If you weren't a big fan of the original, chances are this won't float your boat that much either

Rating: 4/10 (26 January 2009)

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning
Hiding in Brazil since the last film, leading a lowly life as a bottle processor and learning ways to control his anger so he doesn't become his huge green alter ego, Dr Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) is found after some of the serum he uses to control his anger accidentally lands in one of the bottles. The United States Military, lead by General Ross (William Hurt) swoops in on him with no mercy and so it begins a desperate chase back to America to evade capture. But aside from rekindling with old flame Betty (Liv Tyler) Banner faces a newer, more deadly adversary in the shape of Blonsky (Tim Roth) a Russian soldier who has been injected with his own serum, which turns him into The Abomination, The Hulk's deadliest foe.
While Ang Lee's original adaptation of Hulk was not an awful film, it didn't make enough of an impression on me to make me drool with excitement when the sequel came out. And so it passed me by in cinemas and has only now just caught my eye on DVD. Lee's passed directorial duties on this one to known action director Louis Lettirier...who's produced an even more under-whelming result.
As well as a new director there's a new lead star (there must have been some falling out on the set of the last film) in the shape of Norton, who's maybe a bit too deep for the role, approaching it like it's Hamlet. All of the supporting cast make a bit of an impression, Roth especially, and lets not forget the surprise cameo at the end by Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark (although hearing Stark Industries mentioned earlier does get the mind wondering) unsubtly opening the door for another sequel. But the story just fails to hold your attention through-out, something not even lifted by the numerous special effects, save for a tasty end showdown between Hulk and The Abomination, as they stampede through the streets, crushing cars, smashing buildings and generally making a lot of mess.
This is really no 'incredible' hulk. Nor a jolly green giant. Not even something in between. **