Come Friday and the beast within will be released in the city. Universal Pictures brings to town the latest comic-book hero out on a big screen trek, Hulk. A Marvel Comic character penned by Spider-Man creator Stan Lee along with Jack Kirby, the celluloid avatar is interpreted by Ang Lee, acclaimed director of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Sense And Sensibility.
The US$ 120 million sci-fi extravaganza that has already grosses US$ 210 million-plus worldwide till date stars Australian actor Eric Bana (seen earlier in Ridley Scott’s war epic, Black Hawk Down) as the protagonist. Playing Bana’s on-screen love interest in the film is Jennifer Connelly, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2002 for her role in the Russell Crowe-starrer, A Beautiful Mind.
Hulk is the story of Bruce Banner (Bana), who inherits mutated genes from his scientist father who had experimented with some DNA samples in the past. The result: Now when the adult Bruce gets angry, he transforms into a massive green monster with superhuman strength and the mind of a child.
The USP of Hulk is the fact that Ang Lee hasn’t simply made a film about the exploits of a hero who gains superhuman powers accidentally. Unlike Spider-Man, in this context, Hulk as a comic series as well as a film is an attempt to draw the viewer into the science behind all that’s happening.
And in an of-late scenario where we have a surfeit of comicbook heroes on screen, that alone makes Hulk special.
Trivia
Director Ang Lee turned down Terminator 3 to make Hulk
Johnny Depp was considered for the central role when the film was first planned in mid-90s
Stan Lee, creator of the comic book character on which the film is based, does a cameo in the film
The ‘hulk dogs’ seen in the film were designed by Ang Lee’s son
A considerable part of Hulk was shot in the same house where To Kill A Mockingbird (1962) was filmed
And in an of-late scenario where we have a surfeit of comicbook heroes on screen, that alone makes Hulk special.
Trivia
Director Ang Lee turned down Terminator 3 to make Hulk
Johnny Depp was considered for the central role when the film was first planned in mid-90s
Stan Lee, creator of the comic book character on which the film is based, does a cameo in the film
The ‘hulk dogs’ seen in the film were designed by Ang Lee’s son
A considerable part of Hulk was shot in the same house where To Kill A Mockingbird (1962) was filmed