Hulk (2003)

Hulk’s big midnight brawl is against a mutant poodle, and that isn’t even the strangest choice Ang Lee makes. He spends a huge chunk of 138 minutes on Bruce Banner’s buried childhood and his deeply odd father before anybody turns green, so the first half of a summer blockbuster plays like a quiet family therapy session. Eric Bana is so reserved that Bruce barely registers as a person, which is a real problem. Then Lee slices the screen into comic book panels, sliding and splitting like nobody else was trying, and the movie gets weirdly exciting. The desert chase, with the Hulk bounding across canyons and tossing tanks like bath toys, is legit great. Jennifer Connelly gives Betty real feeling, and Sam Elliott’s General Ross is gruff perfection. Nick Nolte chews through the finale like it’s a stage play. It made $245.3 million worldwide on a reported $137M. A 5.1 because the swing is huge and it whiffs about as often as it connects. $7,587 says you rewatch the mutant poodle fight twice and still can’t explain it to anybody.

What works: The comic-panel split screens are inventive, the desert chase is a thrill, and Sam Elliott and Jennifer Connelly bring real weight.

What doesn’t: It takes forever to get going, Bruce is a blank, and the father-son finale is a murky, confusing light show.

Who it’s for: Viewers who want a superhero movie that’s weird on purpose and don’t mind some therapy before the smashing.