RKMBs Forums .::Robegories::. Media Hulk Sequel: Edward Norton to play Banner

I still think the hulk remake is too soon.

What I dislike:

It needlessly ditched the origin from the previous movie; you could have made sequel and yet have made a "Hulk smash!" story.

The "new" origin didn't mention the gamma bomb or Rick Jones. I hoped this movie would be similar to the comics, not the TV-series. The series was charming and great FOR ITS TIME, like the Batman series from the 1960's. Not something I'd base a new franchise on.

What I like about The Incredible Hulk:

Edward Norton, perfect for playing angry white man; he isn't exactly better than Eric Bana as Banner but he makes a different, if conventional, Banner.

What I dislike:

It needlessly ditched the origin from the previous movie; you could have made sequel and yet have made a "Hulk smash!" story.

The "new" origin didn't mention the gamma bomb or Rick Jones. I hoped this movie would be similar to the comics, not the TV-series. The series was charming and great FOR ITS TIME, like the Batman series from the 1960's. Not something I'd base a new franchise on.

Shouldn't "Mr Blue's" real name be Samson? The guy who got green hair and helped both Hulk and the Gamma Base?

Ross motives in the comics was reasonable (during the 60-70's, before getting nuts after Byrne's run during the 80's), though not his hatred for Banner. In the movie he's more cynical and vicious; trying to create supersoldiers.

Hulk doesn't know Banner or want to destroy him for Banner's efforts to kill the Hulk. Unless the writers develops the Banner - Hulk duality, I want an Intelligent Hulk or Gray Hulk.

I give the movie a strong 2 out of 5; Lee's movie gets 4 out of 5.

This seems a little contradictory.

On one hand, you didn't want them to ditch the origin from the Ang Li movie. On the other, you wish they'd ditched the Ang Li origin in order to go back to the comic book origin.[/i]

I'd also argue that the comic book origin is the one that's quaint and old fashioned (what with its emphasis on the nuclear arms race and the commies), moreso than the TV show's version.

Firstly, my reading of it wasn't that they ditched the origin from the first film, as they never actually showed the origin.
The bit in the lab at the beginning I took as him doing the research with Betty that was so crucial later in the film.
I didn't see anything that hinted that the opening scene was the origin.

As for your Mr.Blue comment.
No it shouldn't be Samson as Samson's name was in the text at the beginning, alluding to the fact Banner had already worked with him.
From my memory, Samson was a psychiatrist, not a scientist, so him being Mr.Blue would not make sense.
Add in the fact that Mr.Blue is The Leader, then it makes even less sense for him to be Samson!

I liked seeing all the stuff in the text at the begining, with names like Samson, Stark Enterprises and Fury popping up, that was truly a comic nerd moment.

I also liked the homages to the tv show, without actually resorting to copying it.
We got Jack McGee, the sad music, the machine, the initial transformation, the classic "Dont make me angry" quote & even appearances from both Bixby and Ferrigno.

The reason for Ross being different is born out of many reasons.
Firstly, the Ross of the 60s, would be difficult to pull off in a modern film as so much has changed with the world and the military.
Secondly, like any comic book movie, there will always be a degree of poetic licence.
But most importantly, they really wanna tie these new movies together, and they have less to work with than the comic books, so things are mixed up a bit.
As was already mentioned, this project will tie in nicely with Captain America and the super soldier program!

But most importantly, they really wanna tie these new movies together, and they have less to work with than the comic books, so things are mixed up a bit.
As was already mentioned, this project will tie in nicely with Captain America and the super soldier program!

I must have missed the bit where he was named (probably when I went out to take a piss), but from what I can see on IMDB, Bettys "boyfriend" was Doc Samson!

Agreed on Captain America. A pity the movie-makers didn't connect the X-men, Spider-Man and Daredevil movies in a similar way.

That's awesome. Hope Samson doesn't get handled the way Beast was in X-men III. (After getting mentioned in the previous, but not showed as mutant, then thrown into the story in X-3 without no real explanation.)

I think most X-Men fans saw that as him using that device (the name escapes me right now) that he and Nightcrawler etc, would use to pass as humans when out in public.

I dont think anything they did with Beast ignored the previous film!

This and Iron Man are the first movies made by Marvel themselves rather than outside studios, which is why they can tie them together.

Its one of the things that should have benefited DC, as all their movies are made by Warners.
The only hint of a crossover they ever gave was in Batman Forever, when someone (I cant remember if it was Bruce or Dick) mentions the circus is on its way to Metropolis.

Oh, and I had been hoping that Mr.Blue would turn out to be a vague reference to Reed Richards, even if we did not get to see him. (blue being the FF's costume colour and all that)

Okay... How does that help those who haven't read all the comics?



Not apart from him looking like a human in the previous movies. What irked me and others was that suddenly, Beast was in Xavier's school and plotted with the other mutants without introducing himself (IIRC). Normal reaction to that would be: "Hey... who are you and what are you doing here?" Granted, that was probably not the only plot-hole in X-3, with all the lack of editing in that movie.

I see what you mean, but I still think it's not a good way to make movies. But hey, if people like it...

Thanks for a giving discussion Nowhereman. I have to go now.

Okay... How does that help those who haven't read all the comics?

Not apart from him looking like a human in the previous movies. What irked me and others was that suddenly, Beast was in Xavier's school and plotted with the other mutants without introducing himself (IIRC). Normal reaction to that would be: "Hey... who are you and what are you doing here?" Granted, that was probably not the only plot-hole in X-3, with all the lack of editing in that movie.

Fuck off!
Dick!

he's a mutant. mutants look weird sometimes. comic readers can read into that he had the holographic projector when they see him, non comic readers probably ignored the quick 2 second bit with him on tv in X2.

I remember quite clearly a scene where he showed up at the school and was greeted with a "long time no see" and it was clear he was a former student. it's a school, people graduate from schools and move on.

It's a tale of two movies, with an oddly similar ending.

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.

After four weekends, the Louis Leterrier-directed "The Incredible Hulk" has earned $125 million, the same as what "Hulk" had pulled in at the same time in its run. "Hulk" finished with $132 million, and its successor is unlikely to do much better.

Its foreign rollout is still in progress, with comics-friendly Japan among the territories the remake has yet to bow, but it appears likely that the Edward Norton starrer will struggle to reach $130 million internationally. The first film tallied $113.2 million overseas.

Action films tend to outperform internationally, though comic book adaptations can be a different matter if the fan base skews American. Marvel touts the Hulk comic franchise as its second most popular worldwide, after Spider-Man.

"All we can say as a studio is that we are very pleased with the result," Universal domestic distribution president Nikki Rocco said.

Despite the similarity of the Hulk films' theatrical runs, industryites suggest the lighter tone of the second film makes it more the vehicle to generate sequels, and some suggest the remake will prove a more lucrative DVD title than the Eric Bana-starring original. On the other hand, production costs and marketing expenses were steeper the second time around, totaling more than $200 million. The first film cost about $150 million to make.

Still, the dark original so turned off the Hulk character's fanboy base as to require a complete reworking of its big-screen rendering before a film franchise could be christened.

But Marvel has yet to greenlight a Hulk sequel. So other observers suggest the films' most important distinction lies simply in how well market expectations were managed in advance of their respective bows.

"Hollywood is always about perception," said David Davis, managing partner and entertainment analyst at Arpeggio Partners in Los Angeles. "The first Hulk (movie) had such high expectations after the NBC-Universal merger and was supposed to be critical-favorite Ang Lee's breakout commercial blockbuster.

"Then with the new Hulk film, Marvel was able to underplay the importance of the success after the great success of 'Iron Man' this summer," Davis said. "So the new one overdelivered, relative to its underpromise."

The Marvel-produced, Paramount-distributed "Iron Man" has fetched more than $563 million at the worldwide box office.

Saw it today. I loved it. I went it thinking it would be a big dumb action movie and got what I expected and a little more. I would put this in the same league as Iron Man but Iron Man is a better movie. Loved the Iron Man references and the scene at the end with Tony Stark. All these Marvel movie tie ins and bringing out the comic book nerd in me. I can't wait to see what they do with Captain America and the rest.

wow....I didn't realize Oregon was so gangster.