Crouching scientist, hidden monster

"Hulk" is an action movie. "Hulk" is a drama. Does the movie, like its protagonist, have a split personality? No. "Hulk" is both action and drama, blending together to form one fine movie. \nThe first thing people, at least people who have seen trailers for the movie, probably want to know is if the computer-generated special effects are any good. This is natural, because the eponymous Hulk is a special effect, and he appeared to be of questionable realism in the trailers. The Hulk looks great. The effects are excellent, and the Hulk's expressions are truly amazing, conveying frequent confusion along with his rage -- creating sympathy for the "monster." \nYet, the real effects in "The Hulk" have nothing to do with computer-generated imagery. [The fine cast delivers all the necessary depth and drama to the story of a humanitarian scientist, Bruce Banner (Eric Bana). Who, through a combination of bad luck (being born to a scientist father David -- played by Nick Nolte -- who had performed genetic experiments on himself prior to Bruce's conception) and nobility (sacrificing himself to save a co-worker when an experiment goes horribly awry) is turned into a raging green behemoth of limited intelligence and unlimited strength every time he gets angry.] \nJennifer Connelly plays Betty Ross, Banner's fellow scientist and love interest. Sam Elliot, proving he can play more than easy-going cowboys, plays Betty Ross's father, Gen. "Thunderbolt" Ross, who has to hunt down the Hulk. Nolte's role is the closest there is to a villain in this movie (and anyone who creates a homicidal French poodle probably is a villain). But even he is cast more as the darker version of the movie's protagonist: a man, who even though he tries, cannot control his destructive side. \nMost people consider Ang Lee (who directed, among others, the acclaimed "Sense and Sensibility" and the Oscar-winning "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") a talented director, but what he pulls off in "The Hulk" will still be a pleasant surprise. From the inventive way he acclimates us to the Hulk so he doesn't look fake (showing him at first in the dark, then gradually, over his next few appearances, revealing him to the light), to the editing tricks he uses to intensify the movie's pace, Lee crafts his movie intelligently. \nLee uses effects like split-screen (and others I can't even begin to describe) to show several different elements at once, spicing up the film and amping up the tension, as well as subtly recalling (through panel layouts and other illustrative techniques) the movie's comic book origins. Lee respects his viewers, but with this respect comes an expectation that the viewers can keep up with what he's doing. "Hulk" demands more attention than most action movies, but it delivers far more as well.