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Movie: The Incredible Hulk
Director: Louis Leterrier
Actors: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt
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The first Hulk movie, directed by Ang Lee, was a let down to the fans but also a joy to others (or should I say a few). Ang Lee's arthouse version of a superhero flick was hard to swallow. I think Lee's flick is a masterpiece, an intense psychological drama and an interesting step from Marvel to make a different kind of superhero flick. But the audience wanted more action, they wanted the 'Hulk smash!'. The studio decided, after Lee's disappointing financial results, to give it another try via a re-launch, semi-sequel or whatever, anyway French director Louis Leterrier hopped onboard to hulk out. He wanted more action, a lot more action! And the project even became more interesting when Edward Norton got involved and also wrote the story.
The Incredible Hulk starts off pretty sweet with a little backstory so we can jump right into the film's main story. Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) is on the run from General Ross (Tim Roth) and his army. He also tries to kill the beast within. Martial arts and meditation must help to tame the monster and keep his rage in control. But as long as the Hulk is a part of him, he can't get close to his girl, Betty (Liv Tyler), the daughter of Ross. Banner seems to have found a way to cure him, but then General Ross appears, and he's got a secret weapon, the killing machine Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth).
Well, Leterrier goes wild! The Incredible Hulk's pace is intense and the fans finally get what the previous film couldn't deliver; a lot of action and weapons and monsters of mass destruction. Edward Norton's presence makes the movie more interesting. He brings the character a little more depth so the flick doesn't rely on the visual effects only. Liv Tyler drawling performance and Leterrier's tendency for French melodrama are the flaws of the movie. But, fortunately, we've got Eric Roth who offers the right balance to these quiet little moments with his sadistically villain, Blonsky/Abomination.
Regulars know that I was having doubts about director Leterrier. Don't get me wrong, his Transporter flicks were fine, but I wasn't sure if he could handle a visual effects loaded blockbuster. My favorite is still Ang Lee's version, but Leterrier's extreme Incredible Hulk is the one we all, yep, including me, were waiting for. His Hulk is menacing, almost frightening, but it's also a tribute to the TV series with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. And with this gesture, the director got my seal of approval; well done, Leterrier, well done! Louis Leterrier's The Incredible Hulk is big, bad-ass and smashing!
Written by Reggy 15/06/08
© universal 2008
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