Ang Lee’s Hulk was deemed a critical and commercial flop in 2003, with many feeling a lack of action and/or serious villain made the whole thing a bit of a trial. Five years on, and up pops the newly-formed Marvel Studios, with an increased input into their characters’ big screen exploits (and no doubt a bigger cut of the box office). The move has seen nothing but success so far, with Iron Man making over $500million worldwide. Their second theatrical release is a ‘reboot’ (i.e. ‘let’s pretend the first one didn’t happen’), with Edward Norton replacing Eric Bana in the lead.
Bruce Banner (Norton) is on the run, finding day labour where he can and keeping ‘off the radar’. By night he tries to cure the radiation poisoning that turns him into The Hulk, desperately searching the globe for a remedy. He is, however, close to being found. General Ross (William Hurt) will stop at nothing to find Banner and harness his mutation for military purposes, enlisting the help of sadistic sniper Emile Blonsky (Tim Roth). He uses similar techniques to radiate Blonsky and throws Banner, and his former girlfriend Betty (Liv Tyler), also Ross’ daughter, into grave danger.
The biggest problem a film like this has - in the age of ‘real’ superheroes (such as Jackman’s Wolverine) - is that The Incredible Hulk is perhaps the most difficult to convert. For all the clever writing and gritty camera angles, you still have to make a huge green monster believable. Luckily, this adaptation seems to work through the sum of its parts. Louis Leterrier works on the big bangs and SFX, whilst co-writer/star Norton works on the character and story. There is the odd line that puts your teeth on edge (“it would be...an abomination!!!”), but overall it’s an entertaining plot that tries it’s best to balance with the action.
It’s very much a passion project for Norton, who has described himself as a ‘Marvel Kid’. That enthusiasm comes over in both his writing and his portrayal of the lonely superhero. He plays Banner as an idealist, with Hurt’s ruthless General believing his entire body is the US military’s property. Something of a let down is Roth, who doesn’t really look like he’s interested. Still, Roth on autopilot is still worth watching. Tyler isn’t really given a fair shake character wise, more of a womanly Sarah Jane Parker, if you will. She brings a lot of warmth to every scene she’s in, but still her main task is to scream “Nooooo!”.
The ending will leave audiences divided- CGI haters will be incensed, however even the biggest cynics will feel a little flash of awe at the sheer scale of the climactic battle. Norton is the perfect Banner, and whilst this may not be a perfect movie, it is certainly the best Hulk adaptation we could have hoped for.
