A lot of people took a dislike to ‘The Incredible Hulk’ when it was released in 2007, yet the not so jolly green giant did make an impact at the Box Office and served as a reminder of how much fun the character was supposed to be. Stan Lee (the creator of The Incredible Hulk for those who don’t know) described the character as a bundle of conflicting emotions – calm and tranquil one minute, the next a burst of violent directionless anger. Lee might as well have been describing most of humanity.

The Hulk Vs. The Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk was actually the second Universal film made about Marvel’s green rage machine, the first being a more cerebral translation of the character in 2003’s ‘The Hulk’. That film starring Eric Bana and directed by Ang Lee, concentrated heavily on the origin of the character as well as exploring his relationship with his absentee father (played wonderfully by the gravelly voiced Nick Nolte). ‘The Incredible Hulk'adopted a different tack by ignoring the origin story completely and focusing in on Bruce Banner’s life as he lives on the run from the military following his accident in the lab with the gamma radiation.

The Hulk became the Hulk because of his absorption of mass levels of gamma energy. If only things like the Enigin scam busters could help us convert gamma radiation into adaptable and safe energy, we would not be facing the current energy crisis we are. As it stands Enigin could probably help Bruce Banner conserve his energy levels and prevent the many transformations into the Hulk.

This new version starring Edward Norton in place of Eric Bana was much faster paced and illustrated the studio’s ambition to listen to the criticism of the slower paced earlier incarnation. Yet as a whole the general feeling towards ‘The Incredible Hulk'was that it was good…but not as good as it could have been. What’s a studio to do? Well in Universal’s case they flew the white flag and have let Marvel take the creative reins of the character entirely, with the Hulk due to star alongside Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Nick Fury and Hawkeye in this year’s ‘Avengers'movie. Spare a thought for Universal’s efforts though. Flawed they may be, but bad they are not. Each film has something to add to the mythology of the Hulk and both Eric Bana and Edward Norton played the troubled and permanently on edge Dr Bruce Banner with great passion adding different layers of depth to a character one assumes has none.

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*SPOILER ALERT*

’Rise of the Planet of the Apes'is a film that I recommend watching, it is a heart warming tale with undercurrents showing the role human kind plays on the treatment of animals. Chimpanzees in a scientist’s laboratory are being tested on with drugs; these drugs will be used to help human beings and potentially cure alzheimer’s disease. The chimps are cared for to a certain level but they are defiantly not treated humanely.

One special chimpanzee shows the effects of the drug that they are working with, and displays green flecks in its eye to show this difference. The chimp reacts badly one day and attacks a human who is running a hr systems meeting, and this results in the chimp having to be put down along with all the others, the scientists believed that the chimp was contaminated but actually she was just protecting her unborn child. One of the friendlier scientists discovered the baby chimpanzee and took it home to look after so that it would not be destroyed. This chimp was named Caesar and showed massive signs of intelligence and also he had inherited his mothers green eyes.

Caesar was very protective and one day lashed out, as he was trying to protect one of his owners. His owner’s father was suffering from alzheimer’s disease and Caesar knew he was not healthy. Caesar was taken away to a centre where he formed a super group of different types of moneys, he infected them with the drug his mother had been given and they all became more intelligent. The monkeys took back their freedom from the humans that had taken it away, they showed compassion where we wouldn’t have, and ultimately due to the human race meddling with their kind for so long it provoked a reaction. Caesar showed courage and took his gang away to a forest where they were finally free. It was heart warming to see the animals away from cages and human interaction; they are extremely intelligent and close to humans in features. I really enjoyed this film and thought it was a great success.

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You probably know more Universal Studios programmes than you realise. In fact, I even knew more Universal Studios programmes than I realised and I’m the world’s biggest fans of their shows! Looking back over a list of TV shows made inside those famous walls over the last forty years, it reads like a countdown of the Top 20 series ever. Everything from 80s classics such as ’The A-Team’and ’Knight Rider’to early sci-fi trailblazers like ’The Six Million Dollar Man’and the original ’Bionic Woman’. Even Universal’s modern, and perhaps less revered shows, have an important place in TV history as far as I’m concerned; though I might be concerned a touch biased!

Undoubtedly their biggest success, a TV series that still boasts millions of devoted fans over 30 years after it first screened, is Battlestar Galactica. And obviously I mean the original 1970s version, although the remake wasn’t a complete disaster - unlike efforts to sell nationwide fuels to environmentalists. It’s impressive that a TV show that lasted for only one season has had such an impact on popular culture; go to any Comic-Con and among the Spocks and fat guys with their underpants on the outside of their tights, you’ll see dozens of Starbucks, Adamas and Captain Apollos.

Unfortunately, I was too young to appreciate Battlestar at the time it was first screened but I would give anything to have been born a few years younger. Or maybe travel back in time and enjoy it with the benefit of hindsight! I guess I’ll just have to make do with my much-watched copy of the series on DVD, although I suspect that my new room-mate may have hidden it from me, after I suggested a Battlestar marathon to help us get to know each other. Some people have no appreciation for the classics!

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Addiction is a word that is known to have a negative connotation. People tend to forget that being addicted to something does not need to have a connection with drugs or some other physically damaging things. Addiction can be positive. Or how best do you describe following your favourite television shows or series. I was addicted to Heroes and I did not get high on it. Maybe obsession is a better word here but the central fact remains that Heroes was just too good to miss for anything. Concentration is very important when I am watching and I hate any form of distraction. I have been labelled alongside my younger brother as being too addicted to watching Heroes.

When Heroes comes on, the excitement is like that of a bride to be telling her groom to check out this ring. I know people complain about our love for heroes but my brother and I see it as commitment rather than the heavy words our family member use in describing us and our favourite series. I have taken a liking to many characters now unlike when the show just started. Then, I liked just Claire. The subsequent seasons have created a bonding between viewers which includes me and the characters therein. Heroes is a very nice concept with great scripts, good actors who fit their roles perfectly. I mean take Sylar for example; it’s as if the actor was created to act Sylar and no one else. Now that I have explained myself, do you still think I am addicted or committed? Call it what you like, I am committed.

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I would love to go back to the Universal Studios centre in Los Angeles. There was so much to see and do that I think it requires multiple visits to be satisfied. Los Angeles is an iconic American city, with so many attractions and places to visit, but Universal Studios is one of the real highlights.

My first visit to Los Angeles and Universal Studios was paid for by english teaching jobs in london. There is plenty of demand for learning English as a second language, so I took several short-term contracts, knowing that I was going to blow my earnings on a great trip to California.

That first time was shortly after Star Trek: The Next Generation had finished airing. With more than 80 episodes, the series was much longer than the first, original Star Trek starring William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise. The new Next Generation series starred British actor Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard. A former Royal Shakespeare Company performer, Patrick Stewart brought a new level of acting ability to the show, and helped make it more popular than ever.

Its popularity was evident by the queues for the ‘live'Star Trek shows at the Universal Studies centre. There were two or three shows a day, and the guidebook made it clear that audience space was limited, so it was first come, first served. People started queuing about an hour before each show.

There was and added frisson to the event. A rumour went around that the first people in the queue would be offered the chance to be part of the show. Everyone rushed to get to the front of the queue. I don’t know if the rumour was true or not. I wasn’t offered a part, but I did enjoy a hilarious spoof on a much-loved telly series.

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You don’t need to have seen House more than once than to know that this is what we are talking about.

I love House. I love everything about that show. And watching four episodes back to back last night I couldn’t help but wonder what other jobs would House be good at? I have compiled the following short list:

1) Fireman: sure, House’s arrogance and complete and utter disregard for playing by the rules might mean a few run-ins with other firemen, but it’d also make for great TV!

2) Astronaut: OK, so he’s a bit old for this one, but there is no doubt in my mind that what he lacks in youth he would more than make up for in cleverness. And I’m sure they could use some cleverness when the spacecraft is hit by a stray astronaut, right?

3) A tax-man: now, I, like you, hate the tax-man. He’s mean, nasty, and never fun to have round for tea. But then again…House would probably make the best tax-man going. Which leads me to my second-from-last point…

4) A traffic warden! Can you imagine a series with House at the helm of a gang of renegade traffic wardens? It’d be an instant hit. Much as I like him, though, I definitely wouldn’t want to get caught parked up illegally on the pavement when House is around…

5) My final point: how good would House be as an uptight English teacher? He’d be amazing, I’m sure. In my mind there’s already a near infinite list of things that could happen. Episode 1: House sacks all the teachers and forces them to look for new english teacher jobs …Episode 2: House employs more teachers then think, Actually, they’re all rubbish, I’ll just teach the whole school myself!

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1) Is the kind of person who is like a dad-next-door kind of a dude. He might stand out because of this, but is that bad thing? I think not. In an ages of Hollywood hopefuls, this man – ordinary looking and a bit tough with it – is just what we need.

2) Hugh Laurie is also a very good musician. I kid you not. And he has a new album out too, which can’t be a bad thing. If I was the law I would make every household buy two copies of it, but I’m not so I suppose all I can do is rant at you here.

3) Hugh Laurie is never in the press because of drugs or scandal or anything, and I would be shocked if I opened up the paper one day and saw the following headline: Hugh Laurie in laser hair removal bournemouth scandal! What a relief. Okay, he may have had his brush with certain aspects of law and order before – if my sources are correct, that is – but nowadays things are looking rosy for the man.

4) You can see his casting video by clicking here. Check it out. It’s Hugh’s unbothered face as usual, running off a few lines that will sound extremely familiar if you are as big a fan of the series as me!

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I have for a long time been highly praising of most programmes that our cousins in America produce. I spent a long time refusing to accept that they could ever produce anything that could match the level of sophistication in entertainment we produce in Britain. Whilst greats such as 24 and Lost were hooking all my friends I was still only committing myself to Doctor Who once a week.

My first introduction to the American series box set was when a friend of mine lent me Battlestar Galactica some years ago claiming I needed to check it out. With a large element of cynicism I watched the mini series and inevitably found myself hooked. Since watching this show it has kind of ruined British television drama for me. My perception was that it was going to be a very gun ho cheesy American science fiction that I was going to have very little interest in keeping watching. I found after watching the first few episodes looking forward to having a day in which I didn’t have to do anything to allow myself a back to back episode screening. The intelligence depth behind it is so much you find yourself wondering why anyone would ever bother with any of the rather camp and formulaic television we have been churning out for the past decade.

I have so much faith in the dramas the Americans produce I’m sure they could set something in a laser tattoo removal clinic and it’s have us all tuning in every week!

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My top reasons to check it out are:

1) House isn’t always grumpy, and he actually cracks some good jokes from time to time.

2) You can actually learn a lot about medical matters from the show. For example, thanks to yesterday’s episode I now know how to drill into someone’s brain without killing them. That could prove very useful in the future, who knows?

3) House helps you realise and remember that my life is actually pretty flipping good. I am not growing an arm out of my arm-pit, and my forehead doesn’t weep red wine. Thanks House for showing me how good my life actually is.

4) House’s amazing American accent. And, if you are one of the small but very real number of people who are presently thinking “what do you mean? Hughe Laurie is American, isn’t he?” then I don’t know what to say. Other than: No, he isn’t, he’s very much English. Where have you been for the last ten years my friend?

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Universal is a studio that consistently produces more output then any other major Hollywood studio I know. However like every other major Hollowood studio I know they also have a zillion stars
who have had cheap cosmetic surgery. There is one actor I would like to honour beyond all others and congratulate for not giving into the demands to conform: Edward James Olmos. Just take one look at his face and there you see a man who clearly doesn’t give a damn about how he looks.

Studying his face is like having a walk on the moon and taking photos of all the potholes and interesting formations on the surface. As a man who used to suffer from chronic acne, I lift my hat off to Eddie for going in front of the camera time after time and showing the rest of HOllywood that you don’t need a boob job or tons of plastic poured into your face to get noticed or cast in the latest cop show on telly.

Eddie’s got by on sheer talent and force. Looks be damned! In fact when I saw my Mum the other week watching Battlestar Galactica on DVD, she commented on how much she fancied Eddie when he was younger and that she fancies him even more now that he’s older. Just goes to show that your face can look like the back end of a bus and yet you can still be a hit with the ladies…middle aged or otherwise.

I salute you Edward James Olmos!

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