The first thought that crossed my mind during the opening scenes of the Incredible Hulk was Bill Bixby. Though the memory is almost gone, it was the TV series Bruce Banner whom I thought of - his eyes when he goes berserk; his ‘you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry’ remark; and that Gamma experiment which as I recall also happened in a lab and a chair similar to this 2008 incarnation.

My guess is that in Marvel’s desire to erase the negativity of the first film they reverted to some old formulas. Edward Norton’s Bruce Banner reminded me somewhat of Bill’s because he was a man on the run; weighed down by his conscience because he injured some loved ones; and perpetually scared that the monster created from the Gamma experiment will rise again.

Ironically, I like this incarnation of the Hulk because Bruce Banner has some fighting spirit. He has learned methods of self control but when he’s pissed he’s pissed – not much anyone can do there.

Compared to Eric Bana (Hulk 2003), I like Edward Norton better as Bruce Banner. He has more of that scientist quality, or maybe a geek is the right term. Norton, perhaps in large part due to the script, has a clearly defined Bruce Banner compared to Bana’s: he is a man on the run, a scientist frustrated in not finding a cure. I know who Edward Norton is and I am into the story.

Former Lord of the Rings star Liv Tyler is on hand as the unlucky love interest of the Hulk a.k.a Bruce Banner. I said unlucky because she always seems to be crying which is understandable considering her problem.

Over all she delivered her role well as Betty Ross but I am not totally sold, as they say, with her scenes together with Edward Norton. I feel their pain alright but I am just feeling the love. Probably it’s because I am still for 2003’s Betty Ross, Jennifer Connelly.

William Hurt (General Ross), Tim Blake Nelson (Samuel Sterns), and Tim Roth (Emil Blonsky/Abomination) round up the rest of the important characters. All are able actors and all played their roles well for this film.

My biggest reservation of the film by far is the effects especially regarding the Hulk. He seemed too light and agile for a monster his size, maybe for a monster period. Sometimes I think this version – the Hulk character – is too human.

But over all Incredible Hulk (2008), is more loyal to the comic that the 2003 version. It is full of action, scenes are nicely paced; its characters well defined, you’ll know where everyone is. Personally I really liked the cat and mouse game Banner does with the government, including this whole story line of the monster within. I was really a fan of Bill Bixby’s Hulk growing up. Subsequently to Lou Ferigno’s too…no CGI can replicate him (as Hulk).

Except for mild surprise that Tom Cruise was not able to lock on the Iron Man movie, I had no opinions of Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark when the movie was just green-lighted for live action production. Honestly, I had Patrick Bergin in mind for the role back in the mid 90s when Marvel seemed to be hot on making a movie of their characters. The mustache was the clincher.

Thankfully I had no Hollywood producer to hear my choices because I loved the performance of Robert Downey, Jr.

I was hooked to Tony Stark in the trailer alone with colorful shades and his answer to being the Da Vinci of the time as “ridiculous” because he doesn’t paint. The answer had humor, arrogance, confidence, and maybe even a dash of humility (maybe). Not the swab, debonair type of playboy, Downey’s interpretation of weapons manufacturer Tony Stark was unexpected but a refreshing one nonetheless. It was a style all his own; and it was perfect.

Which is more than I can say for the portrayal of Jim Rhodes, played by Terrence Howard. As much as I admire Mr. Howard, seeing a few of his works; his voice was just wrong; reminds me of Mike Tyson. For Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) the bald head and the full beard worked greatly for him. Gwyneth Paltrow could be better but then again she’s just a secretary/personal assistant in Pepper Potts.

The transformation of Jarvis from the comics’ human butler to the movies’ Artificially Intelligent house was a stroke of genius; it gave Stark a separate identity from DC Comics gadget wielding hero Batman. It even enhances the character of Tony Stark as a technological genius, while, at the same time points to the tragedy of being a man “with everything and nothing.”

Iron Man has a nice pace to it. You won’t get that dragging feeling as the story was always moving. The movie’s high point is in its technology and action scenes. Tony Stark disassembling the engine of his Hot Rod; and later on his weapons to make his Mark 1 armor, certainly made me itchy for a wrench or ratchet even though I have nothing to use it on.

The film’s villain could be better. He may have played his role well but unfortunately the character was not developed well enough that he was menacing; someone that you could hate, but more importantly fear.

Ultimately, the Iron Man’s number one failing also came from the personality of its main character. Tony Stark in this film is a carefree character. He has humor; he loves women; he is arrogant; he just has this aura of just being a fun guy. Not a care in the world. This carefree character is so strong that his failings – the alcohol, the apathy in who he sells the weapons to, the lack of a real relationship – seem non-existent. Overall there’s this general feeling that Stark always gets what he wants.

Even when he’s captured; when felt regret at seeing his weapons in the wrong hands, and later on used against civilians; even when he was obsessed with creating his armor; you won’t get the feeling that Tony Stark was never a broken man. As serious as he was in these very serious scenes the personality of the happy go lucky, billionaire, playboy, always wins.

And that is not entirely a bad thing. Who wouldn’t want to be a billionaire playboy with a personal plane and high tech gadgets? This film was a joy ride for me. And it will be too especially to those who like technology and are fans of the comic book. But if the franchise is to go to greater heights it needs to put more seriousness in the character and the issues involved in the story.

Weapons, women, and alcohol, are after all serious business.

The year 2006 saw the end of an almost decade long media speculation on whether the most famous superhero will ever see the silver screen again.

Well known actors that include the likes Nicholas Cage, Brendan Fraser, Josh Hartnett, Paul Walker, Ashton Kutcher; Star War’s Hayden Christensen and the Passion of Christ’s James Caviezel were said to have been once considered to wear the red cape and its equally famous red jockeys. But Director Bryan Singer wanted nothing of them, and chose fresh face Brandon Routh in the lead of what we saw as Superman Returns.

Written as a continuation of the events of Superman II which had the late Christopher Reeves in the lead, Superman Returns sees our hero return after having disappeared for five years looking for the remains of his home planet of Krypton. Superman returned only to see the world that he knew had moved on.

For those who love him there was resentment. Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) with whom a romantic attachment was seen in Superman II bore the greatest resentment of them all. She now has a son and is engaged to be married, but her heart never forgot the man in the red cape. As for the world in general, it lives, but is clearly thirsty for order and direction that Superman as an example provided.

Superman Returns, the entire story, had Superman repositioning himself in the world that he had left behind. In some ways the movie was similar to Superman II in the sense the world came into danger because of our hero’s absence. Both movies had Superman ‘disappear’ to fulfill the need to belong; to end the feeling of isolation.

Isolation is the greatest danger to a hero for who can really last with the pressure of saving everyone else in the world; having no life of your own; and having to put up with situation that is ‘damned if you do and damned if you don’t’? Though portrayed almost as a god, Superman, like any other hero, real or imaginary, should only be an example. They should not be relied to have all the answers nor should they be left alone to fix everything.

Bryan Singer, the film’s director, certainly has little to fix. Abandoning the X-men franchise he did an amazing job in Superman Returns. It not only gave back the emotions of the Superman of Chris Reeve’s day, thanks in large part to the immortal score by John Williams; but it also gave something new to look forward to.

It’s not often that people can mix the feelings of old and new well but Superman Returns seems to have succeeded in that task. The old feeling does not bore; and it has that new feeling but doesn’t deviate from the old.

Brandon Routh looked very much like Christopher Reeve as Superman and the bumbling Clark Kent. Routh and Kate Bosworth pulled off the romantic angle that encompassed a large part of the film. We are sure to see many more of that angle and more in the sequels to come, with Superman having more than the need of a lover in being close to Lois Lane. Kevin Spacey looked very much like Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor… It was a great portrayal, but unfortunately I was never a fan of the character.

The overall mix of actors now including the director have reaffirmed what I have had since the days of Christopher Reeve; a genuine admiration for Superman. And though I still think the worst of the briefs over pants costume, seeing this movie has made me hope that I’ll be seeing more of Superman again.

He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. Friedrich Nietzsche

Monsters, are what Spider-Man faces everyday: thieves, murderers, and super villains. He fights them, risking life and limb, and not to mention a social life in order to save the weak. And after fighting the monsters, people without care or rules; he goes about his life without the mask and follow the restraint.

He is superior and superhuman and yet he has to get along. It would have been perfect because it takes a superhuman amount of belief in ones own power and faith in humanity – to the law – for anyone not to give in to their inner monsters.

Alas, Spider-Man is all too human. A nerd in highschool, he has endured being bullied and being thought of as nothing. The situation has not changed even when he graduated. He is still being pushed around physically, mentally, and by circumstance; all the while having powers and advantages which can help him break the rules and fight those who bully him.

Spider-Man III sees Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) finally forget all the rules.

The film starts off the opposite of what had been usual in the last two sequels. Parker gets the adulation he has been waiting for so long, both from the people of New York and his long time love, Mary Jane. The hounded vigilante was now like a rockstar receiving high profile public praises such as receiving the “key to the city”. The once humble boy has now developed a sense of entitlement.

Unfortunately not everything is going right. Mary Jane’s life on the other hand has taken an opposite direction. All the adulation and a new sense of entitlement has made our hero was insensitive to his girlfriend’s plight. To make matters worse Harry Osborn, now a fully capable Green Goblin, was only too happy to see the strain in the relationship of his “best friends”.

Work was not exempt from problems either with the entrance of Eddie Brock (Topher Grace), a new photographer for the Daily Bugle. Parker now has competition in an already low paying job. His oversized ego was beginning to show signs of frustration. If the city adores him then why can’t Spider-Man have everything?

He just can’t as fate would later teach him. News of an escaped felon, Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church), reached him and he snapped when he learned that Marko was the actual killer of his Uncle. Using the alien symbiote which he had just discovered he confronts the Marko, now known as Sandman, with lethal force. As a black Spider-Man, he was mad and out of control; for once enjoying that he can break the rules. Thankfully he had Mary Jane to bring him back to sanity.

Spider-Man III started off poorly in the sense you would have to remember some parts of the second to get in a flow. The opening credits did show some recaps but it’s a bad way to start. It is an aftershock, I think, of the Lord of the Rings which essentially had one big story cut into three.
Spider-Man had three enemies total for the film: Venom, a new Green Goblin, and the Sandman. Getting them introduced made the movie seem disjointed, and in many parts it is dragging and boring. The movie’s pacing could have been done better but at least it was all for a good cause because you’ll have a bonanza of costume figures at the end.

True to its advertisements of a battle within, Spider-Man III has had more focus on Parker than his enemies. Never was the spotlight brighter than when he wore the black suit which increased his power and robbed him of his inhibitions – and manners too. I didn’t like the way they tried to make Tobey Maguire look ‘bad’. He seemed more a pervert than someone who is evil. Maybe there is a physical limitation to acting as Tobey still looked boyish and nice. It was just laughable.

I don’t get why Topher Grace was cast as Eddie Brock/Venom. I was expecting more of physically imposing or an evil looking villain because Topher has that same boyish look that Tobey Maguire has. But I guess that is the point. Brock is what Spider-Man could have become had he forgotten all sense of right and wrong.

The movie’s highpoint is the battle scenes, of course, it helped that he had more than one enemy. It all mixed up beautifully at the end and with an interesting twist too.

So how does a hero keep from the inevitable danger of being a monster while battling monsters? I believe Spider-Man III has answered it: the hero must not be alone. It is not easy always doing the right thing; harder even when one has to be alone.

A hero is an example, admired, but most of all, he is followed. If no one understands or follows then a hero ceases to exist.

Spider-Man II


Often a sequel is nothing but a ruse to sell an idea that has already expired, and I am happy to say that Spider-Man II is not one of those. Yes, the formula remained the same - ordinary guy with extraordinary powers - but the character has gone through more difficult times and greater challenges.

We start off by seeing Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) doing a difficult “juggling act”. He has to study; work for a living; and in between wear that red and blue costume and save the world.

It was a near impossible juggle even with the best of us. After a late pizza delivery our hero loses his job. He was also failing in school because of tardiness and lack of energy in class.

And as if failing in school and losing a job was not enough, he had to hear comments like, “brilliant but lazy” or “you can’t keep a promise.” Hurtful words if you think about it for someone who has given time and dedication in helping everybody else. But that is not the straw that broke the camel’s back as they say. As with many superhero stories the heart of the hero’s anguish always points to a girl.

Mary Jane’s (Kirsten Dunst) star was on the rise and though she never thought badly of Parker who always seemed lost and haggard, she greatly resented the fact that he did even care to see her act on stage. She dates another man. With problems like these our hero could have relied on the best friend but Harry Osborn (James Franco) proved no solace as his obsession with killing Spider-Man became more and more obvious.

His personal life in shambles and compounded by slanderous articles by the Daily Bugle of Spider-Man, Parker begins to show signs of stress; his powers were disappearing. And when the problem became even more pronounced, his dedication for duty also disappeared. He quit being Spider-Man.

Or so he thought. While in hiatus he founds out his worth. His life may be more in control but the city was not. Furthermore, no one else but Spider-Man can keep Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) in check. In the end, Peter Parker accepts who he is: he is both Spider-Man and Peter Parker.

The action scenes have improved in this movie mainly because it depended on more special effects. In part one the pivotal with the Green Goblin was done at night robbing the viewer of being astounded by the details. One on one they seemed like what they are two men fighting.

Here, in battles with Doc Ock the surrounding areas were varied and well lit as it always happened by day. What helped, I think, was that Doc Ock having eight appendages added to the more unique flavor in the battle scenes of part two.

I liked the story too. Peter Parker’s problems were even more pronounced and defined than in part one. The entire ensemble of actors did not loose a beat; they mixed well and played their roles beautifully. J.K. Simmons who plays J. Jonah Jameson was a great comic relief. James Franco (Harry Osborn) was better than in the first, in having a more darker role here in the sequel. I don’t have anything flattering to say about Alfred Molina but he looked ok.

What I don’t like is that there seems a wanton disregard for secrecy in this picture for too many people have seen Spider-Man without the mask. I suppose it is unavoidable. Followers of the comic book know Mary Jane is one who knows the secret, but I am unsure if, in the comics, Harry Osborn is given that secret as well. But why does Spider-Man have to be unmasked in the train? Feels wrong.

Regardless of my above mentioned misgivings I greatly enjoyed this movie. As the story shows, being of two minds can be troublesome. There is always a choice, they say, but the operative word there is choose. At least for this review, I choose to say that Spider-Man II is one superhero film you should not miss.

It’s not a sure thing to adapt a work of literature on the big screen, more so a comic book hero. Fans often judge harshly.

But judging by the ticket sales and the recent release of a third sequel in local theaters, Spider-Man has passed with flying colors the judgment of millions of fans.

A hero with no desire, maturity, or the time to save the world, Spider-Man was created, Stan Lee recalled, with approach unlike established heroes like Superman, who was born perfect, and Batman, who had trained all his life.

What highschool kid would have time for such things? Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) certainly did not have time nor care as the start of the film has shown. He was barely surviving the highschool social scene. He was bullied; he can’t talk to the girl he loves; hell, even the school bus driver was picking on him.

As expected, when Parker was bitten by a genetically modified spider (radioactive spider from the comics) and given extraordinary powers, he never thought of the greater good. His though processes remained the same: win the heart of Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst).

As read in the comic books, Parker entered a wrestling match to win some money to buy a car thinking that having one would win the smile of his biggest crush. It was a decision that was soon to change his life. Having disagreed with the wrestling manager on the issue of prize money, Parker refused help in apprehending a robber. That robber to his greatest regret shot dead his beloved Uncle Ben.

“With great power comes great responsibility,” words of wisdom from Uncle Ben, kept repeating like a broken record in Parker’s grief. Had the robber been stopped then Ben Parker would have been alive. From then on in, Peter Parker gave full dedication to his alter ego as Spider-Man, hoping to prevent tragedies like those of his uncle to happen again.

There are no big twists in this movie, and perhaps it is what endeared it to the fans the most.

Over-all it was perfect casting and Tobey Maguire as the lead was best of all. He was the perfect cast for the lead Peter Parker looking boyish, nerdy, but most of all he was an unknown. People may go gaga over Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, or Leonardo Dicaprio (who was reportedly once considered as Peter Parker) but casting them would make in a great Pitt movie and not a great story. That is wisdom in picking unknown actors for movies.

Script-wise the film passed with flying colors as well. It was always about the struggle of Peter Parker in using the powers he never wanted. When he was in highschool we saw him giving in to his temper against bullies and enter a wrestling match for money.

Outside of highschool his struggle was even more pronounced. Without the cruel social stratifications (nerds, jocks, cheerleaders…) he thought he could get what he wanted, which was most of all the heart of Mary Jane. But as expected Parker’s alter ego got the better of him, unable to provide time and attention, he saw the love of his life being dated by his best friend. In addition to that he has had no choice but to work for an obnoxious editor who keeps calling Spider-Man a menace.

He literally had nothing to smile about in the entire film, but he still does what he does. It all played out well, the characters, the actors, the script, the effects, everything.

People read the comics and admire the heroes who wear their briefs over their pants for doing the impossible. Sure it’s fun to fly and make the Earth spin clockwise or have amazing gadgets on your belt. What makes this story great is in trying to put as close to reality heroism is.

Spider-Man is about doing what you can, sharing what you can, because it is the right thing to do. It is, as Stan Lee puts it, about the average guy: all of us.

Long time ago, heroes and villains were so clearly defined that there was an observation – at least for westerns – that good guys always wear white hats and bad guys wear black. It is not so with today’s movie heroes, particularly in Ghost Rider, where the hero not only doesn’t wear a hat, but he looks like he came from the very depths of hell.

And he got that hellish look was for good reason, the Ghost Rider started out as the Devil’s henchman; a sort of ‘bounty hunter’ in search of damned souls, or whatever dirty work requires him to do. Oscar winner Nicholas Cage plays the role of Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle daredevil who sold his soul to Mephistopheles (the devil played by Peter Fonda) in order to save a dying father. But, as often warned on Sunday regarding such deals, the devil double-crossed Blaze by killing the father few moments after being cured. From that moment on Blaze wandered world making a name for himself as a daredevil; but was always in fear of the day when Mephistopheles might collect.

Mephistopheles did collect years after, enlisting Blaze to fight Blackheart, who had mounted a personal war for the leadership of hell. It was at this point that Blaze became the Ghost Rider. A slave at first, Blaze slowly controlled the demon in him with the help of a graveyard caretaker, who as it turned out, was a Ghost Rider himself during the 1800s. He defeated Blackheart and declared his independence from Mephistopheles; crediting his advantage as “having the ability to walk both worlds”.

The movie’s highpoint is its magnificent special effects. Comic fans – and this maybe true of all fans of any fictional character born in print – will not be disappointed in seeing Ghost Rider appear on the big screen. Along with a motorcycle, the Ghost Rider wore a black leather jacket. He would have looked like a typical rider so popularize in films, except that he had a skull instead of a head and – like his bike - it was in flames.

My favorite scene was when the Rider rode his bike, vertically, up a building and as he rode along flames nearby objects was bursting in flames. It was a scene that was both seductive and eerie. I’m sure a still picture of the scene it would be on top of a comic fan’s wish list to hang over their bedroom wall. It was that spectacular.

But over all I did not like the movie too much because the plot was very predictable. The movies The Prophecy and Constantine both had a hell in ‘civil war’. And because of the precedents that I have mentioned I could always guess what will happen next.

Ghost Rider is another in my long list films that failed its potentials. It could have been a nice story of redemption. After all, what is more challenging than redeeming soul sold to the devil? Sadly it did not end up that way. Throughout the film Blaze looked liked a lost child in search of an identity than the devil’s henchman gaining back his humanity Even when he achieved the Rider persona, he never showed that he was truly evil. He never had a conflict with which he could overcome, and because of that, the film has lost its kick.

What a waste. . . The Rebel Biker look was working so well.