Five years after the failure of the first movie based on “The Incredible Hulk” television series, Marvel Studios are confident they could make a better picture to save the reputation of the green brute.
Of course everybody doubts they did a much better job, but at least they were polite enough to allow the viewers’ eyes rest for five years.
The new film opens June 13th, a day after the PC version of the Incredible Hulk game is scheduled to be released. Besides the visuals, the game reportedly has a very good soundtrack, performed by a 65-piece orchestra complete with rock guitars and electronic elements. But let’s get back to the movie.
One thing that would give it credit is the fact that the main hero, scientist Bruce Banner, is played by Edward Norton, whom we have usually seen in good psychological movies. But I have a feeling that the movie does not focus on the identity drama that the character experiences, but rather on special effects and action.
Director Louis Leterrier said he initially refused the project out of respect for Ang Lee, who directed the 2003 version.
"I was divided," he says, according to USA Today. "I couldn't believe they wanted to reboot the franchise after just five years. And I loved (the 2003 movie) as a filmmaker. There was great art in it. But as a nerd, I absolutely didn't like it. It was slow."
And that probably motivated him to reconsider the offer: the possibility of directing the same film so that he would like to see it.
For those not familiar with the plot, “The Incredible Hulk” tells the story of scientist Bruce Banner, who, due to exposure to Gamma Rays after an explosion, gets a unique condition. Every time he is under emotional stress, he turns into a giant green monster. He travels around the planet in search of a cure, but his struggle becomes even harder when the Russians capture him and try to create another monster using his DNA. He escapes, but not before Russians create The Abomination, a terrible beast that they send after him. His condition is even more painful for Banner, as it doesn’t allow him to be with the only woman he has ever loved, Betty Ross. Betty, who was played by Jennifer Connelly in the 2003 flick, is also some sort of scientist. Her father has a good opinion of Banner until he finds out about the beast inside him and then totally disapproves of his daughter’s relationship with him.
Other stars featuring in the movie are Liv Tyler, as Betty Ross, William Hurt, as Betty’s father and Tim Roth as The Abomination, the spy who deliberately exposes himself to Gamma radiation to gain Hulk’s powers. Robert Downey Jr., who recently made a powerful comeback in the movie world with “Iron Man,” also has a cameo in this movie.
The film, which opens Friday, is PG-13 rated for action violence.
Cast: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake
Nelson and Ty Burrell
Director: Louis Leterrier
Writer: Zak Penn and Edward Harrison