HULK
RATING: PG-13
STARRING: Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Nick Nolte, Sam Elliott, and Josh Lucas
DIRECTOR: Ang Lee
PRODUCERS: Gale Anne Hurd, Avi Arad, James Schamus, and Larry Franco
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Stan Lee and Kevin Feige
WRITERS: John Turman, Michael France and James Schamus
BASED ON THE MARVEL COMIC BOOK CHARACTER CREATED BY: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
DISTRIBUTOR: Universal Pictures
GENRE: Science Fiction
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Teenagers and adults
SUMMARY: Hulk, one of the big summer flicks this year, describes the familiar story of Bruce Banner, who turns into a raging green monster when two genetic experiments go wrong. Despite major story flaws, Hulk has a lot to commend in terms of big production values, some exciting sequences and a good story concept, but its psychological themes about parents and children are too dark and heavy for an action movie intended for children and teenagers.
Hulk opens with David Banner experimenting on himself in order to develop a way for human beings to regenerate. David’s son, Bruce Banner, inherits David’s genetic defect, so David desperately tries to find a cure. The first half of Hulk is particularly well constructed, but when the chase starts, the movie seems to lose its way. The problem is that the Hulk never develops. He shows some glimmers of compassion, but never becomes the hero he could be.
CONTENT: Light moral worldview with a villainous father who bashes religion and government in a 1960s anarchist way (implicitly rebuked), a tough American general father who swears, some redemptive elements when a loving girlfriend mentions God positively and main character shows some signs of compassion and self-sacrifice; seven obscenities, three or four strong profanities, two light profanities; large scary monster smashes labs; kissing and hugging; total rear and upper male nudity.
SINBAD: LEGEND OF THE SEVEN SEAS
RATING: PG
RELEASE: July 2, 2003
TIME: 92 minutes
STARRING: Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michelle Pfeiffer, Joseph Fiennes, and Dennis Haysbert
DIRECTORS: Tim Johnson and Patrick Gilmore
PRODUCERS: Jeffrey Katzenberg and Mireille Soria
WRITER: John Logan
DISTRIBUTOR: DreamWorks
GENRE: Mythological Fantasy
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Children and adults
SUMMARY: Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas is a delightful surprise, a very well-written animated movie with exciting sequences that rival big screen epics. The movie tells the story of Sinbad of Arabian Nights fame. In this version of the oft told tale, Sinbad is a pirate, trying to cap off his career by stealing the Book of Peace. Eris, the goddess of chaos, impersonates Sinbad, however, and steals the Book of Peace herself. Sinbad is blamed and condemned to death, but Proteus, Sinbad’s friend, says that he will take Sinbad’s place, freeing Sinbad to go to the edge of the world to retrieve the book from the satanic goddess.
The problem with Sinbad is that much of the mythology seems all too convincing, and there are some sexual innuendoes and scary monsters. There is a strong Christian allegory running underneath the story, however. Sinbad lays down his life for his friends. He also chooses honor over selfishness, truth over falsehood, and trust over irresponsibility.
CONTENT: Very strong redemptive worldview in a mythological (pagan) setting with a very strong redemptive premise, several clear moral themes and intentional Christian allegorical elements such as a goddess who seems to symbolize Satan, a book which appears to symbolize the Bible, a scene which appears to symbolize communion complete with a chalice with cross on it, a lighthouse illuminated by the "Book of Peace," several clear acts of self-sacrifice for others; lots of sword fights, battles with frightening monsters.
