The Incredible Hulk (2008)

	Directed by: Louis Leterrier	COUNTRY USA GENRE Action/Science Fiction/Fantasy NORWEGIAN TITLE The Incredible Hulk RUNNING TIME 114 minutes
	Produced by: Avi Arad Kevin Feige Gale Anne Hurd
	Written by: Zak Penn

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Bruce Banner	Edward Norton	½
Dr. Elizabeth Ross	Liv Tyler
Maj. Emil Blonsky	Tim Roth	½
Gen. Thaddeus Ross	William Hurt	½
Dr. Samuel Sterns	Tim Blake Nelson
Dr. Lennord Samson	Emily Mortimer	½
Major Katherine Sparr	Christina Cabot
General Joe Greller	Peter Mensah
Voice of the Hulk / Security Guard	Lou Ferrigno
Tony Stark	Robert Downey Jr.

Review

Compared to Ang Lee's largely uninteresting 2003 adaptation of Hulk, this new entry about the green superhero is a small step up. The entire production is a strange bird, though – not quite a sequel, not quite a follow-up, but certainly motivated by Marvel Studios' desire to revitalize their character and restore the Hulk's reputation after the previous failure. The result is a film that ostensibly ignores its predecessor and dives in medias res into Bruce Banner's life as a tormented refugee in Brazil eager to find a cure for his condition. The setup is a clever and intriguing one, and so is the casting of the talented Edward Norton as Bruce Banner. Through him, the film retains a dramatic backbone to which it returns for blood transfusions between the battles.

Unfortunately, the battles are, predictably predictable. Firstly, there is no characterological bridge between Banner and The Hulk which can transfer our sympathy from Banner, who we learn to know, and The Hulk, who we just recognize as a type. And the type is also disappointingly unsubtle, both visually and thematically. As realized here, with his King Kong-like roars and antics, it feels very much as though the Hulk character is antiquated. It seems the only artistic argument for bringing The Hulk to life in 2008 is the CGI possibilities. As an object of fascination or fear, The Hulk belongs way back in the 20th century and will probably only be of interest to nostalgics. And that ridiculous, "trendy" cliffhanger finale is an insult to the movie ticket.