A Tale of Two Hulks

I'm going to review both the 2003 Ang Lee movie Hulk, starring Eric Bana and Jennifer Connolly, and the 2008 Louis Leterrier movie The Incredible Hulk, starring Edward Norton and Liv Tyler. I'll try to keep it crystal clear as to which movie I'm talking about at any given time. But if you find yourself lost, just remember everything positive I have to say is about the 2008 version.

Hulk (2003) in 3 words: So. Very. Awful.
Incredible Hulk (2008) in 3 words: So much better.

What can I say? The 2003 version took every opportunity to make a bad decision. The story was absolutely terrible. What's with the crazy-ass backstory about Bruce Banner's crazy-ass father, played by crazy-ass Nick Nolte? It was all over the place and it just wouldn't end. The dialogue was so shallow I could barely stand it. Bana & Connolly tried their best, but they had absolutely nothing to work with and they just ended up looking stupid. Even the special effects were cheesy and lackluster.

I hadn't seen the 2003 version when they announced the 2008 version, but I immediately knew the 2003 version couldn't have been very good if they were starting over just 5 years later. Having seen (& LOVED) Iron Man, I had high expectations for The Incredible Hulk - and it delivered.

Ed Norton is a perfect choice for Bruce Banner: attractive, but not movie star pretty, with the ability to play good guy or bad guy with equal believability. An important thing to remember is that the Hulk is not a superhero; he's a force of nature. When you're in trouble, you don't call out for the Hulk; the Hulk just happens to you. Ed Norton is able to convey the vulnerability and desperation of Bruce Banner while showing the smallest glimpse of what lies underneath.

Liv Tyler is not my favorite actress, but she works here. Betty Ross is a pretty straightforward character, who must embody vulnerability, loyalty, heartbreak & determination. It sounds like a lot, but it's not really. This is the character that changes the least over the course of the movie. Liv Tyler had one note to hit, and she hit it well.

Tim Roth also does a great job as a power junkie soldier who becomes the main foe for the climax of the movie.

Even the visual effects were better, which I'll allow the 5-year time difference probably played a part in. But this Hulk, the 2008 Hulk, looked and behaved like a living being. He interacted with his surroundings in a way the 2003 Hulk never did. One great example is during one large action sequence where you actually see his skin ripple in reaction to a weapon.

Another thing that rocked in the 2nd movie was the inclusion of a couple of Hulk iconic moments: the Hulk thunder clap, and everybody's favorite, "Hulk smash!" These moments make a little part of you stand up & cheer; he's really the Hulk now. We just had to wait 5 years for it.