Jun 14 2008
“The Incredible Hulk” Ain’t Too Bad
Duel — A big ominous ugly truck comes barrelling down the highway and makes life difficult for a lonely businessman in a car on his way to a meeting. It’s like Jaws on wheels. Directed for TV by Steven Speilberg in 1971, this 90-minute theatrical cut is nothing but entertainment. There’s no moral to the story. It’s just one long chase scene that keeps you wondering, “How the hell is he going to get away from that truck?” Speilberg takes that simple concept and milks it to the hilt. (June 12/08)
The Incredible Hulk — Another Marvel comic book movie. The Hulk smashes the crap out of everything. Ed Norton and the rest of the cast play their roles well. The story isn’t as involving as Iron Man, but it’s done well and it’s never boring. What else do you want from a comic book movie? It’s fun for what it is. (June 14/08)
The Stone Angel — Based on the novel by Margaret Lawrence, starring Ellen Burstyn. Another sad and depressing Canadian novel where nothing good happens to anyone or anyone’s children, and then they die. (That’s an accurate summary of more than a few Canadian classics.) The film adaptation isn’t much more uplifting or hopeful. The movie tries to encompass too much of the novel instead of taking its time to develop the characters. It definitely has its moments, but I lost interest well before the closing credits. (June 7/08)
The Happening — There is no reason to see this movie, ever, not even out of morbid curiosity. Considering the downward slide M. Night Shyamalan has been on since, well, arguably since The Sixth Sense, it seemed inevitable that he would eventually hit rock bottom, and this is it. Even The Village had moments where you think, “Maybe this’ll get good now,” but there isn’t a single compelling moment in the entire running time of The Happening, and subsequently nothing to feel disappointed about. I like Shyamalan as a director, so I was hoping to see at least a few good scenes or cool shots. But nope. The Happening is a zero on every level. The writing, the acting, the direction — it’s all bad, mediocre at best. (June 14/08)
I post more film commentary at Mud Songs.
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Tags: m. night shyamalan, margaret lawrence, movie reviews, steven speilberg, the hulk, the stone angel
Sam The Record Man must love it when movies shoot in Toronto. If you watch the Hulk, apparently there’s a street in Harlem that looks a lot like downtown Toronto with its own Sam The Record Man store — a distinctive sign for anyone who’s ever seen it. The Sam The Record Man flashing neon record sign is clearly visible in several battle scenes near the end of the Hulk.
I liked Hulk as well. The CGI was much better in this one then the first one and the action was good too. I got a huge kick out of the Robert Downey Jr. cameo. Ties into the Samuel Jackson cameo at the end of Iron Man. Avengers movie coming up?