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2008
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THE
INCREDIBLE HULK
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STARRING:EDWARD
NORTON,LIV TYLER, TIM ROTH,WILLIAM HURT,TIM BLAKE NELSON,TY BURRELL,CHRISTINA
CABOT,PETER MENSAH,LOU FERRIGNO
BASED
ON THE MARVEL COMIC BOOK CREATED BY JACK KIRBY AND STAN LEE
SCREEN
STORY BY ZAK PENN
SCREENPLAY
BY EDWARD NORTON AND ZAK PENN
PRODUCED
BY AVI ARAD, KEVIN FEIGE & GALE ANNE HURD
DIRECTED
BY LOUIS LETERRIER
GENRE:ACTION/SCIENCE
FICTION/THRILLER
RATED:AUSTRALIA:M/UK:12A/USA:PG-13
RUNNING
TIME:114 MIN
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Marvel's
second attempt at a big budget Hulk film (following Ang Lee's
disappointing 2003 effort) is a much tighter and slick Hulk movie
one would hope for.
Continuing with the trend of acclaimed thespians in comic book roles,
the exceptional Edward Norton stars as genetic scientist / man on
the run Brice Banner. It is a role surprisingly tailor made for Norton,
who has excelled in dual identity roles in the past (Fight Club,
Primal
Fear, The Score). Also,
with The Hulk being Norton's first action film, he has proven to be
a master of all genres having successfully taken on musicals (Everybody
Says I Love You), period films (The Painted Veil),
and urban drama's (American History X). Only comedy
seems to be his kryptonite, but I digress.
…Hulk begins with Banner in Brazil, where he is keeping
a low profile whilst working in a bottle factory. He has also learned
how to control his anger, with 158 days passed since his last "incident".
On his trail is General Ross (a sadly miscast William Hurt), who wants
Banner in the possession of the military so he can be prodded, tested,
and used as a weapon.
Alongside Ross is the experienced yet aging star military recruit
Agent Blonsky (an always in form Tim Roth), who has agreed to be a
test subject for the long vacant super soldier serum which gives him
extraordinary speed, agility, and strength. It also unleashes a destructive
side which becomes transcended after a dose of Banner's gamma infected
blood turns him into the Abomination.
After Banner is found out (and the subsequent Hulk out that follows),
he returns to the States where he contacts his ex-flame Betty Ross
(Liv Tyler, who proves to be the best in an acclaimed group of supporting
actors). They in turn seek out a mysterious geneticist (an over the
top Tim Blake Nelson) whom Banner has been in contact with via encrypted
e-mail messages and who claims to hold the key to curing Banner's
condition.
Needless to say, all hell breaks loos when all parties come together.
Taking over directorial duties is French filmmaker Louis Leterrier,
whose action credentials with the first two Transporter
films and Unleashed prove him to be the right filmmaker
for this type of superhero movie.
Gone are Ang Lee's annoying split screens; the Hulk outs do not take
forever to get going; and a more than adequate villain has been included
to go toe to toe with the giant green beast.
The film features several excellent action sequences, spurned on by
some spectacular (if not a little animated) special effects, which
culminates in a super charged smack down in downtown New York City
between the Hulk and the equally monstrous adversary The Abomination.
On top of being a fine SFX action movie, The Incredible Hulk
is also a character driven superhero film which does not resort to
the psycho babble of its previous incarnation. The film also features
much more of an emotional under current, as pity is felt for this
poor man who is persecuted due to his condition.
Another strength is that the film is not an origin story, although
an origin of sorts is looked over during the opening credits.
The filmmakers' objective to merge the acclaimed Hulk TV series with
the comic book has been accomplished successfully, creating a taut
fugitive thriller superhero movie. In a nice piece of nostalgic casting,
Lou Ferrigno - he who portrayed the Hulk in the TV show, now accomplished
with motion capture technology - provides the voice of the Hulk.
Also accomplished is something of a Marvel crossover with Robert Downey
Jr. appearing as Tony Stark, and the super soldier serum no doubt
a reference to Captain America.
However, with its packaged 90 min run time, I could not help but feel
gipped at the films conclusion. Several scenes from the overloaded
trailer do not even make an appearance. Supposedly Marvel and Edward
Norton were in a bit of a squabble before hand as to which cut would
be shown at cinemas. No doubt Marvel won, but me thinks that the Norton
cut would be the much superior film, if not a much meatier one.
As superhero films go, The Incredible Hulk is a good attempt
yet just shy of reaching the giddy heights of Iron
Man or the X-Men.
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