The Incredible Hulk (2008)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Louis Leterrier

Writers (WGA):

Zak Penn (screenplay)
Zak Penn (screen story)

Release Date:

13 June 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

On June 13, get ready to unleash the beast.

Plot:

Dr. Bruce Banner, thanks to a gamma ray experiment gone wrong, transforms into a giant green-skinned hulk whenever his pulse rate gets too high. Meanwhile, a soldier uses the same technology to become an evil version of the original.

Plot Keywords:

Hulk | Cure | Scientist | Soldier | Antidote

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Edward Norton	...	Bruce Banner
Liv Tyler	...	Betty Ross
Tim Roth	...	Emil Blonsky
William Hurt	...	Gen. 'Thunderbolt' Ross
Tim Blake Nelson	...	Samuel Sterns
Ty Burrell	...	Leonard
Christina Cabot	...	Major Kathleen Sparr
Peter Mensah	...	General Joe Greller
Lou Ferrigno	...	The Incredible Hulk / Security Guard (voice)
Paul Soles	...	Stanley
Débora Nascimento	...	Martina
Greg Bryk	...	Commando #1
Chris Owens	...	Commando #2
Al Vrkljan	...	Commando #3
Adrian Hein	...	Commando #4

Also Known As:

Hulk 2 (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence, some frightening sci-fi images, and brief suggestive content.

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Portuguese | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Ireland:12A | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-13 | UK:12A | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Hong Kong:IIB | Greece:K-13 | Philippines:G | Brazil:10 | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Malaysia:U | USA:PG-13 (certificate #44454) | Netherlands:12 | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Spain:7 | Taiwan:PG-12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Peru:14 | Germany:16 | Germany:12 (cut) | Denmark:11 | Sweden:11 | France:U | New Zealand:M | South Africa:10V (theatrical rating) | Austria:12 | South Africa:13V (DVD rating) | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Arlington, Virginia, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The sounds in the factory where Banner cuts himself are the same as the ones in in Carbonite chamber in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980).

Goofs:

Continuity: At the tunnel entrance, when Betty says "Bruce, wake up", he's seen without a baseball cap that suddenly appears after, at most, a split-second cut to her.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Bruce Banner: Is it ready?

Movie Connections:

References Iron Man (2008)

Soundtrack:

Danto

Attention - Origin Mixture!!!

For those that know only of the original comic book Hulk, the TV series Hulk, or the regrettable Ang Lee Hulk, you should know that this new version is a mixture of origins.

Without spoiling it, one of the larger ingredients in this new Hulk comes from a Marvel series that is an alternate universe. There are many differences in the Ultimates Universe. In this version, Banner did not get his gamma radiation from exposure during an experimental bomb explosion. I won't spoil it, but you can go to www.marvel.com and look under "Ultimates" if you wish to get the gist of it.

I can truly say that this version captures a little of everything, so that no matter what your knowledge is of the Hulk character, there's tie-ins to everything.

Personally, I felt this reboot was well thought out. It allows for any future connectivity by not limiting it to one version of the Hulk. This will allow future Marvel movie-makers the ability to pick and choose aspects from the multitude of alternate universes, re-tellings, and time spans to combine whatever they please.

This was well cast. When the overall product can make me forget the fact that I don't like a specific actor, and truly appreciate the total entertainment experience, it's something to smile about. I won't mention which one I don't care for, since all that will do is spark useless debate.

Story - intricate and intelligent, fast-paced, yet deeply explanatory, complex, yet easily taken in by non-geeks. Enough references to the true comic, alternate comic, and TV show, that everyone in the sneak peek seemed to be pleased. I surely was.

CGI was great. Don't know why some have to nit-pick, but you can't please everyone, I guess. Action was wonderful with plenty of it! If you've ever read one of my reviews, you'll know that I'm a true fan of overall entertainment. While I have favorites, I don't base reviews on just one actor, writer, director, production company, genre, or whatever. So, if you don't like my opinion, so be it.