Movie Review: The Incredible Hulk

Disclaimer: This review will contain spoilers. Don't read it unless you've already watched the movie or unless you don't care about being spoiled. I like to analyze movies, and I can't really do that unless I spoil the movie. You have been warned.

General Ross, in experimenting with trying to make humans immune to gamma radiation with a serum used as part of a World War II-era supersoldier program (seen later in Captain America: The First Avenger), injects Bruce Banner with the serum. The experiment fails, however, and Banner temporarily becomes a huge green monster by a reaction that is triggered if his heart rate goes too high (usually if he gets angry, but it can occur by other methods, such as strenuous exercise). After destroying the lab and killing numerous people, including injuring General Ross and his daughter Betty, who also happens to be Banner's girlfriend, Banner becomes a fugitive and hides out in Brazil. Now Banner searches for a cure to his Hulk transformations, finding a scientist who goes by the alias Mr. Blue (later revealed to be Dr. Samuel Sterns), who agrees to try and help him, all the while Banner must stay on the run from General Ross, who wants to weaponize The Hulk.

The Incredible Hulk serves as a reboot to the 2003 Ang Lee version of the film, and it also serves as the second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe continuity. This would be the only film in which Banner was played by Edward Norton, being replaced by Mark Ruffalo in The Avengers and all subsequent films in which the character appears.

The Hulk was obviously inspired by Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, in that the titular character was human and would transform into a monstrous creature, although while he didn't transform through the use of a serum, he had limited control by using techniques to keep his heart rate and anger under control. The character was created as a reaction to the Cold War and the threat of nuclear attack, which essentially took advantage of the prevailing sense among Americans that nuclear power can create monsters.

Themes

Aside from the theme of the military wanting to weaponize The Hulk, which is a similar theme to what we found in Iron Man (and one that's totally believable), the story of The Hulk is about an internal conflict between Bruce Banner, a regular guy, and The Hulk, a huge monster that goes on rampages and kills indiscriminately (with the exception of Elizabeth Ross, his girlfriend). Unfortunately, the movie doesn't delve too deep into this theme, instead focusing more on the militaristic aspect of it, the chase between General Ross and Bruce Banner, and the obsession of Emil Blonksy with The Hulk.

In fact, Iron Man sort of set up a theme of its own regarding the villain that the superhero would fight; namesly, a supervillain similar to the hero but bigger and more powerful. Iron Man faced off with Iron Monger, The Hulk faces off with Abomination, Thor will face off with Loki, etc. They will eventually do away with this theme and even focus more on developing the villain, but for now, these are the kinds of villains we are seeing.

Stan Lee cameo

Stan Lee cameos as a man who drinks from a bottle of soda that was accidentally contaminated by Bruce Banner's blood, giving him gamma radiation poisoning and forwarding the plot by giving General Ross a lead on Banner.

Grade: A-

By no means is The Incredible Hulk a bad film. But it is kind of slow and plodding in some cases and not for the right reason. It doesn't delve very deep into the dualistic themes that a story like this lends itself to, but the action is, of course, top notch.

The Incredible Hulk
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Written by: Zak Penn
Starring:
Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/The Hulk
Lou Ferrigno as the voice of The Hulk
Liv Tyler as Elizabeth "Betty" Ross
Tim Roth as Emil Blonksy/Abomination
Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns/The Leader
Ty Burrell as Leonard Samson
William Hurt as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross
Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark (cameo)
Stan Lee as a man who falls ill from gamma radiation poisoning (cameo)
Lou Ferrigno as security guard (cameo)
Paul Soles as Stanley (cameo)
Martin Starr as computer nerd (cameo)

*note: Samuel Sterns did not become The Leader in this film. He was exposed to a substance and his head starts contorting, implying his impending transformation. He has never been seen as The Leader in any of the MCU films, but in a canon tie-in comic with The Avengers, he is seen as The Leader.