About the movie
The Incredible Hulk
Rating: 
Cast:
Liv Tyler; William Hurt; Tim Roth; Tim Blake Nelson; Ty Burrell; Edward Norton
Directed by:
Louis Leterrier
On the web:
READER FEEDBACK
It's not easy being green
WANT TO KNOW why Hulk smash puny humans?
Because you won't stop talking during his movie.
During the chase scenes, the quiet parts and the big finale in which the big green guy saves Manhattan, the five people seated in front of me at a public screening of the film yammered incessantly - when they weren't going out for popcorn and soda.
Show the Hulk some respect, people. He just wants a little quiet time with his thoughts.
And you really do not want to make him angry.
While the 2003 Ang Lee "Hulk" was a dark, somber, introspective affair, director Louis Letterier's 2008 "Incredible Hulk" reboot is a full-blast summer action film, with fond nods to the Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno TV series.
The build starts slowly in a South American soda factory where Dr. Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) is in hiding from the U.S. Army, most notably General Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt), who sees Banner's Gamma-ray powered body as the ultimate military weapon.
Banner, however, is trying to fight the power, monitoring his heart so he stays calm enough not to unleash the force inside him.
That, of course, can't last long.
Soon, he's on the run, bursting out of his clothes, changing color and tossing forklifts like they're Tonka Toys.
Ross determines that bazookas and tanks won't be enough to stop the Hulk so he enlists gung-ho soldier Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) to take a small dose of super-soldier serum (Captain America fans take note), and although that doesn't give Blonsky the power to go mano-a-mano with the Hulk it does give him a thirst for more strength - Hulk strength.
Let's just say he's green with envy.
The final showdown between one man who craves power and another who doesn't want the power he has, takes place in Harlem, and it truly is Showtime at the Apollo.
It's the ultimate fighting championship (punches, kicks, headlocks, makeshift weapons) of giant battling beasts.
Marvel has obviously learned that mixing serious actors with a big budget and the latest CGI is a good recipe for summer box office success and "The Incredible Hulk" should keep the streak going.
Yes, it's somewhat derivative of other, similar films (but so are romantic comedies) and it's not as sophisticated as "Iron Man." It also may be a tougher choice for date night although there is a beauty and the beast subplot between Banner/Hulk and his girlfriend Betty, played by Liv Tyler.
"The Incredible Hulk," however, is a potent mix of testosterone and adrenalin and action fans of all ages should be happy to hand over their green. *
Produced by Gale Anne Hurd, Avi Arad and Kevin Feige, directed by Louis Letterier, written by Zak Penn, based on the character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, music by Craig Armstrong, distributed by Universal Pictures.
