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Ang Lee's Hulk! Reviled by many, hated by others, disliked by more, loved by very few (not even those who like it) . . . forunately, this is not the only movie Ben and Daniel are going to talk about!
This episode is a look back at the Marvel movie universes that came before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, taking a few detours into Marvel's Distinguished Competition. From duck to mutant to vampire to swamp monster, Ben and Daniel explore what brought us to that moment in superhero movies that changed every thing (or ONE of those moments, anyway): Iron Man!
Mike Poteet (@Bibliomike) says
Hey, if it’d make my son clean his room and take showers without complaining, I’d experiment on him with gamma rays in a heartbeat…. I kid! I kid!
Seriously, though, you guys are fantastic to listen to – great rapport, and impressive knowledge of your subject
Some comments, typed as I Iistened:
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Teeing off with HOWARD THE DUCK. Even had I seen it, that would never have occurred to me. You guys are such nerds! 😉 (Pot, kettle; kettle, pot.)
I am still a staunch defender of the Silver Surfer movie. I didn’t enjoy the first FF, but FF:Rise of the Silver Surfer is a fun film, a fast-paced film, *and* a family-friendly film! I got so fed up with Internet fanboys carping, “Oh, man, its rated PG, that means it’s gonna suck.” I think in some ways it was a self-fulfilling prophecy but, even today, Silver Surfer is the only major superhero film my son and I have watched together because he’s a sensitive and skittish guy (my wife had to take him home during AVENGERS). WHY is it wrong for the powers that be to make family-friendly superhero movies? Why do they all have to have enough violence to get to the PG-13 threshold? Ugh, I’m ranting…
Totally agree with Ben re: Karen Carpenter’s voice, though.
I hope we’ll see Black Panther, either in his own film or in AVENGERS 2 (or later). What do you think the odds are for an Inhumans movie? When my son and I were reading old FF comics together, we both really enjoyed these supporting superhero cast members.
“What else did you have in 1983?” D’oh. Like a dummy, I said to myself, “Return of the Jedi.” HA! Though I can recall seeing the OCTOPUSSY posters in the theater when I went to see JEDI, and my 11-year-old self being quite scandalized by the title.
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Great episode!
PS. Maybe his son’s brief movie career as Captain America is the real reason Salinger has been so secluded all these years…!
PPS. I finally saw “Object 47” (49?) on the AVENGERS DVD. Do you think those two characters will show up in “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”? I hope so!
PPPS. Thanks for taking the time to respond to my feedback (and for the explanation of The Vision). But NO, Star Trek III does *not* rip the heart and soul of Star Trek II, since Kirk still had to learn to live with sacrifice, as though the universe is saying to him, “Okay, Kirk – You want your best friend, Spock, back? Fine – but it will cost you your ship and your son. For keeps. They stay gone. Forever.” Tell me Kirk isn’t still dealing with death.
Plus, once Spock comes back, he isn’t the same for a good long time (arguably, ever again).
Q.E.D. 🙂
(Don’t get Trekkie Mike angry. You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.)
DarkwingRanger says
I’m an aspiring filmmaker and I remember my film editing class showed us a clip of The Hulk as part of the what not to do lesson
RC says
Hey guys, I know this is an old episode, but I did want to say Ben; that I too liked the first Ghost Rider. Maybe not love…. but I did like it.
David Duprey says
I’m a big Marvel fan and will watch any movie Marvel puts out!
My quick recap of movies you mentioned through Episode 2:
I loved Howard the Duck when I saw it as a kid. I recently bought it and rewatched it and cringed at a particular moment with Lea Thompson and Howard… I still had fun watching it, though.
Liked Dolph Lundgren’s Punisher and really, really loved Thomas Jane’s Punisher.
Did not like War Zone even though I like the actor Ray Stevenson’s work in Rome, and GI Joe. Have you seen Thomas Jane’s Punisher short “Dirty Laundry”? It should be the opening scene of a Punisher 3!
Liked Ghostrider, for what it was, mostly because of Sam Elliott again. Did not like Spirit of Vengeance at all.
I’ve never seen Salinger’s Captain America or The Hoff’s Nick Fury, but now I want to.
I liked the Maguire Spider-Man trilogy and agree with all of your comments on it.
I also looked forward to Fantastic Four because of Horatio Hornblower with Gruffold. Great movies (Hornblower) and FF and Rise of the Silver Surfer weren’t that bad. I liked the look of the Silver Surfer, Johnny Blaze and Chiklis’ The Thing.
Loved X-Men and X2, disappointed by X3 and Origin (except for Reynold’s Deadpool and Gambit’s appearance). I enjoyed First Class and The Wolverine and looking forward to Days of Future Past.
I saw HULK in theaters in Florida at Universal Studios while I was there to attend a wedding. I enjoyed the movie, for what it was. I am a big fan of Eric Bana and Sam Elliott. I found the comic-book style annoying, but I understood what Lee was going for.
HULK gets a bad rap that isn’t deserved. It had its problems, but was entertaining. It just had too much CGI, but at the time that was the only way to achieve Hulk. I missed the voice. Fred Tatasciore is the best voice for The Hulk.
Great Podcast.