If you haven’t joined the cult of Film Crit Hulk, the anonymous blogger who writes astoundingly observed film musings in the character and voice of The Incredible Hulk, now’s as good a time as any to start reading with his recent post on Jonathan Levine and Will Reiser’s cancer dramedy 50/50.
Film Crit Hulk writes longform in a third person, all-caps “Hulkspeak” that belies the laser-like analyses he makes in blogging about films, from his perfect 7,000-word treatise on the abominable Eat, Pray, Love to a recent three-part deconstruction of action cinema with cinematographer Tom Townend (Attack the Block).
While some argue that he should drop the Hulk schtick and write a straight film blog, it’s kind of brilliant how the affected lingo lends his insights an unexpectedly jarring clarity. There’s a beauty in Film Crit Hulk’s work, and though he eases up on the vernacular in his 50/50 post (which itself is deeply personal yet doesn’t tarnish his argument by oversharing), it’s one of his most sensitive pieces yet.
An excerpt:
CANCER IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAS SEEMINGLY TOUCHED EVERYONE. YOU’VE PROBABLY HAD SOME LEVEL OF PROXIMITY TO IT. IF YOU HAVEN’T? WELL, HULK’S NOT RELIGIOUS OR ANYTHING BUT COUNT YOUR DARN BLESSINGS. THAT’S BECAUSE SOME OF US HAVE GOTTEN THE FRONT-ROW SEAT. SOME OF US HAVE EVEN HAD IT… AND SOME OF US HAVE HAD IT ALONG WITH MOST EVERYONE ELSE IN OUR FAMILIES (HOW TO PUT THIS? GAMMA RADIATION IS A BITCH)…
DISEASE DOES NOT GET YOU TO SEE “LIFE” BUT REALLY THE JUST ORDINARY NATURE OF “YOUR LIFE.” AND THAT’S WHY EVERYONE AROUND
…
Full Story »
When the concept art (the buzziest of promotional buzzwords this summer; see also new concept art for Snow White & The Huntsman and Lucifer) of Mark Ruffalo as Hulk in The Avengers was released at the end of Comic-Con last weekend, it was easy to joke that it looked like every other incarnation of Hulk. In a new interview with the Los Angeles Times, Marvel boss Kevin Feige confirms that similarity is by design… except when it’s not. Hulk confused?
“It will be as different as The Incredible Hulk was from Ang Lee’s Hulk in terms of its look and design, but it is Hulk. The image we released on the last day of Comic-Con — which got a tremendous amount of attention and I was very pleased about — is a very good representation of what he’s going to look like,” Feige told the Times. “Hulk is Hulk. We’re not going to reinvent the wheel.”
Well, almost. Based on the concept art, this version of Hulk will bear more of a resemblance to Ruffalo than the previous incarnations did to Eric Bana and Edward Norton.
“It was something we actively avoided before. Hulk was Hulk, he’s not any one actor and Hulk should look like Hulk. It was like Iron Man’s armor, in a way, it wouldn’t change depending on the actor wearing it. But we’ve taken a different approach because Hulk is Banner and, frankly, we came to question our approach. Why are we not doing it this way? So we did a few designs that put Ruffalo into it, and we immediately saw how much more you feel…
Full Story » 
As if you couldn’t tell, Comic-Con fever has infected Movieline HQ worse than whatever Gwyenth Paltrow has in the trailer for Contagion. Only, instead of being fatal, Comic-Con fever is pretty awesome and totally nerdy in the best way possible. Of course, if you’re not at ‘Con, you could be feeling left out of the fun — and that’s why Movieline is here to help. Ahead, five options to bring the festival to your own home this weekend.
1. Marathon the Marvel Avengers series, from Iron Man to Captain America: First Avenger
Marvel Studios doesn’t have much of a presence at Comic-Con this year — the Disney-owned production studio is being saved for the D23 Expo next month — but that doesn’t mean geeks of all stripes won’t be chatting about the 2012 superhero supergroup team-up throughout the next three days. With Captain America: First Avenger arriving in theaters, what better time to revisit all the Avengers-based films right in a row! Start with an early morning home-watch of Iron Man and continue throughout the day with The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 2 before trying to find one of the 200-odd theaters still playing Thor. Close out the day with a late showing of Captain America and you’ll be primed for Joss Whedon’s Avengers. Just brush up on the Cosmic Cube beforehand to be sure you know what you’re dealing with.
2. Make your own Comic-Con costume
Cosplay is a word you might not have been that familiar with before Thursday, but by now…
It’s taken eight months, but the most wonderful 7,000-word review of the Julia Roberts self-love vehicle Eat, Pray, Love has arrived. Best of all, it’s written entirely in Hulk-speak. As in The Incredible Hulk. “EVERY TIME THE SUPREMELY WELL-OFF GILBERT USURP THE LANGUAGE OF PEOPLE WITH REAL EATING DISORDER IT MAKE HULK WANT SMASH LIKE HULK’S NEVER SMASHED BEFORE.” Can we get this guy on Rotten Tomatoes already? [Film Crit Hulk]
You won’t like Edward Norton when he’s conciliatory. Fresh off a weekend of he said/he said mudslinging, the erstwhile green menace has apparently decided to act like Bruce Banner even though he can’t play him. Norton has taken to Facebook to post a note to his fans — many of whom apparently actually cared for The Incredible Hulk — expressing regret that he’ll lay down the tattered purple sweats in The Avengers. After the jump, take a look Norton’s mannered and utterly vanilla response and imagine a world where the casting decisions for a Marvel feature don’t take up 72 hours of your time.
Note to Kevin Feige: That is how you take the high road.
[via Facebook]
![Marvel To Norton: Sorry But Youre Kind Of A Jerk [UPDATE]](http://www.celebrities.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/7bc54_norton_hulk_225.jpg "Marvel To Norton: Sorry But Youre Kind Of A Jerk [UPDATE]")
And who says that those in power never listen to the common man? Yesterday we reported that Marvel Studios was allegedly going to go with a new actor to play Bruce Banner/the Hulk in their big action ensemble, The Avengers. Edward Norton had previously played the tortured scientist/purple pants enthusiast in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, but got into a bit of tiff with Marvel execs over his script and the focus of the movie. But late last night Marvel Studios released a statement to HitFix explaining away the whole situation.
And for a Hollywood statement, it’s a remarkably candid document:
“We have made the decision to not bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in the Avengers. Our decision is definitely not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members. The Avengers demands players who thrive working as part of an ensemble, as evidenced by Robert, Chris H, Chris E, Sam, Scarlett, and all of our talented casts. We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfills these requirements, and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming weeks.”
Wow. There was no, “We had separate visions” or “We enjoyed working with Ed Norton and wish him all the best,” or any other typical Hollywood breakup boilerplate. What kind of a colossal dick must Norton have been to Marvel for them to publicly announce that they’re only looking for easy collaborators and actors who work well with others, and that ain’t you, babe? The “this isn’t about money at all, by the way” proviso is just salt in the wound.
Color me
…
Full Story »
And who says that those in power never listen to the common man? Yesterday we reported that Marvel Studios was allegedly going to go with a new actor to play Bruce Banner/the Hulk in their big action ensemble, The Avengers. Edward Norton had previously played the tortured scientist/purple pants enthusiast in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, but got into a bit of tiff with Marvel execs over his script and the focus of the movie. But late last night Marvel Studios released a statement to HitFix explaining away the whole situation.
And for a Hollywood statement, it’s a remarkably candid document:
“We have made the decision to not bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in the Avengers. Our decision is definitely not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members. The Avengers demands players who thrive working as part of an ensemble, as evidenced by Robert, Chris H, Chris E, Sam, Scarlett, and all of our talented casts. We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfills these requirements, and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming weeks.”
Wow. There was no, “We had separate visions” or “We enjoyed working with Ed Norton and wish him all the best,” or any other typical Hollywood breakup boilerplate. What kind of a colossal dick must Norton have been to Marvel for them to publicly announce that they’re only looking for easy collaborators and actors who work well with others, and that ain’t you, babe? The “this isn’t about money at all, by the way” proviso is just salt in the wound.
Color me disappointed
…
Full Story »