 Planet Hulk Animated |
| Review Date: January 21, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Ellen R. Fissel, South Mountain, PA USA |
As all of you fans of the Hulk know, this is the animated adaptation of the popular comic book series. Now, I would like to begin, that they made a lot of changes in this adaptation. Some are good, while others I don't care for, but this is still a great animated action film. The demise of the Red King is something that I like better here than in the comics.
Sadly, just to inform you, the Silver Surfer has been replaced by Beta Ray Bill!!! But don't blame Marvel, blame FOX STUDIOS!!! One thing this movie has though is a lot of action and a fast paced storyline. It is without a doubt the best Marvel animated film so far. It keeps a similar theme to its comic counterpart, and it still keeps the viewers entertained.
The voice cast is just great, and they suit each others characters perfectly. While I must admit, I still prefer the comic over the animated film. I'm a big Hulk fan, and the way I look at it, if it isn't broke, don't try fixing it. I just wished they would have made it exactly like the comic, but I'm not complaining, for I really like this film.
What intrests me is if there is a World War Hulk, his wife Caiera may be coming along for the ride! I would love to see a WWH animated film! Just to see Stark, Richards, and all of the Marvel Universe being beaten almost to death!!! It gives a whole new meaning to the words... HULK SMASH!!!!
This two disc set contains these special features:
- A Whole World of Hurt: The Making of Planet Hulk
- Let the Smashing Commence! The Saga of Planet Hulk
- Opening Sequence: Thor Tales Of Asgard
- Wolverine vs. Hulk Episode from the popular series Wolverine and the X-Men
- Spider-Woman: Agent of Sword Motion Comic
- Astonishing X-Men: Gifted Motion Comic
- Watch Your Step: Spider-Woman Music Video
- Rise Up: Astonishing X-Men Music Video
PLOT
- When the Hulk becomes too dangerous for the Earth, the Illuminati trick Hulk into a shuttle and launch him into space to a planet where the Hulk can live in peace. Unfortunately, the Hulk's struggle to escape makes a malfunction in the shuttle causing Hulk to land on the planet Sakaar where he is sold into slavery and trained as a gladiator. With the aid of fellow gladiators Hiroim, Korg, Miek, and Elloe Kaifi, the Hulk forms the Warbound in a plot to overthrow the Red King.
VOICE CAST
- Rick D. Wasserman - Hulk
- Lisa Ann Beley - Caiera
- Mark Hildreth - Red King
- Liam O'Brien - Hiroim
- Kevin Michael Richardson - Korg
- Samuel Vincent - Miek
- Advah Soudack - Elloe Kaifi
- Michael Kopsa - Lavin Skee
- Marc Worden - Iron Man
While I did not care for the changes they have made to this animated adaptation, it didn't ruin it for me. The story is fresh and the action is some of the best I have ever witnessed in animation. Some fans will dislike the change (well more like they will hate it), others fan or non fans will be sure to enjoy this great animated film.
My advice, buy this film. It's a good adaptation, and it is sure to please those who like great fights and a good story. It's worth the price of $17.49, and you will not be displeased. While it may not be as spectacular as its comic book counterpart, it is still great in its own way. |
Marvel's animated DVDs go to the next level.
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| Review Date: January 24, 2010 |
| Reviewer: S. Curley, Charlottetown, PE, Canada |
In the first decade of the 21st century, Marvel's had big success in comics, on film, and in animated television programs; the one area where they have really lagged behind DC has been in the animated DVD market, where Bruce Timm's productions have been more numerous and generally more successful. The recent "Hulk vs." DVD was a step in the right direction, providing some great action and good use of Marvel characters, albeit in two shortened segments that neither of them possessed a full story. "Planet Hulk", an adaptation of the Marvel Comics storyline of the same name by Greg Pak (who is involved in the production), is a full-length story, and it is by far the best thing Marvel Animation's DVD program has done, and ranks with my favourite DC DVDs. Again starring the Hulk, but this time way out of his normal element, it delivers action and heart. Some spoilers follow.
We're dropped right into the story, as the Hulk (voice of Rick Wasserman) awakens to find himself traveling through space, with a video from the Illuminati (Iron Man [Marc Worden, reprising his role from various other Marvel DVDs], Mr. Fantastic, Dr. Strange, and Black Bolt) explaining that his constant destructive rampages have forced them to send him away to a peaceful world where he can at last be left alone. Nice idea, but the Hulk doesn't take this well, and destroys the instrumentation, sending the ship careening into a wormhole and crashlanding on the planet Sakaar. Captured and forced to fight in gladiator games for the entertainment of the despotic Red King (Mark Hildreth), he finds himself the unwilling companion of the Warbound, a collection of fellow-gladiators. Many come to see the Hulk as the Sakaarson, the saviour of the planet, but others, including the Red King's lieutenant Caiera (Lisa Beley), insist that the King himself fulfills that role. And the Hulk himself doesn't have a lot of interest in it...
If it sounds a bit like the movie "Gladiator", it is. But it's "Gladiator" with the action quotient increased to eleven. The story is a fairly faithful condensation of the original epic (which ran for over a year in the comics), with a few character roles and plot elements shifted around. Most notably, for those who have read the original, Beta Ray Bill has been substituted for the Silver Surfer, which works extremely well, and is a tremendous little depiction of the character. The voice actors all do a good job with their parts, including Wasserman as the Hulk, who is far more talkative here than general audiences will be used to (in the comics, he's been typically sentient since the 1980s). And for those who like their cartoons a bit bloodier than they'll show on Saturday morning, this is your story. There are some truly brutal action scenes here, and the Spikes are depicted like creatures from a horror movie.
Fans of the comic will also be familiar with the followup story, "World War Hulk", which the end of "Planet Hulk" leads into. As I had suspected prior to watching, the DVD stops just short of the comics ending, wisely not presuming that there will be a followup DVD; Pak has spoken of plans for one in the near-future, where the sad fate of Sakaar can be played out in the opening sequence. After this excellent film, it will be a truly sorrowful thing to see.
Recommended. |
PLANET HULK SMASH, and SMASH!!
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| Review Date: February 2, 2010 |
| Reviewer: B. Daniel, Upstate New York, USA |
So I finally got my hands on Marvel's newest animated feature, "Planet Hulk," and I must say, HULK SMASH!! Now I've noticed after watching the film that Hulk has been in almost every Marvel Animated feature except "Invincible Iron Man," and "Dr. Strange." The Green Goliath is certainly in demand. And even though the last release, the double scoop of gamma goodness that is "Hulk Vs." had him heavily featured, it seemed more like he was a guest in Wolverine and Thor's story. "Planet Hulk" is all Hulk, all the time. Before I get into the review I should mention that this is Marvel's first actual story adaptation since "Ultimate Avengers," and I have to say it's the best one to date, and that includes DC/Warner Premier's adaptations as well "Superman:Doomsday," and "Justice League:New Frontier." That said on to the review.
I'm going to try not to go overboard but it's really hard for me. When "Planet Hulk" hit the comics stands back in 2006-2007 I was very excited to see this new take on the Hulk and this new adventure he was on. The basic premise is Hulk meets "Gladiator/Spartacus." After years of trying to keep the total destruction caused by the Hulk to acceptable levels, some of Earth's smartest heroes decide to exile him to a remote planet where he can do any harm but can live free of torment, and live the life of solitude the Hulk always craves. But as always his rage gets the best of him and his struggle to free himself alters the course of the ship he's in sending him through a wormhole and crash-landing on the planet Sakaar. It is here the story truly begins.
The film itself hits all the right beats, and has most of the major action set pieces from the book. It also looses a lot of the context and subplots that are woven throughout the year long story line. This is the biggest issue I had with the film. I know it had to be done, and most of it isn't missed if you've never read the source material, but if you have it's glaringly obvious. The comics had a running subplot of political upheaval and xenophobia. Though hinted at in the film it's not a topic at all really. Another major issue I had with the film is it's handling of one of the supporting characters in the story. **SPOILER WARNING** Skip the next paragraph if you want to go in to the film with no knowledge of the story other than the basic premise. This won't be super spoilerific but it's gonna give some of the changes away as a warning to those who've read the source material.
I read reviews of the film before I got to see it and I'm glad I did. They were all favorable reviews but they gave away plot info and had I not gone in knowing this stuff I may have disliked the movie. In the story Hulk "befriends" some other gladiators, and after the death of one of them in their first arena battle, they become "Warbound," brothers and sisters in survival. Each gets to tell their story and how they came to be where they are now. It was a touching scene in the books, but was only glossed over in the film. Understandable for time constraints, but they cheated by doing a fade out when they get to the third story, so though we may not see it, it does play out. In the books Hulk tells his story and actually joins in their newfound bond, but in the film he's played as a loner. In the books, Miek, an insectoid native of Sakaar, who is an outcast for not having a hive of his own, goes from timid weakling, to courageous underdog, to fullgrown insectoid King. Yes King. To say more would ruin things. None of this happens in the film. Again time constraints, but it was a much missed aspect of the story and the character. Finally some of the changes that were made for licensing issues that didn't bother me at all were to minor characters that show up in the story. The heroes that send Hulk into space in the books are Mr. Fantastic, Dr. Strange and Iron Man. Because Mr. Fantastic and the FF are currently owned by Fox they weren't used (though his silhouette is unmistakable), nor was the Silver Surfer who shows up halfway through the story for a serious slugfest. His replacement did just as good. Beta Ray Bill is an alien who actually stood toe-to-toe with Thor in a fight, and whose heart was so noble he was able to lift Thor's hammer Mjolnr. Odin was so impressed he gave him his own hammer, "Stormbreaker," and the rest is comics history. He's awesome and it was great to see him show up.
All changes aside I stand by my claim that it's the best adapted story to be animated yet. Great action, dialogue ripped right from the comics, and a story that though truncated and condensed, is still compelling. The film ends earlier than where the comic did but it's forgivable. Even with it being a PG-13 film, with lots of violence and several bloody scenes, the writers wanted this to have a self-contained and upbeat story. The comics end with Hulk heading back to Earth for revenge. That would have been awesome, and could even still be possible, but I definitely get why they ended it where they did. Most of the stuff I wanted to see in this film was there. The gladiator combat, the Warbound, the crazy monsters, and the Marvel Universe references. I got more in the film than in the comic, as several of Marvels cosmic characters show up in the crowd scenes at the arena.
Like all Marvel Animated features their special features far outweigh Dc's with two documentaries; one a making of and the other a look at the comic arc it was based on, an episode of "Wolverine and The X-Men" featuring the Hulk, two motion comics (Spider-Woman and Astonishing X-men) and two music videos for them, and lastly the opening scene from the upcoming "Thor:Tales of Asgard" animated film. So should you see this movie? HELL YES! Should you buy it? If you're a Hulk fan, action fan, or comic fan then MOST DEFINITELY! It's well worth it even with all the lost material. |
Amazing. WOW!
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| Review Date: February 4, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Daniel Burke, Orlando, Florida |
| This is one of the best animated films I have ever seen. Super well drawn, great story and editing. Amazing movie. Maybe the best yet from the year 2000 to NOW! Watch this one..you will love it. |
Another great one from Marvel Animation!
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| Review Date: February 5, 2010 |
| Reviewer: R.E. Stone, Laguna Niguel, CA USA |
| So if you're big into the Marvel and DC animated films I highly recommend this one for your collection. I hadn't read Planet Hulk when I bought this, but this animated film caused me to go and order the graphic novel to get the full in depth story. I found the animation to be great and story very entertaining. I don't collect the Hulk comics, but I loved the live action version so I picked this one up out of habit. It gives a whole new hero dynamic to the Hulk because for once he finds a world that appreciates his rage driven nature and in turn it gives him a new perspective and purpose as a superhero. It was definitely shortened up and at a few points I was left wondering what had happened in the comic that they obviously had to omit to fit it into a 90 min film. Really that didn't bother me too much because it instead inspired me to get a hold of the original comic so I could find out about the additional gladiators Hulk fights with (like why Meik is black and not yellow like the rest of his insect_like people). I love the animated films coming from Marvel and DC and I'd say this and Wonder woman (by DC) have so far been my favorites. As a little spoiler they do swap out Silver Savage (aka Silver Surfer, who I love from FF4) with Beta Ray Bill which is a bold tangent from the comic, but really I like it a lot because, if like me, you don't know every singe Marvel character, you get introduced to Beta Ray Bill and that's a treat in its self. In my opinion of course. finally and probably best of all, the Hulk finds a love interest as the Hulk not Bruce Banner (Banner is not in this film at all, its all about the Hulk developing as a Superhero)! Which is just a teaser really, but it gives the whole movie a great symmetry that I found very satisfying. The Special feature are Ok and answer a few question you may have about their artistic licenses. Nothing spectacular but it was only a dollar more for the Special edition at Target so I'm not complaining, but if you're tight on cash, opt for the regular edition, you're not missing much. The motion comics included in the special feature are interesting (spider woman and an x-man comic), but I am actually not a huge fan of that sort of story telling because of the weird image distortion used. Now if they'll just make World War Hulk as a animated sequel that's just as good as this that would be awesome! |
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