‘Don’t make me angry…you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry’ is the iconic warning scrawny scientist Bruce Banner offers to anyone rubbing him the wrong way.
However, after Ang Lee brought Banner to the big screen in 2003’s much criticised, over-introspective Hulk, I felt to the contrary. I would’ve preferred you angrier, Bruce.
Loathe to have squandered such a familiar (read: bankable) character, Marvel Studios embarked on a rare venture: not a sequel, not a remake but a ‘reboot’. A new Hulk movie filmed as if Lee’s version had never existed. With a new director in Louis Leterrier (The Transporter, Unleashed), a new cast headed by Edward Norton and an entirely new script, The Incredible Hulk was reborn.
An innovative opening credit sequence sums up our protagonist’s ‘Dr. Banner and Mr. Hulk’ predicament with superb brevity, leaving the remaining 112 minutes for the fun stuff.
Gradually we’re introduced to the major players: Norton as Banner; William Hurt as General Ross, doggedly intent on using Banner as a lab-rat, Tim Roth as the unstable army vet Emil Blonsky, and Liv Tyler as the adorable Betty Ross, Banner’s true love.
After the military locates him in Portugal and attempts a capture, Banner reluctantly introduces them to his hefty green friend before fleeing back to his native America. When Ross and his military juggernaut catch up, the rest of the film plays out predictably enough, with the Hulk facing a series of battles against an increasingly doped-up Blonksy.
In much the same way Superman’s biggest weakness is his strength (writers have a notoriously difficult time coming up with formidable opponents) the hardest part of The Incredible Hulk would be finding an adversary who wouldn’t be a pushover.
The solution? The only challenger worthy of a smash-off with the Hulk was a very similar looking hulk.
Blonsky volunteers himself for the task and, in the wonderful world of comic-book quasi-science, mixing the Hulk’s blood with a few other nifty performance enhancers results in the grotesque, raging ‘Abomination’. Carnage ensues.
The climax plays out in downtown New York City (of course, it’s impossible for epic superhero battle to take place anywhere else). If you enjoyed the climactic melee of Transformers, prepare for pleasant nostalgia.
Despite a well-balanced plot, it’s clear The Incredible Hulk’s owes its success to the calibre of its performances. Norton brings a distinct vulnerability to Banner, and watching Roth’s Blonksy grow slightly more deranged with every appearance is a pleasure.
Leterrier provides an earnest look at a man at war with his inner demons. And while many people have struggled with inner demons—although possibly not one where you’re transformed into a green giant!—generally they can be conquered by turning to loved ones, friends or faith.
A healthy dose of wit, scores of nods to fans (the purple pants cameo is gold) and smashtastic action sequences combine to make this a thoroughly enjoyable outing. Where Leterrier trumps Lee is that he doesn’t forget the magic ingredient—fun!
However, after Ang Lee brought Banner to the big screen in 2003’s much criticised, over-introspective Hulk, I felt to the contrary. I would’ve preferred you angrier, Bruce.
Loathe to have squandered such a familiar (read: bankable) character, Marvel Studios embarked on a rare venture: not a sequel, not a remake but a ‘reboot’. A new Hulk movie filmed as if Lee’s version had never existed. With a new director in Louis Leterrier (The Transporter, Unleashed), a new cast headed by Edward Norton and an entirely new script, The Incredible Hulk was reborn.
An innovative opening credit sequence sums up our protagonist’s ‘Dr. Banner and Mr. Hulk’ predicament with superb brevity, leaving the remaining 112 minutes for the fun stuff.
Gradually we’re introduced to the major players: Norton as Banner; William Hurt as General Ross, doggedly intent on using Banner as a lab-rat, Tim Roth as the unstable army vet Emil Blonsky, and Liv Tyler as the adorable Betty Ross, Banner’s true love.
After the military locates him in Portugal and attempts a capture, Banner reluctantly introduces them to his hefty green friend before fleeing back to his native America. When Ross and his military juggernaut catch up, the rest of the film plays out predictably enough, with the Hulk facing a series of battles against an increasingly doped-up Blonksy.
In much the same way Superman’s biggest weakness is his strength (writers have a notoriously difficult time coming up with formidable opponents) the hardest part of The Incredible Hulk would be finding an adversary who wouldn’t be a pushover.
The solution? The only challenger worthy of a smash-off with the Hulk was a very similar looking hulk.
Blonsky volunteers himself for the task and, in the wonderful world of comic-book quasi-science, mixing the Hulk’s blood with a few other nifty performance enhancers results in the grotesque, raging ‘Abomination’. Carnage ensues.
The climax plays out in downtown New York City (of course, it’s impossible for epic superhero battle to take place anywhere else). If you enjoyed the climactic melee of Transformers, prepare for pleasant nostalgia.
Despite a well-balanced plot, it’s clear The Incredible Hulk’s owes its success to the calibre of its performances. Norton brings a distinct vulnerability to Banner, and watching Roth’s Blonksy grow slightly more deranged with every appearance is a pleasure.
Leterrier provides an earnest look at a man at war with his inner demons. And while many people have struggled with inner demons—although possibly not one where you’re transformed into a green giant!—generally they can be conquered by turning to loved ones, friends or faith.
A healthy dose of wit, scores of nods to fans (the purple pants cameo is gold) and smashtastic action sequences combine to make this a thoroughly enjoyable outing. Where Leterrier trumps Lee is that he doesn’t forget the magic ingredient—fun!
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