Review: "Clash of the Titans" (2010)

- Posted by Rusty

Note: Sorry for missing the “What’s on the Menu” column again. To make up for that, I’ll have a review of last week’s only major release, the funny and surprisingly pleasant Date Night, very soon.


Guide to the Bite Ratings: I realize it’s been a (once again, super embarrassingly) long time since my last review. So, for anyone new to our ratings system, or for just a nice refresher, here’s a quick breakdown:

1 bite = terrible; an absolute waste of time (ie, Fantastic Four, Gamer, Friday the 13th, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen)
2 bites = mediocre; almost good; decent, but not quite strong enough to recommend (ie, 9, Troy, Step Up 2: The Streets, G.I. Joe)
3 bites = a good film, if not necessarily a great one (ie, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, The Hurt Locker, Sherlock Holmes, Star Trek, Iron Man)
4 bites = a great film; pretty much an instant classic (ie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Inglourious Basterds, Matchstick Men, Avatar)
5 bites = a masterpiece; a perfect film (ie, Lost in Translation, Almost Famous, Lawrence of Arabia, Ratatouille, The Incredibles); I’m very stingy with this one, but I think many 4-bite movies, with time, graduate to this level

Review: Clash of the Titans

My Rating: 2 ½ bites [out of 5]

In Short: Ridiculous and occasionally just plain stupid, this is still a lot of fun to watch thanks to the actors and the overall entertainment value. Check it out for the awesome visuals and great action, if not necessarily the dramatic arcs or character development (of which the less said about, the better). [full review after the jump]

Full Review: Clash of the Titans is exactly the movie it promises to be. The action is all-out, the Greek mythological world is represented here with all the best that modern movie magic could produce, and the entire experience is just plain fun.

It’s just not a very good movie, as much as I enjoyed it.

So, I’ll make this a cautious recommendation: the entertainment value is definitely here, as is some good acting (for a movie of this type) and a more-or-less faithful approach to the original myth of Perseus and Medusa.

In this version of the story, demi-god Perseus (Avatar’s Sam Worthington, in crew-cut, manly-stubbled, glowering good-guy perfection), the son of Zeus (Liam Neeson, always good), vows to take down the gods for the pain they’ve brought him (revealing any more would be too much spoiler territory—suffice to say that Perseus’ motivation is more effective here than the simple “Let’s go out and do this!” attitude he showed in the myth). As such, his journey has him facing off against giant scorpions (a great sequence), the Gorgon Medusa, the lizard-ified witch who turns men to stone with one look into her eyes (an even better sequence), the wrath of Underworld god, Hades, with his giant serpent beast, The Kraken (the show-stopper, with the Kraken better used here than in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest), and, in the process, hopefully saving the city of Argos (which, like all Hollywood period pieces, is populated only by Brits…and one Australian), whose citizens have stirred the ire of the gods with their selfish and impious ways.

If it sounds silly, it occasionally is. But the filmmakers, particularly director Louis Letterier, know what type of film they’re dealing with here, and they never try to be anything more (or less, for that matter) than just delivering a good, rollicking, adventurous time at the movies. With that, you might be willing to forgive the terrible supporting character development of Perseus’ fellow warriors (they might as well have been called Expendable Good Guys #’s 1-5).

Or the ridiculous creature design of Perseus’ ally, who comes off as a less articulate version of Treebeard from Lord of the Rings.

Or the fact that Hades (played with lots of scenery-chewing, slimy fun by the great Ralph Fiennes, who we’ll see again in villain mode in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows later this year) has a takeover plan that barely makes any sense. Why does Zeus even listen to him? Or, better yet, why can’t Zeus just stop him when it becomes obvious that he's been betrayed? Well, maybe it’s best not to think about that…

Like I said, if you go with the spirit of the film, you might be willing to overlook all of those problems, just like me. Director Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk with Edward Norton, The Transporter 2 with my man, Jason Statham) stages terrific action sequences, like always, and shows a sly command with the tone of the picture as well, one that never quite veers into camp, but still manages to not take everything too seriously. I wish he showed the strong sense of story that he did with Hulk, but he keeps the pacing zippy and the action plentiful enough that I didn’t mind all that terribly.

More than that, the picture is cast just right. On the gods side, you could not do better than having Liam Neeson as Zeus, using that booming, commanding, and (yep) still pretty wise voice of his to maximum effect (despite the fact that this film retains Zeus’ stints as a part-time mortal rapist). Same with Ralph Fiennes, who’s clearly relishing playing over-the-top and irredeemably evil. And, on the virtuous side, we have Sam Worthington demonstrating once again why he’s so in-demand, and how well and comfortably he plays the reluctant hero.

--A note on Sam Worthington: I know a lot of people criticize his impossible-to-hide Australian accent (which, yes, still comes and goes here) or his lack of versatility. Fair enough, but, despite that, I find him an impressive young actor, one who should have a very bright future if he’s careful about his project choices. He might not necessarily become a respected character actor, but he certainly has the talent, and, like fellow Aussie Russell Crowe, he has the natural screen presence and charisma to hold your attention in a film of this scope. Look at him in his scenes with Neeson—he easily holds his own, and, throughout the entire film (even with minimal dialogue), you believe in his quest and in his ability to come out victorious. As he did with Terminator: Salvation and even Avatar, Worthington brings more depth than expected to this type of "conflicted" hero role. He has a straight-up drama coming up later this year, and I’m pretty sure he'll surprise more people once you get him out of the company of robots, gods, and giant blue aliens. Or, of course, he could always play Perseus again in a Clash of the Titans sequel (which just might happen, since the film’s a hit), something I wouldn’t object to at all!--

I also want to point out British actress Gemma Arterton (who will next be seen in May's Price of Persia opposite Jake Gyllenhaal), here playing Io, a slightly rejiggered version of the mythological heroine who caught Zeus’ eye. She mostly has to explain stuff to our hero, though she does it with aplomb, and she’s a very good, spunky foil for our straight-laced hero. Plus, the film nicely handles the would-be romance between Perseus and Princess Andromeda (Alexa Davalos), the woman who must be sacrificed to the Kraken if she wishes to save Argos, especially given that Sam Worthington has more screen time – and, really, chemistry – with Gemma Arterton. The film might veer off from the original myth to include more scorpions and special effects, but it keeps the story points that matter, and I very much liked that the script made Andromeda a strong woman with some actual agency over her fate, and not the boring damsel-in-distress (and prize for our hero) that she was in the myth.

All in all, if you can look past the many flaws, what we have here is an enjoyable film that just seeks to entertain. The effects are all amazing (well, maybe not the Treebeard…but the Kraken alone makes this worth seeing in theaters), the actors game to go with the tone, no matter how ridiculous things become, and, mostly, it’s just great to see the world of Greek mythology make such a huge return to theaters. If this gets kids excited to read up on Perseus and all his larger-than-life, horny, bizarre, yet always interesting fellow heroes, then, by all means, this is not a bad introduction.

So, if this type of adventure film is up your alley (it definitely goes with my ultra-geeky preference, that for old-school heroes vs. great, insurmountable odds), then you might come out with a smile on your face, just like I did.

P.S. I mentioned this before in the What’s on the Menu column last week, but I want to stress again that the 3D is not necessary for this film. As much as the advertising wants you to think so, the effect was added late in the process, so by no means was this movie shot with the intention of the extra dimension. With the exception of one axe flying at you, nothing here makes the extra $5 worthwhile. Unlike How to Train Your Dragon (the best film out right now—review also coming in a bit!), this wasn’t designed for the depth of 3D, so the world here just looks a little stretched out and poppy, nothing more. If you see it, save the money and just go for good old cheaper 2D.
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What’s on the Menu (April 2 – 4)

- Posted by Rusty

For a quick refresher (since it’s been an embarrassingly long time since we’ve done one of these columns), this is where we look at all the movies coming out this weekend (some of which we’ve seen, some we haven’t) and try to decide what looks best. It’s not always foolproof, but, for me at least, it’s a good way to see the variety of films being released and to juggle the good and bad elements that each offers. With that, this weekend brings us a summer-like blockbuster (welcome back to the movies, Greek mythology!),a tween queen moving on to more dramatic work, and another entry from a guy who just keeps on making hits. Let’s see what we have… [breakdown of this week's new releases after the jump]

1. “Clash of the Titans”

Story: To save the ancient Greek city of Argos, the heroic Perseus (Avatar’s Sam Worthington) must venture out to kill the Gorgon, Medusa, the lizard-like witch who turns all men who gaze at her into stone. Oh, and there’s also some business with warring gods (played by the great British thesps Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes) and lots of good modern angst for our hero, Perseus, who vows to reject his demi-god nature to defeat these evil forces as a man. Along the way, of course, lots of other action and special effects happen, but that’s all just part of the fun, leading up to the show-stopping epic battle between Persesus and the Kracken, the gods’ personal giant sea beast.

The Good: Just saw this last night! (Review coming very shortly) This movie delivers exactly what it promises; if nothing else, it’s very entertaining. Its script leaves a lot to be desired (more on that in a bit), sure, but the action is superb, the creature designs and effects very well-done, and it features some fun scenery-chewing work by Ralph Fiennes as Hades (Warner Bros’ favorite bad guy, since he also moonlights as Voldermort in the Harry Potter series…ahem, sorry, as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named) and Liam Neeson as Zeus. Sam Worthignton (despite the fact that he’s the only Australian in ancient Greece) once again shows plenty of star quality; he’s very believable as Perseus, and a good enough actor to make you root for this reluctant, manly-stubbled and crew-cut hero to succeed. Plus, I have to commend the filmmakers for turning Andromeda (played by the beautiful Alexa Davalos), the Princess of Argos (and Perseus' would-be love interest, according to the myth) from a one-note damsel-in-distress into a strong woman with some actual personality.

Also, I’ve read quite a lot of reviews that accused the film of sidestepping the original Perseus myth. Having read the myth a few days ago, I can honestly say this movie is as faithful as it needed to be. All the set-pieces from the original story are here (the battle with the Gorgons, the three Fates with their one shared eye, Princess Andromeda being sacrificed to the sea beast), and I thought they were tied together as well as could be expected. If this is the first exposure to Greek mythology for a lot of kids, then by all means – it’s certainly better and more true to the world and myths than the kid-skewing Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

The Bad: Did I mention that script? It’s definitely not terrible, but all the useless subplots, thinly-sketched characters (mostly relegated to Perseus’ fellow warriors, who I’m positive are only there because they’re more expendable), not-quite-finished ideas (that’d be poor Ralph Fiennes’ Hades, who has a plan, but I’m not sure even he knows exactly what he wants), and odd, laughable character choices (that’d be Perseus’ sidekick who looks like a miniature Treebeard) prevent it from being a home-run adventure like the first Pirates of the Caribbean. Still, I think the entertainment value – and all the positive elements above – outweighs the bad in this instance. It won’t be on anyone’s Top 10 List, but it makes for an enjoyable night at the movies.

Reviews: Decent, although mostly pretty mixed. Some like Roger Ebert (a noted sucker for adventure films, just like me) liked it, while others panned it for its preference of loud special effects over, you know, actual drama and character work. But, really, you know what you’re getting into when you buy a ticket for a film called Clash of the Titans. Schindler's List, this is not (even though, ironically, it features two of that film's stars)...

Overall: I recommend it…although with a bit of caution. I think it appeals to our more kid-like sensibilities for great adventures in faraway, exotic lands. On top of that, it’s well-acted (for what this is) and the action sequences alone justify seeing it in theaters. If you liked the trailers and all the clips (which, admittedly, I liked too much), chances are you’ll come out satisfied by the final product.

Quick Note: The ads are pushing that this MUST be seen in 3D. Honestly, it’s just a ploy to capitalize on Avatar’s success (and now Alice in Wonderland’s as well), particularly since Clash star Sam Worthington also played the leading role in James Cameron’s 3D opus. Many fanboys cried foul at the 3D effects (which, to my inexperienced eye, were not awful in the slightest), but I can say that the added dimension does not do much for the film in whole. If the 3D showings are sold out, safely choose the cheaper 2D, and I doubt you’ll miss out on anything.

2. “The Last Song”

Story: A rebellious, angsty (is there another kind lately?) teen (played by reigning queen of the tween generation, Miley Cyrus) is forced or spend a summer in her father’s (Greg Kinnear, always good to see) Southern beach home. Young love, some good heart-to-heart chats, and (knowing that this comes from the pen of romance/cheesy novel guru, Nicholas Sparks), some kind of death will probably ensue.

The Good: I will always love Greg Kinnear (As Good as it Gets, Little Miss Sunshine, You’ve Got Mail), who, over the years, has become one of those dependable, charismatic actors who elevate just about anything they star in (yes, even Mystery Men). And as much as I can’t stand her overacting from the few episodes I’ve seen of Hannah Montana, I hear good things about Miley Cyrus’ performance here. Mainly, that it’s the work of a talented young actress, and not necessarily a Disney-packaged product trying to branch away from her target audience. Oh, and for a fun fact, this looks like the high-profile debut of young Aussie hunk, Liam Hemsworth – he’s the younger brother of Chris Hemsworth, who made an impressive splash in the opening of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek (he played Kirk’s father) and will next tackle Marvel’s superheroic Norse god of thunder, Thor! (I know, not particularly relevant, but it’s nice to see that this family might just have two talented siblings up its sleeve.) I may have my problems with author Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, the recent hit, Dear John), but he is known to make watchable films, especially if you’re in the mood for a grab-the-hanky tearjerker.

The Bad: I really can’t stand Nicholas Sparks. I’m sorry, I respect the fact that he’s a mega-best-selling writer (while I’m, ahem, a grouchy newbie with nothing close to publication), and his books get turned into at least modest-hit films (even the pretty awful Nights in Rodanthe did well on home video). Nonetheless, the level of manipulation in his stories drives me insane. There is always some kind of death (really, it might as well be a character in each story! The Grim Reaper probably gets most of his business from Sparks’ novels/movies) and his characters seem to operate only on the level of big declarations and ultimate, hokey resolutions. I’ll admit: The Notebook was pretty good (mainly because of the performances, though, and despite that corny conclusion), but that was one of the few. Judging by the okay (if unenthusiastic) reviews, this looks to hit closer to Dear John or A Walk to Remember territory.

Reviews: Okay. Nothing too positive, but very few outright negative notices either. Much like Clash of the Titans (which, I’ll admit, must looks as bad to some people as this movie looks to me), you know what you’re getting into. If you’re a fan of the previous Nicholas Sparks adaptations, this one might do the trick.

Overall: This is probably good counter-programming to the male-skewing Clash of the Titans. I have a soft spot for adventure films, so I’m sticking with Sam Worthington and his band of Greek warriors and over-the-top special effects. However, if a romantic drama is more to your liking (and you’ve enjoyed the other films based on Nicholas Sparks' works), then this might be the choice for you. If anything, it could be the first promising step for a young actress to watch, and it will certainly have some nice moments with Greg Kinnear, if the below trailer is any indication.

3. “Why Did I Get Married Too?”

Story: Four couples (returning from the first film in this series, with Janet Jackson and Tyler Perry reprising their original roles) gather together for a tropical vacation, all the while exposing their marital problems and concerns.

The Good: At this point, Tyler Perry has become a brand all by himself, especially thanks to his tough-talking Southern grandma character, Madea. This is a sequel to a film that had quite a remarkable box-office debut in 2007, so there’s certainly a fanbase for it. I have never seen the first film, nor really any other film from Tyler Perry’s collection, so it’s impossible for me to judge (although some of my friends of mine have, and they warned me that his particular style of moralizing and focus on faith might not be up my alley).

The Bad: It’s hard to tell: the trailer did nothing for me (looks to be, like Nicholas Sparks' stuff, a lot of BIG emotional speeches) and the below disappointing reviews don’t exactly inspire confidence. Then again, like I said, I’m not familiar with any of Perry’s other films, so it’s hard to take a critical look at this.

Reviews: Yep, pretty weak. Critics attack the film for its sermonizing style (sounds like it reduces itself to a lot talking heads, as opoosed to actual narrative momentum) and a mostly lackluster shooting style.

Overall: Well, if you were a fan of the first film, you will probably want to see this for some sense of completion.

And that’s it for this weekend! What do you guys think? Are you tempted by the effects-heavy promise of Clash of the Titans (no worries if you’re not—I can admit that that film just happens to fall into my particular geeky preference)?

What do you guys plan on seeing this weekend, if anything?

- Trailers courtesy of Trailer Addict.
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Trailer Time (Knights, Titans, and Merry Men)

- Posted by Rusty

Thanks to Avatar and Sherlock Holmes, a bunch of new trailers came out over the weekend, all trying to spark some buzz for next year’s biggest films. Some are slam-dunks (you know that I can’t resist a mythic-beast-fighting Sam Worthington at this point), while others sadly miss the mark (sorry, Russell Crowe…and your batch of very un-Merry Men). Let’s see what came out... [new trailers after the jump]


“Clash of the Titans”
Trailer Rating: 5 bites [out of 5]

Could you tell I’m excited about this film? I loved the teaser, and very much love the concept. This trailer just gives us more—more creatures, more heroic-looking Sam Worthington, more of his love Andromeda (played by Defiance’s Alexa Davalos), and, of course, more of those damn mortal-teasing gods, Zeus and Hades, played by the British greats, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes (Neeson, especially, in full-clad armor and bathed in ridiculous waves of shining light, looks like he’ll be great fun). I just put the original Clash of the Titans on my Instant Netflix queue, and can’t wait to watch it. It’s supposed to be a corny classic, and, on that level, I’m sure it will be plenty entertaining.

As for this remake, the new trailer is even more fun than the teaser—the action looks all-out insane, and I think that will work just perfectly. Ditto the phenomenal visuals (did you see that Kracken?! Take that, Davy Jones' "pet"!), and the catchy, rousing energy—here’s hoping that translates to the final film as well. We’re still a little fuzzy on the story—we know we’re set for one big clash between gods and mortals, with Perseus set to tip the balance in the human direction. Nonetheless, the brushstrokes we get look solid; unlike the below Robin Hood teaser, this one manages to effectively give us the tone and basic conflicts in the film. And, like I always believed, that vast Greek world of gods and monsters and larger-than-life heroes is too rich to be only relegated to cheesy 80’s action fare (although TV’s Hercules: The Legendary Journeys was a very enjoyable guilty pleasure when I moved to America)—it’s about time we apply our modern effects for one big, crazy Greek-mythology epic. I’m seeing this for sure. Opening day. If it’s as satisfying as this trailer, we’re in for one great treat come March 2010. “Damn the Gods” indeed. Can’t wait!

P.S. Anyone else thinking that Sam Worthington’s Perseus might be getting groomed for his own Greek-mytho franchise? It would make sense for Warner Bros. to snatch the red-hot Worthington before his asking price swells out of control (you could thank Avatar for that, the well-deserving global hit, as I’m sure this one will be). I know they’re playing fast and loose with Perseus’ original confrontation with the snake-haired Medusa, and, by all means, that sounds like the right approach. Using that same thinking, why couldn’t Perseus encounter other gods, other Titans, other great myths? It could make for one fun series of films, and Worthington's Perseus looks like a worthy hero to follow through more than one movie. I predict a nice, very long career of saving the world for him.

“Robin Hood”
Trailer Rating: 2 bites [out of 5]

I was really looking forward to seeing footage from Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, but this teaser trailer is pretty much a letdown. Actually, it’s not so much a trailer as a carefully constructed message: “this isn’t the Robin Hood you’re used to.” Gone are the tights and merriment, the light spirit and that would-be-mustache-twirling evildoer, The Sheriff of Nottingham (he’s still in the film, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t even make an appearance in the teaser). Instead, this trailer makes the new approach pretty clear: this is Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe, reuniting once more after Gladiator (and 3 films since then), and it’s that kind of treatment—rough, dirty, gritty, and proudly extra-bloody—supposedly, this will be a more realistic spin, tracing the actual historical roots of the Robin Hood legend (thus being the story of the Crusade knight, Robin of Locksley). This particular take could make for a good film, especially since Ridley Scott can do historical epics better than almost anyone (watch the Director’s Cut of Kingdom of Heaven if you get the chance—it’s a masterpiece that I think far surpasses Gladiator).

Too bad this teaser trailer gives us no sense of the overall arc or characters. Crowe is a fine actor, and his presence in a film like this is hard to replicate (Orlando Bloom ran into that problem in Kingdom of Heaven—he’s a good actor as well, but Crowe is more easily believable in command of any army)—he’ll be a more rough-and-tumble Robin Hood than we’re used to, but I think it will work. As will Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian, his love interest—she’s too good of an actress to not do justice to this role. But I wanted more of the Merry Men (here looking like the most pissed-off bunch in the Sherwood Forest), more romance, more of the journey of noble knight to outlaw. Oh, well—perhaps that’ll come out in a later trailer. There’s very little shown here after all, and teasers are supposed to just that—tease. The Robin Hood legend is one of those enduring stories—that rascally, charming outlaw stealing from the rich for the greater good, and I eat up almost every version (my favorite: easily Monsieur Hood from Shrek--his riverdance kills me every time!). The story and characters stay around for a reason, and I’m pretty sure this cast and crew won’t mess it up.

This is still on my radar—here’s hoping the next trailer will make it look like a much more interesting film.

Robin Hood hits theaters May 14, 2010.

“Knight and Day”
Trailer Rating: 1 1/2 bites [out of 5]

Easily the worst trailer of the bunch. I’m including it here because it’s a high-profile film, and, not knowing too much besides the basic cast (Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz) and crew (director James Mangold), I honestly thought it would have looked more promising. Sadly, this tone-confused trailer doesn’t give me much hope for this project. Judging by the footage, I think it’s some sort of spy-romantic comedy, aiming for something akin to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, but missing the wit and high-wattage star chemistry that made that one a hit. I still contend that Cruise is a good actor, and with the right material, he shines (Jerry Maguire, Minority Report, Valkyrie, Magnolia, even M:i-3). Diaz, on the other hand, I’m not a fan of—she had a few good performances (Being John Malkovich and Vanilla Sky, ironically with Tom Cruise), but her usual choices of soapy chick-flicks have put her off my list of people to watch. Still, she could be charming when she tones down her persona (ie, The Holiday), though it doesn’t look like that here. It mostly looks like two stars chasing former glories…and not exactly succeeding—the jokes are awkward, and the action doesn’t quite gel with the goofy vibe the trailer is trying to sell. I expected better from director James Mangold (the excellent 3:10 to Yuma, Identity, and the very-rewatchable Kate & Leopold). Then again, it’s certainly nice to see Peter Saarsgard and Lost’s Maggie Grace in supporting roles. Who knows? Maybe this is a bad teaser, and the final film will be actually be smart and entertaining. Maybe. It just doesn’t look that way for now.

Knight and Day opens July 2, 2010, in what’s sure to be a very busy summer.

I’ll be back with more trailers in a bit (including the biggie for next year, Iron Man 2). For now, what do you guys think of these? Were you excited to see footage from any of these big upcoming movies?

Clips courtesy of Trailer Addict.
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"Clash of the Titans" teaser rocks!

- Posted by Rusty

Liam Neeson as a god? Terminator Salvation breakout Sam Worthington fighting mythological beats? Huge creatures, great British actors, and some crazy-looking action? This thing had me at “Liam Neeson as a god” (Zeus, for that matter!). I’m a sucker for Greek mythology, and this looks like the best stab at this material in years. It’s also a remake—I’ve never seen the original film, but I know it’s a beloved, cult-ish kind of property, especially famous for the effects work of creature-king Ray Harryhausen. [more thoughts after the jump]

But I love the look of this. This is one of my most anticipated movies of next year, and it looks like pure adrenaline—a zippy adventure with some awesome effects. Loosely based on the myth of Perseus (played here by Sam Worthington), a brave warrior who defeated Medusa, that snake-haired demon with a thing for turning men into stone (she makes a quick cameo in the beginning of the teaser, if you watch carefully), to rescue his love, Andromeda (Gemma Arterton, who’s going to have a very good year, with the double-whammy of this and Prince of Persia). It’s a myth ripe for some visual fun, and the story’s foundation is strong (and simple) enough to allow the filmmakers to add plenty of new details.

Mostly, though, I’m excited that this is from director/loveable-French-guy Louis Letterier. This is the man who made the insane (but very fun) Transporter 2 and the excellent, Edward Norton-starring The Incredible Hulk. I think he’s going to be a major force one day—his action scenes have a great kinetic kick to them, and he gets terrific performances from his actors (say what you will about Jason Statham, but that guy put in solid, subtle work as the world’s most dangerous, laws-of-physics-defying delivery man). By the way, if you ever get a chance, the guy's an absolute blast to listen to--his DVD commentary on The Incredible Hulk is entertaining with lots of great factoids, and his comments about Transporter 2 (and Jason Statham's big gay secret) are priceless.

Plus, I think this will be the movie to cement Sam Worthington as a superstar (if next month’s Avatar doesn’t do it first). This part should be a perfect fit, making good use of some of the cheer-worthy hero moments he got to show in Terminator.

What do you guys think of the teaser? Since the movie comes out in March, you can expect a much longer trailer in a few months.

And has anyone seen the original? Does it hold up, or do you think the story could use a tech-savvy update?

Trailer courtesy of Yahoo! Movies.
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