Hulk

Bruce Banner is a scientist, working with Betty Ross in a research center in California. When he shockingly survives an accident involving radiation, he wonders what makes him different. Lurking in the shadows is the man who has the answer (and was indeed the cause) . . . and he'll stop at nothing in his quest to improve humanity. Bruce is about to unwillingly explore his tragic and suppressed past . . . and you won't like him when he's angry.

Released in 2003 to mixed reviews, I was pleasantly surprised how this film departed from the mainstream superhero flick. Director Ang Lee presents the story in a unique visual style, with multi-frame components sprinkled throughout, but it really shines in its psychological exploration. Some critics argued that there was "too much talking and not enough smashing" . . . but that's exactly what I liked about it. The film centers around Banner and his father, whose self-experimentation led to the unintentional genetic transmission onto his son. It explores the themes of improving humanity, exceeding the boundaries God created, and the reality of how our failures affect others. While I wish the movie had tied things up better (the ending was hard to follow, inconclusive, and unsatisfying), and that the Hulk wasn't quite so big or so green, it earns a decent grade for focusing less on "Hulk Smash" and more on "how/why did this happen?"

Rating: A-