lets see, (from dvdtalk reviews) too arty, no character development, too borring, don't feel for the characters, I wish Ang Lee would fall off the earth

Here's some thoughts about "Hulk" I wrote for the movie review coulmn I write at the paper where I work... I gave it ** of ****, a failed attempt in my book.

...
The “Hulk” story is of course just a take on the classic “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” tale about a man’s dark side breaking loose. That inner monster theme has always made great fodder for movies, and the “Hulk” comic books have persevered for more than 40 years.
But Ang Lee feels the need to pile on a whole catalog of psychological, scientific and symbolic explanations for the Hulk’s existence. Sometimes a Hulk is just a Hulk, OK?
Bana has solid presence in his first big Hollywood leading role, but as written the character of Bruce Banner is too passive and unappealing. Oscar winner Connelly seems to be sleepwalking through her pallid love interest role, while Nolte overacts appallingly, literally chewing on the scenery in one pivotal scene.
And then there’s the Hulk itself.
Fanboy critics on the Internet have been complaining about the “fake” look of the Hulk since the first trailers, and I’m sad to say this is one of the rare times those armchair directors are right.
The computer-generated green dude never looks quite real, compared to Gollum in “Lord Of The Rings” or heck, even Jar Jar Binks. It’s rubbery and stiff, and you never feel the awe you should at a 15-foot monster. The Hulk has no personality, no sense of reality. Even a puppet like Yoda seemed more real, somehow.
To make matters worse, many of the film’s crucial Hulk scenes are set in murky darkness, making it hard to tell what’s going on.
Movies like “Spider-Man” and the “X-Men” series have proved you can do comic book films seriously, giving them emotional depth yet making them entertaining spectacles.
But “Hulk” goes too far in search of seriousness. It’s a movie that feels as repressed as Bruce Banner, never quite breaking loose.
The title character doesn’t appear until nearly the halfway mark. The movie moves in fits and starts, with thrilling adventure coming, fleetingly, only in its final 45 minutes, when the Hulk goes on an entertaining rampage in New Mexico and San Francisco.
Some of the scenes are beautiful to look at, particularly those set in rocky desert, and the production design is generally top-notch. But the audience I was with laughed at scenes of the Hulk bounding clumsily through the desert, not the intended effect, I’d imagine. And let’s not even talk about the Hulk Dogs (I’m serious, sadly). A totally ludicrous, incomprehensible final battle sequence erases any remaining good will “Hulk” had.
Lee and cinematographer Frederick Elmes attempt an innovative way of framing the movie. Scenes shift with fluid frames and transitions, similar to what’s seen on television’s “24.” But the sliding panels and boxes are distracting more often than not, and used so inconsistently in the movie there’s no real reason for the technique.
I’m not one of those to obsess over tiny changes like the fanboys who scream bloody murder because Batman’s boots are the wrong color. But most of the pop melodrama that makes the “Hulk” comics so durable is tossed out here for Ang Lee’s tortured revamps, which feel unnecessary and needlessly complicated.
Is this a father-son melodrama? A warning tale about the evils of science? A popcorn action flick? A romance? The Hulk is so muddled that it fails both as summer blockbuster escapism and as serious character study. We never really care about Bruce Banner.
“Hulk” doesn’t lack for ambition, but it’s fatally flawed. It’s a shame, because Ang Lee has proven talent, and there’s some good ideas here.
People go into “Hulk” expecting, to use the character’s stock line from the comic books, “Hulk Smash!”
Here, it’s “Hulk mish-mash,” and it’s a terrific disappointment.

Hulk was a great film (Plot was a little lacking, but then - nowadays - what film plot isn't. But hey, good entertainment is good entertainment, and for me, Hulk was good entertainment.) Reloaded was sufficiently entertaining.

Come to think of it, I've enjoyed all the summer movies this year, but for the year - Tears of the Sun was by far the worst.

Summer movie wise, I suppose 28 Days Later... was my least enjoyed.

Edit: The 'problem' most people seem to be having with Hulk is they simply find it boring. I didn't have this problem with Hulk,but did have it during Spider-man - so I can see where they're coming from. Oh and the film is essentially watching a comic book with moving panels instead of a "movie" movie.

The anti-Ang sentiment seems kind of over-the-top, but whatever. I don't understand the 'hate' for the movie either really, to me it's both superiorally made and more entertaining than Spider-man and the Blade series.

Too arty - not really, it's a comic book.. on the big screen.

No Character Development - what?

Too boring - I can't judge this for other people.

Don't feel for the characters - I suppose if your going MST3k the entire movie, then yea - you're going to miss a lot and not give a damn.

I wish Ang Lee would fall off the earth - that's about the lamest/dumbest comment I've ever read on this board.

That's true, but what's the point of criticizing something you haven't seen first hand? I know it really pisses me off when Jerry Falwell does it.

I too thought Hulk was a bit too long, and I didn't like what they did with how his father's character ended up. Slow, but not boring.

And trust me, it has plenty of character development.

I haven't really seen what I'd call a bad summer movie, but I'd say Hulk has been my least favorite.

28 days later being my fav, great movie.

The Matrix Reloaded...Im sorry, but it pretty much blew. I mean if they have those dumba## raves in Zion, let me stay in my little pod and live in the matrix. I can't comment on From Justin to Kelly, Dumb and Dumberer, or anything like that because I just wouldnt take the time or spend the money; and they may be much worse, but I cant comment on something I didnt see.

With a little willpower over peer pressure I've managed to avoid most of the crappy sequals and just plane crap, except for Matrix Reloaded, which was absolutely horrendous. I'll be seeing Swimming Pool this weekend and I hope that turns out to be the best.

nothing beats Dumb and Dumberer as the worst summer flick.

YAY!!! I made it to someone's sig... I am now totally cool and one bad arse mofo. Step aside, bad arse mofo coming through.

The worst movie I've seen so far this summer is The Hulk.

not true... i enjoyed that a hell of a lot more than HULK... what a piece of garbage.

Well, yet another vote for Hulk. For those like Giles wondering why, I just found it to be a very long, very boring movie with a couple of cool scenes that were not worth sitting through the rest of the movie for. Other opinions (pro and con) are in the Hulk thread. Wait and rent the DVD since there will be chapter stops and you can watch only the 10 minutes that were good. Might not be worth the 4 bucks, but hey...

My faves are Nemo and X2. I expect T3 to soon join this very short list of the good movies of summer 2003. The rest that I have seen so far are crap (Reloaded, Hulk, and Hollywood Homocide).

Scratch that, Charlie's Angles 2: Full Throttle is the worst.