The Incredible Hulk Review

        When I was in the theater waiting for Iron Man to show, there was a trailer for The Incredible Hulk. To me, I thought it was like a do-over since the Hulk movie from Ang Lee wasn’t that well received earlier in the decade. Little did I know that the new Hulk would took place within the cinematic universe that was kicked off in the same year. To date, this is the only recent solo Hulk movie. 

1. On the Run

        As I mentioned earlier, there was a prior Hulk movie titled as such that came out in 2003. Watching it now feels like an experimental, introspective look into Bruce Banner and the Hulk together. I think what it made so unorthodox was its use of comic panels to imitate a comic book. It’s jarring for one thing, and I feel that with its being used can feel a bit silly. Only when an animated movie can perfectly use and capture the feel of a comic book is when it can be Amazing or Spectacular even. 

        I feel with the whole approach to the movie, it’s the only ever time where the universe would have a dark entry. Not that it’s an overtly depressing movie by any stretch. What I mean is that it’s the complete opposite to Iron Man. Considering that the movie has a character that is like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and he’s attempting to get rid of his curse. 

        So with all that, we follow Banner as he’s on the run from the military. We get a sort of ingenious way of seeing him becoming the Hulk. The opening credits sequence shows us the fateful experiment and how General Ross is actively finding him. From the start, we see that Banner is situated in a Favela within Brazil as he’s attempting to find a cure to his curse. I like that we see Banner attempting to fit in as he’s learning Portuguese, right down to getting his famous catch phrase mixed up when he’s threatened.  

        Inevitably, the military finds him and that’s when we get the glimpse of the Hulk. From the start, the whole movie is sort of skirting the line between being grounded and being fantastic. It takes the same approach as Iron Man where it’s sort of believable that a human can be radiated to become a raging monster. More so that when we see the first infiltration, it’s very heightened when General Ross and a spec-ops soldier named Blonsky attempting to follow and trap him. 

        I think what works in the movie is that we see a hero attempting to get rid of his power. Usually with any superhero movie, we see them attempting to harness and a control their power and to use it for good. With The Incredible Hulk, he’s a monster that obliterates whatever is near him. We assume that he’s mindless, but only when he sees Betty Ross is when he has some humanity. 

But that story element is also the film’s weakness. 

        While I’ll get to the core problem of the movie, this is only part of the problem. Near the climactic battle in Harlem, New York, Banner sees the destruction that Blonsky is causing. Having already gotten a Gamma dosage and becoming an Abomination. It’s one thing where he chooses to do what’s right and leap into battle, but what doesn’t work is he was seemingly cured, and when he leaps into the fray, we’re assuming that he’ll die or something.  

        One more thing before I delve into the character is that half of the film was partially rewritten by Edward Norton. While his name doesn’t make the credit in terms of writing the screenplay, he’s been known to do that to get into the character’s head space. It can cause a problem since half of the lines that Bruce says is more expositional and less of us seeing what exactly he’s going through. Since it’s better to show something than to tell someone in the context of the overall story. 

        One other last thing is that this is probably the only time a comic book film references another adaptation. The film features moments and subtle music cues from the beloved television show of the past. Right down to the opening scene sort of paying tribute to the show's opening scene. The famous piano music cue definitely help with the tone that it's sort of mellow kind of a movie. Even Lou Ferrigno makes an appearance and even voices the Hulk.

2. Bruce Banner

        With the hang-ups that is attributed to the movie, Ed Norton does do a good job with portraying Bruce. As I mentioned before, it’s established that he’s on the run and attempting to be situated to work on his cure. He definitely has the drifter look into him when he’s hitching a ride to move or to try and be normal. I think what the film lacks in showing the contrast between Bruce and the Hulk is showing more of Bruce’s humanity. While we do see him helping a coworker who’s being coerced, we don’t see more of him being a good man to sell us that he’s not a fugitive. 

        One more thing is that I wished that the relationship between him and Betty Ross was explored more. It’s established that they worked together in the experiment that brought about the Hulk, but her character is just basically there to act as a foil for her father the General. Now I don’t mean to be a film doctor but that’s the sort of missed opportunity that the film has got going for it. Where Hulk escapes with Betty and then have it be where it’s communicated that the Hulk isn’t a curse since he didn’t hurt her.

3. The Relegation to Side Character

        While the film made back its budget, it was considered a financial disappointment. I think what I described is partially why the film didn’t perform as good as Iron Man. Making matters worse was that the publicity got desperate to include the Tony Stark scene in the ending for one of the commercials to promote the film further. I think it was just that people considered it a sequel to the other Hulk film where some were confused as to whether the film was a continuation or its own thing. 

        It's unfortunate that the Hulk doesn’t have his own film series within the cinematic universe. Only just being second banana to the inevitable team up film and appearing in the other hero films. Not to say that the film had an impact, but the supporting characters do appear within the sequels and further expand on the dynamics within the heroes. More than anything, the film is supplemental but not necessary. One more thing, due to nature of Ed Norton being difficult to work with, he was recast with Mark Ruffalo now portraying Bruce and The Hulk.

4. Overall

        The Incredible Hulk is an okay entry within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but being more complementary than essential to the grand scheme of the franchise.