Why the restart?

[Superfreak]

loved the flick, liked the other one.

but after watching IH, the question begged of my brain, was why was this movie positioned as a restart? I mean a simple rework of opening montage, as well as unseen background story could have easily been reworked to keep both new movies slightly in line. Things like 'The Hulk' ended in brazil, IC began in Brazil etc. A sequel, just with new actors, you know.

anyhow, that was my only question, and wasn't into searching through the entire forum. Good Flick

 

[Warhammer]

Because Marvel felt that the first movie was a wrong move. The general audience, for the most part, didn't like Ang Lee's take. That is why the movie had such a bad drop off during it's second week. The word of mouth was not good. Marvel did not want that to be the foundation to a Hulk franchise, and knew that if they had made it that way, this movie had slim to no chance of having a successful opening weekend.

 

[co2]

Because Marvel felt that the first movie was a wrong move. The general audience, for the most part, didn't like Ang Lee's take. That is why the movie had such a bad drop off during it's second week. The word of mouth was not good. Marvel did not want that to be the foundation to a Hulk franchise, and knew that if they had made it that way, this movie had slim to no chance of having a successful opening weekend.

I don't think it would have made a lick of difference if it simply had been a sequel. All they needed to do was, make clear..NEW CAST, NEW DIRECTOR, NEW DIRECTION...which they did. It would have carried over some of the emotional content from the last film which would have made this new one feel a little more full. It also would have at least carried over the fact that there is a phychological aspect to Hulk. There was NONE of that here. A friend questioned me as to why Banner changes personalities when he changes and Blonsky doesn't. If it were all in the same continuity that would have answered her question, but you don't have an answer to that here. It also would have clearly carried over the concept of the angrier he gets, the stronger he gets which is never made clear to an audience here.
Had the "re-origin" been a little more fleshed out, maybe it would alleviate these problems, but as it stands, it doesn't. Maybe when we get an extended cut on DVD, it will resolve some of this, but IMO, they should have just let those elements be answered by the first film, and moved on with this as a sequel, or at least not have a "re-boot" element that tosses the last film out the wondow. It would have made for a richer story here.

 

[The_Vision]

Because the last one was crap really lol

 

[Comicfan]

loved the flick, liked the other one.

but after watching IH, the question begged of my brain, was why was this movie positioned as a restart? I mean a simple rework of opening montage, as well as unseen background story could have easily been reworked to keep both new movies slightly in line. Things like 'The Hulk' ended in brazil, IC began in Brazil etc. A sequel, just with new actors, you know.

anyhow, that was my only question, and wasn't into searching through the entire forum. Good Flick

Lets face it, TIH isn´t a restart or a reboot

for the fans that didn´t liked Ang´s Lee movie it could be seen that way, but for the rest, and specially the general audience TIH is just basically a sequel to HULK

MAny of the things in TIH work, just because of HULK, betty and banner relationship background feels real because it was stabished on HULK, the hulk origin, the reason why banner changes into hulk, why banner loses control and fades in the background when he changes

TIH was a great movie, but without HULK it would have been full of holes

 

[co2]

Lets face it, TIH isn´t a restart or a reboot

for the fans that didn´t liked Ang´s Lee movie it could be seen that way, but for the rest, and specially the general audience TIH is just basically a sequel to HULK

MAny of the things in TIH work, just because of HULK, betty and banner relationship background feels real because it was stabished on HULK, the hulk origin, the reason why banner changes into hulk, why banner loses control and fades in the background when he changes

TIH was a great movie, but without HULK it would have been full of holes

Agreed. I can see how someone without any prior knowledge of the character or first film would enjoy TIH, but if it were me, I would have a TON of nagging questions that I felt were just overlooked.

 

[Warhammer]

I don't know. I mean, people know who the Hulk is. They know that Banner turns into the Hulk. Hulk is a staple of pop culture. There wouldn't be any nagging questions, because nobody would be looking for nagging questions to be answered. Prior knowledge or watching Hulk was never necessary. We get that Bruce and Betty were involved, by the opening sequence, the picture that Banner keeps of Betty, and the scene when Betty sees Banner for the first time in years. That is, then, flashed out when Betty takes Banner into her house. Hulk's origin was never important. All we know is that something goes wrong with Banner's experiment, and bam. There we go. Hulk is born.

 

[Superfreak]

I don't think it would have made a lick of difference if it simply had been a sequel. All they needed to do was, make clear..NEW CAST, NEW DIRECTOR, NEW DIRECTION...which they did. It would have carried over some of the emotional content from the last film which would have made this new one feel a little more full. It also would have at least carried over the fact that there is a phychological aspect to Hulk. There was NONE of that here. A friend questioned me as to why Banner changes personalities when he changes and Blonsky doesn't. If it were all in the same continuity that would have answered her question, but you don't have an answer to that here. It also would have clearly carried over the concept of the angrier he gets, the stronger he gets which is never made clear to an audience here.
Had the "re-origin" been a little more fleshed out, maybe it would alleviate these problems, but as it stands, it doesn't. Maybe when we get an extended cut on DVD, it will resolve some of this, but IMO, they should have just let those elements be answered by the first film, and moved on with this as a sequel, or at least not have a "re-boot" element that tosses the last film out the wondow. It would have made for a richer story here.

I agree pretty much here, even if The Hulk had the worst ending of all time (which I think is what sunk the movie in the end)

 

[Superfreak]

Lets face it, TIH isn´t a restart or a reboot

for the fans that didn´t liked Ang´s Lee movie it could be seen that way, but for the rest, and specially the general audience TIH is just basically a sequel to HULK

MAny of the things in TIH work, just because of HULK, betty and banner relationship background feels real because it was stabished on HULK, the hulk origin, the reason why banner changes into hulk, why banner loses control and fades in the background when he changes

TIH was a great movie, but without HULK it would have been full of holes

and I agree here too. I just think that they should have tried to eliminate the points that state they aren't linked, while simultaneously not stating outright that they are linked. (example: what they were aiming for with Superman Returns, just without the thirty year gap between movies and SR being kind of meh)

 

[Neto Magnus]

I myself don't like to think of this as a reboot. It's basically a loose sequel kinda like Superman Returns whereas some is based on the previous movie and some not.

I think the reason for the 'reboot' is to establish Hulk in the same universe as Iron Man. I don't think they want to completely forget the '03 Hulk otherwise this movie woulda had its own origin story.

 

[Comicfan]

I don't know. I mean, people know who the Hulk is. They know that Banner turns into the Hulk. Hulk is a staple of pop culture.

i don´t think thats true, people knows HULK, but they don´t know about betty, Ross or even Banner

You know because you like the comics or the tv series; outside the US comics aren´t that popular, and and if someone is under 25 probably they have never seen the tv show

 

[Superfreak]

i don´t think thats true, people knows HULK, but they don´t know about betty, Ross or even Banner

You know because you like the comics or the tv series; outside the US comics aren´t that popular, and and if someone is under 25 probably they have never seen the tv show

I was just gonna say. Maybe at best, besides the last movie, they've seen that movie theatre short from the old show, where the hulk transforms and his pants split.

 

[Man-E-Toys]

because "Hulk" sucked and marvel knew it.

 

[Knightsaber Priss]

btw, I watched TIH with some girl from work and she never saw the first movie so she was completely confused with TIH's storyline. She kept asking me questions like how did he become the Hulk and what relationship does Betty and Gen. Ross have.

She's an idiot who needs to learn how to listen. They spell out how Banner became the Hulk in the opening sequence and I think it's pretty clear that Betty is General Ross' daughter when she screamed out "DAD!!!" during the campus battle and also the former GF of Bruce. Perhaps she should go back to watching self centered crap like Sex and the City.

 

[Syncos]

She's an idiot who needs to learn how to listen. They spell out how Banner became the Hulk in the opening sequence and I think it's pretty clear that Betty is General Ross' daughter when she screamed out "DAD!!!" during the campus battle and also the former GF of Bruce. Perhaps she should go back to watching self centered crap like Sex and the City.

That was a little aggressive. And unnecessarily so.

You're right, however. The experiment was explained in the opening sequence. Other than that, Obvious feelings towards better and or a past relationship were started from the get go. With the picture of betty he keeps, and even the way he looked at her when he first saw her on campus.

Betty and the General was kind of a twist. To anyone who doesn't know anything, about the hulk they kinda played it like "how are these two connected" until betty revealed he was her father about halfway through the movie. it was played off as a reveal.

It sounds like (neto) you were just there with one of those girls that asks questions about plot points that are going to be answered anyway. My girlfriend does that all the time.

 

[Syncos]

oy, the point I was trying to make is that the opening scene doesnt really establish much info. According to that scene that machine thing was what caused him to turn into the Hulk if no explanation. And its not clear whether Gen. Ross & Betty were married or father and daughter or grandfather and granddaughter or Betty was cheating on Ross with Bruce.

Basically, the general audience don't know the story of Hulk they just know OF Hulk.

I thought it was pretty clear when she screamed "DAD!!!!" and then when he said "it's because you're my daughter that you're not in handcuffs"

Ross also explained exactly what happened to make bruce the hulk when he was talking to blonsky.

 

[Knightsaber Priss]

And its not clear whether Gen. Ross & Betty were married or father and daughter or grandfather and granddaughter or Betty was cheating on Ross with Bruce.

I honestly don't know if we saw the same movie here. I got everything just by watching and listening to the movie. Do people just phase out during movies nowadays? Like I said, Betty yells "DAD!!!" to stop Ross' armored vehicle during the Campus battle. Plus there are other mentions of him being her father afterwards, like when Ross stated it was because she was his daughter that she wasn't locked out. I mean seriously, people, pay attention!!!!

You want to really fry that girl's brains? Have her watch Bay's take on the Transformers.

 

[The Shredder]

Ang Lee's HULk basically deviated from what alot of the general public were expecting when walking into a film based upon a popular and iconic Marvel character back in the summer of '03, and despite the film taking that route, which I loved personally, it just simply did not meet those expectations. So rather than try to salvage the Ang Lee film, Marvel ultimately decided to just reboot the franchise in something of a Batman Begins-like way, but also at the same time, cut to the chase so to speak, and progress the story forward. Rather than go with an out and out origin film yet again.

 

[FrostBite]

oy, the point I was trying to make is that the opening scene doesnt really establish much info. According to that scene that machine thing was what caused him to turn into the Hulk if no explanation. And its not clear whether Gen. Ross & Betty were married or father and daughter or grandfather and granddaughter or Betty was cheating on Ross with Bruce.

Basically, the general audience don't know the story of Hulk they just know OF Hulk.

Which.. they explain all of that later. So I don't know why it's such a bad thing to do it in such a non-linear order.

Ross tricked him into working on part of the super soldier program, when he thought he was working on radiation resistance, the machine went bonky and thus: Hulk.

I really don't know how much more they could have spelled it out for people. They gave you all the answers, they just didn't do it in the linear order that most movies do it because heck, we just had an origin story 5 years ago. So Ed wanted to do it a little different.

 

[SFII]

Lets face it, TIH isn´t a restart or a reboot

for the fans that didn´t liked Ang´s Lee movie it could be seen that way, but for the rest, and specially the general audience TIH is just basically a sequel to HULK

MAny of the things in TIH work, just because of HULK, betty and banner relationship background feels real because it was stabished on HULK, the hulk origin, the reason why banner changes into hulk, why banner loses control and fades in the background when he changes

TIH was a great movie, but without HULK it would have been full of holes

Absolutely!
i don't get how people think this new movie is a reboot when, it absolutely did not re-do the first movie at all. Ang Lee's movie still serves as an origin movie. it still serves as a setup movie for this new one. and this new one is awesome.
This 08 movie is definitely more of a sequel than people are led to believe. and i think that was part of Marvel's strategy to attract more audience to come back and see this movie, for the ones who didn't like 03 Hulk. but in my opinion, if this movie was a complete re-told story of the first movie, i probably wouldn't want to see it. because who wants to see the same old story re-done, this soon? so, it was great that Marvel actually made this movie fit like it was a sequel.
i mean, the end of 03 Hulk was a great way to setup for more sequels. and this pretty much runs along the lines of what happens in the TV series'. Bruce Banner leading people to believe he died, traveling around the world, on the run from the army, searching for a cure. and last we saw him was in South America/Brazil. and thru the whole new movie he travels around the country.
and at the end of the new movie, we see him in British Columbia, Canada. i'm sure that's where the next Hulk movie will begin.

 

[Knightsaber Priss]

like I said, she asked this during the beginning of the movie. Obviously she got her answers halfway through.

I dunno even know why I'm defending this ***** cuz it's not like she's gonna put out.

To be honest, I can't stand watching movies with those sorts of people. I always tell them to just shut up and watch the movie. It's not like all movies have to be on idiot control and reveal everything within the first 15 minutes of the movie. I'm surprised you made it through without going all Hulk on her. The constant asinine chatter would have ruined my movie experience.

 

[StrainedEyes]

I did not like Ang Lee's Hulk, it's a ridiculous movie. And my dislike for it has nothing to do with it being slow or ponderous, I love slow movies. Hulk was just silly with a lot of bad acting.

TIH was a much better film, and I'm sure the world will gladly except it as the only Hulk movie.

 

[co2]

I mean seriously, people, pay attention!!!!

You want to really fry that girl's brains? Have her watch Bay's take on the Transformers.

I hope you mean because it was built on a flimsy premise that you go crazy questioning it, and not that you think it requires you to actually engage your brain...because as far as TF goes, I can't think of many more brain-less movies.

But what about my friend that I referred to in an earlier post? She's an astute gal. Her biggest question was why when Banner, a brilliant scientist, experimented on himself, he turned into a creature with a completely different personality, while Blonsky retained his personality. I could have told her the phychology of all of that was set up in the first Hulk movie...but I couldn't answer it like that because it's not a sequel. She had a valid question. TIH didn't explain any of that.
This movie would have been stronger if it would have not contradicted anything in the first film...just made it clear that it was a new direction for the character and move on from there.

 

[Spider-Vader]

They restarted because most people hate Lee's movie & that's the reason TIH didn't have a weekend as good as IM's.

 

[co2]

They restarted because most people hate Lee's movie & that's the reason TIH didn't have a weekend as good as IM's.

Then you are agreeing the "rebooting" didn't make a difference? That's one of my points as to why the reboot thing was pointless.