The best compliment I can give The Incredible Hulk is to call it Transformers without the cheesy one-liners and the half-assed attempts at humor. The effects have been improved from Ang Lee’s 2003 effort, which is to be expected, and I would say the story itself holds up even better than did Iron Man. If CGI bothers you then my Transformers comparison has already turned you off, but if you don’t mind computer generated images having it out in a massive burly brawl capping off this summer blockbuster then you should enjoy yourself.
Even though the 2008 Hulk is said to be a reboot and not a follow-up to Ang Lee’s 2003 film, one could argue the case had it not been for the opening credits this film is very close to a follow-up to the 2003 effort as Bruce Banner (Ed Norton) is on the run from the government seeking him out to use his unfortunate genetic alteration as a weapon. To combat this, and free himself of the chase, Banner is searching for a cure and ways to keep his emotions in check as any rise in his heart rate turns him into an uncontrollable monster, The Hulk.
For those looking for a comparison between Lee’s 2003 flick and this new one, I would say the ultimate comparison is a rise in reality. Hulk feels as if it is anchored in reality, at least as much as a film centered on gene alteration and super soldiers can be. You won’t leave the theater believing a 160-pound man is out there that can turn into a massive destructive force, but you will believe he exists in the world on screen. The CGI is fantastic and the weight of Hulk and his interaction with the elements around him are loud and believable. His ultimate enemy in the film is Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky, a soldier recruited to help bring home the beast with a lust for battle and who ultimately undergoes his own gene altering program. Their battle is loud, destructive fun.
The moments Hulk loses its credibility is in its impressive fight scenes as there is no consideration for time and place. The results of the massive battles are virtually disregarded, which is impossible considering the havoc that is wreaked. One scene taking place on a college campus in the middle of the day is certainly the film’s lowest point in terms of logic, but the overwhelming action that takes place trumps any logic complaints. Actually, that is the case for this film on a whole, it is big dumb fun and it is executed on an action film level, but it also holds a little in reserve as the moment where the Hulk finally speaks actually serves double duty by exciting fans of the comic, but also shows growth in the character.
The presence of Ed Norton alone is enough to legitimize the more dramatic elements and Tim Roth also ups the ante in terms of casting actors you can respect. William Hurt shows a welcomed different side to his talents and Liv Tyler, an actress that typically annoys me, is a fantastic source for female connection and considering the film never really cashes in on the overused plot device, the damsel in distress, it gets an extra gold star in my book.
Hulk is a film you will enjoy. It holds up far better from beginning to end than did Iron Man, which resorted to traditional cliches for its ending after setting up a far more interesting premise. Of course Hulk depends on its big monster brawl at the end as well, but it is something that is growing throughout, not seemingly thrown in at the last minute. This film does a good job of getting through the origin stuff in a matter of minutes as everything is explained during the opening credits so once the film starts we can get right in on the action. Unlike Iron Man, which is a closer comparison to 2003’s Hulk than this one is, I actually want to see this film again.
