The Incredible Hulk: A Review

Photo by red5standingby

Incredible Hulk is a solid popcorn flick that's heavy on action without sacrificing character work.

After an experiment goes wrong, brilliant-yet-wimpy scientist Bruce Banner receives a massive dose of gamma radiation. He is not immediately reduced to a fine, grey mist, as you would expect. Whenever he gets angry, he transforms into the ten-foot tall jade giant The Incredible Hulk, whose amazing strength and durability only increases as his anger rages on!

Incredible Hulk stands in contrast to the previous Hulk film, which was a solid effort that's only major flaw was failing to mesh with audience expectations. Whereas Hulk examined the psychological aspects inherent in Banner's situation, the Incredible Hulk plays it more overtly.

This new film, while informed by its predecessor, is a reboot of the franchise. While it's a fresh take, there's real benefit in not having to go-over the origin again. It's told in tight flashes under the opening credits and that's really all you need. the new status quo is laid in as the movie progresses.



Incredible was a fun movie. It's more in line with what one expects going into a Hulk film - action of the giant green punching variety - while not going to far in that direction.

Edward Norton does well with the lead character, and is convincing as a man on the run who sees his powers as a curse. Liv Tyler is likable as his love interest Betty, although I would've like to have seen her thought on her boyfriend's, you know, being a monster played out a little more. Tim Roth oozes slime as the villain of the piece, who goes to desperate measures to find revenge and a measure of immortality.



The Hulk looks good. He's obviously CGI in places but if you're not suspending disbelief during the film then you;re in the wrong place. I'm sure they've captured Norton in some way and impressively his acting does show though in the Hulk's behaviour. He's about ten feet tall in the film - probably five feet shorter than the last film - and I liked that. He felt more like a mutated man than a sci-fi creature. When Betty tried to reason with him, I had hope.

While it's never overtly stated, there's the impression that the Hulk is a separate entity from banner, but that Bruce is in there somewhere, and can influence the Hulk's rage. That was cool.

Also cool was having the Hulk. A few guttural phrases here and there, but it was a nice touch.



There were only three action pieces in the movie - Hulk v commandos, Hulk v army and Hulk v evil Hulk.



The first one was excellent, with the Hulk sticking mainly to the shadows with his main aim being escape. Commandos throw all they have at him, they're focused and fighting for their lives, while he says only 'leave me alone' and tries to leave.



Hulk v army was cool as we got some cool, visible action. The action was shot well in that it didn't succumb to the ultra-quick cuts that generally befall these things. When Hulk picks up a tank and uses it to smash another tank, we follow the action through. It was a welcome relief.



The final fight between Hulk and evil Hulk was cool, but I stopped feeling it after a while, given that it was two giant fictional dudes swinging punches. But I did like the very end when you see these guys just open up and be brutal knuckle fighters. Was good.



There were some nice shout-outs and possible foreshadows for fans, but like in Iron Man, I didn't feel they derailed the story.



I got more out of this film than I thought I would. Honestly, after Iron Man and Dark Knight, I thought this just wouldn't live up. But it wasn't the Michael Bayesque splosiomotron I had expected. All the characters had motivations and acted accordingly. I liked it.



Random things: Poor Betty Ross's boyfriend. Dropped like a stone for Frankenstein. Whenever two giant green monsters fight, there's always a mother looking horrified and shielding her child with her arm, but not leaving the area. Dropping Bruce from a helicopter was pure Ultimates rip-off but that's OK because it was awesome. General Ross was cool. The pain in that dude's eyes when Roth hulks out? I felt that. If I could have boxing gloves made out of a police car, I would use them all the time.