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The Hulk
- Review Date: October 26, 2003
- PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2003
Common Sense Media says
The Hulk lacks personality; not a great movie.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
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.
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?
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.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the appeal of comic book characters, especially the Hulk, the tangible representation of repressed anger.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
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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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
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.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
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.
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Teen, 15 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
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
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Educator
February 15, 2011
AGE
teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerible
What other families should know:
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Kid, 10 years old
April 18, 2010
AGE
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.
What other families should know:
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Parent of 5 year old
September 16, 2010
AGE
What other families should know:
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Parent
April 9, 2008
AGE
confusing movie but i liked it
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
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.
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Parent of 13 year old
May 25, 2009
AGE
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.
What other families should know:
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| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | Ang Lee |
| Cast: | Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Nick Nolte |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 138 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 20, 2003 |
| DVD release date: | October 28, 2003 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | sci-fi action violence, some disturbing images and brief partial nudity |
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