Much improved over the Ang Lee film

Rating: 7/10 (22 June 2008)

I enjoyed the Ang Lee directed "The Hulk", but I was not entertained by it. I am not sure if that makes sense, but that is the easiest way I can explain the first film and my like/dislike of it. In the end I think Lee went away from the basics of the character and of the fan expectations and it was not what a film called "The Hulk" should have been.
Flash forward to 2008 and "The Incredible Hulk". This go around, with Marvel studios having a heavier hand in the production, most everything is done right. Instead of taking up loads of time exploring the "why" of Banner's transformation, Zak Penn's script handles the genesis of Banner's Gama radiation exposure during the opening credits. That sets up the story perfectly. Another aspect done right is Banner being portrayed as a man on the run. This is what most fans enjoyed and loved about the original series and lets face it, the movie version has to address the comic and TV version if it is going to succeed.
Louis Leterrier brings a welcomed action sense to the film. Let's face it, we want to see Hulk smash things. We want to see Banner on the run for his life. All of this is brought together nicely by Leterrier.
My one nitpick of the film is the transition from some scenes to the next. There has been a lot of rumors circulating of chunks being removed from the final cut and in places it shows.
I was not keen on Edward Norton playing the role, yet 10mins into the film I was sold on him. He brings to the Banner role the same emotional struggle that Bill Bixby did with the TV character of David Banner. Liv Tyler is fantastic. Her scenes with the computer generated Hulk are light years ahead in emotion compared to those from the first film. Speaking of the CGI, all in all it is much improved from the first film. Tim Roth as Abomination is perfectly cast, he brings an absolute evil glee to the table. William Hurt does some of his best work of late as the "General".
There are ample cameos from the creator of The Hulk to the members of the TV series as well as a nod to another character in the Marvel universe.
Much improved over the first movie, there was a lot of nay-sayers out there when this project was announced. But they proved them wrong and now the Hulk train has been righted and it looks like we will be seeing a lot more of him in the future.