HULK was a gigantic misfire. It drifted too much from the source material. It also suffered from the dreaded origin story movie and then the climax wasn't that great. Now five years later, Marvel has reinvented the Hulk for THE INCREDIBLE HULK. The origin is retold in the opening credits and then the action is on for most of the movie with only a few breaks to develop the characters and their basic motivations. Dr. Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) has been on the run from the United States military for years after the gamma radiation experiments changed Banner. He is currently hiding out in Brazil (158 days without turning into the Hulk) as he continues to work on a cure while working at a soda pop bottling plant. He is a student of mediation and martial arts to control his heart rate.

Soon a small mistake he makes leads a military unit (led by British solider Emil Blonsky) to Banner's location. Banner is on the run and Blonsky is let in on what Banner is (and given a serum to help even the playing field). Banner heads back for the united States to get the original test data on the gamma radiation experiment that turned him into the Hulk. He has an ally known as Mr. Blue who may be able to cure Banner. Banner and his ex-flame Elizabeth Ross (Liv Tyler) bump into each other. She is the daughter of General Ross (William Hurt) who wants Banner back into military custody. Soon the chase is on again and it leads to a series of events that changes Blonsky into a creature as powerful as the Hulk.

THE INCREDIBLE HULK is a vast improvement over HULK. Director Louis Leterrier is credited with crafting this fast paced film with fantastic action sequences. Despite the film losing 70 minutes from a rough cut (they will show up as deleted scenes on the DVD and Blu-ray), the film is almost as good as IRON MAN and the climatic battle sequence is better than IRON MAN's. THE INCREDIBLE HULK is a homage to the TV series from the origin sequence to the music cues to Lou Ferrigno (the TV series Hulk) doing the hulk voice and a cameo as a security guard. Hulk creator Stan Lee does his usual cameo. THE INCREDIBLE HULK sets things up for the sequel and THE AVENGERS film (Tony Stark shows up at the end and it relates to the end credits scene of IRON MAN). In a way, Marvel Studios is building an interconnected universe with the references and characters showing up in other films. Nick Fury and SHIELD are even mentioned if you look and listen. The elements that sell it are the cast, the script, the direction, and being better than Ang Lee's effort. THE INCREDIBLE HULK is a fast paced action comic book film that will bring in the green.

this movie review is (c)6-15-2008 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com  

look for additional content at http://enterline2.tripod.com  and http://enterlinemedia.livejournal.com