Dan's Papers - June 20, 2008 - Flick Picks by Ian Stark

There is something magical about a good, superhero film. It's a place where movie nerds and comic book nerds can enjoy common ground. (Note - your reviewer happens to be both.)

It was only 2003 when Hulk arrived on screens around the globe. Directed by artsy Ang Lee, starring Oscar-winner Jennifer Connolly, Nick Nolte and Eric Bana, it seemed destined to be a masterpiece. The film worked hard to be an event, using a unique comic book-like framing visual, attempting to dig deep into the reason why a meek scientist could and would turn into a raging monster with unlimited strength. And it flopped.

It was hard to watch, hard to follow and a complete flub that was empty, overwrought, poorly acted (save Sam Elliot), visually weak and devoid of any relationship to the illustrated hero. Film fans were annoyed and comic fans were disgusted.

It's a great pleasure to announce to all that you may now come see the movie done properly.

The Incredible Hulk, for those who may be unfamiliar, is the tale of Dr. Bruce Banner (Ed Norton), a scientist who was bathed in an overload of gamma radiation. The end result is the doc - when there's any threat or over-maddening moment - turning into a seething, rampaging, green-skinned goliath who can pretty much out-muscle anything. Since this new Hulk flick has been released only five years after the last, one might think this is a sequel, but, in actuality, it's a do-over, a "movie mulligan," if you will. It does pick up where the last one left off, with Banner in South America trying to lay low. Luckily for the audience, however, that connection is the last one with Lee's brainy bomb.

Bruce has been working hard, trying to cure himself of his Hyde half, while practicing meditation and other techniques that will hopefully keep his jade demon from surfacing. However, his keeping an even keel becomes exceedingly tricky, as the government, led by General "Thunderbolt" Ross (William Hurt) is still working double-time to track him down, with the ultimate goal of somehow weaponizing the forces that turn Banner into Hulk. What's worse, the love of Bruce's life is Betty Ross (Liv Tyler), who just happens to be the general's daughter. And if that isn't enough drama for a man who really needs to stay relaxed, Gen. Ross is working with super-agent Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), a guy so mean and frosty he tries to have a staring contest with Banner's mighty alter-ego. Of course, the dogged pursuit brings out the green in the doctor, leading Hulk to smash just about everything to bits. But things get especially bad for Dr. B., as Blonsky soon learns enough of Banner's secret to turn himself from a pesky federal employee into The Abomination - the only guy this side of the Marvel Comics universe that can go toe-to-toe with the Incredible one.

There's not much more than that to the story, and for once that is a great thing. The actors in this work all bring their A-game, even if at times Hurt and Tyler don't have much to do. And while those who need good performances in films are satiated, the aforementioned comic lovers really benefit here because the story is very true to its source material. The stars are Ed Norton and the special effects crew's Hulk, as both are fleshed out as the comic book holds. Norton's Banner is intelligent and sensitive, leading him to suffer from depression because he knows that deadly, uncontrollable power lies within him. Hulk, on the other hand, is an inhuman hurricane, yet still holds on to basic human tenets. And that is the most important difference between this film and the last not-so-Incredible attempt. While the 2003 story made Hulk into nothing more than a side effect of an accident, this film (smartly helmed by Louis Leterrier, otherwise of the dopey Transporter movies) gives the raging monster, well, for starters, rage, among other feelings, not to mention a sense of good. How did Mr. Lee forget that the Incredible Hulk is a superhero? Better yet, this time Banner's doing more than struggling with his own issues. He has a true foe that makes it necessary to have a Hulk in the first place.

And best of all, for movie-goers who could care less about a reverence for the comic book or the depth of an actor's performance, the action here is fantastic. The CGI (which looks somewhat icky in the TV commercials) looks great on-screen, and as the two uber-muscleheads slug it out in New York City, the term "bang for your buck" will take on a whole new meaning.

Ian Stark is a frequent TV and radio commentator on the film industry, and consults with private organizations on their collections. He is widely published on film and other arts/culture topics.