"Only After Disaster Can We Be Resurrected" -Tyler Durden

At least that's what Marvel hopes. With such spot on casting choices such as Jessica Alba as Sue Storm, Ben Affleck as Daredevil, and David Hasselhoff as Nick Fury, the House of Ideas can't always crank out winners. But Marvel is obviously trying to correct prior wrongs with some recent decisions, such as Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark. But their most recent choice is both effin' amazing and slightly unnerving at the same time.

It's pretty clear that Marvel treats its movie franchises on two separate tiers. We have the Spider-Man, the X-Men, and even the Blade films receiving preferential treatment, while the Daredevils, Punishers, and Ghost Riders are shat upon. (And then there's Howard the Duck - I'm still holding out for the remake, I really think a CG Howard would really add to the deep emotional gravitas of the character). But stuck somewhere in Purgatory is Bruce Banner, a.k.a. the Hulk.

Ang Lee's Hulk was a high-concept blockbuster art house studio independent mess. How hard could it be to turn one of Marvel's simplest characters into an entertaining movie? Bruce Banner experiments, Bruce Banner fucks up, Bruce Banner Hulks, and Hulk Smashes. Simple as that. Please. Ang Lee tried to add a touch of spirituality and greater sense of meaning to the film, but why? We don't need this metaphysical redemption shit, the is he or isn't he dead cloud of energy ending. Eric Bana as Bruce? A laudable actor, but a little too chiseled and suave for the geeky, depressive mess that is Banner. And the Hulk himself? Looks fantastic in stills, like a train wreck in motion. The guy weighs a couple tons, for God's sake, when he lands on the ground the earth should shatter. We should feel every step when he runs, but instead he prances like a fucking ballerina. Honestly, get some animators that have studied weight distribution and physics, it's an insult to people who don't even know the basics of animation.

But the franchise is getting a reboot. Not a sequel, thankfully, but an honest to God second chance. New writer (David S. Goyer of Blade and Batman Begins fame), new director (Louis Leterrier (the dog), Transporter director), new story, and most importantly, a new Bruce:



Ed Norton (Fight Club, The Illusionist) could be a great choice for the scrawny, nerdy Bruce Banner if we really want to (and I really want to) explore his depression and building insanity at his inability to control his transformation, but again, we still have to worry about the Hulk himself. The action set pieces can only do so much to balance out the drama that Ed Norton will infuse into the role of Banner, but I'd like to see the Hulk have a little more character himself. Hulk speak! Hulk know words! Hulk want dialogue! Hopefully this new story is worth the effort, because I'd love to see Marvel succeed at resurrecting this franchise (and make the Hulk gray...much cooler).

-Vincenz

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"Edward Norton is a rare talent and one of the most versatile actors in the business. His ability to transform into a particular role makes him the ideal choice to take on the character of Bruce Banner/The Hulk." - Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios President of Production

You see what he did there? He equated Ed Norton's ability to transform for roles to the Hulk's transformation. That guys a smooth-smoothie!

So does this mean we can all look forward to more of these?



- Rob Society