even being a Norton fanboy here. I'm not going to begin comparing the two as they played Banner in completely different ways. I'm just saying, he just kinda seemed... THERE. If it weren't Ruffalo, can we honestly say that NO OTHER ACTOR on the planet could've played that role to the exact same effect? Especially in his very first scene, it seemed like his mindset was more "Yep. I'm here. Here are my lines. Annnnd scene."

I enjoyed his scenes in the lab the most, finally getting to feel like part of the "team" so-to-speak and his banter with Tony. But when he talks about putting a bullet in his head, could he have possibly had LESS emotion? He straight up talked about killing himself to his peers, men who have DEEP respect for him, and he may as well have told him he lost a game of chess the other day and it bummed him out a bit.

Like I said, I enjoyed him enough as Banner and it didn't ruin the film for me at all, but I'm in the severe minority that feels Ruffalo could've (and should've) brought more. Perhaps we'll see....

I feel the same way, I think people are putting him a pedestal because I honestly didn't see what all the "rave" was about.

 

[Golgo-13]

it can't be 'only' anger that triggers the change or he wouldn't Hulk out when eating a bullet or when Banner is subject to some form of physical attack that requires Hulking out to save him.

It always been my undersatnding that it was a masive surge of the bodys 'fight or flight' adrenaline that triggered the change, so that would cover any stressful emotion i.e anger, pain, extreme fear, etc...

 

[antonydelfini]

Ruffalo's performance is nuanced and layered. Very subtle acting. That's what fans appreciate with his Banner. Despite being modest, mild mannered, and shy, there seems to be a dangerous and dont mess with me cause Im the Hulk edge to him as well. He's funny, quirky, mild mannered, but scary and dangerous as well. And a damn convincing scientist. All of that= best Banner. Of course the material given to him was great, but without the right actor, great material would be wasted. I hate over acting and love subtle acting, and that's what Ruffalo brought to the table. I love all the attention and praise he's been gettin. Cause it's well deserved IMO.

 

[craigdbfan]

Well said Antony.

The scene when Loki is smiling devilishly at Banner through the window as he's escorted to his containment center you see the reaction on Mark's face and he does this odd/nervous twitch with his face and mouth that's so convincingly real. His performance was nuanced and for that I appreciate it greatly.

 

[antonydelfini]

I'm with you on this my man, I think of Norton's "man of the run" angle opened the door for Ruffalo's more relaxed, quirky version

I feel the same way, I think people are putting him a pedestal because I honestly didn't see what all the "rave" was about.

Everybody has different opinions. The majority says Hulk is the best character in the Avengers, the minority says otherwise. Doesn't mean one of the 2 is wrong. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all.

 

[irapogi]

I agree with anthony. Maybe its because i didnt know ruffalo that well. Norton was playing norton imo. Then again, different phase in banners life. But TA banner was a more enjoyable phase wherein you'd feel for the character. I suppose. Apples and oranges but multiple viewings and i can see how nuanced ruff's acting is.
Huge payoff with the i'm always angry line

 

[Octavias]

To be fair, throughout hulks existance what turns Banner into the Hulk has often morphed throughout the years . Its often been anger, but fear, adrenaline, even the change from day to night has sparked the Hulk before... so if it evolves along with banners ability to supress it Im fine with that.

 

[Golgo-13]

Wasn't that the original Stan Lee concept; that he only changes at night?

Anyhow, i watched TIH today. I was thinking that in the first scene with Avengers Banner, it would have been nice to see the 'Days Without Incident' counter flash up on the screen, to link it to TIH.

 

[warcam]

Wasn't that the original Stan Lee concept; that he only changes at night?

Anyhow, i watched TIH today. I was thinking that in the first scene with Avengers Banner, it would have been nice to see the 'Days Without Incident' counter flash up on the screen, to link it to TIH.

THAT would've been a great nod to TIH.
And maybe when he wakes up in that abandoned warehouse, it could flash again 'Days Without Incident...0'

 

[El Payaso]

Didn't Black Window say how many days without incident there had been right in the first Banner scene anyways?

 

[Dark Raven]

Didn't Black Window say how many days without incident there had been right in the first Banner scene anyways?

Was it that? I thought she was talking about how many days she had gone without sex lol.

 

[Weadazoid]

I gotta say, I'm going again this weekend


that said, I really really did enjoy basicly ever minute first time around and look forward to laughing and being on the edge of my seat once again.

Best part it when I went the first time I was very concearned about how much Battle was taking place without the Hulk.... now I know right where and how he comes in.


I feel both Norton and Ruff did a really really good job as Banner. As I said in an earlier post Ruffalow picked up RIGHT where Norton left off... funny and serious all at the same time.....

Norton looks the part

Ruffalow sold it with his witty ability to make science interesting.... just as interesting as RDJ made the science of IM interesting the two of them togeather = a rare kind of perfection


Had Norton been given that opportunity he may or may not have hit all the same notes.


I really liked they went this way rather then ... make Hulk the Villain or go the ultimate Route and have Stark despise Banner


Clearly while they pulled alot from the Ulitmates, and even 616, the movie characters trully are there own universe.

 

[SuperSoldier985]

Was it that? I thought she was talking about how many days she had gone without sex lol.

wat?

 

[El Payaso]

Was it that? I thought she was talking about how many days she had gone without sex lol.

Humour in TIH, god bless it, taught us Bruce Banner can't have sex.

 

[warcam]

Humour in TIH, god bless it, taught us Bruce Banner can't have sex.

No wonder he's always angry t:

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Alot of the credit for Ruffalo's stand out performance goes to Whedon for the way he wrote Banner.

This Banner is:

Timid (Like Bixby)
Wreckless/Suicidal (tries to scare an armed Black Widow)
Compassionate (saves indian girl from speeding car and helps sick people)
Clearly a super genius (when he gets to the helicarrier he gets to show boat with techobabble)
Warm and gentle (Ruffalo is like a teddy bear which is the perfect contrast to The Hulk)
Has a shy, nervousness about him (which makes us sympathize with him)

Once you add in a Hulk who has an edgy personality and humor it makes people fully embrace Ruffalo.

Norton mostly played himself and didn't really add many dimensions to the character. It's a shame because his heart was in the right place.

 

[irapogi]

Messiahdecoy, i agree with your whole post except the speeding car bit i thought he was hoding his face from the patrol vehicles. I could be weong tho im watching it again later,

That said, i still agree so hard with your entire post

 

[Smashlilman]

Let me start out by saying I enjoyed Ruffalo as Banner and enjoyed Hulk overall in The Avengers.

That being said, I'm completely baffled by, what seem to be the majority of, fan reactions to Ruffalo. "Best Hulk ever!" "Absolutely perfect!" "What an amazing actor!" Now, I'm not snubbing Ruffalo at all: he's a damn fine actor, but I really just don't see what HE specifically did that makes his Banner so "perfect." The "simmering, underlying anger"? Tony Stark electrocuted him and he looked back at him with the same face a girl would make at her room-mate after initiating a pillow fight. "Heyyyyy *tee hee* Don't prod me with that!"

I'm not even being a Norton fanboy here. I'm not going to begin comparing the two as they played Banner in completely different ways. I'm just saying, he just kinda seemed... THERE. If it weren't Ruffalo, can we honestly say that NO OTHER ACTOR on the planet could've played that role to the exact same effect? Especially in his very first scene, it seemed like his mindset was more "Yep. I'm here. Here are my lines. Annnnd scene."

I enjoyed his scenes in the lab the most, finally getting to feel like part of the "team" so-to-speak and his banter with Tony. But when he talks about putting a bullet in his head, could he have possibly had LESS emotion? He straight up talked about killing himself to his peers, men who have DEEP respect for him, and he may as well have told him he lost a game of chess the other day and it bummed him out a bit.

Like I said, I enjoyed him enough as Banner and it didn't ruin the film for me at all, but I'm in the severe minority that feels Ruffalo could've (and should've) brought more. Perhaps we'll see....

That's because we're comparing his Banner and Hulk to two subpar movies. He did a great job as the Hulk and Banner. Bana and Norton where Meh.... We went form extreme disapointment to wow. Its kind of like Comparing Dragon Ball Z Budokai 1 & 2 to Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3. The first two were crap and the third one was how the first should have been from the begining.

 

[Golgo-13]

Didn't Black Window say how many days without incident there had been right in the first Banner scene anyways?

Yeah she did, i just thought it would have just been a nice bridge to TIH if when we first see Banner treating that sick guy, they flashed the counter up there.

Messiahdecoy, i agree with your whole post except the speeding car bit i thought he was hoding his face from the patrol vehicles. I could be weong tho im watching it again later,

That said, i still agree so hard with your entire post

Yeah, he was hiding his face 'cause the truck looked like a military vehicle.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Humour in TIH, god bless it, taught us Bruce Banner can't have sex.

Heck, I'd eat a bullet too if that was the case.

 

[Bruce Banner]

How did you manage to get that name? haha the user name, I feel like something like that would be snatched right up

Well, he wasn't the only one who got lucky...