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But last fall, Industrial Light & Magic showed the director and Universal some techniques that would allow for an even more realistic ''performance,'' particularly in how the Hulk's face could articulate emotions. Lee's conception of what was possible changed radically; a tender sequence between Connelly's Ross and the Hulk, for example, could now be constructed as a back-and-forth of intimate close-ups.
That would require reshoots, which took place earlier this year -- just after Connelly married her ''Beautiful Mind'' costar Paul Bettany and announced her pregnancy. (''I was tired and crazy and a bit weepy on the edges,'' says the actress. ''I was like, 'Are you sure this is going to match [what was shot previously]? Are you sure it's going to cut together?''') It would also require more dough -- an estimated $20 million more.
Ever the hands-on auteur, Lee also decided he needed to oversee the work, which meant moving to Marin County for seven months. Moreover, Lee wanted to act out much of the character himself, instead of relying solely on the athletes, wrestlers, and others ILM had also filmed to create a template for their work. ''Really, only I know how he should act,'' says Lee, who likens his Hulk to Jackie Chan in Arnold Schwarzenegger's body. ''It was the only choice we had.''
So, garbed in a wired motion-capture suit that recorded his movements, Lee performed everything from the raging ''Hulk smash!'' to a swooning Hulk in love. Finally, Lee had found a venue that gave him permission to unleash his bottled-up emotions. ''It felt f---ing great,'' laughs Lee, whose catharsis cost him a bout with tendinitis. ''It was very therapeutic. I realized -- this is why I needed to do 'The Hulk.'''