English Assignment 1 - Compare and contrast essay
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The document provides a compare and contrast essay analyzing the superhero films "The Incredible Hulk" and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine". Both films are based on Marvel comic book characters and were box office successes. The essay discusses key similarities between the two films, including that they both feature fictional superhero characters who are human mutants with enhanced abilities. Additionally, both stories involve allies and villains/enemies and explore the characters' family backgrounds where a family member was killed.
English Assignment 1 - Compare and contrast essay
- 1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN THE DESIGN SCHOOL FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT NAME: Khoo Xin Yee STUDENT ID NO: 0316180 FILMS SELECTED: Superhero Film ( The Incredible Hulk and Wolverine ) WORD COUNT: 960 words ENGLISH 2 (ENGL 0205) WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 1: COMPARE – CONTRAST ESSAY LECTURER: CASSANDRA WIJESURIA SUBMISSION DATE: 18th APRIL 2014
- 2. PRE-WRITING Thesis Statement: “The Incredible Hulk” and “Wolverine”, the global action blockbusters that went on to take in over 75 million at the worldwide box office. They were both created by Marvel Comics. Recently, these two well-known movies are the latest in a long line of big-budget comic book adaptations to reach the big screen. The major similarities that could be discussed between these two movies are characters, races or species, the role of allies and the family. SUPERHERO FILM (SIMILARITIES) ‘ The Incredible Hulk ’ ‘ X-Men Origins: Wolverine ’ Fictional Character - The role of superhero in the Marvel Comics. - He is a gigantic, green, irradiated, mutated humanoid monster with incredible strength and an inability to control his rage. Fictional Character - The role of superhero in the Marvel Comics. - He is a mutant with animal- keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and an accelerated healing rate capacity.
- 3. Race/Species: Human Mutant - A genius scientist who, because of exposure to gamma radiation, transforms into the Hulk when stressed, enraged or excited. - The Hulk possesses the potential for astounding levels of superhuman strength, growing directly proportional to his emotional state. Race/Species: Human Mutant - A belligerent loner who makes a living in cage fights. He has lived for fifteen years without memory of who he is, apart from his dog tags marked "Wolverine" and an adamantium-encased skeleton (as well as adamantium claws). - He has enhanced, animal- like senses, enabling him to sense other people, and the abilityof healing from injuries. The story involves the roles of Allies and Villains/Enemies - Allies. His cousin, Jennifer Walters, becomes a powerful ally as She-Hulk, and his childhood friend Jim Wilson often acts as his sidekick. - The role of villain is Abomination. A Russian- born officer from the United Kingdom's Royal Marines Commandos becomes the monster called Abomination. The story involves the roles of Allies and Villains/Enemies - Wolverine’s allies include Professor X and fellow X- Men, including Jubilee and Nightcrawler. - The role of villain is a veteran female adversary, named Deadly Viper.
- 4. Family (One of their family member was killed) - Hulk’s (Bruce Banner) father, Brian was abusive to him as a child. Bruce was protected by his mother, and his father accidentally killed her by smacking her across the face. Family (One of their family member was killed) - Wolverine’s believed father, John was killed by his actual father, Thomas. Wolverine killed him in revenge, and was sent away by his mother and grandfather. His mother then killed herself.
- 5. Since the early days of Directors Cecil B. De Mille and Stephen Spielberg, the blockbuster has caught the attention of various moviegoers all over the world. Blockbusters are now a popular highlighted trait of the film industry. From “Jaws” (1975) and “Star Wars” (George Lucas, 1977) to the latest “The Incredible Hulk” and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”, blockbuster movies tends to score it out at the box office and draw in record-breaking crowds. These films were chock full of celebrated actors such as Edward Norton, Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, as well as extreme action, suspense and exceptional effects. Each of the aforementioned makes these films become the blockbusters. Recently, “The Incredible Hulk” and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” have become well-known movies and are up-to-date in a long line of big-budget comic book versions to reach the big screen. There are some of the major similarities that can be discussed and focused between the two films and they are characters, races or species, the role of allies and the family. I found that the most obvious similarity between these two movies are that they are both fictional characters. For the film of “The Incredible Hulk”, the Hulk who was named Banner is a superhero who acts in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a huge, green, irradiated, mutated humanoid monster with remarkable strength but not capable to control his anger and temper. Whereas, for the blockbuster of “ X-Men Origin: Wolverine”, he is also a superhero who showed in Marvel Comics. Wolverine named James, is a mutant with animal-keen senses, superior physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and an surprising healing rate capacity. Why were Bruce and James transformed into the Hulk and Wolverine respectively? What types of monster did they transformed into? They both transform into the a
- 6. similar type species, called “Human Mutant”. Both of them possess a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutation to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities. In Hulk’s part, he is indeed a genius scientist who, eventually transforms into the Hulk which happened because he accidentally exposed himself to gamma radiation. His transformation into the Hulk is often involuntary, usually happens when he becomes angry, or it could be triggered using a gamma-ray device. The Hulk possesses the potential for overwhelming levels of inhumane strength, growing directly proportional to his emotional state. Similar to the Hulk, Wolverine is also considered as part of human mutant species. Essentially, he is a tough, rugged and an aggressive loner who makes a living in cage fights. He lived for fifteen years without memory of who he is nor as he aged a single day, aside from his dog tags marked “Wolverine”. His accelerated healing powers from abundant injuries are the reason why it makes his age impossible to be determined. His skeleton and claws are furthered reinforced with the virtually indestructible metal adamantium. The most extraordinary power he possesses is his heighted agility and stamina, as well as superhuman sight, smell and hearing. Coincidentally, the stories of these two well-known movies involve the role of allies and villains or enemies. The Hulk has many allies, especially in the superhero groups in which he participates. His cousin, Jennifer Walters, becomes a powerful supporter as She-Hulk, and his childhood friend Jim Wilson often acts as his sidekick. The role of villain is Abomination. A Russian-born officer named Blonsky and later on he became the monster called Abomination. The experiment mutates Blonsky into a horrible creature with size and strength exceeding that of the Hulk. Unlike Hulk,
- 7. Abomination cannot return to normal Blonsky state. In the film of the “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”, Wolverine’s allies include Professor X, he is the founder and the mentor of X-Men, who is a well-respected man in the movie. Although he is constrained to a wheelchair, he is a powerful mutant with massive telepathic abilities. Besides that, his fellow X-Men are also his helpers, including Jubilee, who has gained the powers of a vampire from her transformation through the bite of Xarus, son of Dracula. “Nightcrawler” which possesses superhuman agility, the talent to teleport across short or long distances and adhesive hands and feet. The role of villain is an expert beautiful female opponent, Deadly Viper. She is a deadly rival for Wolverine. 'Poisonous' femme fatale Viper has a unimaginable power which is the downfall of the Wolverine. Last of all, these two films share common background where both of their families were killed in the story. Hulk’s father whose name is Brian, behaved violently to him as a child. Banner’s mother has protected him when he was younger but unfortunately his father unintentionally killed his mother by smacking her across the face. Whereas, James (Wolverine) believes his parents are John and Elizabeth Howlett, wealthy farm owners, but his biological father is their groundskeeper, Thomas Logan. Thomas killed John, and in response, James killed him with bone claw that emerged from the back of his hands. His grandfather sends him away to a mining colony in Yukon, but he left to live among the wolves after accidentally killing his childhood friend, Rose. Although “The Incredible Hulk” and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” have similar storyline which is has very unexpected twist of story and amazing special effects with “fresh energy and stylistic polish”, they also have relatable areas, for instance, the
- 8. characters, races or species, the role of allies in the movie and the family. Much of the aforementioned demonstrates the success of these two blockbusters. As the fantasy films, “The Incredible Hulk” and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” allows viewers to escape from their own world and into the world of fantasy. For more than two hours, they are whisked away to a world of heroes, villains and amazingly appealing technology, helped out by state-of-the-art special effects and computer graphics. In this world, their mundane problems no longer exist. In fact, the real world is no longer important nor does it exists during the movie. Not to mention, such a film paints quite a creative portrait of the future, particularly in terms of technology and scientific advancement.
- 9. References: http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/Destroyer14/news/?a=45790 http://www.educationalwriting.net/resource_center/Essays/Free/Compare_Contrast_Sam ple.htm Schedeen, J. (2009). Comics-to-Film. X-Men Origins Wolverine. Retrieved from April 13, 2014, from http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/05/02/comics-to-film-x-men-origins- wolverine www.comicbookresource.com www.marvel.com/universe/Hulk_(Bruce_Banner)