Was Ang Lee’s Hulk Better than Leterrier’s After All?
Comic Book Movie News, The Incredible Hulk (Hulk 2) (2008) Movie — By Nix on July 9, 2008 |
Ah, I love me some crow. Wasn’t it just a month ago that every movie site out there was boasting about the potential greatness of Louis Leterrier’s “The Incredible Hulk” while, of course, freely (and in some cases, feeling the fanboy urge to unnecessarily) bash Ang Lee’s 2003 version? All these same movie sites, run by guys undoubtedly smarter than I, were gushing about the genius addition of Edward Norton, and how this Hulk was going to have “legs” at the box office. As it turns out, not so much. Sure, Norton did his usual good job, but let’s face it, in your heart of hearts you all know that this Hulk was no better (and in fact, I found it wanting) than the previous Hulk, and its legs turned out to be stumps. Word of mouth and second-week take for the movie went down the crapper — along with all the predictions.
At the end of the day, it’s looking like Leterrier’s much hoorayed reboot of Lee’s much malign Hulk isn’t going to do any better, numbers-wised, despite all the hoopla hailing it as the second coming.
Reuters makes the case against gratuitous reboots:
Five years ago, “Hulk,” the first movie based on Marvel’s hulking green comic book character, rang up $245 million in worldwide box office but was widely dismissed as a commercial failure.
The second attempt, “The Incredible Hulk,” amped up the fun factor and dialed down the brooding of director Ang Lee’s original but is unlikely to gross significantly higher than its predecessor and might not spawn a sequel. And it’s been dubbed a success.
What gives?
“We’re happy with the financial results, even if they (only) reach the first film’s levels,” a Marvel insider insisted. “Having a sequel is not the definition of success.”
That’s fortunate, as even outpacing the first film’s worldwide haul by 10% looks optimistic at this point, and that’s not likely to stoke enthusiasm for a franchise follow-up anytime soon.
The fun parts are these: Leterrier’s Hulk cost more than Lee’s to produce and advertise ($50 mil or so), and if you tally in the strength of the dollar in 2003 terms, Lee’s version will probably still end up making more money and, technically, be more commercially successful. (That, and the fact that it was a far superior film in every respects, but let’s not open that can of worms…)
Of course, I’m sure this won’t stop all the Ang Lee Hulk bashing. Irrational hatred of movies is every fanboy’s right, gosh darn it!
Now if only they’ll finish “Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk” already…
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14 Comments
“The Incredible Hulk” WAS better than “Hulk.” It was a much more entertaining and exciting film than the first one. Everything about it was better, in my opinion. Now, having said that, the second one did not do the “Iron Man”-like business Marvel was hoping for, but it’s still a huge profit for them (Marvel).
I don’t know about eating crow. So what if this one didn’t perform as well as it was hoped too. I’m just glad they finally made a good movie about the Hulk…one that I’ll watch more than once, too.
The reason this one might not have done as well as the first one was because Lee’s version was still in everyone’s head, i think true fans of the Hulk will agree this was a better movie and it had ot overcome a bigger bias, the last Hulk rode the original trend of comic book adaptations, this one, despite Iron Man’s success is coming at the tail end of these franchises dying down.
Poor Ang Lee-fanboys, they don´t stand the truth. Ang Lee´s “Hulk” was crap, ´cause he wasn´t the right director for this project to start with. The Hulk-comics were about Action, collateral damage, the “Hulk smash”-moments. Letterier knew that and made a faithful and fun adaption of the books. And “Incredible Hulk” will make more money at the end, it just started overseas and will make a heck more bucks if it comes out on DVD. Eat this, Letterier-haters!
Ang lee Hulk’s, Story wise is MUCH better. This new hulk, don’t see a good story , heck , there is no story, just Hulk smash things.
I haven’t seen the entire Ang Lee film now have I seen the new one. What I did see of the Ang Lee was this really horrible and ludicris action scene where it appears you’re playing a video game. Hulk is trying to escape some horribly fake helicopters while seemingly gliding across the desert with some of the most boring action movie score I’ve ever seen. Just awful.
The new version was much better since it wasnt boring and kept me awake. The old version had hulk at un-proportionate size through out the movie. He started to grow bigger at different scene, like how he was as big as a plane in one scene and then only be double your height in the next.
The reason for it not being so profitable may be cause by boot leg movie online. Since it has become so much easier to watch it without paying for it.
I like Ang Lee’s version better, even though I wouldn’t go as far as to say I love it, I can appreciate the fact that they were courageous in trying many things new and unconventional, some worked for me, while others fall short. Also I am more tolerant towards slow-pacing movies than others I know.
There’s nothing great I can say about this new one, it’s entertaining but completely forgettable. They played everything safe (rumor is Ed Norton’s preferred cut suppose to have more plot, I wish that cut would be released as a special DVD edition). Even the “hulk smash” action sequences that supposed to be the main attraction of this one came off completely unoriginal and tame, comparing to the recent comic book Hulk I am familiar with. I still recommanded all my friends to see it in theaters, because I don’t think it would look as good on small screens.
As for someone mentioning how the hulk in Ang Lee’s version has un-proportional sizes across different scenes, that was intentional and true to certain versions of the comic, where hulk grow in size and strength proportional to his rage. In fact in term of origin story Ang Lee’s version is more true to the comic than this new one.
The new hulk is brainless…along with anti-fans of the first movie. I mean come on. Watch them side by side. Ego maniac norton is a joke…totally unbelieveable. Did anybody actually feel like he was angry? what a joke. And what quality did the new movie bring that you cant get from a video game. There was NOTHING creative about it. It was completely flat. People that hate it, just dont know how to watch a movie. Im glad the new one didnt make money. They would have been better off continueing what ang lee started and make a good movie. an eric banaless hulk, is no hulk at all.
bye the way…hulk was different sizes at different times. It was relevant to his anger. Do your homework.
Ang Lees take was slow and tiring, where Incredible was incredible, more connected to the comic and rampaging hulk, nice additions and mentions with the super soldier formula, abomination, the leader (sameul sterns) sheild and tony stark, and had a very nice looking and sounding rampaging hulk, no stupid gamma dogs or banners evil father, had the villians we wanted and the hulk we wanted