The (good but not great ) Incredible Hulk

"The Incredible Hulk"
Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, and William Hurt
***/****

The first Hulk film directed by Ang Lee back in 2003 wasnt a huge box-office success, it received a good grade among critics, but not among comic fan boys and the popcorn crowd. The film that everyone expected back in 2003, has now been released in 2008.

The franchise has received a much needed facelift, the cast and director changed, along with the pacing and scope of the story. The new Hulk looks more realistic and human, he's also meaner and much more frieghtening. Director Louis Letterier, who directed both Transporter movies, steps in the directing chair, with Ed Norton and Liv Tyler playing Bruce Banner and Betty Ross.

Norton is one of the most interesting actors in Hollywood, he has had success since the mid 90's, and is the perfect casting choice for this big-budget comic sequel. He can get people into the seats, which Eric Bana couldn't back in 03.

The story starts with fugitive scientist Bruce Banner hiding out in Brazil. He works in a labor factory where no one will notice him. Throughout the film we are updated with how long until the Hulk's last incident, as the movie opens, Banner has gone 158days without an incident.

An accident happens with Banner in the bottling factory, and his blood drops into one of the bottles being shipped. Soon, the bottles end up in the states, with a man having drunk the mixed blood from Banner with the soda. The man received Gamma poisioning and soon General Ross (Hurt) hears of the news. Ross asembles a team, headed by Emil Blonsky (Roth) to head to Brazil to detain Banner and bring him back to the States. The team fails miserably and Blonsky is the only survivor of the team, amazed at what he witnessed, the transformation of Banner into The Hulk.

Throughout the film Banner communicates with "Mr. Blue", a scientist trying to find a cure for Banner. Betty Ross, Banner's past love interest, may also have the data needed to cure Banner. The story shifts to the states, and everyone is on the tail of Banner, who has met up with Ross. They meet up with Mr.Blue played by Tim Blake Nelson, who does have the cure for Banner. When Ross's men interfere, and Banner escapes, Blonsky makes Mr.Blue inject him stuff to give him similar traits as The Hulk, he turns into "The Abomination."

The film turns into The Hulk against The Abomination, which gives way to great action sequences with impressive CGI and directing. This film reminded me of The Bourne Series and Transformers, we see a lot of Banner on the run in a lot of quick cutting scenes, and these two giants monsters battling in the streets causing carnage. A very entertaining film that hints at more Marvel genius in upcoming years.