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All Movie Info
Starring:
Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Robert Downey Jr., Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell, Peter Mensah, Christina Cabot
Directed By:
Louis Leterrier
Written By:
Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Edward Norton, Zak Penn
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The Incredible Hulk (2008)
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Movie Review by Jarrod 
June 16th, 2008
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'The Incredible Hulk' took me by surprise; I had heard practically nothing about it until about a month ago; for a summer blockbuster that is unusual. This is a 'Hulk' movie for fans of the comic book; those who may have been disappointed by Ang Lee's version from a few years ago. This 'Hulk' stars Edward Norton as Bruce Banner; the biologist who transforms into the Hulk when he gets angry. The Hulk is a big green monstrosity; possessing amazing strength and agility. The Hulk is the by-product of a scientific accident, and Banner is trying to find ways to rid himself of it. He is hiding out in Brazil, until he is discovered by Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt), the American general eager to destroy Banner, along with Hulk. His daughter is Betty (Liv Tyler), Bruce's girlfriend; she comes back to him when he returns from Brazil, dumping her current beau without the slightest hesitation. Betty more or less hates her father, or at least his plan to take the Hulk formula and use it to build an army. This is an evil scheme, but Ross is not the primary villain; that honor would fall to the ruthless Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), who tracks Banner and even morphs into a creature called the Abomination, supposedly bigger and stronger than the Hulk, but really nothing more than a genetic copy. Their final confrontation seemingly lasts forever, I guess because they are both nearly invincible, and so are unable to hurt or kill one another. Is it fun to watch? Yes indeed, but it goes on too long, I think, and one almost suffers from special effects overload. The special effects are terrific, the Hulk looks better than he ever did, with superbly detailed musculature. However, he also looks like he stepped out of a video game, and the same is true of many of the action sequences. That means, of course, that this film is more entertaining, but shallower than Lee's offering.
The psychological dimensions of the story are fascinating, and Lee explored them to some degree, but Louis Leterrier and writer Zak Penn do, as well. How much of Banner is left inside the Hulk? Does Banner still retain some of his consciousness, is he aware of the things Hulk does as they are happening? Banner is obviously aware of at least some of Hulk's actions, is aware of the destruction he has caused, the lives he may have inadvertently taken. Of course, there is the also the fact that the military, while battling the Hulk, is willing to use high-powered weaponry to obliterate entire cities and communities while the Hulk emerges unscathed from each of these encounters. It would be easier to kill Banner, which Ross is apparently unable to do. Provoking Banner is not wise, since that triggers the transformation. Maybe Blonsky enjoys a challenge; instead of merely finding Banner and disposing of him in his weak mortal form, he decides to engage his mean, green alter ego. The greatest enemy that Banner ultimately faces is himself, and how the Hulk threatens his relationship with Betty. They cannot really have sex, since the excitement, I guess, would increase Banner's heart rate and cause the Hulk to emerge. That would be an awkward situation. But beauty might be able to calm the beast.
Edward Norton is strong and convincing as the conflicted Banner; he is better than Eric Bana was in the same role, and I would repeat that sentiment for Liv Tyler, who surpasses Jennifer Connelly. Tyler and Norton have more chemistry, and seem to develop a deep emotional connection right from the start. The presence of William Hurt is almost always a plus, and Roth displays appropriate amounts of menace as the vile Blonsky; his only equivalent in the Lee film was Nick Nolte, as Bruce's father. There is an over-reliance on CGI effects, and nothing struck me as being particularly original, certainly when compared to other superhero movies, including the X-Men series and even Superman Returns. The trailers reveal many of the major set-pieces, and even, if I recall, the cameo appearance by Robert Downey Jr., as Tony Stark. Lou Ferrigno also shows up. 'The Incredible Hulk' does deliver the goods, and while I personally think Iron Man and Indiana Jones are the two top films of the summer thus far, 'The Incredible Hulk' might slip into a comfortable third position.
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