No longer green behind the ears, but still some way to go.

Rating: 2/10 (13 June 2008)

The green mean machine rises from the vaults of the Marvel collective once more. His true conception in 1962 has seen him more than often idolised in several aspects of the multimedia world, be it comics, cartoons, TV shows and just lately, as we see here, once more, a well-established movie star.
Playing the beast with the flight or fight syndrome that is Dr. Bruce Banner's alter ego we have Edward Norton, who, also having a major role in the films script (as Edward Harrison), and with this input, we have what feels very much, and quite deliberately, like a pastiche of the 1970's TV show of the same name. With a nod to the late Bill Bixby (1934 - 1993) and the shows instantly recognisable theme tune here too. This classic TV show ran from 1978 until 1982, had 81 airings and we also see, in this movie, an identical transformation that is taken from the TV show, both inspiration and respect for this cult show are well apparent.
We have the good Dr. on the run and trying his best to avoid capture, we see his love between Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) rekindled and the dastardly General Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross (William Hurt) trying his best to apprehend and detain the green giant. All done to perfection and predictability that will have young children loving the adventure and excitement that this formalistic narrative, bland but workable here, holds. While there is nothing wrong in formalistic story lines, it is well expected in this genre, and in its delivery is how it shall be judged.
We are shown and drawn into the world in which this green fugitive lives: lonely, desperate, dangerous, cold and deadly. With this in mind, the Hulk has an equal: the Abomination (Tim Roth); hell on earth is soon to erupt. While the human world pulls through with its action sequences, seek and destroy battles, love lost and found, chastising and baiting, we are then introduced to the CGI world of the Hulk and his nasty foe. This green over-sized gamma infested beast has anger management written all over him; big, muscular, rippling and lifelike, not a bad interpretation of the jolly green giant, personally, I would have preferred the human touch, Lou Ferrigno, you are well missed. The blending of both worlds has its moments, but these are fleeting, but overall, it's more a case of ups than down, giving this movie an atmosphere of excitement that won't frighten the kids in the isles and will hold its own in a fight with the grown-ups too.
The cast fairs well, but Ms. Tyler's soft and gentle character seems more fun when see is angry (the New York taxi scene for example), Tim Roth just seems slightly disjointed here, while William Hurt can be too easily forgotten when out of shot, but this is most definitely Mr. Norton's movie, without a doubt. Like most of Edward Norton roles they're not too over powering and not too undercooked, while this easy role has its moments, we can certainly understand that the real (hard) work has been done behind the camera.
The Incredible Hulk will continue to prosper for Marvel if it heads in the direction that we see here. The kids will love the action and adventure while the grown ups will reflect on the nostalgia of it all and too enjoy the benefit of CGI, all that we can hope for is that too much of a formalistic direction won't turn this green colossus into pea green soup: we wait with baited breath.