DARK WATER

Ariel Gade and Jennifer Connelly

DARK WATER (2005). Director: Walter Salles.

Embroiled in a nasty custody battle with her ex-husband Kyle (Dougray Scott), Dahlia (Jennifer Connelly) moves to Roosevelt Island with her adorable little daughter Ceci (Ariel Gade). It isn't long before weird things begin happening, such as putrid water dripping down from the flooded and deserted apartment one floor above. Dahlia also learns from a teacher (Camryn Manheim) that Ceci has developed a troubling imaginary pal named Natasha. But is she imaginary? Everything is explained by the film's end, but while the movie has some atmosphere and isn't terrible, it's just not that unique or compelling. Jennifer Connelly has certainly developed as an actress since her debut in Dario Argento's Phenomena twenty years earlier. John C. Reilly, Tim Roth, and Pete Postlethwaite give flavorful supporting performances as, respectively, a rental agent, lawyer, and super, and little Gade is quite good, too. Based on a Japanese film, this is one of those movies that turns children into demonic monsters, not a genre I especially care for. NOTE: This is the "unrated" version. The film has no real gore or sexy sequences so I'm not certain what was cut out in the first place.

Verdict: This would have made a nice half hour episode of some supernatural TV series. **1/2.

THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2008)

THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2008). Director: Louis Leterrier.

The second big-screen Hulk movie is better than the first, although it's still no world-beater. The film begins in Portugal, with Bruce Banner (Ed Norton) -- the alter ego of the Hulk -- on the run from government agents. Frankly, I have no idea what people who wandered into the movie theater with friends and aren't familiar with the character would make of it, as only ambiguous flashbacks ever really tell who Banner is or how he turned into a giant green monster with muscles. [I watched this with a friend, who is not a comic book fan, who turned to me and said "I've been watching this for two hours and I still don't know what it's about." For the record, back in 1963 in the first issue of The Incredible Hulk comic book, Bruce Banner was mutated when he was caught in the explosion of a gamma bomb. He turns into the Hulk whenever he gets angry or agitated.] Banner's girlfriend, Betty Ross, is played by Liv Tyler [another pretty Hollywood actress who has deformed her face with misshapen collagen lips]. Banner eventually comes to blows with an old comic book adversary, the even-more-hideous Abomination, a former soldier well-played by Tim Roth. William Hurt is fine as General Ross, who is out to capture or kill Banner/Hulk at any cost. Unlike in the old comics, Banner has absolutely no concern for any innocents who might get killed when he's on a rampage -- he's utterly self-centered. Good FX, but it all becomes rather wearisome long before the conclusion. Tyler and Norton give good performances.

Verdict: Enough with the Hulk already! **1/2.