Ok, so for many of us it’s now a matter of a day or two before we will get to see how Marvel have got on with their much harder to adapt but more publicly well known superhero The Incredible Hulk.

It’s a trim movie, coming in at under two hours in length which is far shorter than the usual recent superhero fare but according to director Louis Leterrier’s latest comments to Collider, it wasn’t always that way. In fact he gives us the quite startling news that 70 minutes of the film have been cut and WILL be placed back onto the BLU-RAY DVD RELEASE of the movie.

It’s not known at this time whether the same thing will happen with the standard DVD as it’s the large capacity of the Blu-Ray disc that allows this.

Letterier says of the cut…

“We killed some of my babies, some of his babies. Like in the 70 minutes in you’ll see a scene that was actually in the trailer where you see the Ty Burrell character having a nice introspective talk with Edward.”

In a completely different interview with SOS Hollywood, Letterier reveals that one such scene was the introduction of Captain America…

“There’s a point when Bruce Banner gives up on his quest for the cure and decide to kill himself. So he travels far North and reaches the Arctic Circle. You might have seen bits of it in some of the promos. The result was a very dark and strong scene, which Marvel, me and everyone else’s considered to be too hard to young audiences to take, so we’ve cut it. Having that said, when Bruce arrives at his destination he meets up with Captain America! At some point this week, we will make it available on the internet – but I cannot tell you where or when – and the material will definitely be on the DVD.”

70 minutes?

Boy, they really didn’t trust the casual fan to sit that long did they? Well it’s nice for the fans to see the extended cut on DVD of course but my God, 70 minutes of film lost from the theatrical cut?

With that kind of length, it’s not really a case of let’s hope it doesn’t show but let’s hope it doesn’t show too much.

source - /film

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Directed by: Louis Leterrier

Written by: Zak Penn, Edward Norton (uncredited but we know better)

Based on the classic Marvel character created by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby

Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell, Christina Cabot, Peter Mensah, Lou Ferrigno (voice & cameo)

Distributed by Universal

Film begins screening in the U.K. on Thursday but check your local listings for opening times/dates

Review by Michael Edwards

OK folks, I’ve sat through the full 114 minutes and am now ready to judge this fittingly bulky movie. The good news is, it doesn’t completely suck. The bad news is, it isn’t amazing either. My reviews of these big action movies tend to spark controversy whether it’s from me being too critical or not critical enough, so I’m ready to justify my opinions to the fullest here!

There was a real backlash against Ang Lee’s 2003 HULK, it was widely felt the CGI was lame, the story weak and the action uninspired. I’m pleased to inform you that a lot of that is rectified here: far from the glossily rounded figure of his last incarnation, this computer-generated behemoth bulges with sinewy muscle fibres that look ready to burst. The story doesn’t waste ages on the backstory either, in fact it’s pretty much pictorially covered in the opening credits and occasionally infused into the rest of the movie, which is a nice change. The action sequences are pretty cool too, there’s lots of smashing, heavy artillery and the final battle between the two massive fiends is impressive enough. Cars get smashed, wrecking balls are hurled about and I was even delighted to hear the words “Hulk smash!” ring out at a critical moment, and from the lips of Lou Ferrigno no less!

But that said it really felt like this was a movie salvaging a brand, setting our to undo the damage of a clumsy predecessor rather than whetting our appetites for a new era of the big green fella (who, I feel I should admit, has always been my favourite Marvel character). Roping in some great acting talent was definitely a good idea, but Edward Norton and Liv Tyler are somewhat undernourished with the script in this affair.

Bruce Banner’s vulnerability and fear comes across nicely in the capable wild-eyes of the man who has has a stab at a man fighting the beast inside before, but it’s really not given much space to develop in the few short and painfully formulaic scenes which are clearly just teeing up the action bonanzas. This constant awareness of what’s coming next certainly undermined the pleasure of the action sequences for me, and it made the romance element seem more like a half-hearted hint at a subplot than the driving force behind Banner’s hunt for a cure.

What’s more, whilst William Hurt fitted the character of General Ross PERFECTLY, I felt Tim Roth was a bit off the mark for Russian/English mercenary Emil Blonsky. His performance was restrained and he didn’t convince as a military man whose first love is hands-on combat. He just has too much of that cunning, looking over someone’s shoulder, crafty psycho persona in his characters to work as someone hungering after the brute force that Banner possesses. Tim Blake Nelson is probably most on form as the crazy Dr. Sterns, whose good intentions (a classic Marvel twist suggests) may not lead where he’d hoped.

I’ve also begun to wonder whether there might be a bit of an intrinsic problem with the big screen incarnations of our modern-day Jekyll and Hyde.

Cramming itself into the summer blockbuster slot with all the big budget kit that carries is one thing, but it also brings with it certain other expectations, one of which this particularly character is least capable of providing: humour. The sad story of this unassuming and now constantly nervous scientist and his willfully destructive alter-ego just isn’t geared for laughs. We’re treated to a few good attempts here, including Bruce’s broken Portuguese resulting in him telling someone “You wouldn’t like me when I’m hungry”, but it’s just not quite as easily incorporated as in other Marvel and DC adaptations. What’s more, the seriousness of the tale is always undermined by the fact that the monster is a huge, green monster that just can’t look realistic!

So with that in mind it is fair to say that this is a good effort at a tough character. Watching a passable (as far as a massive green irradiated beast can be) CGI hulk battle a massive military arsenal and a creepy nemesis provided some easy entertainment for a couple of hours. There were enough nods at the history of the franchise, including the necessary presence of Lou Ferrigno, a momentary intrusion of the mournful piano music from the TV series and the hulk’s favourite line. But it just wasn’t a great movie, at its best it was fun and at its worst predictable and formulaic - THE INCREDIBLE HULK is Marvel’s attempt at a safe bet to steady the franchise. I wouldn’t warn anyone off of it, but it isn’t going to be the best movie of the summer by a long shot.

The Incredible Hulk smashes it’s way into theatres next week, a weird flux of a movie that isn’t quite a new project, it isn’t a sequel/prequel/remake - it is just as it is in the comics, a new creative team telling their own Hulk story.

And ya know, maybe that ain’t such a bad thing. It means we probably won’t get a Batman & Robin situation where a really terrible movie will kill a popular cinematic character for eight years and it allows new creative teams to take a stab at these figures.

Reviews of the film at this point are sparse but the word from those who have their thoughts posted are very positive indeed.

Harry Knowles, who has had so many Incredible Hulk tie in promotions on his site mean his opinion could have easily been swayed (not saying it has, just saying it could have played a factor), enjoyed the film a lot - however his review mostly babbles on about how exciting the Marvel universe is right now and how cool an Avengers movie could be…

Well THE INCREDIBLE HULK – is very much like the re-invention that happened to STAR TREK on STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN. Now – I love THE INCREDIBLE HULK, but it isn’t quite STAR TREK II great – but it’s outstanding.

Louis Leterrier has made a HULK movie that first and foremost is badass, kickass and asskicking, but is most certainly not ASS.

Massawyrm, also of AICN has a similar ejaculation over the Marvel universe potential but at least he does actually give us a full paragraph about just the film…

It isn’t just Norton forging a hero on screen. The Hulk himself has a personality, he has a heart. He is the green monster of legend that we’ve read so many times in the comic. As much as this story is rooted in both The Ultimates and the old television series, The Incredible Hulk surpasses them both by giving us the Hulk as a real honest to god character. They build him over the course of the film so perfectly that when he finally utters the phrase you’re all dying to hear him say…if fucking MEANS something. The payoff for this movie and everything they build to is everything we’ve been hoping for.

James O’Ehley of Sci-Fi Movie Page…

With The Incredible Hulk Marvel has done it again. Like the recent Iron Man, Incredible Hulk is a definite Saturday matinee crowd-pleaser. Kids – and their parents – will love it. Unfortunately the only thing standing in the way of Incredible Hulk becoming the summer hit it deserves to be will be audiences’ negative memories of the 2003 original. Well, forget about all that: The Incredible Hulk may ultimately be as brainless as its main character, but it really is “incredible” this time around. And Hulk smashes stuff too.

Ok so far so good then. We should hear the critics response over or just after the weekend, and you will be able to hear Mike’s thoughts on Monday night when the first OWF writer sees the film and then no doubt a string of over reviews over the remainder of the week.

Some tidbits I can tell you right now…

Again… try and stay after the credits because you won’t be disappointed.

The movie is said to be dark… much more so than the trailers suggested.

And lots of interesting talk from the movie’s director…

ANOTHER trailer.

It’s ok, it’s done enough to warrant my money. The movie looks so flippant, so messy and full on action but what else could we have expected from the director of the Transporter series?

I also find it more and more curious that Edward Norton’s dialogue is getting less and less with every trailer. Is it because he is too pewny and winy for us to care about him in human form? That’s a dangerous game when we have to rely on getting behind a fully realised CGI character.

I’m not expecting much which may play to it’s favour in the end. I’m more optimistic than I was this time last month, mainly because of the improvements on the fight scenes and the look of the Hulk character himself.

Guess we will find out next week.

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source - aicn

Do I smell horrible chemistry between Edward Norton and Liv Tyler in The Incredible Hulk?

I said it on the day she was cast, it takes a special kind of actress to generate chemistry with Norton - only Helena Bonham Carter off the top of my head has ever done a really good job at it.

His acting is so withdrawn, his characters usually so detached. Tyler and Norton as a cinematic couple doesn’t work in my head and I don’t think it will work on screen either.

Having said all that, the rest of this jam-packed t.v. spot kicks ass…

I’m so suckered into getting excited for this monster fest opening June 13th, I can’t help it. I know it’s not good for me but what can I say, I love these characters and I want them all to succeed on screen.

Hell, I even got excited for Ghost Rider in the weeks leading up to it’s release. I just can’t help myself!

source - coming soon

Let’s just get this out in the open right now: The Hulk is one of the most boring superheroes in the history of comic books.

Let’s detail what makes him so undeniably incredible:

• 1. He gets mad.
• 2. He grows large, turns green, and magically acquires purple pants.
• 3. He smashes shit.
• 4. Rinse and repeat.

Folks, this is not the depth of material upon which to base an entire franchise. I mean, the Green Lantern makes more sense. Aquaman might have a better backstory and purpose in fighting crime. In fact, I’d even take The Wonder Twins over this nonsense.

Despite the obvious problems inherent in the “story” of the Hulk, director Ang Lee gamely attempted to bring some depth and humanity to his plight with his 2003 adaptation. While the film had an interesting visual motif, the limp lack of a proper foil for our “hero” and all of the psycho-babble Daddy subplots angered the fanboys. All two of them.

Marvel, knowing full well that they have managed to successfully market Hulk comic books over the years, decided to give their big green moneymaker another cinematic chance by rebooting the franchise a mere four years after the first film.

Of course the buzz flowing freely from the set of the new movie, cleverly titled The Incredible Hulk, has been less than confidence-building. Then the first trailers were released, which inspired a collective yawn from a geeky fanbase already saturated by the splendors of better trailers from better summer blockbusters (i.e. anything else out there).

So now, in a desperate move, Marvel has released another trailer in the hopes of starting some sort of positive buzz. Here it is:

My thoughts:

From watching the first trailer, I had a distinct feeling that the film would contain one action scene in the streets of a city, preceded by two hours of whining. This trailer addresses that palpable concern by showing that there are possibly two action scenes in the movie, punctuated by the same whining we saw in the first trailer.

Does Liv Tyler need to look like she just finished crying in EVERY SINGLE ROLE SHE EVER PLAYS? I have had enough of the pouty-faced, doe-eyed routine that she wore out in Armageddon and The Lord of the Rings.

Edward Norton is the absolute wrong person to play the role of Bruce Banner/The Hulk. I understand the premise - Bruce is a science nerd and a drip. Great. And Norton is undeniably a terrific actor. But Norton’s appeal comes from playing aggressive, unstable outsiders as in American History X. And while he here plays an outsider with obvious problems with aggression, Norton is a fairly cold presence onscreen; this is exactly why some of his roles have that edge to them. He is the wrong guy to pull off a comic book creation, especially the hero of one that is expected to garner the enthusiasm of an audience. Norton is too slouchy, too schlubby, too vacant.

They have whipped up some sort of villain for the Hulk in this movie, but he obviously comes in very late in the film (shades of the Venom mistake from Spidey 3). Besides that, the confrontation looks fairly standard and poorly rendered from this trailer. Where’s the one money-shot that is supposed to bolster trailers like these??

All in all, I think this will prove to be one of the great failures of 2008. Yes, it will make money, but I think the limitations of the character, in addition to a failed translation, equal box office poison.

When you hire Edward Norton for your movie you are not only getting a terrific dramatic actor but you also get his input as a writer/producer/director - no matter if you want it or not.

Just ask Tony Kaye. He will give you all the gory details over what happened with American History X.

So we’ve heard all sorts of rumors about the production of Marvel’s second attempt at cracking one of their A-list heroes The Incredible Hulk including Edward Norton’s huge input in re-writing the screenplay and also his desire to recut the movie in post. In a pretty lengthy article over at EW, they suggest that although director Louis Letterrier used Norton’s redrafted script - it is actually his final film that he collaborated with Marvel that will be seen on screen this Summer and not Norton’s cutting.

This cut will be action orientated and more in tone with Iron Man, Spider-Man 3 and the rest of the recent Marvel movies. Norton wanted a longer, more detailed and dramatic piece but Marvel have stuck with what has made them tons of cash over the last eight years.

Here’s a press release from Norton letting us know the situation of the film…

Like so many people I’ve loved the story of The Hulk since I was a kid, so it was thrilling when Marvel asked me to write and help produce an altogether new screen incarnation, as well as play Bruce Banner. I grew up reading Marvel Comics and always loved the mythic dimension and contemporary themes in the stories, and I’m proud of the script I wrote. In every phase of production, including the editing, working with Louis Leterrier has been wonderful…I’ve never had a better partner, and the collaboration with all the rest of the creative team has been terrific. Every good movie gets forged through collaboration, and different ideas among people who are all committed and respect the validity of each other’s opinions is the heart of filmmaking. Regrettably, our healthy process, which is and should be a private matter, was misrepresented publicly as a ‘dispute,’ seized on by people looking for a good story, and has been distorted to such a degree that it risks distracting from the film itself, which Marvel, Universal and I refuse to let happen. It has always been my firm conviction that films should speak for themselves and that knowing too much about how they are made diminishes the magic of watching them. All of us believe The Incredible Hulk will excite old fans and create new ones and be a huge hit…our focus has always been to deliver the Hulk that people have been waiting for and keep the worldwide love affair with the big green guy going strong.

Big nasty black clouds hang over this movie as far as I’m concerned.

I would hate to see The Incredible Hulk franchise die again after one movie but it’s so difficult to get excited over this one, even with an attempted reassurance like this.

Completely the opposite to my expectation of Iron Man being the best superhero movie since Batman Begins, is my feeling that The Incredible Hulk is going to suck just as much as Ang Lee’s attempt at the character in 2003.

The film is just two months away and if it wasn’t for the fact that I was a fan of the original comic character or that I enjoyed the various t.v. show incarnations over the years - then I don’t think I would see this. Nothing they have shown me so far gets me excited, including this poster…

source - coming soon

It’s taken a long time for Universal to show us a trailer for The Incredible Hulk reboot/restart but I gotta say, they might have been better off from showing us the big reveal of the big green guy completely, Cloverfield style.

He looks CGI crapola. And so does the rest of the movie. Unbelievably, it looks worse than Ang Lee’s film in nearly every department and you really have to wonder if a good Hulk movie is even possible in this current film climate.

I’m stunned Universal have made the same mistakes again. You have to wonder if it would have been more effective just having a real guy, ala Lou Ferrigno (best on screen incarnation of the character for my money) play the character on screen and not CGI him. BETTER YET, this movie maybe should have gone the motion capture or animated avenue, maybe then we might actually get a massive sized Hulk that doesn’t look ridiculous.

Nothing works here. Edward Norton’s a fine actor but he’s totally wrong for this part, especially the way he is playing it. He does not for one minute feel like a superhero, he can’t carry this picture. Liv Tyler is just horrible. William Hurt in that make-up is just weird.

Tim Roth looks good and we haven’t seen this intensity from him since Planet of the Apes but you just know he’s gonna be CGI for most of it. And from the looks of things his CGI Abomination character, looks exactly that - an abomination.

I think we’ve always known that The Incredible Hulk wasn’t going to be able to reach the heavy standards set by the likes of Spider-Man, X-Men or Batman Begins. We also had our reservations as to whether it would be anywhere near as good as Iron Man. But what Louis Letterier and his A-list crew of actors have cooked up here is just hideous.

The movie opens on June 13th. With this trailer, I can’t see it making the money that Ang Lee’s movie made back in 2003. Actually, while I’m here… below is the trailer for Hulk, a film I didn’t like but is on a different level quality wise to the new movie…

Are you going to see this? What do you think of the trailer for the new movie compared to the old one? Should they have even bothered rebooting everything when they are making the same mistakes with actors who don’t fit the roles?

Ah, we are back to this gimmick again. The releasing of a teaser trailer to hype the actual release of the real trailer. Nice.

This Wednesday night will see the debut of Marvel’s big green superhero and the second (and no doubt not the last) to get the reboot/imaging treatment after The Punisher. Oh yes, don’t tell me you forgot about the Dolph Lundgren movie!

So what can we gather from this trailer which barely shows us anything?

Well just about nothing. The effects look good I guess. Ed Norton still feels a little soft spoken and under developed physically but I guess we shall see.

Let’s hope we get a big good look at the Hulk in action on Wednesday.

source - coming soon