Stulk the Hulk

June 17, 2003 9:24 AM

Hulking out. I don't know what is more overwhelming, the sheer number of products tied in with the new Hulk movie, or the amount of detail kokogiak collected on the subject. I'm trying to remember another movie that had this variety of marketing tie ins (Slim Jim? Shot glasses? Jello?)
posted by jonah (48 comments total)

Or another movie I was less interested in.
posted by Foosnark at 9:44 AM on June 17, 2003

Is that why ketchup is green and purple for the Hulk?
posted by thomcatspike at 9:49 AM on June 17, 2003

I'm a fan of comic book movies, as a rule. I went to see X-Men, Spiderman, X2, Daredevil (damn it sucked) on day 1.

There is just no desire in me to see this movie at all. None.
posted by benjh at 9:54 AM on June 17, 2003

Thank you. Our supermarket has been overrun for months. The weird thing is I haven't seen a ketchup tie-in, even though Heinz already has green ketchup. Did see Hershey's Chocolate Syrup though.

benjh, I was in the same boat but then I thought, "Never mind how crappy the early CGI looked: it's Ang Lee. How bad could it be?"
posted by yerfatma at 9:56 AM on June 17, 2003

I didn't know the masses related that much to Bruce Banner's alter ego. Ironically, yesterday Drudge linked to an article with Ang Lee saying that, with his Hulk movie, he was trying to make a delicacy out of fast food etc etc etc. Indeed. The other Matt also featured an article decrying J K Rowling's "vulgar" selling out of the Potter franchise.
posted by 111 at 9:58 AM on June 17, 2003

another 2 hour running commercial based on a comic book. you'd think at least halfway intelligent people would have tired of this around, oh, 1980 or so. you'd think.
posted by quonsar at 10:07 AM on June 17, 2003

At our house we're calling this marketing blitz "Hulkamania." As in, "Uh-oh honey, the Today Show has Hulkamania."
posted by putzface_dickman at 10:13 AM on June 17, 2003

yerfatma: "Never mind how crappy the early CGI looked: it's Ang Lee. How bad could it be?"

Never underestimate the capacity of even the most respected director to completely lose their way.

A friend at AOLTimeWarnerHBOetal has seen it and confirms that the CGI is in fact painfully embarrassing. Apparently, it's intended to "look like a comic book"; instead, in the theatre it does look as cheap and amateurish as the trailers and television commercials seemed to. There seems to be an industry backlash building against "comics movies" - I'd venture to say you can almost bet "Hulk" will be a disaster of "Howard the Duck" proportions, both critically and financially...
posted by JollyWanker at 10:14 AM on June 17, 2003

QUONSAR SMASH consumer impulse
posted by eddydamascene at 10:14 AM on June 17, 2003

What, no green viagra?
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 10:20 AM on June 17, 2003

My current favorite of the bunch has to be Con Agra Foods' Cookout Heros. It's worth it for the goofy Flash Splash of the Hulk menacing a picnic table full of Hot Dogs, Baked Beans and Chicken Tenders.
posted by kokogiak at 10:29 AM on June 17, 2003

The Sandal

The Lounge Pants

The Boxer Shorts

The Costumes and Party Goods (Halloween becomes HULKoween?)

The Big Hulkin' SUV (on auction at eBay)
posted by LinusMines at 10:30 AM on June 17, 2003

Hey.... I wrote about this yesterday. Heh.
posted by grabbingsand at 10:31 AM on June 17, 2003

Hulkmania!
posted by debralee at 10:33 AM on June 17, 2003

the goofy Flash Splash of the Hulk menacing a picnic table full of Hot Dogs, Baked Beans and Chicken Tenders.

Vaguely Yogi Bear-like, isn't it?
posted by 111 at 10:41 AM on June 17, 2003

he was trying to make a delicacy out of fast food...

And then repackage that delicacy into individual packs of green gelatinous sugar? I wonder how much Ang had to do with plastering the Hulkster on everything sold.
posted by jonah at 10:54 AM on June 17, 2003

What's shocking is just how unnecessary this film is. No one was clamoring for a movie of the Hulk except production executives looking for an easy property to bleed dry. I hear there are now talks for a Green Lantern flick. Because, y'know, everyone's clamoring for that.

It's so pathetic. The studios are ignoring any original ideas in favor of leveraged and synergized properties.

And what I will NEVER understand is - why make a movie from a comic book in the first place? Fanboys, you HAVE the comic book. You have all the adventures of big dorks in bad costumes you want. Let it go. You may have thought X-Men 2 was super-cool, but lemme tell you: Hugh Jackman may look like Wolvie, but that hairstyle may be the dumbest thing ever put to screen.
posted by solistrato at 11:17 AM on June 17, 2003

I was thinking the same things as many here: the trailers look terrible and I have no desire to see this movie, but the last Ebert and Ropper gave it high marks from both of them. They said it was probably the best in breed of recent comic book films.
posted by mathowie at 11:23 AM on June 17, 2003

And what I will NEVER understand is - why make a movie from a comic book in the first place? Fanboys, you HAVE the comic book.

I like movies made from comic books. And a lot of people like to watch them, too. You don't have to shell out the cash for it if you don't want to. And if enough of you stopped watching such a movie, then they would stop making them.

Arguing against what appeals to the movie-watching audience because it runs contrary to your own "critical" taste doesn't do anything but create noise.

And I would see a Green Lantern film.

Hell, I'll see LXG just for the hell of it. It's the exact opposite of Hulk. Where Ang Lee turns a big Marvel comic book into an introspective drama, LXG is a critically acclaimed comic book turned into a really bad action flick.
posted by linux at 11:40 AM on June 17, 2003

Arguing against what appeals to the movie-watching audience because it runs contrary to your own "critical" taste doesn't do anything but create noise.

Actually, it also makes me feel better. But glad to know critical taste = noise. Thanks, Linux!
posted by solistrato at 11:48 AM on June 17, 2003

quonsar, what color are the walls in your bunker? Primer grey would be my guess.

And what I will NEVER understand is - why make a movie from a comic book in the first place?

Until I saw X2, I didn't really have an answer for that. There were a couple scenes in there that had me giggling with adolescent joy, seeing my imagination projected onto a screen (twenty) five feet long and luminous.
posted by yerfatma at 11:57 AM on June 17, 2003

the goofy Flash Splash of the Hulk menacing a picnic table full of Hot Dogs, Baked Beans and Chicken Tenders.

Vaguely Yogi Bear-like, isn't it?
Reminded me of a JollyGreen Giant ad, the kids will think it's Hulk or his brother and lil sprout his cousin too.
posted by thomcatspike at 12:08 PM on June 17, 2003

While I agree that it's a case marketing run amok, I can't deny that it's effective. The sheer number of tie-ins means that there's something for everyone - for me it's the Hulk Hands. I really must pit them against my lightsaber in an orgy of toy-noise.

And, yes, I am still keen to see the film. The trailers may have given away entirely too many plot points for my liking and revealed that the effects are relatively weak but Bana appeals as Banner and Ang Lee may be the right person to play the father/son thing without too much melodramatic histrionics.
posted by MUD at 12:15 PM on June 17, 2003

I'm really curious the Hulk/Nilla Wafer cross-marketing. Any box of Nilla Wafers in the grocery store (at least here near Boston) is adorned with this slouch-shouldered, glowering, hateful-looking Hulk drawing.

Nothing says mean and green like "Nilla."

Say it with a roar of rage: "NILLLLLLLLAH!!!!"
posted by tpl1212 at 12:25 PM on June 17, 2003

tpl1212 - it was exactly that ludicrous image, of Hulk Roaring "Nillllaahhh!" that got me started doing this. I'm not even really a Hulk fan (kinda sorta, but I never owned any of his comics). Yesterday I saw a Ritz Box with his face on it, mouth wide open in a roar - "RRRRITZ BITS!!!"
posted by kokogiak at 12:39 PM on June 17, 2003

So, are they implying that snack foods cause uncontrollable rage? Or that uncontrollable rage causes cravings for snack foods?
posted by JoanArkham at 1:04 PM on June 17, 2003

I think the message is that snack foods contain uncontrollable hormones.
posted by jonah at 1:11 PM on June 17, 2003

Say it with a roar of rage: "NILLLLLLLLAH!!!!"

I think you're all confused: Hulk not mad, Hulk from Dorchester. That why Hulk say "NILLAH!"
posted by yerfatma at 1:17 PM on June 17, 2003

MUD, I'm with you. I love my crashing lighsaber, and can't wait until I pick up my pair of Hulk Hands!! HULLLK SMAAASH!!! They are just too cool.

as for the movie, "meh". I don't think it will be good, but I will go, and I will make it a point to like it. For Stan's sake.
posted by tomplus2 at 1:18 PM on June 17, 2003

I'm trying to remember another movie that had this variety of marketing tie ins

I remember Star Wars. Am I that old? Hey I am only talking about that new one that came out in '99.
posted by wrench at 1:19 PM on June 17, 2003

quonsar, what color are the walls in your bunker? Primer grey would be my guess.

I love the quons and all, but that is funny.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 1:38 PM on June 17, 2003

I was extremely disappointed to find out that the Hulk Kraft Dinner (Mac and Cheese) is still yellow, and not green.
posted by sauril at 1:42 PM on June 17, 2003

Aquaman is where it's at !
posted by Witty at 2:28 PM on June 17, 2003

I was extremely disappointed to find out that the Hulk Kraft Dinner (Mac and Cheese) is still yellow, and not green

The bummer is, there are so many preservatives that even if you leave it out on the counter for a few days, it wont even turn green.
posted by jonah at 2:55 PM on June 17, 2003

It really is a bit of a bite in the ass for the studio that savvier media saturation victims (we, I mean) feel so secure in assuming that a movie's overhype is a direct indicator of its likelihood to suck.

So I watched the bootleg work print expecting little, but hoping that Ang Lee would find some way to make me watch all the way through.

I was blown away. The story has broad emotional scope. The script is character driven. The acting is great (Ms. Connolly in particular).

This is a GOOD MOVIE.

And Hulk-o doesn't look THAT cartoony. I mean, he's a bit goofy. But the CGI scenes in their entirety felt physical and exciting (big surprise for me, since the trailer made them look like poo). I am itching to hork up my nine bucks and see the release cut with final renders and sound fx.
posted by damehex at 3:05 PM on June 17, 2003

well, if i ever wanted to assemble mefites en masse, i see all i would have to do is flash moving lights on a large screen. or would i need to sell large colored plastic hands with that? it's really quite pathetic, you know.

I am itching to hork up my nine bucks
and plenty of industry moguls are itching to lick it up off the floor.
posted by quonsar at 3:35 PM on June 17, 2003

damhex, name another good movie to come out in the last few years? I just wanna see if you're credible...
posted by zpousman at 3:44 PM on June 17, 2003

Reminds me of the saturation campaign for the DVD release of another green monster. The movie was all right, but by the time "yours to own" time rolled around, I was sick to death of it. His face was plastered everywhere, and broadcast constantly. Why buy the DVD?

P. S. Uh oh
posted by kurumi at 4:01 PM on June 17, 2003

hulk hand pix :D SMASH!
posted by kliuless at 4:16 PM on June 17, 2003

other good movies of recent years: The Ice Storm, Hidden Tiger, Amelie, American Beauty, Donnie Darko, Cat's Meow, 25th Hour

other good comic book movies: Ghost World, Spirited Away, and... hmm.... Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III?
posted by damehex at 4:17 PM on June 17, 2003

why make a movie from a comic book in the first place?

American Splendor goes into regular release in a few months (in the U.S. at least). Skip the Hulk and go see Harvey instead. It's a great film.
posted by gluechunk at 4:37 PM on June 17, 2003

The most natural cross-promotion I can think of is The Hulk and Mountain Dew. Both very green and too stong for their own good...
Sorry, is it a MeFi no-no to link to anything from Pepsi Corp.?
posted by wendell at 5:02 PM on June 17, 2003

My only thing is this... if Bruce Banner turns into the Hulk, shouldn't he be wearing the pants he was wearing when he transformed, rather than purple leggings?
posted by benjh at 5:37 PM on June 17, 2003

"the trailers look terrible and I have no desire to see this movie, but the last Ebert and Ropper gave it high marks from both of them. They said it was probably the best in breed of recent comic book films."

I'm on the same page. Everything I've seen/read about the movie- very much including this post- leads me to believe that the movie is crap. Jennifer Connaly- very delicious and a damn good actress- worrying that she'd be typecast as a the girldfrind of a tortured genuis because of Beauiful Mind and the Hulk- whaaa? I can only hope she's kidding. But Ebert liked it. One thing about Ebert as Movie Critic™ is that he can enjoy his low-brow. I'm actually tempted to see this one. And, dammit, who took my C-3PO Burger King glasses?
posted by superchris at 7:54 PM on June 17, 2003

Hey!

Let's actually SEE a movie before we pass our almighty reigning cynics-of-doom judgement upon it!

Cool! Thanks!

I haven't seen anything 'Hulkamania' other than a few posters when I was down in SanFran.
posted by cinderful at 9:53 PM on June 17, 2003

Being quite the fan of movie tie-in food products, I can safely say that Hulk jello does not compare to Star Wars cereal (with little marshmellow Yodas!) and Batchips (shaped like the bat signal!).
posted by Katemonkey at 1:20 AM on June 18, 2003

quonsar, you're highbrowing stinks. why don't you unplug your computer and fuck off to the park?
posted by Frasermoo at 7:41 AM on June 18, 2003

well, if i ever wanted to assemble mefites en masse, i see all i would have to do is flash moving lights on a large screen. or would i need to sell large colored plastic hands with that? it's really quite pathetic, you know.

It's a shame that you opted for sarcasm over coherence in this paragraph. All I'm getting is a superficial "marketing is bad" vibe. Which misses the point that the film could well be a good one and some of the tie-in products may well be extremely good. Or they could be crap. Just because you know someone is trying to sell you something doesn't automatically mean that it's crap.
posted by MUD at 3:42 PM on June 18, 2003