The Incredible Hulk: Everyone Wins When Ed Norton Gets Angry (2008)

Banner has never been happy with the power that he possesses. He wants it out of his body. He does everything he can to resist giving into the rage that transforms him into the Hulk. The first half hour gives the audience a chance to know and understand Bruce Banner. This is the strength of Norton’s performance because the Hulk himself is a purely CGI creation. I may add that the special effects in this film look a lot smoother than in the previous film. The first third of the film establishes Banner as solitary, mournful man with the ultimate tortured past. He is vulnerable. Norton plays the wounded Banner better than I ever thought he could. Norton’s Banner is a wonderful tribute to the late Bill Bixby. There is a wonderful moment where Banner is watching a scene from The Courtship Of Eddie’s Father. Edward Norton makes Banner a very believable character. It is to Norton’s credit that he makes Banner’s struggle to accept the awesome rage he possesses into such a memorable cinematic experience.

There are other performances in the film that are worthy of merit as well. William Hurt’s General Ross is obsessed with finding Bruce Banner. Hurt is perfect as the military man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, but wait there is more to him than that. His daughter, Betty, is Bruce’s lover. Betty is the Beauty to Norton’s Beast. Tyler is actually quite perfect as Betty. It is not so much her scenes with Banner, but rather with The Hulk that work out so well. The film is like the comic book series. There are echoes of King Kong, but more Peter Jackson’s version than Merian C. Cooper’s classic film. Tyler plays Betty as a rift on Naomi Watts’ Ann Darrow. Ann Darrow grows very fond of Kong in that version as opposed to the original. There are scenes in The Incredible Hulk that echo the same sentiment. Speaking of Liv Tyler, where was The Incredible Hulk when she needed him while she was being tormented in The Strangers two weeks ago? Tyler and Norton have wonderful chemistry on screen. Tim Blake Nelson’s scientist, Samuel Sterns, has a mad glee about him whenever Banner changes into the Hulk. Fans of the comic book know that Sterns will have a bigger role in films to come.

I have to say Tim Roth takes the cake as the Russian born sharpshooter, Emil Blonsky. Roth’s Blonsky is hired by Ross to hunt down Banner. Blonsky is impressed with what Banner has become. Blonsky wants the same kind of power. Ross gives him the means to transform himself into the Abomination-- the ultimate creature feature nemesis that the Hulk must confront in of all places-- New York City. The final confrontation will remind viewers of the big rumble between Stark’s Iron Man and Obadiah Stone’s Iron Monger battle in Los Angeles at the end of Iron Man. Here the battle between the two beasts will no doubt draw comparisons to the monster battles in Godzilla films. To the film’s credit, it works very well. It was one of the few things I felt that worked well in Ang Lee’s film. Here, after Transformers and Iron Man, it may seem redundant, but it works. Remember, The Incredible Hulk is a monster film at its heart. Tim Roth is an exceptional actor; he brings Blonsky to life.

Louis Letterier does an excellent job as the film’s director. That should come as a surprise to no one because of his work on The Transporter films and Danny The Dog. He has a keen eye for action. The film’s opening chase through the Brazilian slums is very Bourne inspired with a touch of Transporter mayhem. It was a wise move to bring him in as director. Letterier had wanted to do Iron Man, but I am glad that Jon Favreau got the project. Iron Man works because of Jon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr.-- The Incredible Hulk seems more suited to Letterier’s style. He is intent on keeping the action going forward-- eager to keep the film moving right along to get Bruce Banner where he needs to go. Letterier and screenwriter Zak Penn have created a comic book film that is very respectful to the source material. This represents Zak Penn’s strongest work since X-Men 2: X-Men United. He is slated to write The First Avenger: Captain America and The Avengers films. I can only hope he will continue to show that same level of respect with those two films. I love the references to Stark Industries and SHIELD in this film. Speaking of Stark Industries, there is a wonderful cameo at the end of this film. It may be William Hurt’s best scene in the film.

I know that I have often complained that nostalgia can be quite a bitch with certain disappointing films that have been released this year. The Incredible Hulk manages to make the nostalgia work very well for a change. There is a wonderful cameo by the original Incredible Hulk, Lou Ferrigno as a security guard. He also does the voice of the Hulk in this film as well. It is nice to hear him say “Hulk smash!” It is a nice touch, but not as nice Craig Armstrong’s score. Armstrong incorporates some of the television’s show theme music into his score. It is a very smart and emotional touch. Several years ago I would never have expected a reboot or a quasi sequel to The Incredible Hulk to be one of the most enjoyable films of the year, but I am very happy to report that I had a great time. Sometimes, being angry has an enormous pay off. I must just add one reservation about the film; it is in no way superior to Iron Man which is in a class by itself.