Graham
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Planet Hulk
Adapted from the 2007 comic book of the same name, Planet Hulk on Blu-ray gives life and motion to a series that captured the attention of Marvel fans around the world. This isn't your average Hulk story; it begins with the not-so-jolly green giant exiled from Earth by Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, and Dr. Strange. Apparently the inability to control the Hulk has become a serious safety issue for the heroes of our floating marble.
The Hulk's rage drives him to break free of his bonds and send his shuttle spiraling into a wormhole and leading him to a new destination; one where there are still people and things he can hurt... but this time he has a reason. Captured and placed in a series of gladiatorial games, Hulk must fight for his freedom. In the process it appears that he may be the planet's deliverance - a fate he's reticent to accept.
The action is furious for the better part of the film; the gladiatorial sequences have been expanded from the comic with gusto. Hulk smashes, slashes, and bashes in a way that only he can. Other characters from the Marvel universe make an appearance in a revealing flashback, leading to the climax of an important scene later on. All in all, the story and the characters are extremely well put together.
Plot: B (it's a fun film, but it's not going to change the world)
Visuals
The movie sports a much cleaner, almost Bruce Timm-esque look, as opposed to the rich, gritty visuals of the comic. While the reasoning behind this was probably to keep costs lower (animating that much detail would have at the very least doubled or tripled development time) it's produced a movie that is much more watchable in the short term. Action is clear and easy to follow, and many of the subtle character details have made their way into the movie. That said, it has lost some of the adult edge that the comic had; this could be a positive thing, making the film accessible to a younger audience.
The opening sequence, in particular, is beautiful. Keep an eye out, too, for a heart wrenching scene with the death of a child late in the film–it's ripped directly from the pages of the comic and even with the more basic style still manages to evoke plenty of emotion.
Video grade: A
Sounds
The movie is accompanied by a DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound track in 7.1. It's practically a character in the film. Like most animated films, Planet Hulk isn't tied to the boundaries of a physical space, so it makes an incredible whirlwind trip through your home theatre.
The music is good, but it's mostly there to help confirm the action. The real magic is in the vocals and the sound effects. The voice actors were chosen carefully to give the film a balanced sound; both Rick D. Wasserman (Hulk) and Mark Hildreth (Red King) are pitch perfect in the characterizations, and their vocal ranges play off one another in a delightful way.
You'll find the soundtrack to Planet Hulk very visceral and satisfying. If you've got a DTS-HD Master Audio capable receiver and the component audio package to match then please turn it up. You owe it to yourself to really feel it.
Sound grade: A+
A Whole World of Hurt: The Making of Planet Hulk (21:43, AVC-HD, Dolby Stereo)
Planet Hulk is a different sort of Hulk story, so the documentary covering the making-of is worth your time. From the initial concepts, to the title sequence, to the execution of the animation style, you get a very close look at the genesis of the project and how it came to fruition.
You'll see a comparison to the 2007 Planet Hulk comic book. The Silver Surfer was subbed out for another Marvel character for legal reason, and they cover it in the doc; you'll also see how the grittier art of the book became the more cleanly lined art of the movie. You'll learn a lot in twenty-one minutes. The video here is clean, aside from the scenes in the screening room which are dark and display a lot of flicker from a recorded projected image. Audio is crisp and clear.
Let the Smashing Commence: The Saga of Planet Hulk (11:27, AVC-HD, Dolby Stereo)
Featuring Greg Pak, writer, and Aaron Lopresti, artist, this look at the Planet Hulk comic book traces the roots of the movie back to the conception of the original source material. Colours, characters, architecture are all analyzed and detailed. The video is quite good, with numerous shots of comic book covers and internal pages. Audio is exclusively diaglog and is easy to understand.
Other Extras
There are additional extras included:
- 2 Audio commentaries with the producers, the director, and the production staff. I didn't have a chance to listen to these, but judging by the information and enthusiasm in A Whole World of Hurt I think they'll be worth seeing.
- Opening to the Thor: Tales of Asgard movie - coming in 2011, this looks to be a fun film featuring a young Thor finding his place as an Asgardian.
- Spider-woman motion comic / X-men motion comic. I'm not generally a fan of motion comics, but their inclusion here was a nice bonus.
Extras grade: A
Conclusion
If you love Marvel, the Hulk, or even a good action flick, you'll do well with Planet Hulk. It has all of the production values of a to-the-theatre animated piece, making its direct-to-Blu-ray status a benefit, not a liability. I'd definitely recommend picking it up on Blu-ray, as the detail and the sound simply can't be capture on DVD alone.
Overall grade: A-
