"The Incredible Hulk" is an incredible disappointment. I had such high hopes for this remake after Marvel Studios' success with "Iron Man" and the film's reported box office numbers. True, this version is better than the 2003 "Hulk" but this film is still not up to par with what you would expect from a superhero movie.
The movie is intended to be a sequel of sorts to "Hulk," but heads in a different direction. It is more action oriented than Ang Lee's emotionally driven film. But this is expected, as Louis Leterrier is known for thrillers like "The Transporter" and its sequel.
The movie and its plot begin slow and continue crawling at a snail-like pace. Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) starts out in hiding and on the run from the U.S. military and General Ross (William Hurt), who says Bruce - and his infected blood - is property of the government. Bruce then, as expected, goes green when he gets angry or excited.
This repetitive pattern of hide, run and Hulk out becomes tiresome as it continues throughout the entire film. Only within the last 30 minutes of the movie do things get interesting with Hulk's all-out battle with Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), who transformed into the Abomination, finally delivering some real action.
Liv Tyler's performance as Betty Ross, Gen. Ross's estranged daughter and Bruce's love (and the only one who seems to soothe the green beast), is sweet, but you get very little insight into her character. Like her character, Tyler's acting is given little credit or concern.
However, Norton's portrayal of Bruce is true to the character, though the film barely scrapes the surface on his back story, failing to explain how Bruce ended up with this "freak gamma exposure" that turned him into the Hulk.
It is prudent to know the comic's basic history and to have retained some of the plot from "Hulk" to even marginally enjoy this film.
The CGI effects for the film were pretty impressive, with a redesigned Hulk and a creepy opponent.
Overall, "The Incredible Hulk" was a lengthy setup for a sequel, which is all alluded to in the last two minutes of the film when Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark pops up to seek out Gen. Ross for a chat (in case you've missed all the online reports).
Marvel Studios has announced it will be releasing "The Avengers" in July 2011, which is rumored to combine heroes Iron Man, the Hulk, Nick Fury, Thor, Ant-Man and Captain America. These extras in both the end of "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk" are building up to something.
Don't waste your money on this film.
Wait for the good parts to appear on YouTube, and keep your fingers crossed for "The Avengers."
