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Ang Lee

Hulk – Ang Lee (2003)

So this was a Marvel film from before Marvel started to create a ‘Marvel comic universe’? Graphic novel to film, like other Marvel films, but with no references to other films then.

Bruce Banner’s father was a scientist who tried to genetically manipulate the human body so that it would restore itself after injury, like some animals grow back severed limbs. Since he was not allowed to experiment on humans, he tried his potion on himself. This he transferred to his son who accidentally ‘activated’ the manipulation. This caused him to turn big, green and incredibly strong when he gets angry. I guess you know the story.

We have a young Eric Bana, an also young Jennifer Connelly and actors such as Nick Nolte and Sam Elliot. The film is largely a drama, but in a few scenes there is action. There is -of course- a military interest in the experiment and Banner is unhappy with his ‘gift’.

Life Of Pi – Ang Lee (2012)

I thought this film was quite well known, but it took some effort to see it.

Pi is the short name for an Indian boy who, on his search for God, joins several religions. He was raised a Hindu, found Christ and later Allah, much to the chagrin of his rationalistic father.

His father owns a zoo. Then he decides to sell his zoo and emigrate to Canada. The family sets sail on a ship that also transports some of the animals that are to be sold in the USA. After a shipwreck, Pi gets stuck on a lifeboat together with a tiger.

The “Life of Pi” is told by Pi to a writer. The film has wonderful imaginary, quirky humour and a surrealistic atmosphere. It reminds me a bit of “Big Fish“.

A very nice drama indeed.

Taking Woodstock * Ang Lee (2009)

Jake is a young man who lives in New York and makes his living as a designer. In the summer he goes to his parents to help them with their trailer park, conduct local politics and organise a music and arts festival. When the permit for a festival in a neighbouring village is withdrawn, Jake figures that he might be able to make some money for his parents when he puts that festival under his own flag. He does not realise the scale of that “Woodstock festival”, not even when an old schoolmate (the organiser) comes flying in with a helicopter. Soon it becomes clear that this will not be a festival for 5.000 people like Jake expected.
“Taking Woodstock” shows the amount of money that went around in the festival, the slyness and professionalism of the organisers, but mostly the impact on the small town when half a million hippies start to gather in and around the festival area. Almost nothing about the music, nor of the festival itself, but all about the direct surroundings with Jake’s parents realising the goldmine, the neighbours forseeing the problems and weird characters trying to help Jake or themselves. “Taking Woodstock” is a very amusing film with a different look on the most famous chapter of music history.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon * Ang Lee * 2000

It seems that everybody who sees this movie, likes it. I didn’t, not really. “Crouching Tiger” is a Chinese movie with martial arts and “Matrix-like-filming” (read “flying fighters”). Personally I get a bit tired of people walking against walls and ceilings, but especially when they start flying from roof to roof, it gets a bit too much for me. Conclusion: a family film about Chinese fighters looking for a magical sword.

I am much more curious about the upcoming film “Iron Monkey” which seems to be “Crouching Tiger” in a serious version.