The Incredible Hulk

Rating: 8/10 (28 April 2009)

This isn't a sequel to the 2003 Ang Lee/Eric Bana version, and compared to that rubbish, this is a great revamp of the popular green anti-hero monster, from director Louis Leterrier (Transporter 2). The story is set after the gamma rays accident with Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) hiding in the slums of Brazil, finding ways to control his anger to stop himself turning into the Hulk. Mainly though he is trying to find the cure to his condition with the help of a computer friend named "Mr. Blue", and with Gen. Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross (William Hurt) and his troops finding and chasing him, that could prove difficult. After an "incident", Bruce returns to America to find past love Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) to get her help to find a cure for his condition. Meanwhile, soldier Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) wants to become like Bruce after seeing his transformation and strength, but obviously more controlled. Bruce and Betty do eventually find "Mr. Blue", Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson) and they try to find the cure, or at least something to help control his condition. It is when insane-with-power Blonsky manages to turn into the big monster, or The Abomination, that Bruce decides he has to try and turn into Hulk again to defeat him, and then he runs away into hiding. The film ends with Gen. Ross being told by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), aka Iron Man, of a "team" being made, so this is either to be a continuation, or spin-off film about all the Marvel superheroes being brought together. Also starring Christina Cabot as Major Kathleen Sparr, Ty Burrell as Leonard, Lou Ferrigno as The Incredible Hulk and a Security Guard and Stan Lee as an Old Man. Norton is much more convincing than Bana, the supporting cast all do very well, the special effects are impressive, and the action and chases are much more engaging. Very good!