Reviews by Matt

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