Hulk Smash!

If anything, Incredible Hulk is twice the movie that Hulk was. I only say that to avoid ranting about how horrible that movie was. This movie was gamma irradiated fun and a smashing good time. Though a little piece of me just died for saying something so utterly cheesy. This movie is worth seeing in theaters but only if you are a comic book fan (or possibly a fan of the old tv show). If you don't like comic books and you've only heard about the Hulk from commercials for this or the previous movie... you should maybe wait to rent this movie. Unlike the Iron Man movie there is some errata that you have to know to fully enjoy this movie. They pepper the movie with future Hulk opponents, such as Doc Samson and the Leader. There were even a few jokes from the show and the comic book that show up in the movie. It could be worth a rental even to the geek challenged.

My one very simple complaint is that several times during the movie I felt like I was watching King Kong while someone had messed with the contrast. The Hulk too often fought like a monkey and even ran off with Betty to a high cave for a creepily romantic scene. Not that King Kong is that bad a movie... and parallels can be made between the two movies... just wish it wasn't so freaking obvious. I think the creators of the movie played homage to every previous Hulk. From the comics, to the previous movie, to that piece of crap tv show, even to the most recent video game. Hulk tears a car in half and uses them as fists to do more damage... and I'll be damned if he didn't use that move and so many others from the video game. Don't believe me? Play Hulk Ultimate Destruction... watch the movie, and then ponder. Of course homages isn't a bad thing... they wanted to hit every possible fan that could be watching the movie. It's called lowest common denominator. That's why they made so many references. So that someone who like the old show, played the popular video game, read the comic, or God forbid.. enjoyed the previous movie... they would all feel like the movie was speaking directly to them.

The plot of the movie is pretty straight forward and nothing new when it comes to the Hulk. He's running from the army cause he wants to be left alone and nefarious General Ross won't respect these wishes... much to the General's own woe. And, then Hulk beats up someone who is big and bad and a danger to society... well just as much a danger as the Hulk himself is. Now... this has little to do with the movie but the ads for the movie and the video game call the Hulk a hero. What?! Let's be honest here: The Hulk is NOT a hero. He isn't a role model. And he sure as hell isn't someone you'd want to emulate. I've even got a comic at home that directly says that when this kid decides he wants to be the Hulk. Pretty much... the Hulk is a giant asshole with big muscles. He isn't here to save the day, if anything he's a force of nature. Sometimes he sweeps up Absorbing Man before he can kill a group of boy scouts, and sometimes he ruins your grandma's Bridge Club bake sale!

Blood: Not only is there blood... there is slow-mo blood and bloody drinks that Stan Lee chugs, rooms filled with blood, blood infusions, blood defusions... lots of blood. Not much blood splatterings though I almost expected that abomination's skull could only take a few more Hulk sized poundings.

Babes: Liv Tyler plays Betty Ross... And. let's just admit that Liv has a pretty high hottie rating. Of course I love pale girls with dark hair... and elves.

Baddies: General Ross is the main antagonist to Bruce Banner/Hulk throughout the movie. Though they never come into any kind of direct fisticuffs. The Hulk's sparring partner is Emil Blonsky/Abomination who plays both a heroic soldier... and then a disturbed villain... and finally an out of control monster. The Leader is also featured and Betty's boyfriend Doctor Samson who is the Hulk's gamma irradiated psychologist in the comics.

Boom: Ummm... yeah. Don't take anyone with a heart condition. There is a lot more boom and a lot less stupid ass story building like the fist movie.

Bad Acting: Ok... Bad Acting is more for Bad Movie Night and I'm really tired of just saying that the acting was decent or not. The acting was pretty good.

Overall Rating: 7/10