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CNN Live Today

On the Big Screen

Aired June 20, 2003 - 10:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Ever have one of those days when you were over the top mad at the world? Then you may identify with this, "The Hulk," which opens in theaters today. As a bonus, Lou Ferrigno, who played the role in the TV show and Stan Lee who created "The Hulk" from Marvel Comics. Both have cameos at the beginning of the film. To me, that would be the best part.
Our favorite movie guy, Russ Leatherman, is back again to preview "The Hulk" and some other releases.

Hello to you, Russ. Thanks so much for being here.

RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Happy Friday, party girl.

COLLINS: OK. So you know what? I'm not really interested in this "Hulk" movie. because of the digital stuff. I'd rather see Lou Ferrigno I think.

LEATHERMAN: It's interesting. I thought I was going to hate this movie, because like you, I saw the "Hulk," and it just looked ridiculous, and cartoony and way over the top. But when I saw the movie, the few times I saw "The Hulk," I was actually into him. And come to find out, it was the other parts of the movie that I really couldn't stand.

This is another comic book creation come to the big screen directed by Ang Lee. So we thought that we'd be able to get by the ridiculous looking Hulk by the story and everything that would be brought to it. Come to find out, the movie is about 30 minutes too long. The hulk does look ridiculous, but you kind of come to love him after a period of time. It's the really preachy kind of father/son emotional mumbo jumbo that really kind of deflates the movie.

So it's not a terrible movie, but it's by far not a great movie. So, you know, you'll go see it, you'll like the creature, and you won't like the movie so much, but it's, you know, probably worth five bucks.

COLLINS: Sounds great. Five, but not eight bucks, right?

LEATHERMAN: No, no, don't pay eight.

COLLINS: Also, "Alex & Emma." That's coming up. Kate Hudson, really like her, saw her in the other movie, 10 ways to lose a guy or whatever it was called. What are we going to see here?

LEATHERMAN: Well, this is a romantic comedy, which is, sad to say, neither romantic nor funny, which is sort of sad. These are two big, very likable stars. It's a Rob Reiner film. So, again, I was really expecting to see kind of a much better movie. But this is really a movie by the numbers. It's not particularly romantic or funny, like I said, which is sort of sad, because they are so likable.

So again, not a God awful movie, but not really a great movie either.

COLLINS: You think they picked the wrong script then, or was it casted wrong?

LEATHERMAN: No, I think, one, they don't have a lot of on-screen chemistry, which is sort of surprising. But I also think it was really safe moviegoing. Let's take the pat, kind of romantic story line, put it together, give them very deliverable lines, and we'll have a movie that will make money at the box office. No risk taking here, nothing particularly interesting going on. So I just think it was a safe way to go about it, but again, two likable stars, so it will do OK this weekend.

COLLINS: Now, here's the big one, the one we've all been waiting for. What is it? "From Justin to Kelly, right?" Here we are, on the beach.

LEATHERMAN: How much fun does that look like? This is Justin and Kelly from the first "American Idol" movie. And here's what's just a big surprise. They didn't screen this movie for us. They wouldn't show it to us, which is probably just as well, because frankly, I think I would rather take a big fat syringe of monkeypox and slam it in my arm than have to go watch this thing. I mean, this is moviegoing at its absolute worst.

So my suggestion is go find Nemo again, right, if you want to see a good movie, or see the Jim Carrey movie, but this is sort of a sad weekend for movies.

You like that image, don't you? The monkeypox.

COLLINS: That is good. You know, I think there are people lining up to see the movie now as we speak.

LEATHERMAN: I think so, too. I like to do my part you know. You see all the ads from the studios telling you these movies are the best movies in the world. I'm going to give you the real deal.

COLLINS: That's what we appreciate ever so kindly. Thanks so much, Russ Leatherman, monkeypox man. All right. Very good.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired June 20, 2003 - 10:52   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Ever have one of those days when you were over the top mad at the world? Then you may identify with this, "The Hulk," which opens in theaters today. As a bonus, Lou Ferrigno, who played the role in the TV show and Stan Lee who created "The Hulk" from Marvel Comics. Both have cameos at the beginning of the film. To me, that would be the best part.
Our favorite movie guy, Russ Leatherman, is back again to preview "The Hulk" and some other releases.

Hello to you, Russ. Thanks so much for being here.

RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Happy Friday, party girl.

COLLINS: OK. So you know what? I'm not really interested in this "Hulk" movie. because of the digital stuff. I'd rather see Lou Ferrigno I think.

LEATHERMAN: It's interesting. I thought I was going to hate this movie, because like you, I saw the "Hulk," and it just looked ridiculous, and cartoony and way over the top. But when I saw the movie, the few times I saw "The Hulk," I was actually into him. And come to find out, it was the other parts of the movie that I really couldn't stand.

This is another comic book creation come to the big screen directed by Ang Lee. So we thought that we'd be able to get by the ridiculous looking Hulk by the story and everything that would be brought to it. Come to find out, the movie is about 30 minutes too long. The hulk does look ridiculous, but you kind of come to love him after a period of time. It's the really preachy kind of father/son emotional mumbo jumbo that really kind of deflates the movie.

So it's not a terrible movie, but it's by far not a great movie. So, you know, you'll go see it, you'll like the creature, and you won't like the movie so much, but it's, you know, probably worth five bucks.

COLLINS: Sounds great. Five, but not eight bucks, right?

LEATHERMAN: No, no, don't pay eight.

COLLINS: Also, "Alex & Emma." That's coming up. Kate Hudson, really like her, saw her in the other movie, 10 ways to lose a guy or whatever it was called. What are we going to see here?

LEATHERMAN: Well, this is a romantic comedy, which is, sad to say, neither romantic nor funny, which is sort of sad. These are two big, very likable stars. It's a Rob Reiner film. So, again, I was really expecting to see kind of a much better movie. But this is really a movie by the numbers. It's not particularly romantic or funny, like I said, which is sort of sad, because they are so likable.

So again, not a God awful movie, but not really a great movie either.

COLLINS: You think they picked the wrong script then, or was it casted wrong?

LEATHERMAN: No, I think, one, they don't have a lot of on-screen chemistry, which is sort of surprising. But I also think it was really safe moviegoing. Let's take the pat, kind of romantic story line, put it together, give them very deliverable lines, and we'll have a movie that will make money at the box office. No risk taking here, nothing particularly interesting going on. So I just think it was a safe way to go about it, but again, two likable stars, so it will do OK this weekend.

COLLINS: Now, here's the big one, the one we've all been waiting for. What is it? "From Justin to Kelly, right?" Here we are, on the beach.

LEATHERMAN: How much fun does that look like? This is Justin and Kelly from the first "American Idol" movie. And here's what's just a big surprise. They didn't screen this movie for us. They wouldn't show it to us, which is probably just as well, because frankly, I think I would rather take a big fat syringe of monkeypox and slam it in my arm than have to go watch this thing. I mean, this is moviegoing at its absolute worst.

So my suggestion is go find Nemo again, right, if you want to see a good movie, or see the Jim Carrey movie, but this is sort of a sad weekend for movies.

You like that image, don't you? The monkeypox.

COLLINS: That is good. You know, I think there are people lining up to see the movie now as we speak.

LEATHERMAN: I think so, too. I like to do my part you know. You see all the ads from the studios telling you these movies are the best movies in the world. I'm going to give you the real deal.

COLLINS: That's what we appreciate ever so kindly. Thanks so much, Russ Leatherman, monkeypox man. All right. Very good.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com