THE INCREDIBLE HULK

When Dr. Bruce Banner is forced out of hiding, the dormant monster within him awakens. Banner escapes the initial encounter with the relentless General Ross and his soldiers in Brazil and journeys to the U.S. in the hopes of finding a cure for himself. But his efforts are constantly thwarted by Ross and his right hand man Blonsky. Ironically the very thing that Banner is trying to free himself from is the only thing that can be utilized to defeat a more deadly foe.

THE INCREDIBLE HULK is directed by Louis Leterrier (THE TRANSPORTER 1 & 2), written by Zak Penn (FANTASTIC FOUR & X-MEN: THE LAST STAND) and boasts the acting talents of Edward Norton, Tim Roth, William Hurt and Liv Tyler.

Let me begin by stating for the record, that I am one of the few who consider Ang Lee's HULK (2003) to be a comic-to-movie masterpiece. It is to me the CITIZEN KANE of comic book movies. I could write a thesis in appreciation for HULK, which is why I was skeptical going in to watch its reboot. But I had a feeling that its successor could not be too bad because of the fact that Edward Norton contributed to the screenplay with the use of a nom de plume. When a talented actor does that, it's an indication that he has a vested interest in the story and the final product. The movie begins with an opening-credits-montage presenting a recap of the events that result in the genetic accident. This is a clever technique to refresh our memories and not waste time with repetition of the origin story.

Although this film is a reboot, it is a smart move by the filmmakers to continue from where its predecessor (HULK 2003) left off, namely in South America. This seamless transition from the old film to the new isn't apparent in only the continuity of location; it is also evident in the continuity of the main character. Where as Eric Bana's ‘Bruce Banner’ tried to comprehend the beast within by psychological and spiritual methods, Edward Norton's ‘Bruce Banner’ seems to have come to terms with his affliction and is now merely determined to find a cure through science. This shows continuity in character growth because Banner is done with his emotional curiosity/discovery for the transformation and is now focused on controlling and/or eradicating it. The OLD Bruce Banner was similar to Freud; 'WHY do I like this rage and at the same time hate it?' but the NEW Bruce Banner is like Einstein; 'HOW do I get rid of the rage?' Indeed the plot of the reboot is simpler and more accessible to even the hoards of young boys who came out of theatres in 2003 and collectively said "What the f@#k???"

THE INCREDIBLE HULK's storyline is appealing to every age group because it’s basically THE FUGITIVE meets SWAMP THING (Literally!). Die hard comic book fans will appreciate the obscure tit bits of connectivity to the Marvel Universe. Such as ‘The Super Soldier Serum’ injected into Blonsky which is the exact serum that gave Captain America his powers and when Dr. Samuel Sterns' skull begins to expand (towards the end of the movie), is a foreshadowing of the super villain he is fated to become (The Leader). Non-comic book readers will value the unyielding actions scenes which are strategically placed so as to maintain the brisk pace of the movie. The choice to make ‘Abomination’ the villain is inventive because he is clearly more lethal than the Hulk, which makes him a superior opponent. Watching Hulk getting beaten to pulp kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The story gives a little something for everyone.

The cinematography is vivid because of the distinctly different locations photographed. From the Brazilian favelas, to the Guatemalan rainforest, from a Virginia University campus, to the streets of New York City and finally to the plush scenery of British Columbia. The only debatable aspect of the cinematography is the CGI Hulk. I feel that the new version also fell short in visually creating the Hulk in a more realistic manner. But if I had to choose between the over grown baby or the steroid freak, I'll take the Schwarzenegger version any day.

Edward Norton is perfectly cast as the conflicted Bruce Banner. He displays the physical and emotional vulnerability of his character with accuracy. William Hurt (General Thaddeus Ross) as always is exceptional in every role he undertakes. Tim Roth (Emil Blonsky) is an interesting casting option for a blockbuster movie, but it works. He brings a sinister tone to his character which makes his change into Abomination more believable. The casting of Tim Blake Nelson (Dr. Samuel Sterns) is ingenious provided that he reprises the role in any future sequel and also returns as the villain ‘The Leader.’ The only disappointment in acting is Liv Tyler (Betty Ross), although a capable actress she has been given a two-dimensional character and his purely the love interest/ beauty to the beast.

I regard Ang Lee's HULK as an art house film but clearly Louis Leterrier's THE INCREDIBLE HULK is an all out, balls-to-the-wall action flick. The movie contained an absorbing plot, moments of sheer awe and scenes that make you hold your breath. As much as I love the old one, the new one has all the elements of a good comic book movie. Leterrier's past experience in directing action such as THE TRANSPORTER films and UNLEASHED starring Jet Li has come in handy. He knows when to hold a scene and when to cut. This is the second film that has been released under the ‘Marvel Studios’ banner, the first being IRON MAN. This is why I feel it appropriate to conclude with a comparison of these two films although a few comparisons to Ang Lee's version were made.
Although the FX of IRON MAN was flawless and the story was fun, I never felt that the Stark/Iron Man character was faced with any real conflict or danger, internal or external. The story was basically black and white and fairly superficial. This is not the case where the Banner/Hulk character is concerned. Conflict is what drives this movie and it is the reason that makes me care about the character. If I love or hate a movie character, I automatically develop an interest in his, her journey and ultimately this is what makes THE INCREDIBLE HULK more enjoyable on a personal level.

Rating: 5 COCONUTS

S.V. Fernando

TEASER