Release Date:  June 13, 2008
Rating:  PG-13 (for sequences of intense action violence, some frightening sci-fi images and brief suggestive content)
Genre:  Action/Adventure, Adaptation
Run Time:  1 hr. 54 min.
Director:  Louis Leterrier
Actors:  Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell, William Hurt

Summer action movies are often nothing more than mindless explosions and special effects with only enough plot to provide an excuse to make the film. Occasionally these popcorn flicks offer something a little deeper. With this most recent version of The Incredible Hulk, clearly the filmmakers are reaching for the latter... with mixed results. .

Bruce Banner (Ed Norton) is a brilliant scientist who, due to a lab accident, has a muscle-bound green alter ego he cannot control. His back story is briefly explained over the film’s credits:  Bruce and his colleague/girlfriend Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) are experimenting with gamma rays under the authority of Betty’s army general father (William Hurt). Bruce is accidentally turned into a green monster who proceeds to destroy everything around him, injuring Betty and killing several fellow scientists. Unable to control his power, Bruce goes on the run from General Ross, who wants to find a way to use Bruce’s newfound power to create “super soldiers.” Unfortunately whenever Bruce gets angry, and his pulse hits 200, he turns into “The Hulk” leaving a path of destruction that’s easy to follow.

For years a regular character in the Marvel Comics universe, The Hulk has appeared in not only comic books and cartoons but a popular 1970s era television show. Nearly five years ago Hulk even made it to the big screen under the direction of Ang Lee. The clunky film was a bit of a flop, disappointing both critics and fans of the beloved green giant. It’s clear that the folks at Marvel wanted another chance to successfully bring the character to film. Upon viewing it’s not clear if it’s intended to be a sequel or a redo. Perhaps either; or perhaps both.

This version of Bruce Banner’s story begins five years after the accident. Bruce is now living as a factory worker in the slums of an obscure Brazilian city, trying to both stay out of trouble and find a cure for his problem. Despite having a mysterious benefactor named Mr. Blue and a satellite connection to the Internet, he is unsuccessful. Unfortunately Bruce can’t keep himself and his gamma ray-laced blood hidden forever, and General Ross is soon leading a strike team down to Brazil to “extract” him. Of course the soldiers find more than they bargain for when the cornered Bruce goes all “huge green monster” and proceeds to wipe the floor with them. The encounter sends Bruce back to the States in search for his benefactor. It also sends Captain Blonsky (Tim Roth), the only soldier to survive the encounter with Hulk, in search of a way to procure Hulk’s massive strength and power.