MovieChat Forums > Avengers: Endgame (2019) Discussion > Did the Russos simply make a mistake or ...

Did the Russos simply make a mistake or do you think they actively dislike Hulk?

posted 3 years ago by kuatorises (7467)
8 replies | jump to latest

Was their handling of the Hulk a bad choice or are they not fans of the character and chose to limit/diminish him?

I know it was sold as character progression, but they really went out of their way to make him look foolish. Thanos didn't just beat him, he smacked him around like a child. I know that they were trying to establish how strong Thanos is - and that no one can beat him - but to have him lose LIKE THAT and then essentially never come back again?! He didn't grow, he hid. They even tossed in the line about "this armor kicked the Hulk's ass" or something. Then he doesn't even get to fight Thanos again?! Not a once?! The big 3 fight him the entire time, Wanda gets a shot, Captain Marvel gets a shot, but Hulk doesnt?! Seems like an outward dislike to me.

[–] Abed303 (282) 3 years ago

It must have been incredibly hard to write compelling arcs for so many characters in a single story (even though it was split into 2 movies). I think that's the crux of it.

Hulk wouldn't manifest in IW because he felt fear for the first time when Thanos beat on him. I think Natasha should have died in IW at the hands of Cull Obsidian. That would send Bruce into rage as he turns into Hulk. Hulk would be angrier (thus more powerful) than he's ever been shown in the MCU before. He should decimate Cull Obsidian, before spotting Thanos and charging at him. Hulk would get his payback. He'd take the upper hand in the fight, forcing Thanos to use an infinity stone to avoid defeat. The loss of Natasha could have inspired Bruce and Hulk to become professor hulk, so no change there. It would have tied up the whole Bruce-Natasha love angle that Whedon created too (The Russos clumsily reference it when the two meet again in IW with Natasha's stare). The soul stone scene would need to get reworked, but it was pretty weak anyways so... win-win.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

I don't even care about story or character development at this point. It's the last movie series – with the real, original, big guns – I am not expecting that suddenly give Bruce a lot of screen time. I'm talking about specifically just giving the character and opportunity to shine and do what he does best – fight. It's funny you mentioned Cull Obsidian, because Hulk didn't even get an opportunity to face off with someone like him, let alone get the chance against Thanos.

The funny thing is that he was just coming off Ragnarok, which gave him more screen time and character development than any other movie he had been in. Then we take a MAJOR step back the next two movies. I get that they were showing that there is no single individual that can match Thanos, but he gets humiliated after his biggest forum, and never so much as comes within 100 feet of Thanos again?! And Wanda and Captain Marvel get a 1-on-1 with him?! That's a violation. Huge blatant omission which leads me to believe that they either don't care about or don't like the character. I hope to God he pops up in the She Hulk show and gets to be his old self again.

[–] acidraindrop (3055) 3 years ago

Also, keep in mind, that we didn't even get to see Hulk shine in that fight in Ragnarok.

Hulk entertains children. No one else. So Marvel doesn't give a shit about him.

The fact that he got not a single cool scene in Endgame's final fight outside the snap, is proof enough of his being ignored.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

"Also, keep in mind, that we didn't even get to see Hulk shine in that fight in Ragnarok."

He's practically protagonist 1a and gets more screen time than ANY Avengers movie. Fights Thor, the Big Bad Wolf, and Surtur.

"Hulk entertains children. No one else."

.....what?

"So Marvel doesn't give a shit about him.

The fact that he got not a single cool scene in Endgame's final fight outside the snap, is proof enough of his being ignored."

I agree it appears to be intentional.

[–] acidraindrop (3055) 3 years ago

He's practically protagonist 1a and gets more screen time than ANY Avengers movie. Fights Thor, the Big Bad Wolf, and Surtur.

I was referring to the final climatic fight at the end of the film. He got a few key freeze frames, but the film didn't really take the time to show him actually fight, which was disappointed. The final scene in Ragnarok was disappointing as a whole, but I felt that was specifically odd.

Hulk entertains children. No one else.

The two hulk movies didn't have much of a following, although the cartoon show did. It seems Hulk is more effective with children, so Marvel doesn't give a shit about him.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

Ragnorak wasn't his movie, he's not gonna be the focal point. That's an unfair criticism, especially since he Ragnorak gave him more to do Infinity War and Endgame combined.

I don't think Marvel knows what to do with him, I don't think the Russos CARED. He certainly wasn't the focal point in Avengers or Age of Ultron, but was used more and better handled than the last two. The Russos chose to do that imo.

[–] spurtle467 (1507) 3 years ago

I feel like part of it was to give Thanos a fairer chance. In the same way that Captain Marvel was written out of the last 2 movies for an inordinate amount of time, because she had to go "look after other galaxies" or whatever her excuse was, when she was clearly the most powerful protagonist of the lot, they also reduced another very powerful member, Hulk, to a non-aggressive form. With these 2 available and at full capacity it shouldn't have been a struggle for the Avengers against Thanos.

[–] acidraindrop (3055) 3 years ago

I am not of the opinion where I wanted to see hulk get a rematch with Thanos. But I would have liked to see him do something cool in that final battle. He was already injured. He was IN the battle lol. They could have shown him doing something. Giant hulk smash or something to set up some of the other avengers to clean up.

This reminds me of the end of Ragnarok where Hulk was facing off against Fenrir and shit, and we barely got to see him shine there either! lol