The Incredible Hulk Film Review

When Marvel decided to reboot their Hulk film series in 2008 they were faced with an interesting dilemma. They could either up the action and slick special effects or try to inject some drama into the story. They chose the latter and it seems they may have missed the mark a bit. This movie is still a fun romp with some great action and special effects but the dramatic scenes are a little dull.

The Incredible Hulk tells the story of Dr Bruce Banner who is a scientist that has become obsessed with finding a cure for the disease that turns him into the uncontrollable green monster. As he works to get better, he becomes closer and closer to the cure but once he does, his experiment backfires and he transforms into the Hulk. Now he is on the run from the military who want to capture him. While he is hiding, he sends computer messages to a Mr Blue who is supposed to be able to cure him.

As the Hulk continues to run from his enemies he is met by a new one called The Abomination. He is a man that has been savagely transformed and is just as strong as the Hulk but this time, he isn’t in control of his emotions. As the battle ensues, we see more and more of The Hulk and his powerful moves. The CGI is pretty impressive for the time but it doesn’t quite hold up to more modern films.

Edward Norton does a decent job as the Hulk but it’s a role that is tough to carry alone. He doesn’t have the charisma that Ang Lee did for his version but he is still very good. Liv Tyler is fine as his love interest but she isn’t much of a dramatic actress. The rest of the cast is mostly forgettable with the exception of William Hurt as General Ross. He is an awfully generic character that never really grabs you or makes you care about him. Tim Roth is also good as the Abomination but his character isn’t all that original.

This isn’t a bad film by any means but it doesn’t live up to the other Marvel films that were released in the same year. It’s fun if you are a fan of the characters but for anyone else it will be a little boring.

The Incredible Hulk is an enjoyable romp with plenty of action and special effects but a lack of emotion and a dull story hold it back a bit. It’s not the best of the Hulk movies but a decent addition to the franchise. It also sets the tone for what is to come in future films. Fans will be happy and the rest will probably be left wanting a little more.