The Hulk (PG-13, 2003)

common sense media says

The Hulk lacks personality; not a great movie.


parents & educators say
  • 29% say violence is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has a great deal of comic-book-style "action violence," meaning that there's a lot of destruction, but it's not very graphic. Some viewers may be upset by the tragic family events in the story.

Violence: A great deal of comic-book-style "action violence," meaning that there is a lot of destruction, but it is not very graphic. Intense action and peril.
Sex: Brief non-sexual nudity.
Language: Mild.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on The Hulk

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the appeal of comic book characters, especially the Hulk, the tangible representation of repressed anger.

What's the story?

What's the story?
In THE HULK, Eric Bana plays Bruce Banner, a scientist who has repressed memories of childhood trauma and as a result represses his emotions as well. He cares for fellow PhD Betty Ross (Jennifer Connelly) but is unable to let her get close to him. When he is exposed to gamma rays in a lab accident, it triggers a genetic mutation that was the result of his father's experiments. When all that repressed anger is released, he becomes the physical embodiment of rage: an enormous green guy known as the Hulk. After the Hulk saves Betty's life, he winds up being held captive at an Army base, where Major Talbot tries to obtain the Hulk's superpowers in order to make a profit.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Director Ang Lee creates images of great grace, elegance, and dignity, but he tries to make the inner conflicts the focus of the story and so this movie doesn't work. It's also way too long. The decision to make the Hulk character computer-animated was a mistake. The Hulk doesn't speak (except for one sentence), so he never comes to life. And his interaction with the physical world isn't believable. He's supposed to be extremely heavy, but when he jumps, he lands like a grasshopper. We never really care about him or root for him, and his fights, while impressively staged, aren't compelling. He doesn't fight bad guys; he fights the Army, which is trying to stop him from destroying everything around him. He's more like King Kong than Spider-Man.

Jennifer Connelly looks lovely, but basically carries over her Beautiful Mind role, except this time instead of being in love with a brilliant crazy guy she's in love with a brilliant green crazy guy. Nick Nolte, looking worse than his mug shot, overdoes the mad scientist bit as Bruce Banner's father. His character is supposed to add dark, Oedipal themes of destiny and consequences, but his appearances frequently sparked laughter from the audience.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Ang Lee
Cast: Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Nick Nolte
Genre: Action/Adventure
Run time: 138 minutes
Theatrical release: June 20, 2003
DVD release: October 28, 2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: sci-fi action violence, some disturbing images and brief partial nudity

This review was written by Nell Minow
 
 

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What parents & educators say

11
Based on 17 parent & educator reviews:
  • 29% say violence is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

 
teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerible

HarryRulz
parent of 6 year old
 

mindy12
adult
 

Tsion
parent of 15 year old
 
A Waste of Time...Trust Me!
THE HULK is just a bad movie. No two ways about it. Not even talented actors like Sam Elliot or Jennifer Connelley can save this boring, repetitive waste. It's not the most inapropriate film you've seen, but I wouldn't recommend it for your kids, simply because it's a bad movie. The Hulk often goes on destructive rampages, crushing things and people alike. However, the only graphic violence in the movie comes when characters perform experiments on animals. A jellyfish is stabbed with a surgical knife, a starfish has its insides cut out, and a flog blows up in a momentary explosion of blood. Several scenes and one character will be frightening for kids. There is no sex or references, but one scene where Bruce/Hulk is seen naked while walking towards a car. While is front is always blurred when seen from that angle, all else is exposed to the camera. Language is some "d**n"s and "a*s"s.

 
just all right
The action was mild, scenes were drawn out, and what was with those oddball dreams? Took forever for him to finally transform into the Hulk we know and love.

 
Ok, Ang Lee should have never done this one
This is one of the biggest mess ups in movie history. There wasnt realy any sex, language, or violence (when I say that I mean at once), but I can tell you that about 1/2 the people in the theator were catching up on their sleep. This movie holds the record for the quickest re-make (that says a lot). This isnt even worthy of a rent. 1 out of 5

That Reviewing Kid
kid, 11 years old
 
Dull film with decent action
Apart from the pretty tame swearing I don't really have any other concerns expect from the fact that it is a pretty dull movie. Sure the action was there but the movie was dragged on at a hurendous level. Also I'm not a fan of the transitions and the way they kept making the screen looking like a comic by splitting it into segments.

Spielberg00
teen, 14 years old
 
Not as violent as the 2008 version, but much better.
My rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi/action violence, some frightening images, and a brief scene of nudity.

J the reviewer
kid, 13 years old
 
iffy for kids 11+
it tells a lot about the the star of the movie and it is really good

movie fan141999
kid, 12 years old
 
SAD
hulks dad testes docter stuf on him when he is 4 and the dad kills his wife it is vary sad the 2008 one is so much better.

demondonkey250
parent of 4 , and 4 , 4 , 4 , 4 , 4 year old
 
Bad
This is a very bad movie but the one in 2008 is amazing.

natman
parent
 
confusing movie but i liked it

perfectionist
teen, 15 years old
 
Not a great movie but a darn good one.
Good movie. Great special effects. may be a little scary for kids under 13.

 
This movie wasent that good. It was boring and I couldent care less what happened in the story. This is not worth your time even if your a hulk fan. Go rent the new hulk movie cause its alot better. This doesent really matter if your going to listen to me but there are some violence that you should watch out for. Bad acting Bad movie.

Landshark
teen, 16 years old
 
BEST MOVIE EVER
i rate is 10 stars!!!!!!!!! after it was over i wanted to see it again. a must see for anyone marvel fans

CSM Screen ...
teen, 14 years old
 
I was freaked out and laughed a lot!
The movie is great espicially the fights it was the most B.A movie i have ever seen there is no sex or nudity just a lot of fighting!

Panya
adult
 
Too violent for kids.
I was appalled when I found out someone had let my almost-three-year-old nephew see this movie. I would never let children see a movie with this much violence. And the concept of the Hulk is disturbing to say the least -- he can't control his anger, so he destroys things? -- something I would never want to teach children.

 
Good and Bad blur
Ang Lee makes a successful comic book adaptation in The Hulk. He uses interesting split screen techniques and comic book wipes to move the story along. Lots of dialogue and character building, and very unique characters. The movie builds up a lot of tension before the Hulk finally appears, and when he does, you have to suspend doubts to make the movie fun. He's big and green, and isn't the best character, but stiil cool to watch. The mutant poodle alone makes up for the admission.

 
A fine Adaptation
They could have taken the easy way out and made an action movie plain and simple but instead director Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Sense & Senseability, Ride with the Devil) made a wonderfull charachter study. It dosn't quite reach the heights of Batman or Dare Devil, but it's mutch better then the mediocre Spider-Man.

 
Not your typical mindless movie
I went with two boys -- 9 and 10 and a pair of young teenaged girls. There were some slow moments as the characters discussed the ins and outs of repressed dreams (yawn for a preadolescent boy...) but as a parent, it wasn't painful. There's lots of suspense -- the two thirteen year old girls squealed a few times and not just because the Hulk looked like Shrek on steroids. (Mike Meyer where are you when we need you?) But Ang Lee directs intelligently and uses split screens reminiscent of comic books. All in all it was much smarter than I thought it would be and while none of my children walked out enlightened in any way, they were thoroughly entertained without blood, language or anyone taking off their clothes. (Oh yeah, there was a naked butt (you think the hulk shrinks back to Bruce Banner with his pants in tact?)

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