A Marvel Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (6 September 2009)

First let me quickly explain that I am a serious, major Hulk fan. When I was a kid, I watched the TV show, I had over 200 Hulk comics, a Hulk bicycle, a Hulk Stretch Armstrong, Hulk action figures, you name it, I had it. I actually believed the Hulk was real for a couple years after finding out there was no Santa. So a Hulk movie had better seriously deliver for me to accept it. And this one rocks.
You may or my not consider the following spoilers. I don't give away any of the plot, but I do mention some of the cameos and other neat stuff you will see in the movie...
Director Louis Leterrier is a genius and does a bang up job of catering to old school fans. Lou Ferrigno, who played the Hulk in the TV show, has a cameo and does the voice of the Hulk as well. Bill Bixby (Banner from the TV show) is seen on TV in an episode of "The Courtship of Eddy's Father." We seen Jim Wilson (Hulk's sidekick from the comics) and Jack McGee (Hulk's nemesis from the TV show) as young college students. They play the Lonely Man Theme (the end music on the TV show) during one scene. There is at least one shot that is straight out of one of the old Hulk graphic novels (fans will recognize this shot when the Hulk rages on the edge of a cliff at the lightening at thunder). There's the purple pants from the comics, the line "don't make me angry" from the TV show, the infamous Hulk hand slap, and many more. My favorite nod though is the Hulk's final line (he only has two or three) at the very end during the fight with the Abomination. I won't give it away here, but serious fans will cheer when he says it.
The directing is wonderful, the visuals are amazing, the acting is nothing phenomenal, but everyone does a great job; it's just an all around solid comic book action flick that entertains from beginning to end and flawlessly delivers for serious fans of the Hulk.
If I had one complaint it would be that they messed with the origins of both the Hulk and the Abomination. But the movie does not focus on the Hulk's origin, which borrows slightly from the TV show, and the Abomination's origin is interesting enough and acceptable. Even with this flaw, I still have to give the movie a perfect 10 because the flaw was handled gracefully and it is so obvious that Louis Leterrier went above and beyond with his efforts to satisfy hardcore fans in every other aspect.
If you're a fan of the Hulk or Edward Norton or Tim Roth or just action movies, this one should satisfy nicely. If you are indeed a Hulk fan, watch for all those nods to the comics and TV show. They're around every corner.