This is more like it! Years ago we saw the boring, underwhelming previous Hulk movie directed by Ang Lee. For 2008, Marvel agreed to with the Batman Begins approach: just ignore the last film, cast new actors, etc. and hope the audience accepts it. I was convinced enough by the trailer to at least go at the matinee price.
The origin story is tackled during the opening credits which was impressive. It’s similar to the last two Spider-Man sequels; those are synopses of what happened earlier, no boring exposition eating up time. Anyway, the Hulk borrowing this technique was effective since it resembled the story line used in the old TV show. Then the movie opens with Dr. Banner hiding in the slums of Rio trying to find a cure for his problem through an exotic plant while learning capoeira. Back at the Pentagon, General Ross and his staff are sifting through intelligence reports for possible Hulk sightings. The general is obsessed with capturing Banner for several reasons: he blames Banner for injuring his daughter Dr. Betsy Ross; the Hulk creature is a modification of the Super Soldier Serum (what gives Captain America his abilities) so Banner’s body is government property; and Banner might report the general’s ethical lapses to the media or foreign governments. Eventually, Ross figures out Banner’s whereabouts through Stan Lee’s funny cameo and sends a team of commandos to Rio. The mission fails miserably and the Hulk/Banner escape. One participant in the raid is Captain Emil Blonsky who later volunteers to be experimented on with the serum after witnessing the Hulk in action.
Realizing how close General Ross got, Banner gambles on returning to America to enlist the aid of his former love Dr. Ross and a scientist named Dr. Sterns (fanboys will recognize the name) who he was secretly corresponding with. Thus providing Blonsky and the general another shot to see if they can take the Hulk down.
This Hulk is so much better! Using the cooler aspects of the old Bixby show was brilliant. I loved it as a kid despite it being a knock-off of The Fugitive. This director captured the earlier program’s spirit and mood without coming off campy. The filmmakers also found a clever way to sneak in a cameo of the deceased Bixby. Lou Ferrigno’s appearance was a definite crowd pleaser based upon the reaction I heard from the audience. Hulk isn’t quite as perfect as the recently released Iron Man but it’s pretty close. There’s a solid mix of action, humor and drama without it feeling corny or forced; what many superhero movies fail to avoid. Giving the Hulk a foe to finally go mano y mano with was a relief after years of him destroying tanks, cars and scaring thugs. Imagine how dull Spider-Man and Superman would be if they only fought bank robbers. Lastly, unlike Iron Man, the surprise is implied before the credits roll so you can rush home and post on my site to say I was right or wrong.
Worth Seeing?: Yes. Hard to believe the Summer Hollywood is having. The Hulk is a character I’ve always felt was hard to see as a superhero due to the Horror-Monster element in his story line thus TV got it right more often than a two-hour movie. This current take nailed the right balance.