The Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk: 8/10

Well, with Marvel opening up its own production company to make its own movies instead of selling the characters to the likes of Fox (responsible for the X-Men series), the comic book powerhouse was really hoping for a good second showing after the massive hit that was Iron Man. The movie isn't projected to take in the record setting $100 million in its first week that Iron Man did, but I'm going to project a solid showing of $65-$68 million, with long legs since nothing will compete with it for a few weeks.

To the movie! After what happened in 2003, you really could only hope they just changed the entire approach to this character and his portrayal. Edward Norton plays Bruce Banner, scientist on the run after an exposure to gamma radiation that should have killed him, but instead sparked a hidden green monster who manifests itself when ever he is angered, or put under extreme duress. The movie follows a story line more reminiscent of the TV Show from the 70's and even has a few parts of the theme song added in. Obvious throw backs to the show as the director Louis Leterrier has been an outspoken fan of the show. You should know already, but this movie is a CGI creation supported by a really good cast with Liv Tyler as Betty Ross and William Hurt playing her father, the despised Gen. Ross.

The Incredible Hulk maxes out as entertaining and has an acceptable story line and while I liked Sam Elliot as Gen. Ross better than William Hurt, he grows on you towards the end. The CGI is really well done, obviously touched up since the early trailers which were not very promising, and while you cannot really see Norton in the face of the Hulk, it helps in separating the two as different characters imprisoned by one another. The acting is good, and the camera shots for the action sequences were shot with more of a human on human fight in mind, which I found to be much more enjoyable than the wide shots of a faint green thing swinging stuff around.

This is not an Oscar winning movie people, it is based on a comic book character, and they are designed for maximum entertainment for a maximum audience. Fan boys of the series will notice many inclusions of their favorite Hulk actions and phrases, while the casual viewer is not going to be left out of the loop. The on-location shooting in Brazil paid off with some stunning shots and intense chase sequences you can't achieve building a 2 or 3 block set on the back lot. Its a good summer blockbuster. I was pleasantly surprised with the introduction to the movie, done with a newspaper clipping technique, yet favorably different from spamming the screen with massive headlines. It doesn't have any of the annoyances that can hold these movies back when they try to deny what they are, entertainment roller-coasters destined to win MTV and Kids Choice Awards, and big pay checks for all those involved.

Go see the hulk. But its PG for a reason, gets kinda violent as you would expect a giant green monster to do when shot at, and there is a decent amount of sexual tension between the Banner and Ross (the one played by Liv Tyler people) since they have been apart for a number of years and left on a bit of a strained note. You will enjoy it knowing little of the character, and those with a comic book addiction will be pleased with the unmeasurable improvement over the Ang Lee depiction of 5 years ago.