June 12, 2008

Dork vs. Dork: The Incredible Hulk
Could this outing be a ‘Hulk smash’? or just another ‘gamma-bomb’?
By Glenn Given production@hippopress.com & Dan Szczesny dszczesny@hippopress.com

Fool me twice? The Incredible Hulk tantalizes us with the prospect of quality with its indie film cast but both Tim Roth and Ed Norton have had their fair share of missteps and Liv Tyler is not so much an actress as a pox that seems to infect films of the past decade. Combine them with the directorial maestro who brought us both The Transporter and The Transporter 2 and I see a train wreck coming. Leterrier’s emo science Banner riffs on the wandering do-gooder from the green Ferrigno days and I venture that that is NOT a step up from Ang Lee’s dumb galoot interpretation. Toss in a mutant eeeeevil version of Hulk and a bushy mustache riding the WORLD’S MOST BORING ACTOR (William Hurt) as General Ross and that train wreck just caromed off a cliff. And they’re even spoiling the Iron Man cross-pollination in its latest commercials. That’s pretty damn desperate. - Glenn Given

Dan Responds
Oh come now, perhaps the disappointment of Spider Man 3 has somehow dulled your fanboy senses, but I never thought I’d see the day when you’d rave about old man Indiana Jones and turn your back on the Hulk. Shame on you! Listen, say what you will about Ed Norton and Ang Lee, but don’t disparage Lou Ferrigno! That’s just wrong. I shudder at how you’ll react to the Six Million Dollar Man or Buck Rogers when they come to the theater, and you know they will. Study the classics, my friend. It will make you stronger.

Marvel will rule the silver screen this summer. First we had Robert Downey Jr.’s magnificent interpretation of Iron Man. Now, another great actor and passionate dork, Ed Norton, will bring The Incredible Hulk back to the theaters. Ang Lee and his plodding, boring, cerebral Hulk have been chucked. Good call, that. This reboot ignores that misstep and is bound to provide less Hulk Think! and more Hulk Smash! Also, it’s the next step in a series leading up to Avengers Assemble! It’s fact, look for Tony Stark to make an appearance. Captain America and Thor are coming next. Dorks everywhere should celebrate

What’s going to be special about this film is the passion Norton, William Hurt and Tim Roth will bring to the project. All of them are fans of the Hulk. In fact, Norton co-wrote the screenplay. It seems to me that Norton will make a much better Bruce Banner than Eric Bana. Meek and timid is the perfect way to go. And Liv Tyler? Hell, if Norton can make Jessica Biel emote as he did in The Illusionist, he can do anything. - Dan Szczesny

Glenn Responds
How woefully misguided you are. If anything Norton makes things thinkier, not smashier, which is exactly what the Hulk doesn’t need. And when actors start rewriting whole scripts you know you’re in for a sordid mess. Ooo, will this Norton project have the excitement of Keeping the Faith or Death to Smoochy?

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