Lionsgate released this two feature set of action packed animated films recently, and I was intrigued by the previews and clips youtube had to offer. It's no secret that one of the biggest on going battle feuds within Marvel comics is between Wolverine and the Hulk. But, it does make for good cinema to have the god of thunder to go up against the ultimate Marvel powerhouse. Let's begin...
Hulk vs Wolverine is up first and, unfortunately, I have but one word for it: Disappointing. Now, it wasn't completely disappointing, but overall, I wanted something else, or at the very least, something more. Our films starts with our favorite Canadian berserker being called in by the Canadian government to take care of the Hulk, who's been rampaging across the Canadian countryside (I never thought I'd write 'Canadian' so much in one sentence). This is reflective of, not just the plot, but the actual dialogue lifted from Ultimate Hulk vs Ultimate Wolverine (to which I am not a HUGE fan of the Ultimates line, but this picture won me over):
Adding a high note, Wolverine is garbed in his 90's suit rather than his modern suit, which I definitely prefer (though not against the yellow and brown suit). Anyways, after a slightly long tracking sequence, Wolverine meets up with Bruce Banner, Banner turns into Hulk, and combat ensues. To the creators' credit, there was an adequate use of blood and profanity that you would expect if these characters were to actually exist without going of the top for shock value. I suppose that's the highest marks I can give this piece is treating the characters with an adult mindset than just for kids, which happens to many comic-to-cartoon adaptations (Thank God for Batman: The Animated Series)...
So, after what seems like a much too short combat sequence, Wolverine's villains show up, take down both Wolverine and the Hulk, and drag them off to the Weapon X facility. Wait, WHAT?!? Yes, they felt the need to throw *ahem* plot into a feature that would almost be better as just a combat vehicle. So, we see a surprisingly good adaptation of the Weapon X storyline via flashback, and subsequently find out that it was in fact Weapon X who wanted both the Hulk AND Wolverine as their weapons. I mean, I guess since the combined efforts of Sabertooth, Deadpool, Lady Deathstrike, and Omega Red couldn't...stop...
WAITAFRIGGINMINUTE!!! Neither Deathstrike or Red were Weapon X victims!! Sure, they fall into the 'We Hate Wolverine With Every Fiber Of Our Being' Club, but Omega Red was a damn TARGET, not a member of Weapon X! Oh god, continuity is a harsh mistress. And I know Deadpool is the 'Merc with a Mouth' and is sort of a more popular character nowadays, but this interpretation is just annoying and you are just waiting for Hulk to rip his head off (he doesn't). After the inclusion of *sigh* Weapon X, the film takes a decidedly more anime style (especially in Deathstrike and Red's case), but not enough to make me shut it off. Since the villains can't decide between killing off Wolverine or self-preservation against RAGE INCARNATE(!!), they get their crap kicked all over the place...
As the movie draws to a close, Hulk (for some reason) decides to tear the ENTIRE COMPLEX DOWN. Seems more prudent that he would just escape, but hey, I'm just a fan. After these moments of special effects-ery, and swatting Wolverine with a skyscraper-esqe pylon, the Hulk leaves his wake of destruction behind him and returns to the Canadian wilds where he is free to roam in piece. OR IS HE?!?! Wolverine still happens to be conscious and (oddly enough) rechallenges the Hulk to begin where they left off 45 minutes ago. The movie fades to black as these two unstoppable forces leap back into the fray, as if this battle will continue for eons upon eons...
Style: It was a nice mix between accepted American imagery and anime styled combat. Believable and not abhorrent, though their choices on some of the little details perplex me. But, as I said, these are little details...
Story: Did we really have to throw Weapon X in there? It would be like throwing a trip to the Negative Zone in the 'Death of Superman' storyline. Unnecessary. A slugfest with these two heroes would have carried itself. Also, how do end it with a non-ending? Why not use 'parting with grudging respect' or 'not meeting after the collapse of the facilities' or 'one letting the other go their separate ways'? Very unsatisfying in the end...
Voices: Quite good on the whole. I even like they got the guy who played The Kurgan in 'Highlander' to be the voice of Sabertooth. The Wolverine voice even evoked a bit of Cathal Dodd, the voice of Wolverine in the 90's...
Grade: C+ and a free pass for a redo. The story and some of the in-movie styles and portrayals bring the grade down a smidge, but on a good day, it might be graded a B- as well. I recommend this toon to others, mainly to get their reaction. Perhaps I have been too harsh, or not harsh enough. You tell me, fellow viewers...
Next up, Hulk vs Thor. Stay tuned...
2 comments:
I doubt Hulk vs Thor will be any better.
So if Hulk rips Wolvie in half, do we get two Wolverines? ;-)
You'll be surprised...
No, unfortunately we get to see Ultimate Wolverine drag himself across a blizzard encrusted Canada to find his legs (which he can smell) and subsequently reattach himself on the fly...
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