Back in 2003, amid the flurry of superhero movies that were being released a movie that would become the standard of how not to make a comic book movie hit the theaters. It was “The Hulk.”
Critics and fans hated it.
Director Ang Lee said it almost killed his career.
So why would another one even be attempted?
In my opinion a few reasons: the newly formed Marvel Studios wanted to show how they wanted thier character done, and two, if the Avengers movie is going to happen, people need to like the Hulk.
Plus with Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/ The Hulk, how could it not be good?
“The Incredible Hulk” follows Bruce Banner (Norton) as he is in hiding in Brazil. He has removed himself from society because when he gets angry, another side of him comes out, a side best kept hidden. As he works on finding a cure for the gamma radiation the United States government is hunting him. General Ross (William Hurt) and his team will not stop until Banner is in custody. He enlists the help of Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) in the hopes of getting Banner back to the States. 
When Blonsky sees what Banner becomes he wants in on exactly why the US wants Banner. General Ross arranges for Blonsky to get injected with a subatance that will make him as powerful as The Hulk. He begins to want more and eventually becomes Abomination and lets loose on New York City. The only thing that can stop him is what lies inside Banner.
This is not a sequel. It is a reboot of a franchise. What “Batman Begins” did for Batman, this is supposed to do for The Hulk. At least for me, it has worked.
They took what was an easily forgettable movie and made it better. I was ready to write this off as another crappy comic book movie and was not planning on seeing it save one reason; Edward Norton. 
I will admit it, I have a man crush on Norton. He is an amazing actor and makes everything he is in better just because he is in it. Movies like “Fight Club,” “American History X,” “The 25th Hour” just to name a few were all the better because of him. He plays a much better Bruce Banner than Eric Bana did in the 2003 version. Norton’s Banner knows that for the safety of all, he must stay hidden. He does not want to risk hurting people when he loses control. He chooses a life of solitude. While in Brazil he works at a bottling plant and sees a female coworker being harassed by a group of men. He walks away, knowing that if he gets involved there may be a chance of The Hulk making an unwelcome appearance. He rethinks it and helps her. He is on the verge of becoming the Hulk when the foreman intervenes.
Where the movie really separates itself from the 2003 version is in the look. Just look at how the new Hulk looks compared to the older one. This Hulk looks less like a cartoon and more realistic.
They even have some fun at the expense of some of the classic Hulk iconography. Banner is show a pair of purple pants by his former girlfriend Elizabeth Ross (Liv Tyler) and he says there is no way he is going to wear them. Even the classic “you won’t like me when I’m angry” gets a slight twist. When is confronts the group of men harassing the woman he tries to say it in Spanish, but instead says, “you won’t like me when I’m hungry.” Leaving the men very confused. 
Is this an amazing comic book movie like “Iron Man?”
No.
Is it better than the 2003 version?
By leaps and bounds.
As with “Iron Man,” there is a scene that will eventually lead to a sequel, or in this case The Avengers movie. At the very end Tony “Iron Man” Stark shows up to talk about a team that is being put together.
8 out of 10
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence, some frightening sci-fi images, and brief suggestive content
114 min
In the past few years there has been a revival of the movie heroes of old. Rocky Balbola, John Rambo, John McClane have all graced the silver screen ten or more years since the last movie. None excited me more than the return of Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr. this past May. 
The movie opens with Indiana (Harrison Ford) being forced to help the Soviets and Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett) find the crystal skull within Area 51. When he escapes he thinks his troubles are over, but when Mutt (Shia LaBeouf), tells him that his mom has been captured and that he has a coded message from an old friend Professor Harold Oxley (John Hurt), he finds himself once again fighting to keep an ancient artifact safe from evil.
Indy decides to help by finding the crystal skull before the Soviets. The Soviets get wind of this and catch up with Indy and force him to take them to the ancient Myan city where the skull’s power can be unleashed. They use Mutt’s mom, and Indiana’s old flame Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allan) to get him to cooperate.
We all know Harrison Ford can act and he does a great job with the action even at the ripe old age of 65. Shia Labeouf adds very little to the series and comes off as a guy who is trying to be like Marlon Brando from “The Wild One” Look at any pictures of his character and you will know what I mean. It is awesome to see Karen Allen reprise her role as Marion. The action is worthy of the Indy name.
Now that I got all that out of the way, I need to address what I know will be issues with fans of the originals. 
Many fans are going to be very very angry at this movie. Many will see it as a horrible addition to the Indiana Jones franchise. There is more computer animation than in the others, “the MacGuffin” (the item the movie revolves around. The Ark of the Covenent, The Holy Grail for example) is not a very good one for this type of movie. The end of the movie will and has sent fans into fits of rage.
Here is what you have to realize; it is only a movie.
If you go into the theater expecting it to be the best of the series, you will be disappointed. It is the weakest of the series, but it was still very enjoyable. All the things that made the originals great; action, mystery, humor, drama and Indiana Jones over coming the odds are still there, but they do not work to the same effect as the once did.
It may not be the best resurgence of an old hero, it may annoy many of the fans, but it is still a great popcorn flick and is worth the trip to the theater. While it was nice to see Indy back on the big screen, more could have been done to make the story stronger and the action less reliant on the computer.
7 out of 10
Rated PG-13 for adventure violence and scary images.
122 min
