One of the very best of it's kind.

Rating: 9/10 (13 June 2008)

The Incredible Hulk takes a slightly different approach to the normal routine of a superhero picture. Instead of focusing all the energy and screen time on trying to one-up the competition with the next best CGI sequence and the most explosive, ridiculous fight scenes, it takes a smaller approach and focuses on the characters. And it really works.
Edward Norton's performance is easily one of the best in a film of it's nature, as he perfectly displays the internal anguish of a man who can't lose control of his emotions. Early on he encounters a female co-worker (he's living in Brazil at the time, working at a soda-producing factory) being harassed by some other men and you can see in his eyes the heartache that comes with knowing that by getting involved in the situation he'll only make things much worse. His performance goes far beyond what the role calls for and adds another impressive entry to his phenomenal resume. On the other side of the battle is an equally impressive from the always incredible Tim Roth. His Emil Blonsky is a soldier who believes his only reason for living is to fight. He's hitting middle age and realizing that his body is not at all what it used to be, so when he sees this massive green symbol of pure power he sees a new hope. Blonsky wants to the power of the Hulk, and he wants more of it. Roth perfectly captures the greed, obsession and slight desperation of Blonsky and seeing the two of them on opposite sides of a battle is absolutely stunning. William Hurt provides excellent support as the explosive Thunderbolt Ross, a General leading the hunt for Hulk and also father to Betty Ross (Liv Tyler), the love of Banner's life. In fact the only major flaw in the film is Tyler's atrocious performance. She is unconvincing, bland and sticks out like a sore thumb in this epic ensemble.
On the surface, it's a chase film. Banner is in Brazil trying to find a cure for his gamma radiation poisoning, when General Ross finds him and the chase begins, ultimately resulting in one of the most adrenaline-fueled scenes in history when the army tries to bring Hulk down outside of the college where Betty works. So the chase aspect provides for absolutely incredible action sequences that had me on the edge of my seat throughout. But deep down, at the film's core is both a story of two lovers trying to be together and, more importantly, a story of a desperate man gaining control of his emotions and the explosive anger radiating inside of him. It makes for something very compelling, well-acted, explosive and well...incredible.