Who Is The Better Banner?

[Brian Braddock]

Norton. Looks more like a puny human than Bana.

True, and yet I was suprised in the movie as to how Norton didn't look as skinny as I thought he'd be.

Just like to point out that in no way is that some sort of criticism of Norton in any way shape or form - just an observation.

 

[Ronny Shade]

Bana felt much more real to me. I think Norton did what he could with the material he was given.

 

[Obi-Ron]

I voted Norton, but only because Bill Bixby wasn't a choice.

 

[K.B.]

I really liked Norotn as Banner and thought he did a wonderful job.

 

[Slimy Wall Crawler]

This is interesting to read because I didn't think of Norton that way at all. He sure comes off as a mousy, skinny scientist. Bana however still looks like a male model.

So if they start out as close as you claim, then Norton owned Bana.

I don't know, Norton looked to be in fantasic shape. He was lean and cut, and I think he even had some abs. Norton certainly is not a big muscular man, and his build is on the small side, but he looked great. Norton has that long face, and since he's so tall, he comes across as skinny with no muscles, when in actuality he has a good tone on him.

 

[Dr. Fate]

Norton. Looks more like a puny human than Bana.

That's very true. Bana looks like he should be playing the Punisher. I like Eric Bana well enough as an actor (he owned Black Hawk Down & Troy) but I'd have to say Edward Norton was the better Banner. He just seemed to fit the role more.

 

[storyteller]

This is a real tough choice.

Norton is probably the more relatable banner to the TV show. However his relationship with the hulk was wishy washy. He was trying to control it, destroy it, use it and now he likes it even when a cure was ultimately found (either permanent of short term), he really kinda ignored it. I wasn't convinced by his or the his hulks cures for betty and I also was never convinced he was ever really that angry during his transformations. I mean two were by self defense and the other three transformation were induced so....meh.

Banner first wanted to destroy it for obvious reasons.

He seeks to control it(though the line was "not control it, aim it") in order to beat abomination. It doesnt help anyone if the hulk is jumping away to canada while the abomination is tearing up the place.

After the fight, Banner has probably come to realize that its possible for someone to have power that rivals the hulk. So while seeking a permanent cure, he continues to control his transformation trigger(to enable it as well)
But thats what sequels are for

A theme they wanted to get across is that its not just anger. Its stress as well. Though i do doubt banner would have transformed on Betty(SAFE SEX), theres a science to the transformation.

Hell even Bill Bixby rarely had anger triggered outbursts.

 

[Doc Samson]

Just like others have said, the first time I heard Eric Bana was playing Bruce I was like "Who? The guy from Chopper?" Anybody who's seen that movie knows that not only is Eric Bana a solid actor, but a huge guy. He actually did drop alot of weight to play Banner but still he was just too big for the role. I look at him the same way I do Michael Keaton. Keaton has the face, the crazed eyes, to make you believe he could be Batman, until you see him stand next to Kim Basinger and realize he's so small. His performance was great, but he wasn't Batman for me, not the true interpretation. When you see Bale pumping out pushups looking like a man who's been around the world honing his mind & body, it puts it in perspective, and Norton does the same thing.

He looks like a scientist all the time anyway, and he was just physically perfect for the role. And as far as acting chops go, I don't see anybody better for it at all. Like I said when he was announced, he was the most perfect and most unlikely casting of any superhero movie, even more so than Downey Jr., cause I could see RDJ doing something like Ironman, he's done some quirky films before ("Two girls and a guy" being my favorite) but Norton, I never would've thought in a million years....

 

[Chewy]

Edward Norton....the guy i thought they should've cast the first time around

Norton turned down the role the first time around t:


Anyway, Norton, by a mile.

 

[mojo-x]

It was ok if Norton was a little built because he was on the run and he was working as a laborer. He was also training with that one guy. Bana was just too big, and I just could not believe him to be any kind of scientist.

 

[FireandIce213]

Norton gets my vote for sure...

Kind of a toss-up. Bana had the better-written role to perform, and his Hulk outs were truly intense. Norton didn't really do much that was particularly engaging, but he also didn't have much of an oppurtunity. I prefered Bana, personally. I thought he really embodied the social awkwardness and emotional repression of the character.

It's interesting that both guys are big, muscular, leading men types. They're both over 6'0", and they're both good looking. And neither of them wore glasses.

Ummm... is American History X the only movie you've seen Norton in? Norton is not a big muscular guy...have you ever seen fight club? or the
Italian Job?

 

[Gamma Ra]

Bana had the face for Banner, but he was too physically big, which lost some of Banner's wimp effect. Too bad he didn't get the chance to Hulk for us.

Norton was superb in every aspect including his Hulk. Norton was on par with the hard to beat Banner, that was Bill Bixby. The early comic book Banner was blah, but I enjoyed the 70's - 80's comic book Bruce Banner who was influence by the TV show. Norton showed a little of all of the Banner's.

The first scene that got me was in the opening credits when he's sitting by Betty's bed and Ross confronts him. Something about when he got shoved by Ross then sees him talking to the soldier and the look on his face when he decides he better take off was gold.

The bottling factory scene when tough guy number 1 was harassing Martina, and Banner first walks away, then comes back, I thought Norton nailed it. There were many awesome scenes from Norton throughout the movie.

His Hulk movements were nothing short of stupendous. The way he cocked into the roar after the leap from the catwalk is mesmerizing. His swatting at the bullets gave real feeling to CGI Hulk. The cave scene IMO is Oscar worthy on so many levels from acting by Norton, Liv and the CGI artists. Norton's Hulk emotions captured Hulk for me.

 

[Gotham]

I accidentally clicked Bana, but I'm more a fan of Norton. I think he did a fantastic job.

 

[lolita05]

Edward Norton

 

[honest george]

I was introduced to Bana as Banner, so he always will be banner to me. I already knew Ed Norton. Plus, Bana's transformations seemed more savage, before the CGI took over.

 

[spacetrain]

Norton is the better Banner in every way.

Bana, I thought was alway way too big for the role, 6'3 and fit. I like the guy but always thought he is a little stiff in is actings.

Norton, definitely fits the bill of Bruce Banner a lot better, skinny, shorter, and the acting is better, better facial expressions and emotions.

Thats my take.

 

[fu manchu]

Norton was better. i wasn't all that impressed with Bana's performance as Banner.

 

[ironman29758]

Bana had the face for Banner, but he was too physically big, which lost some of Banner's wimp effect. Too bad he didn't get the chance to Hulk for us.

Norton was superb in every aspect including his Hulk. Norton was on par with the hard to beat Banner, that was Bill Bixby. The early comic book Banner was blah, but I enjoyed the 70's - 80's comic book Bruce Banner who was influence by the TV show. Norton showed a little of all of the Banner's.

The first scene that got me was in the opening credits when he's sitting by Betty's bed and Ross confronts him. Something about when he got shoved by Ross then sees him talking to the soldier and the look on his face when he decides he better take off was gold.

The bottling factory scene when tough guy number 1 was harassing Martina, and Banner first walks away, then comes back, I thought Norton nailed it. There were many awesome scenes from Norton throughout the movie.

His Hulk movements were nothing short of stupendous. The way he cocked into the roar after the leap from the catwalk is mesmerizing. His swatting at the bullets gave real feeling to CGI Hulk. The cave scene IMO is Oscar worthy on so many levels from acting by Norton, Liv and the CGI artists. Norton's Hulk emotions captured Hulk for me.

Norton was a perfect Banner. It was a mixture of the Ultimate Banner and the Bixby Banner. The way he did his tranformations was so scary and awsome but so was Bana. He even got the glasses right. The Hulk looks so like the comics and I'm glad they used all those references

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

Ed Norton. I loved him in this movie.

 

[Mr. Joker]

Norton was definitely the better Banner but I believe that if Bana had something better to work with, he'd have done a good better. If I had to rate thje performances, it'd go like this:

Ed Norton: 10/10 (Straight out of the comics)
Eric Bana: 7/10

To me, the main thing that ruined Bana's performance was the fact that he liked being the Hulk, whereas in the new movie Banner's hate for the Hulk & vice versa was explored.