I was reluctant but I'll do it.

[uberreiniger]

* Post 3 things you've done that you believe nobody else on your F-list has done.
* If anybody responds with "I've done that," add another thing.
* Encourage your friends to paste this into their own journal to list the unique things they've done.

1) I once designed a t-shirt for an Academy Award-winning actress.
2) One day I spent two hours in a hotel bar discussing politics with Ozzy Osbourne's band.
3) I was once involved in a film production that had the police called on us.

Meanwhile, since I finally saw The Incredible Hulk this weekend my tradition of doing piddily movie reviews continues.

It was a good summer movie. As super heroes go, it wasn't as good as Iron Man, which I think is universally acknowledged to have reset the bar for the genre at this point. I really liked it, and in context of Ang Lee's horrible, misguided project from a few years ago I felt that the Hulk finally got the justice he deserved.

Edward Norton as Bruce Banner really shines here. It's very much his film; and it should be given that he helped write the script although his contribution is not credited. I've heard that the filmmakers wanted to reclaim the feeling of the 70's TV series and they accomplish that with Norton bringing the same troubled, tragic nobility to Banner's character.

Playing the girl Banner left behind after he juiced up on gamma radiation and became an unstoppable monster, Liv Tyler makes the most of what she's given. Unfortunately, her role mostly consists of making doe-eyes at the camera and whispering "Broooce..." whenever her beloved is in trouble. She does get some nice moment to shine though. I've really loved the fact that in the latest waves of super hero films that girlfriends have gotten to be tough and resourceful instead of always being the damsel in distress.

William Hurt plays Jeff Bridges' villain from Iron Man playing the villain in The Incredible Hulk. Hurt is always fun to watch onscreen and he too does well with what he is given. Tim Roth is the aging commando who, with each beatdown he receives from the Hulk ingests more highly experimental super soldier juice until... you guessed it, he finally becomes the Hulk's psychotic equal. What results is not the best superhero/supervillain beatdown ever to appear on screen, but it's an entertaining one and achieves what the movie aims for.

And oh yeah, still setting up that whole Avengers thing, setting up for a Hulk sequel in a very big way. It's not a great movie, but it's a good one that shows the beginning of great things.

Comments

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

We saw it last night; not great, but would have come across better in a summer that wasn't so heavy on Awesome Superhero Films.

A couple of really jarring edits (the thunderstorm after the first helicopter crash, the rooftop/street-level location of the second helicopter crash, and the inexplicable last scene with Banner), but overall enjoyable. Norton definitely was the best thing about it, though Tim Roth was an excellent Blonsky. Liv Tyler was completely wasted. William Hurt looked embarrassed.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

I read that the last scene with Banner is supposed to be ambiguous on purpose. We'll see where it goes. I hadn't noticed that the rooftop became the street before but you're right. Huh. Now that's gonna bother me.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Most importantly, we learned how Bruce Banner can retain his pants when he becomes the Hulk. I always wondered about that.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

They actually spent a great deal of time on the pants issue and I was happy about that. It's bothered me for years and I'm glad someone finally addressed it. Now DC needs to get its act together and give us a movie with Solomon Grundy in it because as we all know, Solomon Grundy want pants too.

[l-greytree.livejournal.com]

I love William Hurt. He brings such drama and realism to every character he plays. I probably won't see the movie because it's not kid-friendly but I've heard really good things about it.

So please expound on #1 and #3. Inquiring minds are extremely curious!!! :D

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

1) My mother's hometown was also the hometown of Shirley Knight who as starred in such movies as The Dark at the Top of the Stairs and As Good as it Gets. About ten years ago the town decided to throw a festival in her honor. I got to design the shirts for the festival and I gave one to Ms. Knight herself. I spent the afternoon with her and her family and they were some of the nicest people I have ever met.

3) I co-wrote and starred in an indie film about a guy who discovers his wife is in a cult. We were filming this chase scene where cultists in robes are chasing me through back alleys. Apparently this alarmed passersby. Go figure. So the police showed up and we had to spend a few minutes explaining. It was a funny film. Pity that it was never finished.

[l-greytree.livejournal.com]

WOW!! Both of those are really cool. Thanks for 'splainin'! :D And on #3, it sounds really interesting. I'd see it.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

I wish I could show it. It's probably the best thing I've ever written.

[l-greytree.livejournal.com]

Can you turn it into a book or put it on your LJ? I'm sure we'd all enjoy it. Dammit!! I'm really curious now.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

Strangely I'd never thought about that. The story depended a lot on visual humor so maybe that was why. Well, who knows maybe it's worth giving a try...

[batchix.livejournal.com]

The RCPD has dispatched two black studs to assist~

[kakita-shisumo.livejournal.com]

3) I was once involved in a film production that had the police called on us.

C'mon dude, you know very well that you're not the only one on your flist who has done this!

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

Yes, but I'm the one who got to keep my shirt on :)

[kakita-shisumo.livejournal.com]

Whoa. batchix did a topless scene?

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you don't remember that? :D

[kakita-shisumo.livejournal.com]

No wonder Dave never finished the movie!