Completely obliterates Ang Lee's mistake and makes it right in a big way!!

Rating: 9/10 (23 June 2008)

I am going to re-watch Ang Lee's Hulk generally considered disastrous by fans so I can review it properly but I seem to remember it being pretty awful and in no way an homage to the monstrous hero that fans love. Now I'm not a huge Marvel fan by any means but I love the hero movie and they needed to redeem Hulk and The Incredible Hulk redeemed him and then some. This was the true Hulk film that fans would have wanted and now we can firmly pretend HULK never existed. Relatively new director Louis Leterrier takes the helm and makes Ang Lee look like an amateur and clearly Leterrier must be a Hulk fan or at least turned to enormous Hulk fans because this had everything. The film paid huge homage to the original 70's/80's series which I think is just incredible. It used the music from the original series on one or two occasions, Edward Norton seemed to really channel and pay respect to Bill Bixby's Banner character and his transformation definitely leaned towards that. Terrific cameos from Stan Lee (as always), the original Hulk himself Lou Ferrigno in a terrific and funny cameo that felt like a hand over of the Hulk reigns (although it was only coffee), Robert Downey Jr., and mentions of Stark Industries (Iron Man), the Super Soldier program (Captain America) and other terrific Easter Eggs.
Edward Norton is an amazing actor although he's slipped from high profile in the last few years. He really channels the fugitive scientist looking for a cure part really well and does an amazing job. He's such a non-assuming almost mousy character which is far more like Bill Bixby's Banner than Eric Bana's character in the original Hulk film. Norton is ideal in the role although he may not return in future installments. Liv Tyler is Betsy Ross, Banner's love interest. This is her second summer flick and decisively better performance than The Strangers (although it was a great scare flick.) She gives a better all around performance and has great chemistry with Norton although she is still whiny at times. Tim Roth is a terrific villain, completely on part with other Hero villains that were great. Although his true villainous performance is CGI he still does a great job setting up the character. William Hurt who is a seasoned and often talented character actor does an okay job as General Ross. There is just something missing from the performance. He doesn't seem to have his heart in it and yet he could do very well and is a decent nemesis to Norton's Banner.
Many ask what is better Iron Man or The Incredible Hulk. I mean Iron Man really told a great story and established the character whereas The Incredible Hulk took the liberty of summarizing the establishment of the character in the opening credits but mostly assumed we all know how it all began and puts you right into the action. The story in The Incredible Hulk is simplistic and it's all about two hours of The Hulk smashing stuff and that is wicked cool. I just about giggled and clapped when the Hulk actually exclaims "HULK SMASH" in one of his rage filled riots. The Incredible Hulk is the perfect summer blockbuster and is already racing to the top of the charts which is good because it is a worthy super hero action flick that anyone should see. Forget the disaster of HULK and go see this because his redemption is super sweet!! 9/10