Hulk - smashing!

Rating: 10/10 (12 June 2008)

The most useful piece of advice comes first - you don't have to stay until the end of the credits. The bit which you would expect to come after the credits is actually the very last bit before. Along comes the end of the film - and it's an ending which puts a big grin on your face - and then there's this extra bit, which puts an even bigger grin there. And then the titles.
This film is great. The Ang Lee movie was a big disappointment but, where that movie disappointed, this one pleases. I think there is probably less of the Hulk himself in this one, but the film itself works much better.
It's kind of a sequel - you can talk yourself into believing that it starts where the previous movie leaves off - although it ignores much of the origin in the first movie (and, thankfully, anything to do with Banner's father). But it is much more clearly inspired by the TV series - the opening credits clearly reference the TV series, the notion of Banner being on the run was, of course, a constant of the TV Hulk, the TV theme is quoted in the soundtrack music, there is a reporter called McGee, and Bill Bixby is gently referenced in the early minutes.
Most importantly, though, it has something which I call "heart". Perhaps it's as simple as this movie "getting" the Hulk, where Ang Lee didn't. But right from the off, this film emotionally involves the audience in a way which Lee's film, notwithstanding how touchy-feely the first hour was, never did.
Stan cameos (of course), as does Lou Ferrigno, and I was delighted to note that Lou also does the Hulk's voice (I'm not going to reveal what the Hulk actually says).
The script is miles better than the script of the Ang Lee film. Edward Norton is an excellent Banner, and William Hurt is a much better General Ross than Sam Elliott was - for one thing, you can understand what he's saying. Tim Roth is good as Blonsky. I felt there wasn't much to choose between Liv Tyler and Jennifer Connelly as Betty Ross.
I think I preferred this visualisation of the Hulk - it is much more filled with uncontrollable rage. The CGI is mostly fine - a bit dodgy in places (the Abomination doesn't always convince, and there's a rain-soaked scene which would, I think, have been better dry).
But I really, really liked this film - more than Iron Man.