Sunday, June 15, 2008

Review: The Incredible Hulk

Green with Envy

It's hard to imagine a film like this could make another filmmaker jealous. But it is certainly an interesting thing to wonder. Everyone remembers the colossal failure that Ang Lee brought to audiences five years ago with his imagining of Hulk. Lee's problem was that he put too much confidence in the American movie-goer, thinking that those who praised his balance of action and story in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon would also be pleased with his re-imagining of the comic story by replacing slam-bang action with brooding and cerebral brain puzzles. This time around, however, the new behemoth green man has a lot more of the former category, and will probably be more pleasing to today's audience.

The total revamp of the series puts David Banner (Edward Norton) on the run from the military in remote places on the globe. His threat is not only that monster lurking inside of him, but also General Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt). Originally in Rio, Banner gets chased and smashes his way back to New York where his lovely girl from the past Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) awaits to aid him in his endeavor. However, Banner soon finds bigger problems at hand: Ross has taken another soldier (Tim Roth) and turned him into another hulk-like creature known as The Abomination.

Many would argue that this is a far superior version than Lee's film, and in some parts that is true. As an action film, it well establishes itself as a loud epic that devotes much of its screen time to big explosions, giant car crashes and a great loud roar from the big green guy. It also succeeds in making the Banner character just as interesting as the Hulk, which was something Eric Bana had difficulty doing during his time. Norton is a fine actor, and there is never one moment when he loses us, even when he is forced off screen by the CGI Hulk. Unfortunately, that's all that can be said of the cast. Everyone else, even the all important love interest played by Tyler, are just cookie-cutter stereotypes of of how these characters should be played.

The other change that the new film has is its director. Louis Leterrier has very strong action roots, making such masterpieces as The Transporter, Unleashed, and the unjustly Oscar-snubbed Transporter 2. Leterrier can indeed bring his audience in for some heart pounding action that gets the adrenaline pumping, but more than once it seems like that's all he can focus on. After the tenth loud noise, one tends to realise that this movie likes banging things around and keep its lead character moving without really acknowledging why. He makes up some of these faults with his numerous homages to not only the comic book, but also the 1970s television show. Whether it's the underscore using the series' closing piano notes, or the cameo appearances by Lou Ferringo (who also provides the voice of the Hulk) and even the late Bill Bixby (provided by footage from his days on "The Courtship of Eddie's Father"), the winking to audiences puts a smile on the face. However, those quips quickly dissolve into the action scenes that run a little too long.

This will be more praised than the original film, and more than likely will be more profitable. It succeeds here, it fails there, but it is definitely a film that provides a good time at the show. When the figures of the earnings start to come in, everyone involved will be celebrating. But where will Ang Lee be? He'll probably be admiring his Best Director Oscar and waiting to see if Letterier will see him at the Oscars with Transporter 3. That thought should put the same smile on Lee's face as everyone elses. *** / ****; GRADE: B

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