The Incredible Hulk: fuming mad
It seems people have been getting worked up about The Incredible Hulk for various reasons over the past few weeks. But let's not worry ourselves over petty little details such as whether the film's any cop or not, and get straight to the real issue: smoking.
William Hurt is under fire after his cigar-chomping portrayal of General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross upset the American Medical Association. The fact that cigar-chomping generals are the stuff of well-worn comic book cliche is neither here nor there. (They'll probably be retouching footage of Douglas MacArthur next to delete his famous corn-cob pipe.)
We shouldn't underestimate the power of superhero films and their uncanny ability to inspire copycat behaviour in impressionable youngsters. I know more than one person who came a cropper as a child by jumping off roofs while convinced they were Superman or Steve Austin. But if that's what you're worried about, there are probably more immediate threats to one's health in The Hulk than a minor character chewing on a cigar.
The Hulk isn't the only film to get into trouble for this recently: the AMA has also cited Iron Man, Speed Racer and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull for including smoking scenes. (It is also pressing for a mandatory 'R' rating for any such films.) But Universal is the only studio I'm aware of which has succumbed to the pressure by issuing warning messages on the film's posters in the US. "This film contains depictions of tobacco consumption" indeed. I couldn't explain my thoughts on the subject any better than blogger Joe Dator, so I won't.
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