HULK HAVE DEEP AND ABIDING LOVE OF CINEMA. HULK RECOGNIZE INHERENT VALUES OF POPULAR, NARRATIVE, AND EXPERIMENTAL STYLES.
CHECK OUT HULK’S TWITTER HERE: WWW.TWITTER.COM/FILMCRITHULK
EMAIL ANY QUESTIONS HERE: FILMCRITHULK@GMAIL.COM
HULK THANK!
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FILM CRIT HULK! HULK BLOG! 
nice try!!lets watch as many as we can!!
cheers
Hi Hulk. Mongo like Hulk review style but Mongo also like Transformers 2. Mongo think hulk too hard on sequel. It make no sense, true. But not supposed to. You know that Mongo pawn in game of life. But Michael Bay pawn in game of death. Two games that Mongo like.
omg, would so love to syndicate/ reblog your reviews on my site. http://www.billyburgwick.org/boss I’d link back and attribute and not make Hulk mad, promise.
lemme know oh mighty green one
Love site, Hulk! Squirrel hooked with fascinating review of “Eat, Pray. Love”, now Squirrel will read everything Hulk blogs. Why no RSS to make following easier?
I recently saw a film which I think perfectly exhibits everything wrong with bad film. No narrative, no camera movement, no characterisation, poor acting. I’d be interested to see what you thought of it, as it’s one of those “festival flicks” that people tend to just nod and call ‘good’ when they have no idea what they’re looking at. It’s an Australian film called Sleeping Beauty.
HULK HAVE NO SEE YET. BUT HMMMMM. HULK UNSURE. EVERYTHING YOU SAID MIGHT BE TRUE, BUT FROM WHAT HULK HEAR IT MAY JUST BE DIFFERENT KIND OF FILM. SOME “ART FILMS” FOR LACK BETTER WORDS, NOT INTERESTED IN NARRATIVE AND JUST INTERESTED IN OTHER CONCEPTS, EVEN EMOTIONAL HOLLOWNESS OR ABSENTEE SEXUAL POLITICS. HULK DID THE FILM SCHOOL THING SO HULK SEEN LOTS OF THESE KINDS MOVIES. SOMETIMES THEY DOING SOMETHING REALLY INTERESTING. SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. SORT OF DEPEND. SO IT MAY BE TRUE THAT SLEEPING BEAUTY A BAD ART FILM, BUT HULK WOULD NO SAY THAT ANYONE JUST NOD AND CALL SOMETHING “GOOD” WHEN THEY NO KNOW WHAT THEY LOOKING AT. THAT SEEM SORT OF UNFAIR. PEOPLE RARELY LIE ABOUT LIKING/NOT-LIKING MOVIE. THEIR RESPONSE MAY BE GENUINE BUT THEY LIKELY RESPONDING TO DIFFERENT WAY OF LIKING MOVIE. AND IT ALL RELATIVE.
SOMETIMES IT JUST LITERAL MATTER OF TASTE.
HULK SINCERELY THANK FOR READING! CHEERS!
Oh Great Green One,
I love your blog. I’ve followed you on twitter for some time and I’ve really enjoyed your suggestions and movie comments. And I think on the blog, in the longer format, you are even more enjoyable to read. Your critical analysis is fair, thorough, impassioned and unpretentious. There is just one thing though. Is there anywhere where we can read, shall we say, the Bruce Banner version? Not that I don’t love the Hulk. Certainly wouldn’t want to make you angry… but the long form does not lend itself as well to being shouted in broken Hulk-glish.
Thanks!
HULK WRESTLE WITH THIS ONE LOTS. THE PROBLEM THAT THERE NO REAL EASY WAY TO DO THAT (OTHER THAN TEXT ALTERING IN A WORD DOC). AND HULK UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM WITH READING IT AND HOW IT “GIMMICKY” TOO… BUT THE GIMMICK ALSO = THE INITIAL DRAW. IT TOUGH CALL. MAYBE SOMEDAY WHEN HULK HAVE MORE TIME. BUT STILL HULK THANK SINCERELY FOR READING. AND FEEL FREE COMMENT ANY TIME.
What did Hulk think of RedLetterMedia’s classic, and eviscerating, series of 90 minute reviews on the new Star Wars trilogy?
HULK LOVED IT. THE SERIAL KILLER JOKE GETS OLD VERY, VERY, VERY QUICK BUT HULK IMAGINE SAME TRUE OF HOW HULK WRITE. BUT THEN AGAIN PART OF THE DRAW THIS CRAZY SERIAL KILLER HAVE TRULY EXCELLENT SENSE OF STORYTELLING 101!
Will Hulk ever tackle himself in a look at Ang Lee’s (I think unfairly dismissed) Hulk film? And, completely unrelated, chances of a look at the films of Michael Gondry or at least Eternal Sunshine? Love your work Jolly Green!
HULK THANK! HULK PLANS TO LOOK AT ANG LEE’S HULK (HULK THINK IT QUITE GOOD TOO) BUT IN DUE TIME. HULK WOULD LOVE GET MORE STUFF OUT THERE BECAUSE HULK HAVE A LOT OF UNFINISHED WORK STILL. BUT THE ARTICLES TAKE FOREVER CAUSE, WELL, HULK WANT THEM TO BE DECENT AND THERE NO PRESSURE JUST PUT OUT WHATEVER. AND YES, HULK ADORE GONDRY. ETERNAL SUNSHINE THE BEST MOVIE OF LAST DECADE.
Hulk, I have a question that I hope you can answer for me. Why does the camera add ten pounds to the actors? I used to think it was just figure-obsessed actresses finding fault with the reality of their appearance as opposed to their mental picture of it (says the lady who hates every photo ever taken of her), but I heard someone talking about how different lenses can actually cause this. Do you know why? Or even why they continue to be used if the picture is distorted that much? And why do we never seem to notice with male actors? This is confusing me and I feel like I should know more about it.
AWESOME QUESTION.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE. THE CAMERA DOES ADD WEIGHT (MOST OF THE TIME) DEPENDING ON THE LENS. TO EXPLAIN: THIS REALLY NO HAVE DO WITH CAMERA LENS BEING DIFFERENT, BUT THE LENS OF OUR EYE BEING DIFFERENT. IT SEES SO MUCH PERIPHERY AND YET HAS AMAZING ABILITY TO FOCUS ON CENTRAL AREA THAT MAKE THE EYE A COMPLETELY UNIQUE LENS. MORE THAN THAT IT, IT HAVE ABILITY TO LOOK AT REAL LIFE 3D SPACE AND APPROXIMATE SIZE CORRECTLY. MEANWHILE, MOVIE SCREENS ARE A BIG RECTANGULAR 2:35 : 1. IT NOT LIKE OUR EYE AT ALL. THE ONLY SCREEN THAT LIKE OUR EYEBALLS = THE OMNI THEATER IN BOSTON. HERE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25729481@N03/2784467950/ BUT KEEP IN MIND THERE SO MUCH ON THE PERIPHERY TO SEE SO IT “IMMERSIVE” JUST LIKE REAL LIFE VISION (ONLY IT STILL NOT CLOSE WHATSOEVER). THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHILE WATCHING MOVIE WE NO WANT REAL LIFE VISION. IT NOT WORK CORRECTLY ON SCREEN. WE MUST BE ABLE TO CONTAIN THE WHOLE FRAME IN ORDER PROCESS THE ACTION ON SCREEN. WHICH MEANS THAT IN ORDER FOR THE SPACE TO LOOK “REAL” ON SCREEN, THE LENSES OF THE CAMERAS MUST SLIGHTLY AFFECT THE PERCEIVED MASS OF THE CENTER POINTS (READ: THE ACTORS OR OBJECTS) IN ORDER TO GET THE SURROUND SPACE TO LOOK CORRECT. OTHER WISE EVERYTHING ELSE ON SCREEN LOOK LIKE WALL EYE VISION. http://www.espn.go.com/photo/2006/0410/nhl_g_kings_275.jpg. … NOW, EVEN WITH THE “SCREEN APPROPRIATE” LENSES, THERE STILL ONES THAT MORE SLIMMING THAN OTHERS. THE GREAT DIRECTOR ROBERT BRESSON TRIED TO ONLY USE THE 50MM LENS CAUSE HE THOUGHT IT CAME CLOSEST TO THE ‘CENTER” POINT OF THE HUMAN EYE, AND AS RESULT IT KIND OF SLIMMING.
BUT YES. THE CAMERA USUALLY ADDS TEN POUNDS. IF IT DIDNT, MOVIES WOULD NO “LOOK RIGHT.” AND IT ULTIMATELY SPURS ON COMPLEXES IN ACTRESSES EVERYWHERE. HULK MET LOTS OF ACTRESSES IN REAL LIFE. THE SO-CALLED-LARGER ONES LOOK PERFECTLY NORMAL. THE NORMAL ONES LOOK VERY SKINNY. THE SKINNY ONES = CRAZY SKINNY.
ANYWHO THERE MORE OPTICAL DETAILS THAT GO INTO IT, BUT THIS ANSWER WORK?
This answer works, thank you very much. I have to say, I’d have a complex about my appearance if all that was riding on it was my ego, let alone my entire career. It’s too bad actresses have to contend with both.
Does this apply to still-shot cameras as well, or is it only motion picture ones? It seems like it must, given what you said here, but I’m curious.
Thanks for giving me a start into understanding this, it’s fascinating stuff.
IT DEPEND, MOST HIGH LEVEL STILL-SHOT CAMERAS USE A ZOOM LENS THAT RANGE FROM ABOUT 28MM-135MM. LOWER QUALITY CAN HOVER BETWEEN 30-55MM. MEANING THAT IT CAN RUN THE GAMUT BUT DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH ONE “ZOOMING” IT EFFECT HOW SOMEONE LOOK IN THE PICTURE. THAT LARGELY WHY THERE “FLATTERING PICTURES” AND “NOT FLATTERING WHATSOEVER PICTURES.” THINGS TO REMEMBER 1) A ZOOM LENS NOT A “TRUE” LENS, MEANING IT MORE SIMULATING THE EFFECTS OF USING THAT SIZE A LENS AND NOT GIVING THE SAME IMAGE QUALITY. THAT WHY CAMERA CREWS USE LIKE 20 DIFFERENT LENSES AND NOT JUST ONE ZOOM LENS. IT NOT AS GOOD. AND 2) IT NOT LIKE THERE SOME IDEAL LENS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING PEOPLE MAKE LOOK GOOD. IT DEPEND ON HOW FAR AWAY PERSON IS, THE SURROUNDING SPACE, THE SHAPE OF PERSON/PERSON’S FACE, THE LIGHTING, EVERYTHING. YOU CAN SORT OF MAKE ANYONE LOOK GOOD WITH ANY LENS BUT IT HAVE BE PHOTOGRAPHED CORRECTLY.
NATURALLY MOST PEOPLE JUST POINT AND SHOOT AND TRY TO GET THE CAMERA TO DO AS MUCH OF THE WORK AS POSSIBLE. THEY DO THAT PRETTY WELL NOWADAYS, BUT STILL IT NOT MAGIC AND IT REASON LOTS OF PHOTOGRAPHS NO COME OUT FLATTERING. MEANWHILE, GREAT PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE EXPERTS OF NUANCE…. WELL TECHNICALLY ALL GREATLY SKILLED PEOPLE ARE EXPERTS OF NUANCE.
Came here via Flickfilosopher to check out your excellent take on Doctor Who. Stayed to read the archives. Freaked out my dog by laughing loud enough to wake him up.
You’re bookmarked, my green friend.
HULK THANK!
Does Hulk like West Wing?
HULK WATCHED PROBABLY 15 EPISODES OVER COURSE OF ITS RUN. SHORT ANSWER: IT SEEM VERY SMART AND GOOD. HULK PLANNING ON SOMEDAY REVISITING THE ENTIRE SERIES IN ORDER.
Mr. Banner,
Found your site after being linked to your discussion on action. Ironically enough, my wife and I had just watched Captain America the week before and had a huge discussion post (thank god I married a movie nerd…) and she loved the first third of the movie and while I liked the whole thing I was really bothered by the montage once he hooked up with the Howling Commandos. Thank you for explaining to me why the montage bothered me! hah.
I graduated film school a little over a year ago and have been writing and directing short films since. Recently I have embarked on the film fest circuit (just won my first award… neat-o). Without blowing too much smoke up your gamma irradiated ass, your three-parter should be required reading. Incredibly well done sir. Looking forward to your future posts (and to catching up on your old ones).
-Bucky Knaebel
Hey Hulk. Just wanted let you know that I think you’re one of the most erudite, sensitive, and observant film writers on the web. What I most like about you though, is your willingness to really engage with the non-academic non-very smart types like myself. I truly learn something new or gain a new perspective on something every time I come here. I apologize for my gushiness on a public forum, but I could not find your email. Anyway, keep writing friend.
HULK THANK MANY! AND ANY QUESTIONS CAN ALWAYS BE SENT TO FILMCRITHULK@GMAIL.COM
Hello Film Critic Hulk!
New reader, really loving the blog! Since there was no e-mail address where I could find one, I figured I’d post a suggestion here, or rather something I would be interested in seeing you cover. I just now read about Frank Miller’s “Holy Terror”. Will you be writing any thoughts on it on your blog? I’ve always thought that aside from MIller’s the Dark Knight, which I thought was okay, that his work is pretty, well, bad. But this seems to take things to the next level becoming even a bit horrifying. My point of view is admittedly colored by my being from Sweden, and thus being quite disconnected from the 9/11 events. So I would be interested to read about this from an American perspective! But most of all, from a Hulk perspective!
Thanks for some great reading!
HULK SORTA TOUCHED ON MILLER IN THE RECENT PART TWO OF ARKHAM CITY BUT BASICALLY THE THOUGHTS GO LIKE THIS: MILLER’S WORK IS VARIED, DEEPLY FREUDIAN, AND AT LEAST INTERESTING. BUT IT IS NOT THAT THE POINTS HE IS MAKING IS INTERESTING OR EVEN NECESSARILY THE “GRITTY” SUBJECT MATTER, BUT THE WAY HIS INTERESTING PSYCHOLOGY VOMITS OUT OF HIM. IT’S ALL VERY META, BUT HE SEEMS LIKE A SMARTISH GUY WHO CAN’T HELP HIS TENDENCIES, BUT AT LEAST SEEMS AWARE OF MOST OF THEM.
AND NO MATTER WHAT HULK THINK HE STILL DRAGGED COMIC BOOKS KICKING AND SCREAMING INTO THE “ADULT ERA.” ODDLY ENOUGH, IT REMINDS HULK OF THE WAY ALLEN IVERSON DRAGGED THE NBA INTO THE HIP HOP ERA. BOTH INCREDIBLY NECESSARY AND POWERFUL, BUT NEITHER TRANSITION ALL THAT GRACEFUL.
Hey Hulk. Do you have a public e-mail account, or is the only way to contact you here?
And it appears that by bothering to read a few posts up, my question could have been answered. Dang.
NO. WORRIES. FIRE AWAY.
I made my sister, a comic book non-reader, read one of Hulk’s articles. She was perplexed by the writing style. She couldn’t nail down an interior voice for the author. I gave a brief, pitiful demonstration of Hulk-speak. She responded, “So… the Cookie Monster?”
It hit me like a ton of Hulk-smash: I do read the entirety of these articles in the voice of the Cookie Monster. In my media experience of the Hulk, he rarely speaks. Ferrigno wasn’t one with the words; Bana-Hulk growled some utterances; Norton-Hulk went straight Ferrigno. The closest pop cultural approximation that I hold dear is the Cookie Monster.
Please do not take offense, Hulk. None is intended. However when I reach the end of an article, I now have no choice: “ENDNOTES! Om nom nom nom…”
THE HULK / COOKIE MONSTER OVERLAP SOMETHING THAT HULK TOTALLY OKAY WITH.
CHEERS!
Hey, love this blog! The Arkham City flap brought me here. I spent the whole morning wasting Canadian taxpayer money, combing through all of your various smashings in one sitting like it was yesterday’s leftover Halloween candy.
And with (slightly) less tummy-ache, I might add.
But I’m still saying First Act, Second Act, Third Act though, damn it.
Hulk, have you seen Tucker and Dale vs. Evil? I don’t know whether its my ignorance or whether the market has dried up, but I haven’t seen a horror/comedy this good since the Evil Dead series. Do you have any recommendations from this genre?
HULK HASN’T! AS FAR AS GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS HULK NOT SURE HULK COULD GIVE YOU THE BEST OPTIONS. LOOK TO BRIAN W. COLLINS FOR THAT ONE.
HULK ONLY HULK THERE IS! SURE MAYBE CRITHULK IS SMARTER AND MORE EDUCATED BUT HULK IS NOT EDUCATED! WHO YOU? HULK SMASH! Seriously, I made a film critiquing wordpress blog in the Hulk character about a year ago. I just stumbled on to this website today. You’ve got to be kidding me.
IN FAIRNESS, HULK CONCERNED. EXACT DATE OF START? HULK BEEN FILMCRITHULK ON TWITTER FOR CLOSER TO TWO YEARS SO HULK NOT SURE WHAT SAY ABOUT “YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.” PLENTY OF FOLKS AROUND AT HULK’S ORIGIN TO ATTEST FOR REASONS, ETC.
Holku World-Breaker not accuse Hulk of anything. Hulk is simply musing on how many combinations of interests including Hulk obsession and film obsession must pass before two people of exactly the same ideas pop up in the world. It has just blown Hulk’s mind.
This site is badly in need of a side bar for navigating to past posts.
YES. SORRY. HULK KEEP SAYING HULK WILL GET TO IT, BUT EVERY TIME HULK TINKER IT MESS OTHER STUFF UP… IN GENERAL HULK NEED TO FIX ARCHIVE AT THE BOTTOM.
Where did you go to school and what textbooks did you use? Or was it more of a professor influence that fine-tuned your critical eye?
PROGRESSION OF MAJOR INFLUENCE WENT LIKE THIS: PARENTS, THEN ENGLISH TEACHERS, THEN PROFESSORS, THEN BOOKS, AND THEN YOU MUST TURN INWARD, REFLECT, AND WORK YOUR ASS OFF FOR 10,000 HOURS. THEN IT SORTA STARTS MAKING SENSE AS A SYSTEM.
Hulk,
I have just discovered your wonderful blog. I look forward to reading back through all of your articles, and I especially love that I can now cite The Hulk when trying to convince my 30-something office mates that Edward is not the kind of guy you should be lusting over.
Next up, the Doctor Who piece. I LOVE Doctor Who, and I can’t wait to read what you think of it.
HULK THANK! HULK HAPPY TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE ANNALS OF HULKDOM.
Hulk,
I have no words to express how brilliant I think your blog is, and thank you for caring so much about cinema in the way that you do. I’m very young, I imagine, when compared to most of your readers, but your writing has been an inspiration to me that has produced a lasting change in my life. Sounds like hyperbole, I know, but I wanted you to be aware of this anyway.
Thank you for all that you do!
HULK THANK VERY MUCH INDEED. THAT IS MOST KIND. CHEERS!
I Googled upon your blog while researching storytelling for a script I’m writing. I find it interesting that so many people love Indiana Jones and yet he never overcomes his enemies. Yet, he still gets the credit. The ending for my script has a “you choose badly” moment.
Anyway, I can tell you’re smarter and more insightful then you’re Hulkish smashing reveals. I look forward to reading the rest of your posts. (However, I really can’t stand the all uppercase writing.)
You blog is now required reading along side “Save the Cat” and “your screenplay sucks!”
Great blog. Funny witty, and thoughtful. Out of curiosity, given you appear to like UK TV have you seen/heard about a show called Misfits?
Hey,
a friend put me onto your blog a few months ago. It took me a while to get passed the caps, but I’ve become an avid reader. I love your insight and your humanistic approach to art and conflicts of opinions.
I just watched the following “short film” again after a good handful of times over the last seven months. And I thought, as I always do, Man this is so good: great acting, a nice representation of buddies “spinning the yarn”, a nice satire on what’s “cool,” and it’s frickin engaging til the end.
And one thought led to another, and I remembered you posting about short films (“Cost of Living”), and I figured I’d share this with you. Thoughts are welcome.
Keep up the good work!
“What Are You Doing Tonight?” by College Humor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZPjttkYvkU)
I don’t know if you still read Hulk comics, but have you ever read Planet Hulk and World War Hulk? Lots of good smashing. It’s pretty much Hulk vs. The Entire Marvel Pantheon.
Unless I’m horribly mistaken (sadly likely), the comments seem set to Icelandic time.
Political statement? Personal preference? Can’t get enough hákarl?
Hey, Hulk, is there any way to do a search on your archives?
SADLY HULK HAS NO IDEA 😦
THIS PLACE PRETTY NEGLECTED FOR UPKEEP ASIDE FROM CURRENT LINKS. HULK WISH HULK HAD THE TIME TO FIX! BEST SOLUTION MAY BE JUST TO GOOGLE WHATEVER YOU MAY BE LOOKING FOR. AND THEN THERE THIS http://badassdigest.com/2012/05/31/the-complete-film-crit-hulk-archive/
Limit it through Google.
Enter the term you wish to search then add “site:filmcrithulk.wordpress.com”.
Google will search only Hulk’s site for said term.
(Alternately, click “Advanced search” from a results page. Under “Then narrow your results by…” then “site or domain:”, enter “filmcrithulk.wordpress.com”. Click “Search”.)
visiten mi blog la dirección es finalconron.wordpress.com
please visit my blog finalconron.wordpress.com
Hey! I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the inspirational blogger award, and here’s the link if you want to accept it: http://thereandbackagainawhittietale.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/blogger-award/
That little nomination probably already says “I love your blog,” but I wanted to add that your writing, topics, and opinions really make me think – ya know, ponder life’s deeper questions – so thanks for that!
Would love to hear your thoughts on “Save the Cat,” e.g., http://slate.me/12ARC9a ??
Hey there, Hulk! Just wanted to let you know that we’re big fans over at Continue Games, so we’ve nominated you for a Liebster Award. It’s great to see such genuinely thoughtful and academic analysis coming in such a unique form factor. Keep smashing!
Check out the post here – http://continuegames.com/2013/09/18/we-won-an-award/