The Incredible Hulk (2008) Review


Just a month after the release of Iron Man, we get another film from Marvel Studios. The Incredible Hulk is a reboot in an attempt to do the story of the Hulk a lot better than the movie by Ang Lee. While I haven't seen the Ang Lee Hulk movie, I'm sure it's okay to say that the other movie is better, but in my opinion, it's not on par with Iron Man.

We first get an opening credits scene showing us the origin of Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) becoming the Hulk by gamma radiation. This is a pretty smart way of incorporating the origin without repeating itself. I also like the nod to The Incredible Hulk show. Banner is now a fugitive and has been residing in Brazil, trying to find a cure. But he's found by General Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt) and a SWAT team, including Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth). Banner makes his way back to the USA to reunite with his girlfriend Betty (Liv Tyler) who helps stay undercover to meet up with someone named Mr. Blue who's been helping him. But Blonsky, who's fascinated by the power of the Hulk, allows himself to be injected with serums that transform into the Abomination. So it's up to the Hulk to stop the other monster from wrecking havoc.

While I think the entire movie is average, the strongest element is Edward Norton as Bruce Banner. He's very believable and committed to showing this man's struggle to find inner peace and control; most of all something to cure his condition. Liv Tyler does fine as Betty Ross and provides a good amount of support. Lou Ferrigno has a great cameo as a security guard who lets Banner bribe him with pizza. "You're the man." Banner tells him. This cameo trumps the Stan Lee cameo in this movie, but Stan is still the man. There were some other cast members who are well known today that I was surprised to see like Ty Burrell and Omar from The Wire.

As for the elements that don't work, I think the CGI of the Hulk and Abomination aren't good compared to the Hulk FX in The Avengers. General Ross seemed like the typical general who's very prejudiced and won't listen to reason. Emil Blonsky, as he's getting stronger, starts saying some very corny lines. When he's the Abomination, he boasts just like Obadiah Stane in Iron Man though this time, his lines are so cliche and not at all intimidating.

That's all I got to say about this movie. But lastly, I'll say we end on an exciting note where Ross is in a bar and Tony Stark walks in. He tells Ross that he's forming a team. Just when you think they weren't serious about making an Avengers movie, they make it known once more that it will happen. And while the next films won't reach the levels that Iron Man did, some of them proved to be solid than some other comic book movies from other studios. But Marvel Studios was just beginning to expand their universe and doing their best efforts for the next line of movies for Phase 1.

RATING: SEMI-APPROVAL

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