Day: July 4, 2003

Go to google.com. Enter “Weapons of Mass Destruction.” Then click on the “I Feel Lucky” button to read the very unique error message. And also be sure to click on all the links in the error message.

PAD

Going around the net, I’ve been reading posting after posting regarding the reputed underperformance of “The Hulk” at the box office. What’s amazing to me is the utter glee that so many are taking in that. This warped sense of vindication, this joy that one of the more thoughtful entries in the superhero film genre is not enjoying the wide audience success of “X-Men” or “Spider-Man.” The German word “Schadenfreude” summarizes the attitude nicely: It means to take pleasure in other people’s misfortunes.

Guys…you think the script they filmed had problems? I read earlier drafts before any of the current creative personnel were aboard. No Betty. No General Ross. No resemblance whatsoever to the comic book in any incarnation. The Hulk got around by tearing off the roof of a car, hopping in and driving away.

Yet I see all this chortling and “Thank God there won’t be a Hulk II.” If that should be the case…how is this a good thing? Who’s to say the sequel wouldn’t have been better?

Instead poor performance simply encourages Hollywood money men to be less inclined to invest the kind of money that’s required to do comic book movies right. This is Not A Good Thing.

PAD