You wouldn't like me when I'm Ang Lee

Before I begin this post I want to slightly caveat it by stating here and now that I am not a great comicbook reader. That is to say that I haven't recently read many comics, or graphic novels, it does not mean that I am not a fan of the artform, just that I don't often get the time to sit and read much these days.

Right, that said, let's crack on.

This week I went to the end of my road, to my local UGC cinema, and paid my six English pounds to watch the Hulk. I really wasn't sure what to expect. For the past seven months I have been anticipating this movie more than most of the comic book adaptations, certainly more than X2, and even more than the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. My recent purchase of the Spider-man DVD whetted my appetite for good, solid comic book fun , and the added bonus of a pretty much guaranteed, beautifully framed story to boot from Ang Lee, had me really on the edge of my seat waiting for release.

The Hulk TV series as a kid used to give me nightmares. I think, in fairness, that the site of Lou Ferringo in nothing more then ripped jeans is enough to send anyone over the edge, but as a four year old it was particulary terror-inducing. Having read a few Hulk comics since however, it was always my view that the comic and the TV series didn't really bare that much relation. I mean sure, there was a big, green guy in it. But Bruce Banners' psychology was never explored within the series' 30 minute framework, whereas within the brooding, darkly-lit cells of the comic book it was ethereally present across ever page.

I had hoped that Ang Lee would bring this to his film. He did. In spades.

And this seems to have caused a problem. Review, after review, after review has commented on Ang's over-reliance on exposition and backstory. Many of them comment on the fact that this was no Hulk with which they were familiar. But to me, this was exactly how a Hulk movie should be. This was a comic book adaptation absolutely sticking true to it's hand-drawn roots.

From it's simply gorgeous use of comic book cell editing and transitions, to it's short, tight dialogue, the Hulk plays out exactly as I remember the comic used to be (and looking at the Marvel Comics website, still is).

The Hulk is a beautiful film, with pacing so similar to my experience of comic book reading that I am surprised at the 'Hulk-Smash' backlash that has engulfed it. The dark, brooding story was developed slowly and lovingly for a full 40 minutes before we even see the big, green guy. And it was all the better for it. The Hulk has never (in my mind) been a character in the 'caper' style of Spider-man or Captain America. The stories have always had more emotional resonance than most. And unlike say, the recently new appearance of a darker, more pensive, contemplative Batman - that is nothing like his 60's TV counterpart, this is how the Hulk has (pretty much) always been.

He [the Hulk] deserves exposition so much more than his other genetically modified counterparts. This isn't simply a story about how he came to be the way he is, so that we can quickly explain away his ability to crawl up walls. But one in which the viewer needs to understand why the Hulk is the way he is. Ang Lee, and James Schamus' writing, delivered this reasoning flawlessly.

The film is certainly not without it's faults. There is still a long way to go within the field of CGI development if the physical interaction of real world elements of the Hulk is to be treated as a benchmark. The friction of walking has always been a difficult thing to portray (unless of course you wanted to recreate a Jackson-esque moonwalk), and at times the Hulk's leaps into the air and his subsequent landings onto the ground feel 'false' and tend to ruin an otherwise realistic, and surprisingly emotional computer animated character. But the simple fact that this looks so false when compared to his other excellent positioning within 'real' settings only goes to serve just how believable the character is (for a big green monster).

This was a great film, spolied by it's marketing towards a 12A audience, and the obvious commercial benefits that this rating enjoys. Had it been a 15 or an 18 certificate, I genuinely believe that the expectations of it would have been so much different, and the reviews would have been so much more favourable.

I'm genuinely looking forward to a sequel. And my only hope is that Ang Lee stays on board, although looking at the blame pointed in (and at) his direction, it doesn't look like this will be the case. To me this would be a great shame, but it was always going to be a tough act for Ang to get away with.

Next time, we will just have to live with the 'Hulk Smash' mentality. I can't see that winning any critic's hearts or Oscars either, but then maybe the Hulk is destined to be an under-achiever. And just like his misunderstood character, neither hero nor villain. This seems like a waste in my mind.

And that makes me angry.