Film Gecko

"The Incredible Hulk" Review

by Jane Boursaw on June 13th, 2008

Sometimes, I get tired of all the remakes out there, and annoyed that filmmakers can’t come up with something new and fresh. Then again, there’s something comforting about seeing familiar characters on the big screen, especially when the filmmakers make the effort to include historical references. Such is the case with “The Incredible Hulk.”

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The story begins with scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) living in Brazil and working at a bottling plant while searching for a cure to the gamma radiation that poisoned his cells during an experiment gone oh so wrong.

Banner is also learning how to control his emotions, because every time he gets angry, he transforms into a giant green beast, The Incredible Hulk.

Living in the shadows, Banner is hiding from General Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt) and his military minions, who view Banner’s body as a weapon of mass destruction. Complicating matters is the fact that Banner is in love with Dr. Betty Ross (Liv Tyler), though for her own safety, he hasn’t seen her in while.

The General is hoping to meet Banner at his own game by working with Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), who has a lust for power that manifests itself in The Abomination, a creature even bigger than the Hulk.

Rounding out the cast are Ty Burrell as Leonard, the man competing for Betty’s affections, and Tim Blake Nelson as Professor Samuel Sterns, a cellular biologist who might hold the key to Banner’s quest for a cure.

While I didn’t like this movie as much as Iron Man, it still gets four out of five geckos for intense action, terrific CG special effects (Wow! When the Hulk gets mad…well, let’s just say you don’t want to get him mad), and a fun plot that blends sci-fi, drama, and a sweet love story. Ed Norton as the skinny scientist-turned angry monster is awesome, too. He gets it right as a guy on the run who wants to do right by mankind.

Keep an eye out for little references to the 1980s TV series. Also, you don’t have to stay through the credits for a teaser — like Iron Man — but definitely catch the last few minutes. That’s all I’m sayin’…

Compare notes and read guest reviewer David Kindervater’s review here.

Images: The Incredible Hulk, Universal Pictures, 2008

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