One of the bigger events of the last few years was Marvel sending the Hulk to a distant planet.  The Planet Hulk story line changed the way people looked at the Hulk and helped him go from the brainless smashing thing to one of the most relevant characters in the Marvel Universe. Lionsgate put out a DVD full length movie based on the story line, and though there are a few changes it is still a great adaptation.  

There are a few spoilers ahead so read at your own risk.

The Movie:

The introduction introduces the Hulk to new viewers and connects the movie to the rest of the Marvel Universe. The movie starts out with the reason that the Hulk is being sent away by the “heroes” of Earth. Iron Man, Reed Richards, Dr. Strange, and Black Bolt all felt it was better for everyone if the Hulk was off Earth. The planet is one with no life on it, which gives the Hulk free reign without hurting another living thing. There is also an introduction to the new planet Sakaar, the Hulk’s new home. The Hulk crashes on this new planet, not the one the Heroes planned for, but an inhabited world.  He is captured and forced to be a gladiator for the enjoyment of the native population. The Hulk is teamed up with the reject of the planet, quickly winning the hearts of the fans in the area and the loyalty of his team. 

The story is easy to follow and mirrors most of the twists and turns of the comic story line. The movie is evenly paced, mixing action with enough story to give viewers a well rounded movie. There were points where the main characters were introduced, and then flashbacks gave the audience some insight into the these new strange aliens.  

Though there are changes, the main themes and messages of the original story are intact. The first major change is the replacement of the Silver Surfer in the story line. While he was not an integral character in the book, it was a disappointment to see him missing from the film. The Surfer is replaced by Beta Ray Bill, the horse faced God of Thunder. In the story Beta Ray Bill and Thor defeat Korg, one of the Hulk’s team, on Earth. Beta Ray Bill follows Korg’s escaping ship, getting caught in Sakaar’s pull and is also made into a gladiator. While the message is the same with the Thunder God, the gravity of the guest appearance is not.  Silver Surfer is a name many non comic fans would recognize and to replace him with Beta Ray Bill cheapens the story a little.  

The second major change is the ending of the comic.  This movie stops short, and though at first I was confused, I understood the reasoning.  The comic book was going to continue after the Planet Hulk story line, while the cartoon does not have definite sequel. The ending in the book sets up a new arc for the Hulk in World War Hulk, so teasing an audience with a story that may never happen was a wise choice.  

Overall this is one of the better adaptations of a comic to movie I have seen in the past few years. The animation was simple but it did not feel rushed or cheap.  The simple lines were perfect for the story, and let you focus on the characters rather than all the details in the art. There were also a ton of cameos in the arena crowds so don’t blink during the fights.  

The extras:

The DVD is full of extras, more than I expected for an animated feature for a single disc DVD.  There is a second disc, but it is only the digital copy which is great for those of us who like to watch our movies on the go. The extras include two commentary tracks with the makers of the movie, which give the viewers some insight into the changes and details of the movie. There is also a making of the movie which goes into the process of translating an animated story into a movie. You get to see the story boards and the movie makers walk through turning the comic book into a feature length movie. You also get a short look at the comic behind the movie in the Saga of Planet Hulk. It is a must-watch for those who have not read the Planet Hulk story line in the comics.  

Also included on the DVD are two motion comics, which are fun but for true comic fans something is lacking. However, I do look forward to what Marvel can do with this medium, with all the new technology coming out soon.  There are also accompanying music videos for the comics.  

This was a great DVD with a ton of extras.  I have watched it once and I can’t wait to watch it again to catch some of the little details I missed the first time around.  

Thanks to Lionsgate for sending over a copy for review