REVIEW - The Incredible Hulk

So I was hoping this new Hulk movie would be better than the previous one, which was pretty okay but not exactly summer popcorn movie type stuff. If nothing else, I was glad Ang Lee's version got all the exposition out of the way, since this one was able to get right down to the business of wholesale demolition.

Louis Leterrier, director of those ridiculous Transporter movies that somehow never feature Colm Meaney, was a pretty good choice to direct this film, since it's wall to wall action. For those of you who like scenes with lots of talking, they have those too. But mostly there's a lot of action-type stuff and the Hulk goes around smashing stuff, as he is wont to do.

Edward Norton starred as Dr. Bruce Banner, and he also took an uncredited pass at the script and produced it. He's very serious about making the character work, and I think he did a pretty good job all around. He fits the Banner character better than Eric Bana did, at least he seems more believeable as a scientist.

I could turn this into a comprehensive cast comparison between the two films, but...okay, I will. But not too much. The other two returning characters, Betty Ross and her father, General Thunderbolt Ross, both were recast and I'd kinda like the old ones back. Sam Elliott pretty much was Thunderbolt Ross, whereas it seemed like this time around they tried extra hard to make William Hurt look like Sam Elliott. Maybe they could have just, I dunno, gotten Sam Elliott? I don't know. Hurt did an okay job though; he didn't sleep through the film like he usually does. And while I certainly have nothing against Liv Tyler (more's the pity), she brings a lot of baggage with her; whenever I see her, I am reminded of 1) elves and 2) her dad, since they look like the same person. I liked Jennifer Connelly just fine. But these are not dealbreaking issues by any means; the film works great with the new actors, just maybe it's a little better if you don't bring casting baggage from the first one into the theater with you.

That said, the film belongs, not to Leterrier or Norton or even William Hurt's insane mustache, but to the man, the myth, the legend: TIM ROTH. The guy's a machine, and no one is having as much fun in this film. In fact, it's almost like he's in a different film altogether, until his storyline finally collides with Norton's in the panicked streets of Harlem.

The always awesome Tim Blake Nelson shows up in a small role as Dr. Samuel Sterns, who will someday be The Leader. I was hoping they weren't going to pull another Curt Connors and just never even hint at who he is someday going to be (how many average people watch the Spider-Man films and wonder why Peter's teacher is missing an arm?), but thankfully Leterrier and Norton take care of business.

To the business of cameos: Stan Lee's is probably the most ridiculous yet. Bill Bixby shows up on a TV clip from The Courtship of Eddie's Father. Lou Ferrigno is a university security guard with a small speaking role, and he also voices the CG Hulk character. And yes, he does utter the phrase, "Hulk smash!".

The Incredible Hulk is a pretty good example of a film that's got action without being stupid. Maybe a bit farfetched, but not at all retarded. I thought it was pretty great. Basically, there's a whole lot of property damage and some good storytelling going on in this film, so if you're into that sort of thing you may want to check it out!

Also, as a side note: Don't stay through the credits, there is no Samuel L. Jackson cameo or whatever. The Tony Stark cameo comes in at the end of the film itself. You can go home, it's okay.