I, for one, loved the movie. Probably just as much from the geekiness overdrive of seeing the Marvel Universe play out right before my very eyes in seat-jarring effects as from the merits of the movie itself. I mean I tried to like Ang Lee's movie, I even talked myself into defending it to some of my friends saying he went artistic and what about he split screen/comic effect. No, I was wrong. I was SO very wrong!
This is the way a Hulk movie needs to be done. I mean we're talking Hulk, he's huge, invincible, angry, mean, and Green. Its not rocket science how a movie like this should be done. Despite 46 years of history since the creation of The Incredible Hulk, the story remains quite simple. Hulk Angry! Puny thing make Hulk Mad!! Arrrrrrrgggghh!!! HULK SMASH!!! The simplicity of character of the Hulk is what is endearing. Sure there is the omni-present inner conflict between Banner and Hulk and one can explore the subject without turning the entire exercise into a Dr. Phil/feel good about yourself/tell me about your childhood introspect.
As the movie goes, they did a tremendous job putting in little tidbits here and there from within the universe without pausing for air. Names like Stearn, Mr. Blue, etc. I quite like the performance of Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, Ed Norton, and Tim Roth. William Hurt was a curious choice of casting in a campy, comic, explosion, extravaganza. His quiet simmer and terse delivery seemed a bit out of place at times.
For anyone out there that wants to have a grand ole' time at the movies watching a plot that flows along well enough while enjoying some of the best special effects around (there is a real humanity to CGI Hulk). Go see this movie. If you were one of the people burned by Ang Lee's Hulk, this is a completely different movie. Its much better. And to any Marvel fan who'll pick up on the foreshadowing, and be jumping out of their seat when Robert Downey Jr. enters the room as Tony Stark and realize that the entire friggin' Marvel Universe is going to be laid out for all of us to see, FINALLY! GO SEE THE MOVIE!!!
HULK -- A-
