Lee brought an interesting art film meets comic book approach that won some fans over while turning many others away. I liked the film, the way that many scenes were composed as if they were panels in a comic book, and the way it presented itself as mature, science fiction film, that happened to have some action elements. Unfortunately, the film failed to ignite audiences as the studio hoped. This brings us to now.
So, how does the film fare? To compare this film directly to the prior one would be unfair. They are two different films with different approaches, whose only commonality is that they both offer an interpretation of the same character. That said, The Incredible Hulk is quite a good film, one that stands on its own, is fun to watch, and feels true to the origins of the big green hero.
To aid General Ross in his pursuit, Russian born, British raised special forces agent named Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) is enlisted to head the team. After their first encounter with Hulk, Blonsky knows something is up and insists on being given the full story of the situation. This leads directly to his becoming the next human guinea pig to experiment with a super soldier serum. In turn, this leads to Blonsky becoming the Hulk-like Abomination.
The Incredible Hulk is an adrenaline filled ride from start to finish. The action is well thought out and nicely executed, while the special effects look quite good. Hulk and Abomination do not quite blend perfectly with the real settings, but they are a step up from the 2003 film and do not distract all that much. Also, I like the Hulk design here, his muscles are straining to be contained, the hair is a little longer, and he just looks meaner and stronger.
From the acting perspective, Norton does a better job than I had expected as Banner. He brings a grounding to the role. When he says something, there is a certain gravitas, some weight that goes along with it. There are moments throughout the film that take you a bit deeper into what it is like to be on the run, hunted like an animal, cursed with the big green guy, and I think it is all due to Norton's strong work. Hurt and Roth make a formidable pair, Hurt being the man behind the curtains, pulling the strings, while Roth takes on the guise of a man willing to do whatever it takes to gain more power. Overall, the performances are solid.
While I enjoyed the film, it is not a perfect one. I would have liked some more character development. Norton and Roth do great with their moments, but I would have liked some more. The story is a personal one, but I would have liked it to have been a bit more epic. How that would be achieved, I do not know.
One last note before closing, does anyone else think the last scene should have been a post-credit cookie?
Bottomline. This is a fun movie. It offers a good dose of action blended with some decent character development, while also helping to build a new Marvel universe on the big screen. The recasting works and while Leterrier is no Ang Lee, he knows how to put together an action film. This is well worth seeing on the big screen.
Recommended.
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