How are you feeling? Like a monster.

Rating: 7/10 (27 July 2017)

When this movie came out, practically no one knew this existed in the same universe as Iron Man. There are clear signs in the opening credits with quick mentions of Stark Industries and Nick Fury. People in theaters didn't know that you were supposed to stay after the credits for the post-credits scene. Thanks to this movie, the Avengers wasn't just a dream, it was a possibility. Besides this, the movie itself was actually decent. Not great, not bad, just watchable.
Let's first focus on the big man himself, Bruce Banner/Hulk. I really liked Edward Norton as Bruce Banner. Banner in the comics, is drawn as a really small, unassuming man. Norton did a great job because he did look frail, yet very smart. His version of the Hulk is clearly better than 2003 and actually looks threatening and powerful. His strength is very clear, with his muscles and veins popping out and the clear sense of rage that is fueling him, rather than Ang Lee's version.
The villain in the film is Tim Roth's Emil Blonsky/Abomination. Despite his final form just being a evil, reptilian version of the Hulk, his development was very good. An aging soldier, wanting to continue to fight, taking a experimental serum and getting more and more insane and rebellious. Roth is an incredible actor, who I loved in Tarantino films, and he expertly portrays the crazed fighter who wants to get the job done.
The action was a lot better with the Hulk fighting off the army as well as his final duel with the Abomination. Seeing the Hulk destroy a car to use as boxing gloves was awesome. The tone in this movie was well done as well as we could feel the desperation, fear and insecurity that Banner felt throughout the movie.
There were obviously aspects in this movie that I didn't like. First off, Samuel Sterns. A great character in the comics and a tremendous villain that can be used in the MCU. However, thanks to the restrictive terms by Universal Pictures, it looks like he won't be coming around which is a shame because Tim Blake Nelson was good as a wacko doctor. I also wasn't a big fan of Liv Tyler's Betty Ross. While she was undoubtedly better than 2003's Jennifer Connelly, who forgot to portray any emotion, I didn't really feel any chemistry between her and Bruce. Tyler is a good actress, like in LotR, but I still felt that she could've been better in this film.
+ Norton's Banner/Hulk + Roth's Blonsky/Abomination + Overall Tone and Action + Connection to Iron Man and confirms shared universe - Universal Pictures total control over character rights - Love interest lacking
7.4/10