Hulk rewrite!

[Flying_Infant]

Edward Norton (Bruce Banner/Incredible Hulk) rewrote the screenplay along with director Louis Letterier to fit their visions as they saw it for the character.

I'm excited for this.

[zuludelta]

Sounds like good news... I wonder what Hulk era Norton will be referencing? He's old enough to have been reading the classic Roger Stern stories when they first came out (and really, a lot of the stuff we know about the current Hulk mythos comes from Stern, such as the fact that Banner's Hulk transformation isn't solely because of his gamma radiation exposure but is also a manifestation of some deep-seated psychological problems that stem from childhood abuse). 

[Pyroclasm]

I can't get excited until I start seeing clips and/or a script.  So far the news is less than steller.  I'm not keen on a reboot less than 5 years after the last effort.  I personally felt Ang Lee's Hulk was great.  I've seen it at least a dozen times.  Had a great mix of character torment, flashy style, and Hulkiness.  I keep hearing people saying that it should have been more "Hulk Smash", but then what do we have?  A tedious 2 hours of a big green monster smashing stuff?  Is that what people really wanted?  If that's what Marvel or the studio wanted, why the hell would you hire Ang Lee, known best for his character driven movies?  I think they could have easily continued the same movie mythos and just changed up the style-- keep the same actors, switch up the director, switch up the writer.  They've done it to previous franchises, and they were fine.  I just don't think another origin movie is really needed.


edit: typo

[lugaru]

I liked Ang Lee's hulk too but Im a sucker for his movies and for comic characters. Still as far as a new hulk movie goes its not too difficult to write, especially since they are planning on using the "return of the monster" fugitive story.

Just have Bruce Banner framed for a major act of destruction, and send him from point A to point B as a fugitive of the law, turning into the hulk every 20 minutes of screen time. In the end he runs into some other gamma fueled titan (such as abomination) and after a sound thrashing and revealing that there is no cure there the movie ends. I wouldent shy away from Ang Lee's introspective storytelling nor the amazing editing they used in the first movie, that split screen stuff was awesome.

[Mr. Hamrick]

the editing was the only thing i recall liking about the first film

[zuludelta]

I personally felt Ang Lee's Hulk was great.  I've seen it at least a dozen times.  Had a great mix of character torment, flashy style, and Hulkiness.

I liked Ang Lee's Hulk film myself (more than most people, if you go by popular message board sentiment) but I don't really see any problems with Marvel taking a mulligan on the Hulk movie franchise. With a new director (Ang Lee himself expressed no interest in doing a sequel early on), writer, actors, and studio (it's now produced by the in-house Marvel Studios, instead of Sony), I don't think a direct sequel would have been feasible.

Sequels, especially superhero/fantasy sequels, that diverge wildly (either thematically, or in terms of creative teams/lead actors) from the films that preceded them haven't done all that well critically and/or commercially (or at least they underperformed in the box-office), just look at X-Men: The Last Stand, Superman Returns (yeah, it's a bit of a stretch to call it a real sequel but Singer kept insisting on calling it that), the Joel Schumacher Batman movies, The Crow: City of Angels, Aliens vs. Predator, and the Star Wars prequels/pseudo-sequels.     

[MJB]

Sequels, especially superhero/fantasy sequels, that diverge wildly (either thematically, or in terms of creative teams/lead actors) from the films that preceded them haven't done all that well critically and/or commercially (or at least they underperformed in the box-office), just look at X-Men: The Last Stand, Superman Returns (yeah, it's a bit of a stretch to call it a real sequel but Singer kept insisting on calling it that), the Joel Schumacher Batman movies, The Crow: City of Angels, Aliens vs. Predator, and the Star Wars prequels/pseudo-sequels.

X3 wasn't praised by the critics but it was the highest grossing X-men movie of the trilogy.

-MJB

[El Condor]

I really like the idea of Edward Norton as Bruce Banner.  Hell, he kind of already played the Hulk in Fight Club.

EC

[GhostMachine]

I only had 4 problems with Ang Lee's movie:

1. Eric Bana was the wrong choice to play Bruce Banner. Bana is too `pretty boy'. If they had done a Hulk theatrical movie about 15 to 20 years ago, Steve Buschemi would have been perfect for the role, at least physically.

2. The Hulk not talking except in the dream sequence and possibly during the final battle (arguably, could have very well been Bruce halfway through transforming back into himself); I'm sorry, but I want a Hulk that talks. Grunting\roaring worked fine for the tv series (note: Lou Ferrigno did a damn great job as a talking Hulk in the last animated series), but not a movie Hulk that's closer to the actual comics version.

3. I wish the writers had decided ahead of time if they wanted Bruce's daddy to be the Absorbing Man or Zzzax, and not both.

4. The gamma dogs.  :rolleyes:

[bredon7777]

While I consider Norton a darn fine actor, Im not sure about his screenwriting ability

[the_ultimate_evil]

ang lee was the perfect choice, he nailed the idea behind the multiple aspects of the hulks personality, sadly he became lost in his own vision. the constant different angles of the same shot, plus i'm sorry you cant have a hulk movie without a lot action, and lee couldn't find a balance.

the final showdown with the absorbing dad was terrible, you get a great actor like nick nolte and one of the most iconic heros and you hide them in the clouds

[TheMarvell]

I'm in the minority, but I really enjoyed the first Hulk movie. There were two things I found wrong with it. A) the ending. It didn't really make sense, and the really abrupt, out-of-nowhere "1 Year Later" thing slapped on the end of it really felt like a last minute decision. Plus, him speaking "dont make me angry" in Spanish just came off as comical. And B) Hulk fighting in the trees. Cmon now Ang Lee, this was perfect for Crouching Tiger, but the Hulk? Um...no.

With that said, I am excited for this new Hulk, but what I don't like is the general reception from Marvel themselves towards the first film. Weren't they quoted as saying "this new one won't suck"? I'm sorry, but the first one didn't "suck". It wasn't everyone's cup of tea, no, but it was a damn good film despite it's flaws. I've seen people on other forums throw this into the same category with schlock like Catwoman and Elektra. Those movies are the pinnacle of what a bad movie is. Heck, I thought Hulk was loads better than Fantastic Four and Daredevil - two other movies that get WAY more criticism than they deserve. A new version is cool, but I hate how the executives and producers are acting like Hulk needs a reboot the same way Batman did. It came out in 2003 people. They act like they're ashamed of it when they shouldn't be.

Ok, I'm done venting. I was skeptical at first, but the new Hulks cast is really good and I'm looking forward to it. I just wish people would stop acting like the first Hulk shouldn't exist in the same way horrible movies like Batman & Robin should.

[MJB]

I do not believe "the executives and producers" are acting ashamed of The Hulk. They are being realistic from a financial point of view. They can't get any of the the actors from the original and the director showed no interest nor did they want him back. Hollywood thinks that regular people are stupid thus they can't imagine that we would accept new faces in familiar roles.

The easy solution is to re-boot the franchise. If they are successful they can keep the actors and begin to pump out sequels. If they fail the Hulk is dead in movie form.

With the new direction and cast I hope that this is a more commercial success than the first one.

For the record I thought the first one was "OK" when I saw it in the theater. A while later, when it hit DVD, I watched it again and found it to be a good movie. If you watch it knowing that it is a drama with super-powers and not a "Hulk Smash" flick you enjoy it more.

-MJB

[the_ultimate_evil]

you have to remember that though it is technically a reboot, from the studios base ( new actors new director) it will start from when the last one ended, so its not dropping it totally

basically its a superman returns type idea

[TheMarvell]

They might not exactly say or feel "ashamed" of the first Hulk movie, but their general attitude is: "we know the first one sucked. The public thought it sucked and so do we. Time for a reboot!" I don't remember where I read it, but one of the execs behind the new movie said the first one sucked, and because of that, they are doing a reboot.

At first, when they announced the movie, i read them say this was, more or less, an indirect sequel. But now they seem to be clearly stating that this movie has nothing to do with the 2003 film. And I also thought I read somewhere that Eric Bana was considering doing a sequel, but the studios never asked him to. Same with Jennifer Connolly. Wasn't sure about Ang Lee, but I thought he was on the fence.

Financially, the reboot makes sense. I mean, I understand why they are doing it. I just don't like it when people say the movie sucked simply because it wasn't a mindless action movie like Die Hard 4.

[Jakew]

I enjoyed Ang Lee's Hulk waaaayy more than the Fantastic Four films, and slightly more than X-Men 3 (which I enjoyed mainly for the fights and effects).

The major problem I had with the film was Nick Nolte's character ... his motivation was pretty confusing and his final fight with the Hulk was ridiculously hard to follow. However, the Hulk himself was a joy to watch, especially his battle with the choppers/tanks.

The new Hulk movie has an amazing cast ... probably the best for a superhero movie yet. But I've seen the two Transporter films ... the first one was goofy fun, but by no means a good movie. The second one was absolute torture. I'm not sure what Norton's rewrites are going to contribute to the script either.

Honestly, the one thing which pretty much guarantees a look from me is Tim Roth playing The Abomination.

[Outcast]

Here's some live footage clips from the comic con.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0-M2u3xPqU&mode=related&search=  part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KuUpHJJmZo&mode=related&search=  part 2 featuring the return of Captain America!!!  :lol:

[Mr. Hamrick]

just a few thoughts here:

• I think Ed Norton's rewrites will benefit the movie.  If they are wanting to go the route that was mentioned in the San Diego Comic Con vids and do something character driven, then Norton's the go to guy.  He's been known to offer assistance in the past on scripts but never for credit.  This and the film "Motherless Brooklyn" will be his first two full fledged script credits.
• One of things that sucked about the first film was the CGI of The Hulk.  One of the first things that should have been remembered while doing that film is that THE HULK NEEDS TO BE THE SAME SIZE THROUGHOUT AND NOT THREE DIFFERENT SIZES.  The Hulk gets stronger not bigger.
• They are aiming for the old 1970s/early 80s Hulk TV show feel as far as story and character focus.  I think this is great.  The later TV movies drifted away from the original series but I always thought the original series was decent. 
• As for the director, he has said he is at least familiar with the character and the source material.  Though, it was made clear that Norton seems to know more than he does.  Anyways, I think he will be capable of doing a fine job as long as the other visual and story elements come together.  I could almost go off on a rant here about directing but I won't.  Transporter and Transporter 2 were both "pay day films" for the director and the Jason Statham, particularly Transporter 2, and I think this shows. 

[GrizzlyBearTalon]

Sequels, especially superhero/fantasy sequels, that diverge wildly (either thematically, or in terms of creative teams/lead actors) from the films that preceded them haven't done all that well critically and/or commercially (or at least they underperformed in the box-office), just look at X-Men: The Last Stand, Superman Returns (yeah, it's a bit of a stretch to call it a real sequel but Singer kept insisting on calling it that), the Joel Schumacher Batman movies, The Crow: City of Angels, Aliens vs. Predator, and the Star Wars prequels/pseudo-sequels.

X3 wasn't praised by the critics but it was the highest grossing X-men movie of the trilogy.

-MJB

This is true but...

I call dirty pool!

After the 2nd X-men movie I was excited to see more! I went to the theaters and... DIRTY POOL! Same with 90% of my friends as well, so many people went to see it... man it was so bad...

I will be letting my friends be the guinea pig/canary in the coal mine from now on! Saved me from Ghost Rider! I'm so happy!

2. The Hulk not talking except in the dream sequence and possibly during the final battle (arguably, could have very well been Bruce halfway through transforming back into himself); I'm sorry, but I want a Hulk that talks. Grunting\roaring worked fine for the tv series (note: Lou Ferrigno did a damn great job as a talking Hulk in the last animated series), but not a movie Hulk that's closer to the actual comics version.

I did not know that... I loved how he sounded on that show.

4. The gamma dogs.  :rolleyes:

In the mean gamma poochies defense, it wasn't necessarily a bad idea honestly to have something like them. It was just terribly done plot wise... that and the poodle... Also haven't gamma dogs & other gamma tested animals popped up in hulk comics more than once long before this movie?

The fight scene with them was kinda cool... sure I had to turn up my tvs brightness and squint but with the power of IMAGINATION It was pretty cool.

[Uncle Yuan]

The fight scene with them was kinda cool... sure I had to turn up my tvs brightness and squint but with the power of IMAGINATION It was pretty cool.

Man, how long did it take you to set that up?

[Viking]

Hulk HATE puny script!  Hulk REWRITE!

(*A clip from the aborted whimsical movie, "Hulk Goes To Hollywood."*)

[GrizzlyBearTalon]

The fight scene with them was kinda cool... sure I had to turn up my tvs brightness and squint but with the power of IMAGINATION It was pretty cool.

Man, how long did it take you to set that up?

Not as long as you'd think just a couple minutes, a lot of copy & pasting then just changing the color in each tag, while saying ROY G BIV over & over.