Movie Reviews

[Sir Jig-A-Lot]

Juno is Cinematic Gold. ditto for it's soundtrack.

[AYHJA]

OK, so both you guys got it....Good, I'm starting a topic, and you can help me get it, lol...

[Sir Jig-A-Lot]

[center]The Incredible Hulk
[/center]
Ok right off the bat, The new Hulk movie is just that: Incredible. Marvel Studios are now 2 outta 2.
If you want pedal to the metal action, This one is for you. Letterier dispenses with the rebooted origin formalities during the opening credit sequence which is partially done in a POV perspective from the Hulk (keep an eye out for Stark Industries & S.H.I.E.L.D references during said sequence) & cuts right to the meat of the story as soon as the credits are done. It starts off with Banner on the run & searching for a cure in Brazil, which if you wanna believe that this is a sequel to Ang's movie , then it lets you do so as we last left Dr Banner in South America. The cinematography of that country is a refreshing change from most action movie locales & breathtaking to gaze at even if most of it is set in the slums. General Ross & his soldier boys quickly discover where Bruce is no thanks to Stan Lee in his obligatory cameo which actually helps push the story along this time. This jumps right into the first action/chase sequence mostly taking place in a bottling factory where Bruce works & first goes through The Change. initially we see the creature in brief glimpses & shadows before we get a full reveal & are also treated to hearing him speak for the first time (so keep an ear out for that) as those not paying attention could easily mistake it for a gruff growl. So,yes, The Jade Giant does speak. Those moments are just at a premium is all. This first battle sets the stage for further & bigger conflict to come, but by the time it is done, you're already hooked!!!

Forget about what you saw in any of the trailers & Tv Spots, for the most part, the CGI on the Hulk is fucking awesome & has been tightened up for the actual release. One actually buys into skinny ole Norton changing into the Gamma Goliath. i said for the most part only cos after the final showdown bits of Hulk leaping away look fake (Ang's version made the leaps look more realistic).

Ed's performance is definitely up there with his best as are Tim Roth & William Hurt's. Liv Tyler does ok for the limited material she was given to work with. it does feel a bit like her Betty was underwritten...in this version anyway (butt i'll get to that in a bit). Tony Stark shows up near the end & blitzes a great cameo. The other performance i have to talk up is Tim Blake Nelson's hyperkinetic turn as Samuel "The Leader" Sterns/Mr Blue. seeing him is great set-up for future sequels as well as contributes further to this story by attempting to help Bruce find his cure. Incredible Hulk feels very much like a great opening chapter to a much bigger saga with his character's (& others) inclusion.

Comic afficionados & fans of the tv series will geek the fuck out at all the easter eggs & references strewn throughout the movie. Letterier & Co are definitely showing the fanboys & fangals some love.
Here are a list of things to keep an eye out for

Spoiler:

*cameos by the late Bill Bixby (that's right!) ,Stan Lee & Lou Ferrigno.

*characters named Jack McGee & Jim Wilson from the show & comic respectively. no Rick Jones sadly :p

*lot's of mention of the Super-Soldier serum & project that created Captain America during WWII.

*Sonic Cannons built by Stark Industries & loads of blink-&-you'll-miss-it Stark & S.H.I.E.L.D. references.

*The replayed "Lonely Man" theme music from the show.

*Banner adopting the name of David by the movie's end

*someone holding up a newspaper with the headline of a scientific breakthrough by a Dr Pym

*Legendary Hulk writer Peter David as an officer in military HQ

Essentially, Incredible Hulk is full throttle chase movie with lots of mass destruction & loads of smack 'em up & progressively bigger battles with a lil' bit of drama & occasional humorous moments. if you want serious balls-to-the-wall action, then this one is For You. to those who hated or disliked Ang Lee's 2003 take due to it's substance over smackdown feel, this is Your Antidote. If Iron Man is a 9.5 then this is an 8.5 to a 9. Not quite Iron Man caliber, but i'd say on about par with Spider-Man 2 & X2. Definitely better than Batman Begins as BB,much as I loved it, drags at times & has moments of convolution. Still,Incredible Hulk is a nutgrabbing movie which leaves you thirsting for more. Maybe cos it felt way too short (see the notes below). Now Go See Hulk Smash!!!!! - Jig

NOTES:
There was a lot of stuff shown during the trailers that never made it to what was actually screened.
*The scene between Banner & Doc Samson that the original 2 trailers opened with where they discussed ‘aspects of his personality’.
* *General Ross getting chastised by a superior for helping create Abomination.
***Actually seeing Hulk kick Blonsky in the nuts.
****Banner telling Ross & Betty that the only thing that can stop Blonsky is within him.
I'm kinda suprised as most of the aforementioned scenes were heavily featured in so many of the tv spots & trailers.
The reason I mentioned 'this version' earlier was apparently 70 minutes worth of footage was cut out of this by Marvel & the producers. the theatrical cut runs to about 1 hour & 44 minutes. Norton & Letterier wanted an edit that ran 2 hours & 20 minutes.The oft-mentioned 26 minutes final battle comes in just under 10 minutes. Letterier said yesterday in an interview that the 70 minutes will resurface in the dvd. Hopefully with his & Norton's Director's Cut ,which i suspect will have more action & flesh out the character development more. there are bits during the movie which feel rather shortened. let's hope that all is rectified with the DVD. ;)

[AYHJA]

Damn, unless Blu-Ray's go down in price, I'm already looking to spend $80 just on these two...I don't expect Dark Knight or Hancock to disappoint...Very good review Jig, thanks..!

[Sir Jig-A-Lot]

NP,Ja. ;) All I know is that they better release the shit on regular dvd cos I ain't investing in blu-ray anytime soon. Grab Ra & go see it on the big screen! :)

[darklighter1]

I just don't understand why they shorten movies up in the theaters. I pay about half my mortgage to get in now so why not have the long version? Maybe to show the movie more? But that all works itself out in the wash anyway so it makes no sense.

But great review Jig! You oughta sent that to aintitcool. Maybe they'll make you some kind of correspondent for Oz film-fests and stuff.

[ne0knight]

Thanks for the great review Jig! I'm so excited to see this tomorrow that it's hard to concentrate on anything else... :p Can you believe that a few months ago I was actually wondering how this movie would turn out, not giving a second thought to Iron Man? And now here I'm hoping that TIH will at least be almost as much fun as IM was!

Still, I'm pretty disappointed to hear just how much ended up on the cutting room floor. I can understand Marvel wanted to make the movie as commercial as possible, considering the last movie. But I'd love to see what had Norton so PO'd. Seems like there'll be a great DVD out later this year. :thumbs:

[Sir Jig-A-Lot]

But great review Jig! You oughta sent that to aintitcool. Maybe they'll make you some kind of correspondent for Oz film-fests and stuff.

I think AICN already got Laturo on the case there sadly. :p

And now here I'm hoping that TIH will at least be almost as much fun as IM was!

i'd say Hulk was more fun actionwise,Ne0. i just happen to think IM is the better film overall.
Shee-it!!! i was geeking my head off when i finally got to see the Green Machine do his legendary thunderclap!!!
i've waited to see that move in a film for sooo long. who knows, maybe if the Hulk DVD steps it up in all the right places, i'd say this could be on par with Iron Man...then again,apparently we are being treated to an Iron Man Extended Director's Cut when it too hits that format. :laff:

[raum]

Sex and Death 101

This is a great movie for rental by the guy who did "Heathers", which was fantastic.

This story is thus, basically:

A guy with a decent life and plan to get married gets a list from a Secret Society's super computer of everyone he has had sex with, or will have sex with.

Spoiler:

The last person on the list is revealed to be a notrious serial killer, sort of...

8-) 8-) 8-) :D

[Sir Jig-A-Lot]

Sounds most interesting! Thanks for the heads up,Sir. ;)