Has it's points, but...

Rating: 7/10 (17 June 2008)

I have to admit, I really don't know why I went to this. In a venue saturated with CGI and somewhat crappy scripts and story lines, this installment over what was released just 5 years ago seems somewhat nonsensical. On top of that, Louis Leterrier has only directed only 2 films in his carer: Danny the Dog (Unleashed) and The Transporter II. Granted, both films merit a smile and a nod for actually being quite good films, however to hand over $150+ (which is incredible seeing at least almost 1/2 the film is done in CGI) seems also a little nonsensical in this case. It just seems to me that these movies are quickly becoming ordinary and harder to watch unless there are some great innovations in them, or at least a solid story line and a good ending.
I like Ed Norton in this role though. At times you could see some striking resemblances to Bill Bixby at moments, and his mannerisms are more in tune with the original Bruce Banner character. I'll state right here that I am not going to do cross platform comparisons with all the various Hulk remakes and episodes, sorry. Liv Tyler seems a bit sappy in her role. I think she gets picked because she knows how to squirt those tears when needed, and on demand, and I didn't know what to make of William Hurt as her estranged father. Try as he might, I just can't see him in a "tough guy" situation.
The CGI is probably what takes this movie into a more plausible realm. In the beginning, you meet Bruce banner, and there is a counter for the important scene changes that tell you how long it's been since his last "episode". The director brings in Hulk fairly early, but they leave him in shadows for the most part, only delivering the objects of his rampaging to the audience. This movie really has no start or finish, it is more like we are dropped in as observers into a struggle that aspires to be normal but seems to be a futile objective, and when we finally get Hulk so steamed up to yell the famous "HULK SMASH", it comes across climactic, but lacks that which should be sending electricity through your body.
And that, for me about sums it up: It just didn't give me a charge. It was OK to watch, actually it was much better than the 2003 remake, but as far as being up there with this year Iron Man *cough* (could be the closest thing to a spoiler I can get to) *cough*, but probably by far not the worst movie we will see this year. The audience was quiet throughout the viewing, which also supports my lack of charge contention. Let us hope that they don't remake this one for at least another 20 years. Maybe by then we will go HOLO!