Movie Review – The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Another Marvel Studios movie review, and another character introduction to The Avengers (coming soon!).
Or rather in this case, it’s more of an anti-hero.
The Hulk character was first introduced to comic book fans in May of 1962. In the comics, Dr. Bruce Banner was accidentally exposed to the blast of a gamma bomb that he invented. The gamma radiation transformed Banner, allowing the monster inside of him to wreck havoc whenever the scientist became angry or emotionally unstable. Once the situation calmed, the monster would recede and the human form of Banner would once again take control.
Fast forward to 2008.
The Incredible Hulk movie tells a slightly different story about the accident that led Dr. Bruce Banner (played by Edward Norton) to become the big green monster known as the Hulk.
The opening sequence of the movie shows us how Bruce Banner was part of a military experiment that went wrong. General “Thunderbolt” Ross (played by William Hurt) met with Dr. Bruce Banner regarding an experiment to make soldiers immune to gamma radiation. The experiment (which was really part of a secret “super soldier” program) failed, and Bruce Banner was bombarded with gamma radiation.
Bruce’s anger transformed him into the Hulk, and he subsequently destroyed the laboratory, accidentally injuring his lover, Betty Ross (played by Liv Tyler), in the process. The Hulk then fled while being pursued by the U.S. Army.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) – (c) Paramount Pictures
The film opens five years later in Brazil.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) – (c) Paramount Pictures
Here we have a Bruce Banner living in exile down in Rio de Janeiro. He spends his days working as a day laborer at a bottling plant, and his evenings learning the local Portuguese language. In addition to that, he’s also searching for a cure to his gamma radiation poisoning, often collaborating with an unknown Internet contact known only as “Mr. Blue.”
The Incredible Hulk (2008) – (c) Paramount Pictures
One day in the bottling factory, Bruce accidentally cuts his hand and some blood enters a bottle. That bottle ultimately makes its way to the U.S., and the person drinking from it reports medical problems. That particular problem pops up on the Army’s radar, and General Ross traces the bottle back to its bottling plant in Rio de Janeiro. He then sends a small strike team led by Royal Marine Emil Blonsky (played by Tim Roth) to go capture Bruce Banner.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) – (c) Paramount Pictures
Bruce is alerted to the military’s presence at the last moment. He quickly escapes and leads the military on a foot chase through the streets of Rio de Janeiro. When he’s cornered back in the bottling plant by some local thugs, Banner changes into the Hulk and goes on a rampage fighting the troops. The Hulk ultimately escapes deep into the countryside.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) – (c) Paramount Pictures
After the defeat, General Ross explains to Blonsky how Bruce Banner became the Hulk. Blonsky agrees to take part in a smaller version of the same experiment. The results give him stronger physical attributes but also overconfidence. Meanwhile, Bruce Banner returns to Culver University in Virginia and seeks out his long lost love, Betty Ross.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) – (c) Paramount Pictures
The military gets tipped off by Bruce’s presence, and a massive fight takes place on the grounds of Culver University. Bruce Banner becomes the Hulk and fights off the military, saving Betty in the end. The two of them flee to the mountains to evade General Ross and Blonsky.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) – (c) Paramount Pictures
Not long after being on the run, Mr. Blue contacts Bruce and has him come to New York City to seek further treatment for his disease. Mr. Blue turns out to be a cell biologist named Dr. Samuel Sterns, and he possibly has a cure for Banner’s condition. Bruce later learns that Sterns synthesized and created a stockpile of Banner’s blood sample from Brazil. It’s hoped that the blood can one day change humanity itself to the next revolutionary level.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) – (c) Paramount Pictures
General Ross and his troops arrive again, and this time Bruce Banner is captured by the Army. After his capture, Blonsky forces Dr. Sterns to inject him with Bruce’s blood. He’s forced to do so and Blonsky mutates into the Abomination, a creature bigger and meaner than the Hulk.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) – (c) Paramount Pictures
What ultimately follows is complete carnage and a massive battle on the streets of New York City. By the time the two monsters finish their fight, only one stands victorious. The audience, in the meantime, has been greatly rewarded with an outstanding battle to end the movie.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) – (c) Paramount Pictures
But what about The Avengers connection?
The Incredible Hulk (2008) – (c) Paramount Pictures
For this latest batch of Marvel Studios movies, The Incredible Hulk keeps The Avengers connection to a minimum. This almost seems like an independent movie until a scene with Tony Stark talking to General Ross pops up just before the end credits. Iron Man‘s Tony Stark mentions the Army’s “super soldier” program and informs the general that a “team” is being formed.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) – alternate opening
When watching the alternate opening to The Incredible Hulk, it’s said that you can see Captain America frozen in ice near the end of the clip. You have to look fast near the bottom left of the screen at the 2:22-2:25 mark in the video clip. This isn’t nearly as obvious as Captain America’s shield in Tony Stark’s laboratory in Iron Man and Iron Man 2.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) – movie trailer
As a whole, The Incredible Hulk is a pretty good movie.
Sure, they could have gone into more detail with Bruce Banner’s suffering and all that, but the scenes with the Hulk really shine. The action is well done, and the movie has a much better story and flow to it than The Hulk (2003). It’ll be interesting to see Banner and the Hulk again in The Avengers.
The Incredible Hulk – “Hulk, SMASH!”