A very solid movie, and much better than the 2003 film

Rating: 8/10 (26 January 2012)

There may be those who agree with me, and those also who will disagree, but while it is not devoid of flaws I really enjoyed The Incredible Hulk, whereas I was disappointed in 2003's The Hulk, and I'm saying this as someone who loved Ang Lee's other films.
If there is one thing that Lee's film succeeds better in, it is the visuals, don't get me wrong they are very stylish here but the ones in the 2003 film were slicker even if The Incredible Hulk is bigger and brasher. This said, the cinematography and editing are great and the locations and lighting look fantastic. The music rouses, the story compels most of the time and the dialogue provokes both in a thoughtful and emotional way.
I do think that director Louis Letterier brings a lot of passion into the film, especially with the use of the form of street running called Parkour that he also used in The Transporter. The action sequences are suitably thumping, with efficient choreography and slick editing. The romantic elements are handled in a shrewd manner in alternative to the danger of slowing the film down, and thankfully there is no underdeveloped and convoluted subplot like Lee's film did with Nick Nolte.
The first half though in a sense is better than the second. The second half is in no way bad, it's that the first half was very clever and compelling, and although you do identify with the titular character all the time and the finale is earth-shattering the film loses it a bit with the rather clichÃ©d way the villain Blonsky is written and that his motives are not always very clear or as believable as they had potential to be.
Casting-wise The Incredible Hulk is excellent. Edward Norton brims with intensity but he is also sympathetic. The Incredible Hulk also succeeds in making a real sense that Banner and the Hulk inhabit the same tortured mind, which made it much more accessible to identify with him, something that Lee's film did not do. William Hurt is appropriately steely as General Ross, Liv Tyler is attractive and the essence of sympathy as Banner's girlfriend and although his character is not as believable Tim Roth does somehow manage to bring some credibility to him.
Overall, a very solid film, not perfect but better than the 2003 film by quite some distance. 8/10 Bethany Cox