The Incredible Hulk is a well put together movie. It pulls from the best elements of the various comic book series that have featured the character and also from the television series. It’s cheeky towards, yet respectful to, some of the most iconic moments and phrases from the Hulk mythos. Edward Norton, Liv Tyler and William Hurt completely inhabit their characters and bring them fully to life in very three dimensional ways. There’s humor, tragedy, drama, tension and peril in all the best measures and that really engages you in the proceedings. Then the video game starts. And did you think I forgot Tim Roth? No, I didn’t, but I wish I could forget him from this movie. But let’s digress a bit and talk first about what I did like about this movie, and there was a lot, believe me.
I was very happy to see that Ed Norton completely and utterly owned the role of Bruce Banner. Much like Robert Downey Jr., Norton as Banner was absolutely perfect. Norton can go through a more realistic range of emotions on his face in a thirty second span than most actors can manage in a trilogy of films. He knows how to portray a man afraid of losing control, but never comes across as wimpy. Liv Tyler expertly shows us a woman who can stand on her own, but is still desperately in love with Banner, even when shown the monster he can become. “Stand By Your Man” was never more true than when shown through the eyes of Tyler’s Betty Ross. William Hurt lights up the screen no matter what role he’s playing, but his General Ross threatens to jump off the screen. Hurt never let’s you forget Ross’ strength and determination, even when things fall apart around him, both literally and figuratively. The script it tight and very emotionally charged. The things that have worked best in the comic series and television series are present here. Banner’s constant struggle to contain the beast within while trying to find an ultimate cure, conferring with the mysterious Mr. Blue to discover just such a cure, being on the road moving from town to town, attempting to avoid trouble so as not to get angry yet being compelled those in trouble…all of these elements have been essential elements and the heart of the story of Bruce Banner and the Hulk. Which makes it all the more gut-wrenching when that all gets replaced by a high-end cartoon.
The first problem I have with the film is Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky. In the comics, Blonsky is a KGB agent and spy who purposely exposes himself to gamma radiation and turns into the Abomination. In the film, Blonsky is born Russian, but raised in the UK where he becomes a soldier who eventually is loaned to the US government. Basically, they have him raised in the UK just so they can have him played by Tim Roth. And what do they have the fantastic and talented Mr. Roth do in this film? Sneer and sweat at the camera until he’s replaced by a cartoon. That’s it, literally. You could entirely remove his character and it would have absolutely no impact on the film. And don’t get me started on the whole end battle between the Hulk and Abomination. That was just one big “hey, look how big our effects budget is” video game-esque pointless display. The only thing that could have improved that whole sequence would have been a couple of power-ups and a bonus level. End the movie with Banner getting arrested, you could still throw in your nod to the Leader with Mr. Blue getting injured in the scuffle and being exposed to Banner’s blood. Then go to the Tony Stark cameo, then cut to Banner in his cell, is he cured or isn’t he? Close up of meditating Banner, eyes snap open flashing green with that smile, done. There was plenty of the Hulk in the rest of the movie to satisfy that need. Anytime the comic book has devolved into something as one-note as “Hulk Smash” it has been canceled and relaunched in a new direction, which is generally more introspective and less “Hulk Hates Puny Humans”.
Why was it necessary to make the Hulk CGI? The makeup effects from Hellboy plus the visual tricks of resizing actors used in the Lord of the Rings trilogy alone make it baffling. Hell, Ferrigno painted up green would have been much more preferable. He was obviously available as he made a cameo and did the voice of the Hulk, so they were mostly there already. It was almost tolerable when the Hulk only interacted with human characters, especially in his first appearance in the darkened bottling plant. But the whole indulgent end battle just completely took me out of the movie and ruined it for me. I thought they had learned their lessons from the previous Hulk film, but I was wrong.
All in all, I can honestly say I loved two thirds of this film and hated the rest. I hope they rethink the approach to visualizing the Hulk before the Avengers film or I may have to rethink my interest in seeing it. Marvel Studios still has my devotion however, as I am eagerly anticipating Iron Man II, Captain America and Thor. Oh, and I have the perfect ending for Thor that leads in to the Avengers, if anyone from Marvel Studios is still reading. They can even have it for free!