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The Incredible Hulk 8.5 out of 10 Posted: 06/15/08
Running time: 1:52 MPAA rating: PG-13 (Sequences of intense action violence, some frightening sci-fi images, and brief suggestive content.) Peruvian rating: Mayores de 14
Cast:
Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson. |
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Warning: This review has got a couple of spoilers. You should first see the film before reading it!
My girlfriend and me must be part of a particular minority: those who liked Ang Lee's version of Hulk. The 2003 film was a rare kind of superhero motion picture: one where character development and acting, as well as drama and plot were more important than overlong action sequences, special effects or explosions. People didn't like it, methinks, because it didn't deliver what they were expecting to deliver. The movie was marketed as a special effects extravaganza filled with violence and monster action, when it actually was an intelligent look at an individual who had to control his particular problem, as well as his rage and his relationship with his conflicted father and his girlfriend. The movie was a great as, well... a movie. But when compared to comic book movies like Spider-Man or the Fantastic Four, it was a totally different breed. Is Hulk worth watching? Of course-bleeding-of course. It's a great - albeit a little slow and thoughtful - character study. It just wasn't as action-oriented as Marvel fans would've wanted it to be.
Anyway, this year we have a new Hulk movie with new actors, a new director, a new screenwriter and even a new special effects company. For those who didn't like Ang Lee's intelligent take on the big, green smashing machine, we have Louis Leterrier's (The Transporter and its first sequel) The Incredible Hulk. The thing is, since it had liked and admired the previous movie so much because of its originality and its willingness to take risks, I thought I wouldn't like this new version which is, let's face it, more mainstream and more action-oriented. Fortunately, I was wrong. Although The Incredible Hulk isn't as thoughtful, intelligent or innovative as Ang Lee's aforementioned character study, it nevertheless manages to entertain and please Marvel fans and general audiences alike. It's smart enough, it's got convincing special effects, lots of action - the last battle is particularly impressive - and competent acting. I didn't love it as much as Hulk, but as a new, more crowd-pleasing take on Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's famous creation, it's pretty effective.
The movie tells the story of Dr. Bruce Banner (Edward Norton), who is on the run from himself and the military in the favelas of Brasil, trying to keep a low profile while he searches for a cure to his gamma-ray-related sickness, the very illness that turns him into the green giant. A small mistake at the Brazilian factory he works in allows General Ross (William Hurt) to find out about Banner's location. A tactical team, led by Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), goes in to capture Banner. After turning into the Hulk, he escapes and returns to the U.S., where he finds her former and briefly-engaged-with-another-guy girlfriend, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler). Meanwhile, the General and Emil are planning to capture Banner in a rather unorthodox way - by applying Blonsky with a serum that will turn him into a monster even uglier and bigger than the Hulk itself.
The biggest difference between Hulk and The Incredible Hulk is the action. While the former film had plenty of compelling action sequences - being the tank attack in the desert during its last third the most exciting - most fans were expecting more from it - according to them, it was "too" talky and has too little action. Seems like Marvel has "learned" from their "mistakes" this time, as they are three of these scenes, and all of them are pretty exciting on their own right. Although the final battle (some of which has been seen in the trailers) is impressive and visually good-looking, my favorite sequence has to be the chase through the Brazilian favelas. It's beautifully shot, photographed and edited - the first panoramic view of the favela is awe-inspiring -, and generates tension. If Leterrier has shown in the Transporter movies that he's really good at directing action, in here he has definitely proved it.
What I like about The Incredible Hulk, though, is that, even though it decided to concentrate more on the "HULK SMASH!!!!" (yeah, that line is present in the movie and it does deserve that ridiculous amount of "!"s) moments and the explosions and big monsters, the filmmakers didn't sacrifice the plot of the characters. Granted, the movie is not as intelligent or thought-provoking as the 2003 version, but it nevertheless provides with tons of conflict for Bruce, and a pretty compelling understanding of what he feels and what he's fighting against. He wants to find a cure because he doesn't want to control his sickness - he wants to "get rid of it." I like the "man on the run" feeling of the movie - especially during the scenes in the Favela -, something that the previous movie was definitely lacking, as well as the ways we're shown Bruce is trying to control his anger. (Plenty of Yoga and weird breathing techniques are apparently helping him.) The film ends with him still in the run (escaping from everybody, it seems, including the American government and General Ross), promising at least one more sequel.
Unlike the first installment, The Incredible Hulk contains tons of "fanboy moments" that I'm sure even the most die-hard fans will appreciate. There's the aforementioned "HULK SMASH!!!!" line; there's the cameos by Stan Lee (one of the best he has ever done in a Marvel film, I must admit) and Lou Ferrigno (apart from doing the voice for the Hulk, he acts as a pizza-loving security guard); there's the piano theme from the Hulk TV show prominently featuring in the soundtrack and, of course, there's the cameo by Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark from Iron Man who, after being offered a post in the "Avengers" program by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) himself in his own movie, seems to be recruiting members for this new team. Although his scene lasts barely a minute or so, it's enough to make the audience cheer and get excited, as well as to promise an Avengers flick. (It will supposedly be released in 2011.)
Although, unlike many critics and fanboys, I liked the CGI Hulk from Ang Lee's movie, I must admit the new one looks cooler and more realistic. It was obvious - it's been five years since the last film, and tons of progress has been made in the computer animation department. In short, the Hulk looks amazing. It's obviously computer-generated (no one in the audience would ever believe he's actually real), but it nevertheless looks great - the movements, the skins full of veins and texture, the muscles, the expressions of his face... it's definitely the most impressive Hulk to date. (The only problem is that he doesn't look anything like Edward Norton, but one tends to forget this while watching the movie.) The Abomination looks equally impressive (and more monstrous) and although, apart from the big monsters there's not much CGI to be found, special and visual effects in general are really good. Craig Armstrong's music is also good, although it's a little bit intrusive at times - I would've removed the score from the scene in which Bruce transforms into the Hulk for the first time, for example. It would've made it more intense.
Performances are pretty good too. As Bruce Banner, Edward Norton is effective. He's tormented, conflicted and complicated, and although he's not precisely three-dimensional, his performance allows the audience to root for him, even when he's turned into the Hulk. Liv Tyler has a pretty thankless role as Betty Rose the love interest - she's there to cry for Banner, help him a little and provide with the romantic aspect of the story... at least she's got plenty of chemistry with Norton. (Besides, you gotta love her soft and sweet, sweet little voice.) Tim Roth is great as Emil Blonsky - tough and ready for action, and William Hurt is only good as General Ross. I generally like the man in everything he appears, and although his performance in here is not bad, he's a little... lame.
Although The Incredible Hulk was primarily made for the fanboys, it manages to entertain all types of audiences. There's romance for the ladies, plot and character development for movie buffs, tons and tons of action for us men, and references to other comic books and cameos for the fans. It might not be as fresh or interesting as Iron Man, but it definitely succeeds at being a fun and crowd-pleasing comic book movie. Special effects are great, characters are interesting, action is intense, and the film doesn't sacrifice intelligence for testosterone. I might get killed for saying this, but I still prefer Ang Lee's Hulk to this particular film. It's more intelligent and thoughtful; much more of a rewarding experience. That's not to say this particular movie is bad. If all you wanna do it to spend some time with your favorite green monster battling other ugly creature while smashing everything in his path and worrying about his girlfriend and his sickness, you'll have one hell of a time.
©2008 Sebastián Zavala - Star Wars Epica