Hulk smash.

Australia’s Eric Bana in the role of scientist Bruce Banner, who becomes a different person when he’s angry, thanks to some animated 3D mastery in Hulk.

Green power
Hulk

Starring Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott and Nick Nolte. Rated M.

Reviewer: The Big Irish Git

I grew up on a steady diet of second-hand Marvel comics. I had many favourite superheroes. Spiderman was a way-cool kid. The Fab 4 embodied teamwork. I envied the strength and purity of Thor the Hammer God and made pathetic attempts to emulate Ironman.

My favourite among them all, however, was the Incredible Hulk. He wasn’t really a hero – though his actions were often heroic. He was, above all, grossly maligned and misunderstood. Hunted and hounded by the ignorance and arrogance of square-jawed military zealots. I couldn’t stand the injustice of it. If only they could see beyond the monstrous exterior.

With childish innocence, I really did feel for him.

It is that childhood view of the world through the eyes of Hulk creator Stan Lee et al that, to this day, has me bristling at the merest hint of injustice – or is that just my Irish blood boiling?

Anyway, when Hulk the movie was announced, I was excited. I was initially confident that Hollywood, following on the success and quality of the plethora of other superheroes brought to the big screen, would render the story well.

But then I saw the trailer. Now I was nervous. I really thought they botched it. Too much 3D animation – and corny looking to boot.

I pinned my hopes on one man – and that was tentative – Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).

Heart on sleeve, cold sweat threatening, I went to see it anyway. Luckily.

Had I not, I might have missed a damn good film and, more importantly, my favourite superhero brought to life in the best way possible.

The cinematic genius of the fine collaboration of Ang Lee and Industrial Light and Magic was such that, not only did Hulk come to life, not only did I feel a kid’s empathy for a maligned giant, but I also found my mind fooled into thinking it was immersed in the pages of a pristine, first-issue comic book. Split screens and bordered cutaways capture the essence of the paper-based medium brilliantly while the 3D animation was so well done my mind completely accepted the reality of the monster in front of me and concentrated not on his being, but the emotions of his plight.

First-rate acting performances from Sam Elliott and, more particularly, Nick Nolte neatly ice a perfect cake.

Hulk the movie cuts it.

This will be my last movie review for the service newspapers. I won’t bore you with detail, but rather thank you for your support and feedback over five-and-a-half very enjoyable years.

“Hi, I’m Corporal Hartigan.” “Ah! The Big Irish Git!” – so often the ice was thus broken as I travelled round the country reporting on you and your mates, working hard and playing hard. Thank you for letting me in to your lives for an all-too-brief look. If you want to keep in touch, I’d really love to hear from you. My web site (one last plug, Editor, please) www.bigirishgit.com has my contact details.

I started my reviewing career with a none-too brilliant movie that is still etched on my brain – U Turn. Almost 150 movies later, I am very happy to report that my last will surely do the same – but for much better reasons.

Hulk rates, appropriately, five big green shamrocks.

Over and out from the B.I.G.

How the movie rates: