Explosive and visually arresting in its colorful swagger...a reactive and revolving roller-coaster ride of demolishing proportions.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) Universal Pictures
1 hr. 54 mins.
Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Rating: *** stars (out of 4 stars)
There was a time when it was ill-advised to even consider serving up a Marvel comic character on the big screen as this trend got woefully giddy and overwrought. But it's the summertime and the climate has changed drastically where Stan Lee's superheroes are now being embraced emphatically. In the popular aftermath of the previously released Iron Man it's now fashionable to have superpowers and bring on the nostalgia in raucous, entertaining doses.
It was indeed a gamble to bring the Grumpy Green Giant to the big screen given the questionable track record at large. First, the Marvel Comics characterizations had started to wear on the escapist imaginary nerves with recent anemic servings of duds such as Ghost Rider and Daredevil from a few years back. Secondly, the third entry of Spider Man 3 and follow-up to the inexplicably appreciated The Fantastic Four sequel (featuring another Marvel wonder in The Silver Surfer) seems like these film franchises were going through the mandatory motions. Thirdly, Oscar-winning Brokeback Mountain filmmaker Ang Lee's 2003 sluggish version of The Hulk felt brooding and labored in its sophisticated yet stillborn green skin. So naturally bringing back the bombastic brute years later may have been a risky thing to do given the aforementioned reasons presented in a nutshell.
French director Louis Leterrier's The Incredible Hulk comes storming into the consciousness of moviegoers everywhere with the rollicking rage that's sure to be infectious for the massive and monstrous Green Gargantuan. Explosive and visually arresting in its colorful swagger, Hulk radiates effectively with a strong notable cast. Also, the imaginative and edgy script by Zak Penn supports the enthusiastic results of this pulsating popcorn pleaser.
Leterrier, no stranger to broad and opulent action-packed cinema courtesy of The Transporter flicks, pieces together a moody and stimulating edition of the colossal creature with an undeniable spirit so viscerally pleasing to the eye. Basically, Leterrier's Hulk smashes stuff to smithereens and doesn't have time to contemplate the psychological sensibilities about the potential beast within us all. Again, no knock against Ang Lee's intent to bring his hulking he-man into a proper perspective of destruction and disdain. Thankfully, Leterrier lets the Green Grunting One loose on the world while showcasing his notable linguistic line "Hulk smash". Hey, it seems short, simplistic and bluntly to the point. To paraphrase the Big Green Guy's possible responsive input: "Hulk like dat very much!"
Oscar nominee Edward Norton takes on the inner rampage of Dr. Bruce Banner as favorably recalled by TV's late Bill Bixby. Contemplative and captivating, Hulk taps into the angst and conflict so identified with the bulking beast. The film begins the proceedings with scientist Banner dealing with his unpredictable metamorphosis as he's on the run in the slums of Brazil. Tracking him so relentlessly is the determined General Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt). General Ross needs to secure the Hulkster for opportunistic reasons--he wants this bashing behemoth as a prototype for creating the "ultimate soldier" for his dream team army.
In the meanwhile, the general's pretty scientific daughter Betty (Liv Tyler) yearns for the absent Dr. Bruce Banner. As one can see, Banner has a major dilemma with the Ross family. Both Thunderbolt and Betty want Banner's hide for very different purposes. General Ross ups the ante as he eventually stumbles onto Banner's hiding place. In an effort to sniff out Banner through militaristic means, he taps the shoulder of resilient warrior Blonsky (Tim Roth). Naturally, Blonsky wants to impress his boss and capture the mystery behind what Banner wants to eliminate--the genetic experimentation gone awry. Essentially, Blonsky wants what Banner has in terms of his incredible rage and insurmountable strength. What a dangerous concept, huh?
Overall, The Incredible Hulk packs a corrosive punch so worthy of its spontaneous insanity. Leterrier doesn't hold back as this CGI package is armed with the blockbuster allure that becomes such a frivolous flair. Interestingly, the over-the-top craziness of Hulk has a guilty pleasure impact that radiates so effectively. Hulk never materializes as skillfully or coherently as the better made Iron Man. Nevertheless, Leterrier does instill some off-kilter charm that includes Hulk-related reminiscences of past, cutesy cameos (from television's Hulk stalwarts in the late Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno) and flashy special effects.
Norton, an adventurous actor, plays Dr. Bruce Banner with appropriate aplomb and makes his soul-searching scientist almost as fascinating as his beleaguered muscle-bound menace. Hurt is deliciously bombastic as the harassing badge-wearing brass. Roth is joyfully unctuous as the calculating soldier looking for high stakes as a weasel-like wrecking machine. Tyler is typically utilized as the love interest left for showing the affectionate vibes toward her complicated man. As for the screen's enhanced Green Goliath, he's freakish in all his ribaldry thanks to the cunning computerized manipulations.
Intrinsically, The Incredible Hulk works best when it's situated as a frivolous comic book romp that doesn't pretend to be anything than what it is at heart--a reactive and revolving roller-coaster ride of demolishing proportions. In conclusion, we like when Hulk goes boom-boom in his convoluted, congested path.
Frank Ochieng
@ MovieEye.com (2008)
1 hr. 54 mins.
Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Rating: *** stars (out of 4 stars)
There was a time when it was ill-advised to even consider serving up a Marvel comic character on the big screen as this trend got woefully giddy and overwrought. But it's the summertime and the climate has changed drastically where Stan Lee's superheroes are now being embraced emphatically. In the popular aftermath of the previously released Iron Man it's now fashionable to have superpowers and bring on the nostalgia in raucous, entertaining doses.
It was indeed a gamble to bring the Grumpy Green Giant to the big screen given the questionable track record at large. First, the Marvel Comics characterizations had started to wear on the escapist imaginary nerves with recent anemic servings of duds such as Ghost Rider and Daredevil from a few years back. Secondly, the third entry of Spider Man 3 and follow-up to the inexplicably appreciated The Fantastic Four sequel (featuring another Marvel wonder in The Silver Surfer) seems like these film franchises were going through the mandatory motions. Thirdly, Oscar-winning Brokeback Mountain filmmaker Ang Lee's 2003 sluggish version of The Hulk felt brooding and labored in its sophisticated yet stillborn green skin. So naturally bringing back the bombastic brute years later may have been a risky thing to do given the aforementioned reasons presented in a nutshell.
French director Louis Leterrier's The Incredible Hulk comes storming into the consciousness of moviegoers everywhere with the rollicking rage that's sure to be infectious for the massive and monstrous Green Gargantuan. Explosive and visually arresting in its colorful swagger, Hulk radiates effectively with a strong notable cast. Also, the imaginative and edgy script by Zak Penn supports the enthusiastic results of this pulsating popcorn pleaser.
Leterrier, no stranger to broad and opulent action-packed cinema courtesy of The Transporter flicks, pieces together a moody and stimulating edition of the colossal creature with an undeniable spirit so viscerally pleasing to the eye. Basically, Leterrier's Hulk smashes stuff to smithereens and doesn't have time to contemplate the psychological sensibilities about the potential beast within us all. Again, no knock against Ang Lee's intent to bring his hulking he-man into a proper perspective of destruction and disdain. Thankfully, Leterrier lets the Green Grunting One loose on the world while showcasing his notable linguistic line "Hulk smash". Hey, it seems short, simplistic and bluntly to the point. To paraphrase the Big Green Guy's possible responsive input: "Hulk like dat very much!"
Oscar nominee Edward Norton takes on the inner rampage of Dr. Bruce Banner as favorably recalled by TV's late Bill Bixby. Contemplative and captivating, Hulk taps into the angst and conflict so identified with the bulking beast. The film begins the proceedings with scientist Banner dealing with his unpredictable metamorphosis as he's on the run in the slums of Brazil. Tracking him so relentlessly is the determined General Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt). General Ross needs to secure the Hulkster for opportunistic reasons--he wants this bashing behemoth as a prototype for creating the "ultimate soldier" for his dream team army.
In the meanwhile, the general's pretty scientific daughter Betty (Liv Tyler) yearns for the absent Dr. Bruce Banner. As one can see, Banner has a major dilemma with the Ross family. Both Thunderbolt and Betty want Banner's hide for very different purposes. General Ross ups the ante as he eventually stumbles onto Banner's hiding place. In an effort to sniff out Banner through militaristic means, he taps the shoulder of resilient warrior Blonsky (Tim Roth). Naturally, Blonsky wants to impress his boss and capture the mystery behind what Banner wants to eliminate--the genetic experimentation gone awry. Essentially, Blonsky wants what Banner has in terms of his incredible rage and insurmountable strength. What a dangerous concept, huh?
Overall, The Incredible Hulk packs a corrosive punch so worthy of its spontaneous insanity. Leterrier doesn't hold back as this CGI package is armed with the blockbuster allure that becomes such a frivolous flair. Interestingly, the over-the-top craziness of Hulk has a guilty pleasure impact that radiates so effectively. Hulk never materializes as skillfully or coherently as the better made Iron Man. Nevertheless, Leterrier does instill some off-kilter charm that includes Hulk-related reminiscences of past, cutesy cameos (from television's Hulk stalwarts in the late Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno) and flashy special effects.
Norton, an adventurous actor, plays Dr. Bruce Banner with appropriate aplomb and makes his soul-searching scientist almost as fascinating as his beleaguered muscle-bound menace. Hurt is deliciously bombastic as the harassing badge-wearing brass. Roth is joyfully unctuous as the calculating soldier looking for high stakes as a weasel-like wrecking machine. Tyler is typically utilized as the love interest left for showing the affectionate vibes toward her complicated man. As for the screen's enhanced Green Goliath, he's freakish in all his ribaldry thanks to the cunning computerized manipulations.
Intrinsically, The Incredible Hulk works best when it's situated as a frivolous comic book romp that doesn't pretend to be anything than what it is at heart--a reactive and revolving roller-coaster ride of demolishing proportions. In conclusion, we like when Hulk goes boom-boom in his convoluted, congested path.
Frank Ochieng
@ MovieEye.com (2008)
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