Planet Hulk

Review

Common Sense Media says

Animated Hulk movie is as violent as the feature films.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that even though this film based on a 2006 storyline from The Incredible Hulk comic book is animated, it's extremely violent and not meant for young kids. It's filled with slicing and dicing, punching and pummeling, and lots of blood and gore (of various colors). The entire plotline revolves around fighting, and when characters aren't fighting, they're talking about their next fight. Still, some teens may identify with the Hulk's outsized emotions and his extreme (hormonal) reactions: he feels rejected, gets angry, sulks, and wishes to be left alone. Ultimately, he learns to overcome these emotions through trust and friendship.

  • Positive messages0
    Although the movie revolves around conflict and violence -- which doesn't exactly send young viewers a good message -- there are some decent take-aways by the time the credits roll. The Hulk must learn to overcome his anger and work with his fellow slaves to get out of their predicament. He's naturally a loner but unwittingly becomes part of a "family" (or a "hive," as one character puts it); they refuse to give up on him, even when he gives up on them. Plus, since he's been banished from Earth, he must eventually discover and accept a new way of fitting in -- one that's based on understanding rather than fear.
  • Positive role models0
    Possessed by rage and violence, the Hulk is hardly a strong positive role model for most of the movie -- and neither are most of the other characters, who are constantly engaged in battle and revenge. The Hulk spends most of the movie angry, betrayed, and sulking, acting only for himself and not for others. But he ultimately learns to change this negative attitude not through brute force, but by slowing down and allowing himself to trust and be trusted by others.
  • Violence4
    Nearly wall-to-wall cartoon fantasy violence. Even when the characters aren't fighting, they're talking about fighting. The Hulk is usually angry and looking to take out his anger on someone in battle. Imagery includes slicing and severing with swords and blades, including lots of blood and gore (of various colors). One creature is sliced in half down the middle. The Hulk punches, pounds, and pummels several characters, and in one scene, he sits on top of his victim and beats his face to a bloody pulp. There are attacks from spiky creatures that enter into and take over a victim's body. Some of the alien creatures may be too scary for kids.
  • Sex1
    Hulk and a female character, Caiera, almost kiss. Sexualized female characters wear skimpy, sexy outfits, as do some of the men.
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What's the story?

Iron Man and several other superheroes decide that the Hulk (voiced by Rick D. Wasserman) is too much of a menace to remain on Earth, so they send him into outer space. After the enraged Hulk goes on a rampage, his spaceship passes through a wormhole, and he winds up on an alien planet -- captured, enslaved, and forced to fight, gladiator-style, for the amusement of the Red King. The Hulk excels in battle, and some begin to believe that he might be the "chosen one" who's destined to save the planet. Eventually his fellow slaves decide to band together and find a way out of their predicament, but the Hulk only has one thing on his mind: Smash the king.

Is it any good?

 

The Hulk's predicament and behavior in this story make for an interesting comparison with the moods of ol' Green Skin's teenage fans (i.e. feelings of not fitting in). Unfortunately, the movie's constant battle sequences and humorless tone don't leave much room for any kind of real emotional connection with the characters. In this tale, the Hulk never returns to his human form, and thus the battle between his two "sides" takes place on a less visceral, visual level. Likewise, the villain is terribly uninteresting, and the plot twists are a little too transparent.

For what might have been a decent Saturday morning cartoon-type adventure, PLANET HULK is very violent -- and, indeed, has very little to offer but violence. The Hulk's fits of rage can cause even more tension than the slicing and dicing and blood and gore of the battle sequences. That said, the animation is solid, and perhaps die-hard Hulk fans can find something worthwhile here.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the movie's violence. Does the fact that it's animated affect its impact? How would that change if it were live action?

  • The Hulk is reluctant to join the "hive" (or family) that his fellow slaves have formed. Why? Is he too angry? Is he afraid of being rejected again?

  • Other superheroes decided they didn't want to deal with the Hulk anymore, so they sent him away. How would this make the Hulk feel? Does it mean that he's a bad person?

This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
Parent of 11 year old
June 12, 2010
AGE
16
 
This is basically a horror movie...
I was EXTREMELY disappointed this was rated PG. This movie has zombie-like creatures and some moments that have young children in some real terrifying situations. I wish I had read the Common Sense review before getting it.
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Helped me decide (10) | Had useful details (13) | Read my mind (13)
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Kid, 12 years old
November 8, 2010
AGE
13
 
good for teens
this is a good movie but i does get gorey in some parts its more good for teens
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (11) | Had useful details (9) | Read my mind (13)
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This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
Topics:superheroes
Studio:Lionsgate
Director:Sam Liu
Cast:Lisa Ann Beley, Mark Hildreth, Rick D. Wasserman
Genre:Action/Adventure
Run time:81 minutes
Theatrical release date:February 2, 2010
DVD release date:February 2, 2010
MPAA rating:NR
This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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