Deleted scenes include an alternate opening for this revamp of the Hulk franchise. Marvel reportedly is not leaning toward a sequel but the end of this film hints that Hulk could appear in other Marvel movies, like The Avengers.

It’s a great day for Hulk fans as the fifth and final season of the Hulk’s TV show comes out on DVD today as well. This one only contains seven episodes, but completists will want it.

Spy drama fans will be interested in the release of The Man from U.N.C.L.E: The Complete Series on DVD. This TV show struck like lightning during the spy craze of the 1960s and James Bond creator Ian Fleming was involved to boot. The box set costs just a hair under $200 but comes in a spy-smooth attache case.

And you can’t talk about classic sci-fi TV without mentioning the anthology series The Outer Limits. They brought this back a few years ago but nothing quite beats the original.

© 2008 Universal Studios

Post from: SF Universe

Will Smith vehicle Hancock slipped into second place with $33 million. It’s still cementing Smith’s midsummer legend though, pulling in an impressive $165 million in just 12 days. Hellboy’s reign at the top will be a brief one though, as the fourth comic book property to take no.1 will certainly be The Dark Knight.

Propelled by positive reviews, feverish anticipation and publicity from Heath Ledger’s untimely death The Dark Knight has become the hottest ticket of the summer. Experts are anticipating an opening easily in the $130 million neighborhood. It’s no wonder movie producers are descending on events like San Diego Comic Con hoping to snag the next big comic property.

Other sci fi flicks that opened this past weekend included Brendan Fraser’s latest, Journey to the Center of the Earth. As one of the more family friendly films out now, it opened in third with a respectable $20.6 million.

Last and most certainly least was Eddie Murphy’s newest, Meet Dave. In this Murphy stars as a robotic spaceship and its miniature captain. This one is on the fast track to Flop City opening with just $5.3 million. That’s the lowest opening for Murphy since his last try at mixing comedy and space travel, The Adventures of Pluto Nash.

Image: Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Dark Horse Entertainment, Universal Pictures, 2008

Post from: SF Universe

Iron Man director Jon Favreau told USA Today he and Marvel Studios are looking at Captain America, Thor and Ant Man. That’s in addition to Hulk and Iron Man already set up in their own movies. Films featuring Thor and Cap are reported to be in the pipeline. They’re planning Thor in June of 2010 and a Captain America flick in 2011. This may be the greatest time to be a comic geek in the history of the world.

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures, 2008

Post from: SF Universe

That’s two straight hits from Marvel Studios, now setting up a much anticipated Avengers movie with a Nick Fury cameo in Iron Man and a Tony Stark appearance in Hulk. Although I wasn’t exactly clear whether Stark was trying to recruit the Hulk or if that’s the “problem” Stark wants to help with.

M. Night’s Shyamalan’s latest film The Happening opened in third with $30.5 million. The first R-rated movie from The Sixth Sense director opened to pretty lackluster reviews. Hmm, maybe Marvel could revamp his career by getting him to do a Moon Knight movie.

© 2008 Universal Studios

Post from: SF Universe

Variety and The Hollywood Reporter have joined in what are generally positive reviews for Marvel’s latest take on the Incredible Hulk.  “Perfectly solid summer action fare” Variety’s Todd McCarthy says. He notes nods to King Kong and of course the Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde vibes that have always been a part of this character.

“The production arm of Marvel Entertainment is 2-for-2 in 2008, hitting home runs with Iron Man and now Incredible Hulk,” according to THR’s Kirk Honeycutt. He confirms the Iron Man cameo that was about the worst kept secret in comic book movie history. I won’t spoil the details for you, but they’re out there if you check around. Suffice it to say it is an awesome time to be a comic book fan.

If the weekend numbers turn out like they appear destined to, Marvel Studios has changed the comic book movie making game forever.

Image courtesy of Newscom.

Post from: SF Universe

Marvel, not coincidentally, has been gradually increasing the Hulk’s profile in preparation for this movie. He was shot into space by Marvel’s version of the Illuminati, then made like Russell Crowe as a gladiator on a savage alien world.

Last year he returned to fight World War Hulk against the entire Marvel universe. Now, he’s taking on the summer film blockbusters in what could be his toughest fight yet.

Check out Kistler’s list of the best Hulk stories here.

Image courtesy of Newscom.

Post from: SF Universe

First we sensed it. Then we saw the signs. Now it’s happening. Note there are no references to us visiting The Village, or finding a Lady in the Water. The scuttlebutt is that after back-to-back flops from the director, this Friday’s release puts him in a make or break situation.

That may not be entirely accurate. After all, he’s already got his next gig lined up with a live-action adaptation of popular Nickelodeon toon Avatar: The Last Airbender. They’re looking to cast child actors that will age with a planned series, like the Harry Potter movies. So M. Night certainly has paychecks coming his way.

What is up for grabs is his status as a “name” director. There are only a handful of directors who are used to sell a movie, sometimes even above the actors leading the cast. That’s in play with The Happening. Other than star Mark Wahlberg, I defy you to name anyone connected with this movie other than Shyamalan without checking IMDB.

It doesn’t catch any breaks its opening weekend. As you may have heard, Incredible Hulk opens this Friday as well. That really puts The Happening in a situation of shooting for second. Fans of comic book movies generally come out in strong numbers the first week and are oblivious to any bad reviews that might leak out.

Now if word of mouth about Hulk is bad, Happening could get stronger over the weekend. It’s also got a shot as counter programming, which I’m going to assume is what executives were thinking with this release date. A lot of female film goers couldn’t be dragged into Hulk under any circumstances. A new film from the Sixth Sense director, with a Hollywood hunk like Wahlberg leading the way would be a bigger draw for the ladies.

Of course, this is the director’s first R-rated film with a theme of mass suicide. Not that the Sixth Sense was touchy feely but even Shyamalan admits pushing the envelope here. He’s joked that the initial script would have gotten an “X.”

I can’t wait to see this weekend’s receipts. Are SFUniverse fans going to see Hulk, The Happening, or both?

Image courtesy of Newscom.

Post from: SF Universe

A couple of positive reader reviews have come out after some early screenings. There are apparently several nods to the classic 80s TV show, as well as some other Marvel franchises. Having taken over the chore of making its own movies, Marvel is going to present the first shared comic universe ever on screen. Robert Downey Jr. reportedly has a cameo in Hulk, and of course Samuel L. Jackson’s turn as Nick Fury was one of the best after-credit treats ever.

This is all leading up to the Avengers film slated for 2010. Hulk was a founding member of the team in the comic books, so it will be interesting to see if Marvel goes there in the movie.

I’m also curious whether they’ll use strictly people that have had their own movie or round out the roster with other characters. The X-Men flicks did pretty well introducing a lot of characters, even if they only fleshed out a few. Go ahead, those of you that aren’t big comic fans but saw X-Men 3 and tell me something about Pete other than “he turns to metal.”

Image courtesy of Newscom.

Post from: SF Universe

Marvel’s hope is that fans who didn’t see the first film will get all the backstory they need and be ready to rock with the new movie. I worry if Marvel’s going too far in its retreat from Hulk. I mean good grief, they’re treating this movie like it was Elektra or something. I really thought the only one that needed to be replaced was the director.

With a Hulk that grew in size proportionate to his anger and was also ridiculously fast, Lee had created a being that didn’t have any visible weakness. That is of course, unless some other character in the mythos undergoes a power upgrade that happens at deus ex machina speed. It could be argued that the comic book’s writers did the same thing last summer but that’s another column.

Sentry, meet Nick Nolte. Nick Nolte, meet Sentry. Have some coffee, talk amongst yourselves about the ridiculously contrived ways in which you almost beat the Hulk. O.K, I swear we’re moving on. Marvel knocked it out of the park with Iron Man.  Here’s hoping they keep the momentum going.

Photo: Edward Norton, The Incredible Hulk, Marvel Studios, 2008

Post from: SF Universe

Grand Theft Auto IV, likely the biggest game of the year, is hitting stores across the country April 29. Iron Man, the blockbuster comic book film that marks the official kickoff of the summer movie season is coming May 2. Some movie industry experts are afraid that since both target the same demographic of males aged 18-24, Iron Man may suffer. They cite a dip in TV viewership last year in that age group when 2007’s most anticipated game, Halo 3, hit shelves.

Stuff and nonsense, says this geek who logs in at 33 but still plays video games and watches comic book movies. I plan to buy Grand Theft Auto IV and see Iron Man. If it’s good, I will probably see it more than once. Rest assured, entertainment industry, we can handle both. I have had both April 29 and May 2 marked on my calendar for a long time and wouldn’t miss either product launch.

There are more and more entertainment options today, which absolutely should scare TV and movie brass. But if Iron Man stands on its own merits, it will make money. Lots of it. Movies and games scratch different entertainment itches, especially mature-rated games like the GTA series. I can’t play GTA IV with my two sons, or my nephews. I can and will take them to see Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk and other such films.

Blaming video games is the rage these days, whether you’re a politician trying to earn a job or a movie exec trying to keep one. Just make good movies and the rest will take care of itself. If the movie industry really wants to understand what’s happening, slow down on the subpar sequels and make more original films. Challenge us the way the video game industry has managed to.

It’s true the movie industry is in something of a doldrums while games have never been bigger. That’s simple economics. You can see a movie for $10 or less, while a good game now costs $60. Many look at me and shake their head, not seeing the difference. The movie will entertain me (hopefully) for about 90 minutes. I’ll spend 50 or more hours playing GTA IV. I’m willing to pay $60 for something that will keep me occupied for much of the next month.

I’m going to take about 30 or more hours out of my summer schedule to see all your blockbusters, Hollywood. All I ask in return is that you don’t make me regret it.

Images from Paramount Pictures, 2008

Post from: SF Universe