I think I figured out why the Hulk movies don't work
Not that they're bad per se, The Incredible Hulk was plenty fun to watch. It just seemed to have some basic structural problem that niggled at the back of my brain that had nothing to do with the climax involving Edward Norton disappearing down a hole (literally) and his CGI alter ego emerging to do battle with another CGI monster while the special effects department destroyed Harlem around them.
I figured it out this afternoon. Just compare it to the other Marvelverse movies that have been made leading up to the Avengers:
Iron Man: Tony Stark, playboy billionaire, has an epiphany while held captive, engineers his own escape and works his invention to turn himself from a self-centered egotist inventor to a (slightly less) self-centered hero, using his inventions for good.
Thor: Asgard's mightiest warrior is brought down to Earth to learn humility and become a hero, using his powers for good.
Captain America: Brave at heart-weak of body Steve Rogers is willing to go to any length to help others, even volunteering for a dangerous experiment, if only it means he can keep the world from being bullied into submission by Hydra.
Hulk: Bruce Banner gets hit by a science experiment gone wrong and becomes the Hulk. Much of the movie revolves around him desperately trying not to use his powers. It's only when the situation is arguably bad enough to cross the Gozilla Threshold (ie: It's bad enough that deliberately directing Godzilla into downtown Tokyo can't possibly make thing worse) that he attempts to Hulk Out voluntarily.
In other words, being the Hulk kinda sucks. When he changes, mild mannered Bruce Banner loses the mind that made him a great man, and become only a monster that even he fears. When he changes, not matter what he's up against, he loses.
It makes for a dramatic movie. Whether it makes for a good superhero movie, I'm just not sure about.
I figured it out this afternoon. Just compare it to the other Marvelverse movies that have been made leading up to the Avengers:
Iron Man: Tony Stark, playboy billionaire, has an epiphany while held captive, engineers his own escape and works his invention to turn himself from a self-centered egotist inventor to a (slightly less) self-centered hero, using his inventions for good.
Thor: Asgard's mightiest warrior is brought down to Earth to learn humility and become a hero, using his powers for good.
Captain America: Brave at heart-weak of body Steve Rogers is willing to go to any length to help others, even volunteering for a dangerous experiment, if only it means he can keep the world from being bullied into submission by Hydra.
Hulk: Bruce Banner gets hit by a science experiment gone wrong and becomes the Hulk. Much of the movie revolves around him desperately trying not to use his powers. It's only when the situation is arguably bad enough to cross the Gozilla Threshold (ie: It's bad enough that deliberately directing Godzilla into downtown Tokyo can't possibly make thing worse) that he attempts to Hulk Out voluntarily.
In other words, being the Hulk kinda sucks. When he changes, mild mannered Bruce Banner loses the mind that made him a great man, and become only a monster that even he fears. When he changes, not matter what he's up against, he loses.
It makes for a dramatic movie. Whether it makes for a good superhero movie, I'm just not sure about.